Bad experiences with buying music

mystic fred wrote: I bought a newly released copy of the Groundhogs' "Black Diamond" only to find side 2 was classical music - a culture shock at the time, but as i now like classical music would love to know what it was, i took it back and changed it.

By the way, as a vinyl lover, how do you acquire new ones?  A local store or mail order?  I'm asking because I have a few survivors from the flood that I'd like to offer up for sale and I want to be sure they arrive at their new homes in as good condition as I have them.  Still need to organize and catalog them.

Raff wrote: ... Then, some three or four years ago, I bought a copy of UK's Night After Night at an HMV store in London - and, when I first played it, it only had some sort of piano music on it!

Raff wrote: I don't buy a lot of music online, but, when I did, I was so lucky as not to have any bad experiences of the kind described here. However, I had a couple of not exacly pleasant surprises when buying CDs in brick and mortar stores. Once, I bought a CD of some musical for my mom at Tower Records in Piccadilly, London. Of course, I didn't think to open the case in order to check (as I always do now), and, when my mom opened it in Rome, we found there was no CD inside. Too late to return it or anything.... Then, some three or four years ago, I bought a copy of UK's Night After Night at an HMV store in London - and, when I first played it, it only had some sort of piano music on it! Again, no receipt, no chance to return it.

I'm guessing none of those were shrinkwrapped?  No guarantees of course if they were.

I've never gone wrong with a purchase at a local store.  I did order a copy of Equinoxe and it turned out to be a JMJ best of album.  Packaging and the CD label were for Equinoxe, but the content on the CD was for another JMJ album.  

Then there was that time I ordered a second copy of Air Conditioning thinking I was ordering Air Cut, but that was my bad. 

I remember reading about a vulgar heavy metal or something in a CD or LP being released labeled as children's album once.  Don't recall the details.


Edited by Slartibartfast - January 19 2010 at 12:35

Snow Dog wrote: chopper wrote: My niece got a boxed set of Lost DVDs once - all the DVDs were missing. (true story). Oh the irony!

My niece got a boxed set of Lost DVDs once - all the DVDs were missing. (true story).

harmonium.ro wrote: Just a few minutes ago I found out I was tricked/robbed for the first time, so I'm pretty angry.  I thought it would be a good idea to centralize these kind of experience, in order to learn from each other and avoid bad experiences in the future, if possible. My bad experience probably comes from lack of previous experience with ordering online. Last month I made my first order through Amazon (I normally buy in shops). They had this customer program through which you don't pay for shipping in the first month, so I subscribed to it. What they didn't say and I didn't think I should check further was that after that first month it's not like you pay for every shipping you need for your orders, but you pay a 50 euro monthly fee which they automatically take from your bank account without asking you, regardless whether you place new orders or not. I only found about this important detail when I noticed the payment of the first monthly fee. Probably most of you people who buy regularly on the Internet know about this and take precautions, but I hope this still may be of help for someone.

I order most of my music online.  I do give one of my surviving local independent brick and mortar store business from time to time, as well as a local chain I'll refer to as OK Purchase, when I need a quick fix on a new release that they actually stock. 

I've had zero bad experiences with my online orders with one exception, Bill Me Later.  I was late with a payment.  Their late fee is atrocious.  I completely paid for the purchase and the first late fee.  I didn't pay it quickly enough though and now they are charging me late fees on my late fee.   I talked to customer service to no avail.

 I've never done any shipping deal arrangements and this is the first time I've heard of one.  Sounds a little scammy in the first place. 

Best rule of thumb: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.

So for one barb, I'll put out one good word for half.com.  They are a division of e-bay with no bidding.  They serve as an intermediary for individuals selling off their used stuff and internet stores as well.  Of course they do take a cut through their shipping fee.  But I have no complaints.

Whenever possible, I'll order from the artist's site.  Zero bad experiences from doing that.  And you know where the money is going.  Phil Mazaera personally autographs the CD.  I ordered from Darryl Way recently and it appears that he's not only making the CDs himself but again autographs it.   Ordered from Nektar not too long ago as well and Roye sent what appeared to be a personalized packing slip.  Stamped and signed.


Edited by Slartibartfast - January 19 2010 at 06:35

We are. We did? They are. Good for you. And so do I.

^ Caiman prices went up in Germany too though ... something besides the exchange rates must have been responsible.

^ The Euro is still strong though ...