Album purchase links - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Icarium

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Joined: March 21 2008
Location: Tigerstaden
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Posted: June 09 2010 at 13:41

I use (and most norwegians) use CDON.NO for bying CDs and our biggest music store Platekompaniet (Rocordcompanie)is actualy quite good on progrock, not that they have a prog section but they have all the famous and also some rare bands at farly low prices (but most KC and Genesis have shockingly high prices)

harmonium.ro View Drop Down

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Joined: August 18 2008
Location: Anna Calvi
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Points: 22989

Posted: June 09 2010 at 12:01

Excellent observations.

For 1., one solution would be not to admit more than one link for the same domain. However, that may be a problem when the same site sells both vinyl and CD, for example, so that's two links for the same domain. But I think it is possible to set up a system to recognize the link if it was previously submitted. I mean, I'm that it is possible, I'm not sure if that would be easy.
2. usually webstores don't delete a product page, they only add an "out of stock" notice.

For both 2. and 3., I think that regular users can do a good monitoring for this, just like they do for duplicated albums, wrong album info or album cover, dead videos, etc. And any Special Collab could update the links based on user reports.

NotAProghead View Drop Down

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Joined: October 22 2005
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Posted: June 09 2010 at 11:30

Good idea, but some problems are possible:

1. Duplicated links.

2. Non-actual links, if after some time the given store does not offer pointed albums.

3. Links to illegal downloads (who can guarantee they will not be added?)

Who will monitor these things?

Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)

harmonium.ro View Drop Down

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Joined: August 18 2008
Location: Anna Calvi
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Points: 22989

Posted: June 09 2010 at 10:50

As you know, band pages and album pages on PA have these built-in search engines for E-Bay and Amazon that display for us a lot of entries in order for us to have an easy shopping. Also, bellow the two search engines we can also find More places to buy .... music online (with links to Gemm and Doug Larson) and Buy ... & Prog Rock Digital Music online (with links to Amazon MP3 and eMusic).

Unfortunately, for many less known bands, with weak distribution, the links and the search engines can't provide actual products of that band, and prove themselves pretty useless, especially the search engines who fill the page with irrelevant results and make the page look ugly.

My suggestion is to implement the option for the users to add direct links to where the albums can be bought. I don't know how important the existing search engines and "buy" links are for PA, and I'm not suggesting to scrap them, at all. But I think that giving users the ability to add direct links (and maybe write some comments, too, like practical advice on how to buy there or what's his satisfaction with that seller) would give more accurate results and would give a real chance to small, underground bands.

What do you guys think?

Edited by harmonium.ro - June 09 2010 at 13:43

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Icarium Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: March 21 2008 Location: Tigerstaden Status: Online Points: 34086	Posted: June 09 2010 at 13:41
	I use (and most norwegians) use CDON.NO for bying CDs and our biggest music store Platekompaniet (Rocordcompanie)is actualy quite good on progrock, not that they have a prog section but they have all the famous and also some rare bands at farly low prices (but most KC and Genesis have shockingly high prices)

harmonium.ro Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: August 18 2008 Location: Anna Calvi Status: Offline Points: 22989	Posted: June 09 2010 at 12:01
	Excellent observations. For 1., one solution would be not to admit more than one link for the same domain. However, that may be a problem when the same site sells both vinyl and CD, for example, so that's two links for the same domain. But I think it is possible to set up a system to recognize the link if it was previously submitted. I mean, I'm that it is possible, I'm not sure if that would be easy. 2. usually webstores don't delete a product page, they only add an "out of stock" notice. For both 2. and 3., I think that regular users can do a good monitoring for this, just like they do for duplicated albums, wrong album info or album cover, dead videos, etc. And any Special Collab could update the links based on user reports.

NotAProghead Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Errors & Omissions Team Joined: October 22 2005 Location: Russia Status: Offline Points: 7969	Posted: June 09 2010 at 11:30
	Good idea, but some problems are possible: 1. Duplicated links. 2. Non-actual links, if after some time the given store does not offer pointed albums. 3. Links to illegal downloads (who can guarantee they will not be added?) Who will monitor these things?
	Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour)

harmonium.ro Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: August 18 2008 Location: Anna Calvi Status: Offline Points: 22989	Posted: June 09 2010 at 10:50
	As you know, band pages and album pages on PA have these built-in search engines for E-Bay and Amazon that display for us a lot of entries in order for us to have an easy shopping. Also, bellow the two search engines we can also find More places to buy .... music online (with links to Gemm and Doug Larson) and Buy ... & Prog Rock Digital Music online (with links to Amazon MP3 and eMusic). Unfortunately, for many less known bands, with weak distribution, the links and the search engines can't provide actual products of that band, and prove themselves pretty useless, especially the search engines who fill the page with irrelevant results and make the page look ugly. My suggestion is to implement the option for the users to add direct links to where the albums can be bought. I don't know how important the existing search engines and "buy" links are for PA, and I'm not suggesting to scrap them, at all. But I think that giving users the ability to add direct links (and maybe write some comments, too, like practical advice on how to buy there or what's his satisfaction with that seller) would give more accurate results and would give a real chance to small, underground bands. What do you guys think? Edited by harmonium.ro - June 09 2010 at 13:43