5minutestolive.com really fucking sucks. 5minutestolive.com has the worst customer service ever, virtually non-existent.
I tried to order The Gimme Gimme Octopus video talked about in this post from 5minutestolive.com about three weeks ago. I still haven't received it after numerous e-mails and phone calls. I called after two weeks and the phone had been disconnected, and all of a sudden there was a new number listed on their site. I had to threated to cancel the charge when I finally got a hasty response promising to actually SEND the video and give me a tracking number. I never did get a tracking number or video. It's almost been a month. Oh well. I will just call the credit card company and take their charge off of my account.
I would stay the fuck away from 5minutestolive.com. Their videos aren't worth the hassle.
From: Craig
To: 5 Minutes to Live
Date: Aug 4, 2006 11:18 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: 5 Minutes to Live Order Receipt
It has been three weeks since I ordered this item. I still have not
received it or a confirmation number indicating shipment. I have also
not received any customer service of any kind.
I would like to cancel this order.
If you have charged my card. I would like the amount refunded.
On 8/1/06, Craig <----@----.com> wrote:
> I still have not received a confirmation of my shipment.
>
> Am I actually going to receive this item?
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Craig <----@----.com>
> Date: Jul 31, 2006 10:23 AM
> Subject: Re: Fwd: 5 Minutes to Live Order Receipt
> To: 5 Minutes to Live
>
>
> I still have not received a tracking number in regards to this order.
> I have no idea if it has been sent or not.
>
> Is this being overnighted to me?
>
> Please advise as to the status of this order.
>
> Craig
>
>
> On 7/28/06, Craig <----@----.com> wrote:
> > I am astounded that not only are you just getting back to me, but you
> > have not even sent my order yet!
> >
> > I am expecting you to overnight this to me at your own expense and
> > also to send me the tracking number as soon as it ships. I would like
> > to have this in hand on Monday. At the latest Tuesday.
> >
> > I will need the tracking number as soon as possible.
> >
> > Craig
> >
> > On 7/28/06, 5 Minutes to Live wrote:
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > I am very sorry for the late response. We have just completed a move of our
> > > office that took longer than expected.
> > >
> > > Your order is going out today via UPS. I will email you the tracking number as
> > > soon as the batch has gong out.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Sam McAbee
> > >
> > >
> > > > If someone does not respond to me by e-mail or by phone in 24 hours
> > > > with an explanation of my order, I will call my credit card company
> > > > and cancel this charge.
> > > >
> > > > I tried a phone number that has been disconnected and I see that there
> > > > is a "new" number posted on your site.
> > > >
> > > > No one has responded to my e-mails or phone calls.
> > > >
> > > > I will also let everyone that I know that your site is a scam
> > > >
> > > > Best regards,
> > > >
> > > > Craig
> > > >
> > > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > > From: Craig <----@----.com>
> > > > Date: Jul 24, 2006 1:14 PM
> > > > Subject: Fwd: 5 Minutes to Live Order Receipt
> > > > To: contact@5minutestolive.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hello,
> > > >
> > > > I have not yet received the order listed below.
> > > >
> > > > Can you please send the tracking number?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > >
> > > > Craig
> > > >
> > > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > > From: contact@5minutestolive.com
> > > > Date: Jul 12, 2006 1:42 PM
> > > > Subject: 5 Minutes to Live Order Receipt
> > > > To: ----@----.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thank you for your order.
> > > >
> > > > ========== GENERAL INFORMATION ==========
> > > > Company Name: 5 Minutes to Live
> > > > Date/Time: 7/12/2006
> > > >
> > > > ========== ORDER INFORMATION ==========
> > > > Payment Method: ----
> > > > Order: OnlineOrder
> > > >
> > > > Item Name: Gimme Gimme Octopus
> > > > Unit Price: $14.99
> > > > Quantity: 1
> > > > Ship Method: Standard Delivery
> > > >
> > > > Standard Delivery: $6.00
> > > > Grand Total: $20.99
> > > >
> > > > ========== SHIPPING INFORMATION ==========
> > > > Full Name: Craig ----
> > > > Day Phone: (---) --------
> > > > Email: ----@----.com
> > > > Address:
craig [email] said at 4:19 PM 08-04-2006: I don't expect great service, but this guy could have:
1) actually shipped my dvd
2) given me a tracking number
josh [email] said at 4:27 PM 08-04-2006: no offense man, but you are a lil ridiculous in the email exchanges, which i've just read... "i expect you to overnight me this dvd at your own expense"?
c'mon, man - it's a bootleg DVD, they just moved to a whole new city (as he mentioned), if I recall correctly, their site says that you can expect your order 1-2 weeks from when you order it... they burn these DVDs as they get orders, you know... they aren't just sitting in a warehouse.
dave [email] said at 5:26 PM 08-04-2006: Don't ask, just wiki!
