From: lolivier@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Luis J Olivieri)
Subject: Re: Finally found The Little Mermaid!!!
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 03:24:48 GMT

>                  "The Quest for The Little Mermaid"
>
>Hello disney fans,
>    Anyways, I just wanted to elaborate on what a hassel i've had
>trying to obtain an original version of The Little Mermaid on VHS.  First,
>one and a half years ago I saw at least 100 vhs cassettes at the price club
>going for approx. $18.95 ea.  I thought to my self I would wait till my son
>or daughter is born before I purchase it.  7 Months ago my son was born so I
>thought, no problem, i'll just mosey on down to the price club and pick up
>the cassette for he could watch it when he reaches about 2 years of age.
>Wronggggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!  All tapes were sold out months ago and they
>said that they were not going to get any in at all.  No problem, i'll just
>to to the local video/music store, went to Sam Goody...Nada...went to Music
>plus...Nada....went to 5 independant video stores...nada...went to Sears...
>none, went to Target...none....went to 4 diffrent malls...none, all retailers
>said that the tape was out of print and they were not expecting any

[[ Some stuff deleted by Luis ]]

>I have looking for The Little Mermaid video.  He turned around and said I
>have the tape and my kids are tired of watching the video, would be interested
>in purchasing it, I said without hesitation, I'll give you $20.00 for it.
>He said I'll be right back, 5 minutes later he came with his son who owned
>it and said it was his son's but his son wanted to get rid of it, I said well
>in that case this $20.00 belongs to your son, handed the money to the 8 year
>old and walked out with the tape, the tape was in perfect cond., contained
>the original plastic case cover, also contained the advertisments included


     A couple of weeks ago I posted the following message locally in The Ohio 
State University, telling everybody about about how I found a copy for my 
daughter.  I'm including the message because I think that it is worth it


From: lolivier@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Luis J Olivieri)
Subject: My Christmas' Story (Yes Nicole, there is a Santa Claus)
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 04:35:50 GMT


     A couple of weeks ago I posted a message in osu.general because of my
daughter's request for Christmas of the video The Little Mermaid.  I went
to all kinds of places without any luck.  I had a network of people looking
for the tape in Columbus, NYC, California, NJ, Puerto Rico, even my brother
in-law's wife who works at Disney Land.  Disney released a certain number
of copies and when they were gone they were gone until they re-release it
again in a few years.   I was out of luck!  We were not able to find it
anywhere!
     Well, I was not completely out of luck.  Someone sent me a message
telling me that "for the right price he was willing to let his copy go".
When I asked him what was "the right price" he said $100.00 or that he
could make me a copy for $25.00.
     Today, I received a message from a complete extranger.  Jim Lovsey
(from the Metropolitan Educational Council, Ohio Educational Comp. Network)
told me that his daughter Emily had an extra copy of the Little Mermaid
that if I was still looking for it, it was mine.
     We got together this morning, where I met Jim and his lovely daughter
Emily.  When I asked them for the price, Jim looked at Emily and she said
"nothing".  I said, "Come on, I want to pay for it." and they said that
they just had an extra copy and they were glad that somebody could use it.
I couldn't find the right word to say thank you.  It was close to lunch so
I invited them for lunch to what they replied, "That will be like paying!"
     For my daughter Nicole this tape might be just another Christmas gift.
It will take her a while to realize that this video is the only true
Christmas present that she got this Christmas, thanks to Jim and Emily.
For Nicole right now, Christmas is just another holiday, were she receives
gifts.  It might take her few years to realize the real meaning of
Christmas. It took me until this morning and the help of Jim and Emily to
really understand it's meaning.
     I hope that the person who asked me $100.00 for a copy is reading this
message.  I hope that he finds a Jim and Emily so he can learn that
Christmas is not about money and to really enjoy Christmas the same way
that I'm enjoying it now.
     I want to say one more time, thanks Jim and Emily.  You just made my
Christmas.  I wish that there were more people like you guys.  I hope to
keep in touch with you.  I know how hard it is to find people like you (an
almost extinct kind).  Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!!

        "Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus!"


Luis Olivieri
-- 
Luis J. Olivieri                  Luis+@osu.edu   or  olivieri.3@osu.edu
Agronomy Department               Tel: (614)265-6781    
The Ohio State University   
Columbus, OH 43210
-- 
Luis J. Olivieri                  Luis+@osu.edu   or  olivieri.3@osu.edu
Agronomy Department               Tel: (614)265-6781    
The Ohio State University   
Columbus, OH 43210
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney