Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

    I have just sent in to the CBS Compact Disk Club on their 6 CD's
    for $1.00 (plus shipping & handeling) offer. You have to buy 4
    more CD's at their regular prices within 2 years. Will advise
    later on the wisdom/foolhardiness of this move.
    -Steve.
    
    

    re .1
    I've also just done this. I also went for the 7th disk for $6.95,
    so I figure these 7 starter disks will end up costing just a bit
    over $10. I hope they take this membership, I just canceled my last
    membership about 3 weeks ago after fulfilling my membership
    requirement. 

    Has anybody noticed any difference in the quality of CD's from these
    mail-order clubs, as compared to those bought in stores? I know
    these clubs produce horrible cassette tapes, and press their own
    albums.
    
    I just sent a form into a different mail-order club (RCA affiliate)
    which adverised 3 CD's for 1 cent, and I have to buy only 1 more
    at full price. Sounded like a great deal to me.
    
    mike
    

    .1 AND .2
    
    I've been trying to find out how to join the CD club.  I was wondering
    if I could join and have my husband join under me.  That way I could
    get 6 for $1, one for him joining under me, and he could get another
    6 for $1.  Having just a couple of cd's to play is a real bummer.
     get sick of hearing them, and to go out and pay $16/piece all at
    once gets kind of expensive.  
    
    Anyways, I was looking for a phone number or address for the CD
    club that you are in.
    
    thanks

    
    
    re .3
    
    I've done membership in both Columbia & the RCA affiliate (The Compact
    Disc Club), and see no difference between their issues and the store
    bought ones.
    
    				The Cruiser
    
    

    re .4:
    
      Here it is:
    
      CBS Compact Disk Club
      1400 North Fruitridge Avenue
      Terre Haute, Indiana 47811                    no phone listed
                                                    in ad.
    
      There is also an application in the latest Audio magazine.
    
      -Steve.
    

    thanks for the info on the CBS compact disk club.  I've also
    heard/read some things about another club.  The RCA disk club,
    something about 3 disks for 1cent, and have to buy 1 other in the
    next year.
    
    Could someone please pass on the address and/or phone number for
    the RCA disk club.
    
    THANKS AGAIN!

    re .-1;
    
    That's the one I joined, I'll try to find the address. If I can't,
    I'll post it as soon as my intro package arrives.
    
    mike
    

RE: CBS & RCA CLUBS.

Both of these clubs belong to the same company (Neither of them have anything
to do with either CBS or RCA).  They used to belong to CBS and RCA respectively,
but have both been bought out by the German merchandiser Bertelsman.  They are
in the process of aligning their operations, and in the near future will most
likely have identical policies and offerings.

Dirk

Does anybody know if these US based clubs will accept members from the UK
(there's no problem with payment - VISA, AMEX etc.)?

Ceri

    The RCA affiliate is:
    
    	The CD Club
    	Box 91414
    	Indianapolis, IN
    	46291-0014
    
    There is an application in this months Stereo Review.
    
    Haven't got my disks yet, just a card saying "they're on he way".
    mike
    

    It sounds like I should have waited to join the CBS club.  I think
    earlier deals were 3/$1.  I too have noticed no differences between
    CD's offered by the club and those in the stores.  Selection is better
    in the stores, prices are abit better buying through the club because
    of the enrollment offer and future discounts.
    
    I'm pretty sure the rules of joining state only 1 membership per
    mailing adress, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to try to enroll your
    husband.  If it works, let us know. 

    re: .12
    
    I have successfully enrolled my wife at her office (private office,
    not a big company).  My wife has her own player at her office and
    we don't often borrow each other's CDs, so it's debatable whether
    this breaks the intent of their rules or not.
    
    I also know other people who have enrolled their neighbors (who don't
    have CD players) and do the introductory offer thing to get discs
    cheap.  It apparently works.  Of course, the ethics of doing anything
    like this are up to the individuals involved... 

    B

    Re: .1
    
    Then again, do you think the retailers with the current high
    mark up on CD's have any ethics?

    It looks like the original topic was completely overlooked. I'm
    already a member of the CBS and RCA clubs, and after the original
    (introductory) deal, I find their prices pretty high !  How about
    other mail-order companies ?
    
    .saro _who_wants_to_pay_less_and_get_more_!