"Chillax is a slang verb created as a portmanteau of "chill" and "relax". A related word is "chillaxative", which is used in the following context: "Hey, man, you are so uptight and touchy! Take a chillaxative!" It is a further portmanteau of the portmanteau "chill" and "relax" with the word "laxative," thus, "chillaxative." Chillax was orginated by various upstate New York residents.
Another (less common) alternative but one that is used by more popular people like the BKS crew is rechill or re-chill, which places "relax" at the beginning.
The word chillax and other portmanteau of the word chill and relax should only be used by those whose lives require ending immediately."
craig [email] said at 4:44 PM 08-04-2006: He knows I ordered it. He could have just burned it and sent it in the mail weeks ago. It's been too long as it is, and I'm over it now. I just wanted to vent.
josh [email] said at 4:53 PM 08-04-2006: He responded to you 6 days ago saying it would go out that day.
The website says orders take like a week or so to arrive.
You are overreacting... if he hadn't moved, maybe you wouldn't be, but considering the move, you are.
This dude burns DVDs out of his house.
He moved to a whole new city - how long does that take? Like 3 days to pack your house, 1 day (at least) to move, 3 days or so to get back up again? Cut him a little slack, is all I am saying... you've moved before, it's a pretty big shock to the system. Dude probably started a new job, has his kids in a new school, etc.
It's not like this guy who burns DVD-Rs of bootleg japanese stuff has a crack sales force ready to get your order out...
josh [email] said at 5:05 PM 08-04-2006: after i sent an explanation that i just moved and it was taking longer than i expected and i got the response:
I am astounded that not only are you just getting back to me, but you have not even sent my order yet!
i doubt i would respond to any more emails.
again, this is not amazon.com. the site had a warning up saying he was moving, he moved. it takes time to get set up again, get your DSL turned on, etc...
on that note, i didn't have internet at my new apartment after i moved for 2 weeks... even though they said i would have it the DAY i moved in.
again, i would say this is very bad service EXCEPT that he moved. moving is a pain in the ass, and dozens of things always come up... if this guys is dealing with making sure his new house is set up, his new job is set up, etc... i can see letting craig's $14 bootleg dvd be late by a week...
that said, they should put back the notice on the site that they used to have - "your order will take 3-4 weeks to get to you"...
maybe a part of the problem is his web site depicts him as a business, when really he is just a dude who burns bootleg dvds...
craig [email] said at 5:18 PM 08-04-2006: I thought it was a business. I guess that was a mistake.
I ordered this right before I went on a one week vacation, expecting it to be sitting in my inbox when I got back. When it wasn't I waited a few days before calling about it. I get something saying that the number was disconnected. At that time, there was nothing on the site about moving. After two weeks I had e-mailed once or twice and called with no answers I was already pissed by the time I get his message saying that he was going to ship the thing out, which I guess he never did.
I just checked and my card was not charged. So be it.
I wouldn't have ordered the fucking dvd if I wasn't excited about getting it in the first place.
josh [email] said at 5:30 PM 08-04-2006: well, on last thing.. the site plainly says that their shipping takes 3-7 business days.
if you expected it when you got back from your vacation, you were already expecting it in 5 business days, not up to 7.
then he told you on the 28th (a friday) he was sending it out that day... so it probably didnt actually make it to the UPS shipping center til monday, the next business day (the 31st).
so now it's the 4th, and it's only been 5 business days since he said he was going to send it.
i'm not trying to bust your balls! i just think you are being a little too overzealous here. i have dealt with this guy a dozen times before, as has crystal, and i think chris x as well! he isn't gonna rip you off. he has always been cool with me and crystal, replacing DVDs that acted wonky on our players and everything (which is a big deal in the DVD-R world since DVD-R don't play on every player anyway, even if they are perfectly burnt).
craig [email] said at 5:00 PM 08-04-2006: Well if it went out that day I still haven't received it. This asshole also never answered the phone or returned my calls.
josh [email] said at 4:54 PM 08-04-2006: ehh, he has a thing on his web site about he just moved, and he told craig that he just moved, and from the day he responded to craig to tomorrow is about the time it would take for a UPS ground order to arrive from the east coast to arizona.
kara [email] said at 4:58 PM 08-04-2006: I'm not saying not to be sympathetic of the guys situation but if you are accepting peoples' money, you need to be accountable.
josh [email] said at 4:56 PM 08-04-2006: though i do see that they DID remove the thing on their site that used to be up... last time i ordered from there the site plainly said "you will get your order in 3-4 weeks"
josh [email] said at 3:29 PM 08-04-2006: also it looks like, from their site, that they just moved to a totally different city in the last month... chillax.
boson [email] said at 4:35 PM 08-04-2006: yeah I mean he is under no obligation to give you shit... its a bootleg. imagine if you gave some dude 50 bucks for weed and he left town... you can't exactly sue him for it
abby [email] said at 4:57 PM 08-04-2006: thats an excellent analogy. i'm sorry that youre frustrated, craig. i bet that guy has a lot of people harshing on him, though. everyone wants a piece of the criminal, its tough.
