Newsgroups: bit.listserv.allmusic
Date:         Tue, 6 Oct 1992 13:50:41 EDT
From:         "Fletch F. Fletch" <gmgettie@THAMA1.APGEA.ARMY.MIL>
Subject:      CD Clubs - Michelle, this is the one to read.

From: TIFFANYDE%URVAX.BITNET@AMERICAN.EDU at INTERNET 10/6/92 2:08AM (2219
Subject: Re: Monday morning sarcasm, round 2

>New thread:
>>Can someone tell me if it's worth subscribing to the Columbia CD club?  You
>>know, the one where you buy 10 CD's for a penny?  I know you have to buy more
>>within a certain time frame; overall, is it worth it?  The CD prices run
>>between $11 and $15--I'd kind of like the convenience of ordering by mail. . .

>No.  Don't do it.  Resist with all your will.  Burn any mail that even
>mentions this kind of stuff.  I have two main reasons for this.
>  1)  The selection SUCKS.
>  2)  You will eventually forget/move/go on vacation/whatever and not get
>        the little form in on time.  Then _Madona Does Elvis_ lands on your
>        door and things turn ugly.
>  3)  Other reasons that I'm too tired to get into now....

No, no, a thousand times no!!! OK, the selections do suck. And yes selections
do get dropped into your mail box every now and again because you forgot to
send off the damned card....BUT you do not have to keep and pay for the CDs
they send you. Just put "Return To Sender" on the package and drop it in
the mail box. The return postage is guarenteed, which means the CD Club will
pay for it. I have done this many times. Every now again the club will send
you a reminder and tell you that doing this costs them extra money (like I
care), but that's it.

Jeez, where's the other Gary when I need him. I'm almost sure he'll agree
with me on this one.

Through the years, I have been a member of BMG or Columbia House about
10 times. Here are some things I've picked up along the way and some rules
I follow:

1) Like I said yesterday, don't join unless they have enough CDs that you
   want.
2) Never ever participate in one of their "buy one and get one for $9.99"
   deals. This is how they make more money on you. If you buy one for $9.99,
   they will add *atleast* $3 for shipping and handling and tax. That's
   $12.99+ which barely if at all is better than stores.
3) If you order a disc, listen to it, and decide you don't like it, send it
   back, tell them it skips, and tell them NOT to send you another one.
   They will not send you another disc, but if they do just send it back.
   They won't send you another because they lose money every time you send
   a disc back.
   (No store will let you do this!!!)
   If you don't like the disc, it costs you NOTHING to send it back, not
   even stamps, only a trip to the mail box.
4) If you do get a defective disc, just send it back and tell them you want
   a new one. They'll send it to you.
5) They send you mailings about 19 times a year. To save some money on stamps,
   sometimes you can mail 2 selection cards back to them at the same time.
   Just put them in the same envelope.
6) If you forget to send them a selection card back and you get a disc you
   don't want, put "return to sender" on the package and drop it in the
   mail box. It costs you nothing.
7) As I said yesterday, BMG ends up costing you a significant amount less
   than Columbia House. Also, with BMG, you only have to find 8 CDs you want
   (4 to start off, 1 to buy, and 3 more free), but BMG doesn't have the
   selection that Columbia House does. Also, as I said, CH has a toll-free
   number to call (1-800-457-0500). I have used it to get lists of music that
   they do not regularly feature in the mailings. (e.g. New Age, Reggae)
8) If you find many discs that you want, join twice. Get in the club once,
   then sign a friend (yourself) up and send it to your mother's house or
   something (or even send to your own house - just put an apartment number
   down in addition to your address - they won't know the difference) and
   make up some fake name.  When you get a friend to join, YOU get 3 or 4
   "free" discs. Actually you pay around $1.60 s&h for each.

If they have the discs you want, and you follow these rules you *cannot* lose.
Don't listen to what anyone else tells you.

In fact, if you want Michelle, send me your postal address (privately) and I
will send you a BMG catalog or two.

Seeya,
Gary
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