Okay, forgive me if this is a dumb question, but: is this set of DVDs something that you could walk into a real actual real-life shop and buy? That way you could check the discs before you actually buy them, and not have to go through the whole delayed process of returning and re-ordering each time...

Yes, I've considered that several times. But Black Star have mostly been lovely about this and I don't want to take my business elsewhere if I can avoid it, and also I'm unconvinced that it would help - Owen said he'd gone into town and had a look in HMV, and all their copies rattled similarly.

I'm keeping it as a last-ditch option if all else fails.

Also, the shop would have to sell non-plastic-wrapped boxes for this plan to work, otherwise you get home, open the plastic and have exactly the same problem as before.

Well, you *could* buy it, immediately open it in the shop and sort it out straight away.