Duh Crystal said at 7:48 PM 08-04-2006: Well I'll play for the offense and the defense here. I've been ordering from that guy for a while. At least about 2 years ago or more. He was always prompt about orders and communication. A couple of my burns were bad. I contacted him and he said he'd just reburn them and send them out w/o needing the bad ones returned. I could have totally lied but he trusted me.
I really appreaciated this. I haven't ordered in a year or two at least so I can't say what it's like today.
But - Josh - I happen to know that his previous address was the ATL...
you figure it out! I personally would buy from him again.
Duh Crystal said at 7:52 PM 08-04-2006: In his defense most of the basic issues that Josh mentioned that come with moving still stand in my opinion. Sans the potential travel time from locale A to locale B... utilities can take forever.
milky [email] said at 8:51 PM 08-04-2006: I've ordered from operations smiliar to this guy and this place did move operations and they were upfront with it. I sorta got as pissed as Craig was BUT...they kept me as a customer for refunding me and sending free DVDs. I felt bad for bitching after that and I should've give the guy the benefit of the doubt...he wasn't amazon and didn't make any bones about not being amazon, just a guy who sold DVDs on a small scale.
evan [email] said at 7:53 PM 08-04-2006: reminds me of this kid josh who runs the record label mccarthyism. i ordered a 7" by this band flowers in the attic like a year and a half ago and shit still isn't here!
evan [email] said at 9:39 PM 08-04-2006: actually, here's a funny similar exchange with me on the receiving end. josh is alluded to as well. he ruined hardcore
-----------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:19:21 -0700 (PDT) [07/26/2006 01:19:21 AM EDT]
To: evan@wakingrecords.com
Subject: Re: Sinaloa/Life Ate These Speeds 7
Headers: Show All Headers
fuck! i see you refunded the cash. can i send again?
did you get my last email. now my catholic guilt is
setting in...
grumpydude
Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:13:16 -0700 (PDT) [07/26/2006 01:13:16 AM EDT]
From: Quoting "Grumpy Dude X"
> :
To: evan@wakingrecords.com
Subject: Re: Sinaloa/Life Ate These Speeds 7
Headers: Show All Headers
sorry dude. i'm just pissed. josh at fucking
mccarthyism still hasn't sent me my shit after a full
month. he did this before. if you can, send the 7".
i'm not trying to be a dick but you're one of 4 folks
who haven't sent me stuff i ordered 3-6 weeks ago.
i'll take it if you can send it, seriously. sorry
that you caught the brunt of my frustration. i just
never heard from you.
can you send it?
grump dude
--- evan@wakingrecords.com wrote:
[Hide Quoted Text]
> threatening to report something to paypal cause it
> has taken 3 weeks to get to
> you? intense. i was out of town for a couple of
> weeks and i'd imagine that as
> someone who runs a label you'd understand that
> things come up and can usually
> be sorted out with a friendly email. whatever,
> refund is on the way.
>
> Quoting "Grumpy Dude X"
> :
>
> > hey pal,
> >
> > i ordered this split 7" from you on 7/7/06 and
> still
> > have not received it yet. please just refund my
> > money.
> >
> > i don't want to report this to paypal. please
> just
> > send my money back today.
> >.
kara [email] said at 9:54 PM 08-05-2006: ohhh so that's why he's being so overly defensive!
Well I take too long to send people their 2 dollar magazines but at least I know it's my fault and I feel bad and apologize and would never use my informal business status as an excuse
josh [email] said at 8:58 AM 08-06-2006: my website says, flat out - "for quick shipment, buy these records somewhere else, i'm busy" and lists 6-7 places you can get the records faster for slightly more money (my distributors). if people need to save $0.50, they can wait a month for their CD. that's my POV, anyway.
Walt said at 2:35 PM 08-24-2006: Hello Craig, Did 5minutestolive ever send your DVD? I made an order from there about two week's ago. I am waiting to. But if the man has been in business for four years. Then he must be doing something right. And if the man just moved his business then well it might evening longer. I just give people a chance.
craig [email] said at 4:20 PM 08-24-2006: I never got anything from him. He also never responded to any e-mails after that one. I guess he decided not to send me anything.
