GETTING MORE TALE #479: Cracking the Case
Whoever invented the DVD case, damn you.
In case you’re wondering, the dimensions of the standard DVD case are not random. Somebody didn’t just say, “Hey! Let’s package a round disc in an oversized rectangle!” Since DVD was the format destined to replace the old VHS video tape, the dimensions of the case are roughly the same: Height and width. Only the thickness is different. This was done to ease the transition from one format to the next. Stores would presumably have to display their new and exciting DVD inventory on the same old shelving they already had for VHS tapes. Makes sense from that point of view, although the cases are mostly empty space and could have been made smaller to cut costs, and waste.
When Blu-ray came along, the cases were reduced in height, slightly, to differentiate them from their DVD cousins. It’s still mostly a waste of space.
That’s not the big gripe, though. The issue was that some of the cases designed to hold DVDs would eventually destroy them if you put them in and out too many times. This happened to my now long-discarded copy of the Matrix: Reloaded.
The problem with the DVD cases were the spindles or “teeth” inside the held the disc tight, by the center hole. Remember how you had to push down to release the disc? Either by poor design or bad tolerance issues, the act of pushing down and trying to release your disc could introduce tiny cracks around the center hole. Like death by a thousand tiny cuts, the discs would crack further and further every time you used them. Just like your windshield, the cracks grow. Eventually tiny pieces of plastic would begin to flake off the middle.
At the old Record Store, we saw many DVDs that were cracked and flaking in the middle. Customers were always pissed off when we pointed this out, and who can blame them? They didn’t do anything wrong, they were just trying to watch a movie. It’s not their fault that the cases they came in were so poorly designed. Take that disc out one too many times and it’ll crack right in half. I know because I’ve done it myself.
The traditional DVD case is a double fail. Not only was it too big for its britches, but some would damage your precious movie inside! That is unforgiveable.
mikeladano.com 
I always wondered why they didn’t just put DVDs in CD cases.
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Full agreement.
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Marketing, likely. And theft-prevention…
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They did, for a little while. But people would say? “Is this a CD????”
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I don’t buy any these days, I just stream stuff whenever I can.
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But… but… the poor children of the DVD makers are starving!
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I still buy. Not as often, admittedly, but some films are not available for streaming, or their print is bad or isn’t as clean as a Blu-Ray…and sometimes the extras are worth it.
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I’m doing a lot more of that as well. I buy far less.
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I agree with you on this one, you hit the nail on the head here. I think 1537 makes a valid point about CD cases.
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He does. And I know there were some early releases in CD cases. But it really seemed to confuse people.
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Being a movie buff myself, this is a huge bane. Worse when you find “the precioussss” film at a store and you can hear that dvd moving around inside, being scraped and tortured!
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Ohhhhhh man. My stomach just turned just thinking about it.
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ARGH or when they come from Amazon like that.
I ordered a Rob Zombie 3 DVD set from my old store. All the spindles inside were busted so the discs are all loose. And it can’t be fixed because it’s that kind of case. But I decided to keep it, they gladly would have exchanged it.
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While I never had too many problems with DVD cases (I don’t own that many DVDs, comparatively), I do know they wanna stay in that case like a teenager not wanting to get out of bed at 8 a.m. on a summer morning. I can see how they’d crack. I pushed on the center with one finger while the edge of my thumb pried up from the edge. That seems to work OK.
Also, as for size of the case, VHS and DVD are the same height, but a DVD case is exactly 1″ wider than VHS. So if they were aiming at shelving matches, all those DVDs would be hanging out off the shelves by 1″.
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Egad he’s right! They are roughly the same size as a clamshell VHS case though they were rare.
They do like to stay in those cases especially when brand new!
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I hadn’t considered how impractical/comically oversized the cases were until now!
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Some of the special cases are even worse. Remember the early Simpsons box sets in the head-cases?
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Oooft. I have a couple DVDs that are on their last watches thanks to those stupid cases. I also disliked the double disc cases that have the discs sitting on top of one another.
My Iron Man special edition is actually cracked, too. Stupid mask design.
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I know what you mean! My Big Lebowski bowling box set at least has sleeves for the two DVDs to go in. Actually for DVD packaging, I have some truly atrocious Star Trek original series box sets. Whoever designed the cases should give their heads a good shake. I think every single one of mine is broken.
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Guess I never bought enough DVDs…I do remember the giant cardboard boxes they had for CDs though. What was that all about…lol
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Haha, that was very interesting!! I never knew any of that :)
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What about when the teeth design is so stupid that the disc won’t budge and bends as you try to get it off
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