From: ewing@npg-sd.SanDiegoCA.NCR.COM (David Ewing)
Newsgroups: rec.music.cd,rec.music.misc
Subject: Re: BMG vs. Columbia House CD clubs
Keywords: CD, BMG, Columbia
Date: 3 Sep 92 17:04:15 GMT
Organization: NCR Corp., Network Products - San Diego

In <rnelson.715494388@itchy> rnelson@itchy.dsd.es.com (Rob Nelson) writes:

>I have been interested in joining a CD club lately.  I would like to
>hear from people who have experience with both the Columbia House and
>BMG Compact Disc clubs.  I know what both of their introductory offers
>are, but once you are a member, what are they like?  Do they continue
>to offer great specials on their CD's?  What kind of return policies
>does each club have, in case you decide you don't like a CD you order?
>Any summaries from people with experience with either club would
>greatly be appreciated.

>-Rob Nelson
>Evans & Sutherland Computer corp.
>rnelson@dsd.es.com

Rob,

I'm a member of both clubs.

In a nutshell:

Columbia House has a MUCH better selection.
BMG has MUCH better prices and a MUCH better initial offer.

The initial obligation:

Columbia House  -- get 8 discs but you have to buy 6 in two or three
years at full price (usually 14.98).  You get your 8 discs free
right up front.

BMG -- Buy one (14.98 - 15.98), get 7 free.  You get 4 up front.  
After you buy 1, you get the other 3.

Shipping and handling appears to be the following:

                      Columbia House                       BMG

1 CD                      1.99                             1.97
2 CDs                     one 1.99, one 1.39               1.87 each
3 CDs                     one 1.99, one 1.39, one 1.19     1.81 each
4+ CDs                    1.99, 1.39, 1.19, 1.19 ...       1.71 each


Both clubs add your state tax.


The initial offer, therefore, can be fulfilled thusly (excluding
tax):


Columbia House:
  8 cds -- shipping and handling: 10.52
  1 CD  -- 14.98 + 1.99 s&h:      16.97
  1 CD  -- 14.98 + 1.99 s&h:      16.97
  1 CD  -- 14.98 + 1.99 s&h:      16.97
  1 CD  -- 14.98 + 1.99 s&h:      16.97
  1 CD  -- 14.98 + 1.99 s&h:      16.97
  1 CD  -- 14.98 + 1.99 s&h:      16.97

Total:    14 CDS for             112.34 (8.02 per CD)

BMG
  4 cds -- shipping and handling:  6.84
  1 CD  -- 14.98 + 1.97 s&h:      16.95
  3 cds -- shipping and handling:  5.43

Total:     8 CDS for              29.22 (3.65 per CD)

Typical monthly offers:

Columbia House

  Buy one at full price, get two at half price:

     14.98 + 7.49 + 7.49 + 1.99 + 1.39 + 1.19 = 34.53 (11.51 per CD)

     In California, adding 7.75% sales tax = 37.21 (12.40 per CD)

BMG

  Buy one at full price, get two free:

     14.98 + 1.81 + 1.81 + 1.81 = 20.41 ( 6.80 per CD)

     In California, adding 7.75% sales tax = 21.99 (7.33 per CD)


Service:

  No major complaints with either, but a definite edge goes to Columbia
  House. I usually receive my order from Columbia House in two and a
  half weeks.  BMG usually takes four.  I've never had Columbia
  House screw up an order, BMG once sent me two of the same disc and
  it was a minor hassle getting it straightened out.  BMG has a
  strange habit of splitting up your order (you order 3 CDs, you get
  one, then two days later you get the other two).  The shipping and
  handling appears to be as if they all came together, so they
  aren't doing this to rip you off.  Columbia House is more open
  about their policies (they tell you in their initial booklet how
  much shipping and handling is and they publish their phone
  number).  BMG does neither.  Both clubs have allowed me to make
  the default NOT to receive their monthly selection unless they
  hear from me (I highly recommend this).  Both clubs allow you
  to forego mailing in your card and ordering or canceling by:
  phone.


The selection:

A big edge to Columbia House.


My personal opinion/habits:

Even though Columbia House has a big edge in selection and service,
I rarely order from them.  I can usually beat their prices by
ordering from Noteworthy (their prices range from 7.99 to 12.05,
they don't charge tax, their shipping prices are much cheaper if
you order more than two CDs, and they mail your order the same day
you call).

I do order fairly frequently from BMG (you just can't beat $7.00
per CD.   I have a real broad range of tastes ( I order modern rock,
oldies, jazz, classical, blues), so I don't have too much trouble
finding stuff I want.  If your tastes are narrow,  you may have a
problem.


Hope this helped.


-- 
*************************************************************************
David A. Ewing                             David.Ewing@SanDiegoCA.NCR.COM