    As .15 points out, once you have taken advantage of the original
    offer (3 for $1 plus 2 at $14.98 plus postage; or the new deal of
    6 for $1 plus 4 at $14.98), both RCA and CBS clubs offer a CD at
    half price for each one at full price. With postage, that's around
    $26.50 for 2 CDs. That's better than the full retail price, but
    not as good as the intro prices per disk.
    
    Choices are fairly restricted too. Since stores such as Lechmere
    usually have several CDs on sale at $11.98, staying a member of
    the clubs has limited advantage.
    
    By the way, if any other noters want to join RCA or CBS clubs, let
    those of us that are already members know. If we sign up a new member,
    we get a free CD. 

    - roger

    
      This question should go here I think??????
    
    Has any one gotten the Grateful Dead "In The Dark" on cd from any
    mail order club??? I'm wondering if they include My Brother Essau
    onthe club issue?  they (when they issued A-smith "done with mirrors)
    included "Darkness" on the lp issue (from the record club) just
    wondering, because the Dead should have included it on the cd version.
    
                                                   Thanks
    
                                                  Charlie
    

    Has anyone else had problems recently trying to get through on the
    800 number to The CD Club (1-800-CD-AUDIO)? I consistently get a
    busy signal at all times of the day/evening.

    Funny -- I was just wondering the same thing

     Same here - I got through about a month ago, after the phone did
    auto re-dials for about two hours. The woman I spoke with said they
    were understaffed for the amount of incoming calls. 
    
     Guess you just have to hit it right -but I find it awfully hard
    to believe that they're THAT swamped with calls.....they ain't GIVING
    those disks away!
    
    
    
                                  Ken
    

    RE. -18
    
    	That has been my experience with them also. There is a Customer
    service number however, off the top of my head, 1-317-542-6630.
    I don't know if you can place orders through this number though.
    

    I started calling at random intervals at 7:40AM (CDT) yesterday and
    finally got through around 10:00. It took about a dozen tries.
    
    As a digression, my latest catalog from CD Club had a very interesting
    offer: Buy three CD's from this particular catalog and get two free
    CDs per year for as long as you are a member. The service rep who
    answered the 800 line said there is no catch, you really do get
    two free CDs per year.
    
    Anyone else take them up on their offer?

    I took that 2 CD's per year for life offer!  My only gripe about this
    club is their small selection.  Even to take advantage of this offer, I
    really had to scrounge to find 3 CD's I wanted. 

    re: 2 free CDs a year
    
    Does it say that they are 2 free CDs of your choice? If not, they
    may be samplers that they send to everybody.
    
    Alan S.

     Anybody else getting the impression that they're trying very hard
    to hold onto the members? 
    
     This month, they unveiled another new "service" - the ability to
    order your "bonus (1/2 price)" CD, along with the full priced one.
    No more waiting for certificates by return mail - although you can
    if you want to. The return card has been revamped to reflect the
    change.
    
     Now, if we can only get 'em to expand their offerings and add a
    dose of sanity to the postage and handling charges.......
    
    
    
                                   Ken
    

    Has anyone had trouble receiving free discs? (ie those promised for
    new members that you have recruited) I am still waiting for two
    freebies for members that I enrolled in early spring.  I have
    also experienced other problems with the Compact Disc Club such
    as receipt of discs that I did not order.  If anyone is interested,
    I do have the address to the Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana.
    They have been helpful to me in one instance.     
    

     I've only had one experience in signing up a new member; as I recall,
    it took six weeks for the freebie to arrive. What they do is wait
    for your buddy to pay his tab on his discs, then they send our your
    free disc.
    
     As far as getting unordered discs, it's happened to me 3 or 4 times
    in 3 years. I just called; they straightened out my account, and
    told me to keep the disc!
    
     I'd be interested in hearing what prompted you to involve the Indiana
    BBB - care to tell, for the betterment of all?
    
    
                                         Ken
    

    I found that one of the other incentives for joining was the bonus
    certificates.  In one case, I sent one with an order which the club
    filled incorrectly.  I returned the disc with a request for the
    correct disc.  After weeks of waiting, it became apparent that I
    was without the disc as well as my 1/2 price certificate.  After
    receiving a letter from the BBB, the club was fast to respond.