The ORIGINAL Trilogy
A couple years back, I bought the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD on eBay from a distributor with Hong Kong connections. The DVDs are the ORIGINAL versions, NOT the lame Greedo-shot-first Special Edition versions.

Even with rampant rumors running amok that the trilogy may be released as early as Fall 2004, I'm still plenty happy with what I purchased because it's HIGHLY unlikely that old George will ever officially release those original version on DVD.

Laser Disc Source
Assumedly, the DVDs I got were somehow grabbed from a Japanese laserdisc source. We're talking classic letterbox... I'd be sad if I only had the original trilogy in made-for-TV full-screen.

All the DVDs play fine, though there is a brief stretch on my Empire Strikes Back DVD where the sound doesn't track in sync with the video. That's pretty aggravating and one reason why I'm considering picking up another set from a different distributor. Despite this flaw, I still think I got my money's worth. Sure I have the full-screen original and the wide-screen special editions on VHS, but I want the most original of the original trilogy on DVD to keep forever.

What should you watch out for?
Things to keep track of, if you do decide to buy the original trilogy on eBay are the following:

• Make sure you're getting a DVD and not a VCD. Nothing wrong with VCDs, but DVD is definitely the way to go (if you can find it... I've mostly found VCDs lately).
• Make sure to never EVER buy from a Jawa without first checking the merchandise.
• Make sure the DVDs are coded region 1, 0, or non-regionally coded to make sure they'll play on your machine.
• Make sure the DVDs have Rodian and Huttese subtitles (dubs never look right).
• Make sure you're getting the version you want: wide-screen vs. full-screen, original vs. special edition, etc.
• Make sure your DVD player is not plagued by a bad motivator.
• Make sure you're not going to get hosed on shipping from someone shipping from Guam (or Singapore or Hong Kong).
• Make sure to first go to Toshi Station to pick up some power converters.

There is definitely a risk factor that you're not going to end up with exactly what you were looking for. EBay is NOT an exact science when it comes to stuff like this. However, I think the risk is plenty worth it to keep my childhood memories alive. I'm sucker for nostalgia.

Now go bid on a set... may the Force be with you.