Walt said at 4:31 PM 08-24-2006: Nope i send by money order and shipment form's I hope this is still his address P.O. Box 941484
Atlanta , Ga. 31141-1484
I am not saing 5minutestolive took my money and run with it. I just hope i get what i paid for.
Walt said at 4:43 PM 08-24-2006: I email to and called the office but i have not got a reply myself. I send my order in on the 1st of August. And the money order was cash on the 9th of August. Here it is the 24th of August. If 5minutestolive is behind on order's just give me a tracking number. And a relied email that they sent it. Is it me or if a business is doing business with the coustmer. Should they get what they pay??
Walt said at 4:55 PM 08-24-2006: Hey i mean if he moved. Then fine if he is behind on some order then that is fine too. I just want what i paid for. has any one done business with 5minutestolive here now And if so i heard someone say 3-4 weeks it takes for shipment.
Texas Frank said at 5:01 PM 08-24-2006: If your going to waste your money send it to Texas Frank so he can buy a new 8 track player and listen to Steppenwolf.
Walt said at 5:08 PM 08-24-2006: I have done business before over the internet and this is the frist time something like this has happen to me. But then again my money order was cash on the 9th of August. that is 15 days. So maybe it will take another 15 days to come. I give everyone a chance
craig [email] said at 5:21 PM 09-06-2006: Actually, I just went back through my old bank records, and I was charged on July 12! I must have missed it. So, it's almost been two months since I actually paid for it.
Steven Morgan said at 11:18 AM 10-02-2006: I ordered all 9 Lost & Found DVD sets 6 months ago and still have nothing. At one point I received a message saying that there was a delay because they'd just moved offices, but that was about 2 months ago now.
I agree with the original post. Avoid this company.
josh [email] said at 11:28 AM 10-02-2006: This is a bummer, I have like 20 of their DVDs. revengeismydestiny.com is still good guys, last time i tried! also retroflicks.com has always had really good service.
Murphy said at 9:13 PM 10-12-2006: I ordered all the lost and found dvds as well as Steven Morgan. My card was charged on August 6th. No reply at all other than an auto-confirm for my order. Not going to bother you will all the things I sent but I have followed this up every week since with absolutely zero replys from 5mtl. In the process of getting my bank to refund the transaction. AVOID this store!
Murphy said at 9:43 PM 10-12-2006: I didn't mean that I ordered a copy a Steve Morgan. I meant to imply that we both shared the same predicament. Its too early in the morning for proper grammer.
James M. said at 3:10 PM 11-07-2006: My mother-in-law ordered from 5minutestolive.com and it has been three weeks- no DVD - credit card charged two days after the order and still nothing. The phone number on the order is disconnected and no return emails or calls. Those of you who keep saying that it is a bootleg operation - who knows that? I took a look at the site it looks legit.
josh [email] said at 3:15 PM 11-07-2006: uhh it says it on the front page of their website: "5 Minutes to Live operates as a conversion service for fans of hard-to-find movies. Please note we do not sell factory release DVDs. All DVD-Rs are reproductions/conversions from public domain sources. No rights are given or implied."
bootlegs. possibly not ones that violate US copyright law, in theory... but most of the ones i have do indeed violate copyright law. they get away with it because it's all copies of obscure stuff that is, indeed, lost to the public in most cases.
James M. said at 3:19 PM 11-07-2006: Never caught that... but being public domain it means he can sell, duplicate and replicate with out violation of copyrights. I also discovered that they run a company/website called http://www.smallpocketswarehouse.com which thier voicemail is full.
josh [email] said at 4:54 PM 11-07-2006: the thing is, he's distributing stuff which ISN'T in public domain. there is no way that Battle Royale I & II or Ebola, or American Dreamer are in the public domain, really. They just are domestically available... and I'm not sure that's even true, I bought Battle Royale at Best Buy.
James M. said at 5:08 PM 11-07-2006: She ordered some 1950s movie called Your Cheatin' Heart I checked around on www.archives.org and several other sites and it is public domain.
josh [email] said at 6:48 PM 11-07-2006: sure, some of it is - but a lot of it is not. for example, the items i mentioned. go look up "Battle Royale" (which they sell) on IMDB and see if it's public domain. then look at the content of the various "lost and found video night" mix DVDs... which include stuff from network TV and corporate training videos, comercial exercise videos, etc... no way copyright has expired on all that stuff, copyright lasts like 75 years now.
Nina said at 5:52 PM 12-01-2006: I will defiantly think twice before I order on the internet again.
I got a DVD at 5 minutes to live and it has been one month ago from my order and the debit to my account. I also took a look on the Better Business Bureau and they have had 6 complaints and no response. From now on I will be checking out the BBB before I get any thing on the web. Besides I came across his blog ( and I feel bad for the guy now)
