Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

    Look in notes:
    
    	61, 387, 395, 408, 556, 790, 825, 931, 1089, 1101 and 1156.
    
    When I get a few spare moment, I'll create a keyword and add
    it these notes to make them a little easier to find.

    Sorry. I did a title search on NH, found nothing. Note 408 is N.H.!
    Regardless, that one is dated July, 86. Given the growth of CDs,
    and NH in general, I was hoping some some new place(s) opened up;
    saving me from going into Boston for inexpensive CDs!
    
    John
    

    The best thing I've found is to wait until Lechmere has a sale.
    
    You can get high-end ($15.99/16.99) discs for mid-range ($12.99-13.99)
    prices.  The rest of the discs are similarly discounted, usually around
    20% off.  Check out the mail order place mentioned a couple of notes
    back (Title contains "cheap").  It's about a mail-order place right
    in Nashua.
    
    -Dave

    Manchester Compact Disk on Elm St. has a decent pop selection,
    and while not dirt cheap, their prices are pretty good.

    It is a mail order place out of Nashua. You can find the address and
    phone in 123.12 

    Consider some of the clubs. I'm in the Compact disc club and am
    very happy with it. Initially, you get 3 discs for the price of
    shipping ($1.69 ea x 3). You must buy one more in 1 year at list
    + shipping ($14.99 or $15.99 + $1.69). With each one you buy at
    list, (including the first one), you get a 50% coupon for another
    (+shipping). 
    	Frequently, there are 1/2 sale catalogs (1/2 + shipping), but
    with these, you don't receive a coupon.
    	Of course, there is an automatic shipment if you don't return
    the card, but you can even skip this method of cancellation. They
    provide an 800 number which you can call to cancel or change the
    auto shipment. 
    	If you get a friend to join, you get a free disc (well almost-
    you must pay---you guessed it- the shipping charges).
    	The people on the other end are very courteous and helpful.
    Selection is very good with many labels to choose from. They are
    tied to the RCA clubs-I have even used their service number to inquire
    about my sons' membership in the RCA Tape club.
    	No, I don't work for this club. (but does anyone want to join
    so I can get a free (+shipping) disc? :^)
    Earle  

    re .6
    I've always tossed those promos in the trash, but I did go for
    the one where you get 6 CDs for a buck. I think you have to
    buy 1 more over a year. Wouldn't you know, I can't recall
    the name of the club. Might be CBS. What is/are the one(s)
    you belong to?
    
    John

     re: .5
    
    The best one yet is the International Preview Society.  Actually,
    for CDs the IPS (an arm of RCA Music Club) puts you into the Compact
    Disc Club. 
    
    The deal is three CDs for $1, plus shipping, which in my case was
    a total of $5.97...plus you NEVER have to buy another one (Which
    is one less than you have to buy if you join the Compact Disc Club
    directly).
    
    So you get your three, send the six bucks off and then write them
    a letter asking them to cancel your membership.
    
    Then three months later, the junk mail will deliver another
    application, so you can join again...

    The freebies are predominantly classical, some jazz and NO ROCK.
    
    

    Re: .7
    
    The old deal with the CBS club was 3 free, buy "2" more in a year.
     The new deal (the one you mentioned) is 6 frre, buy "4" more in
    the next '2' years.
    
    What it really adds up to is that they lock you in for more "to
    buy" with the new deal, but it still the same deal.  In the long
    run they will probably also save on commisions (ie. the free ones
    you get for joining up friends) because now they only have to give
    one free one for what is now equiv to two "old deals".

    Re: .9 and .7
    
    I did the CBS club for CDs this year, as I had done with records about 
    8 years ago.
    
    The initial six came to ~4.50 with shipping and each of the 4
    CDs is 17.50 with shipping.  Say you buy your required four in the
    first four months, that's 4 25� stamps as of this month.  Ie 10
    CDs for 75.50 which really isn't bad PROVIDED you can find 10
    CDs you would normally buy and you buy the required 4 in the
    first four months and remember to send in the stupid cards.
    
    The problem is that the selection is poor and repetative, (it does
    not pay to stay in the club as, cheap as it may sound, the stamps
    and aggrevation of sending in your "I DO NOT WANT THIS MONTHS
    SELECTIONS" adds up.)
    
    If also have some cards so if anyone is thinking of joining let
    me know so I can get a free CD...
    Pete

    
    
    The latest on (RCA) The Compact Disc Club is 3 free (shipping &
    handling only) with the requirement to only by 1 during the next
    year. Problem is, the advert selection is very small. I went for
    it anyway. I have 4 1/2 price coupons still from the last time I
    was a member, so I'm gonna rejoin to use them. 
    
    Apparently there's no waiting for 1/2 price coupons either. For
    each full price disc you buy, they mail you a 1/2 price coupon.
    
    With CBS, you have to fulfill the membership requirement of however
    many over the next year or 2 years, before qualifying for 1/2 price
    coupons.
    
    				The Cruiser
    
    

         One trick about the clubs is, save your selection books.
         They change every month (probably to reflect what they
         have overstocked), but you can order from an old
         book.
         
         I agree with a previously reply,  I don't think it
         is worth the aggravation, at least not since I found
         out about Noteworthy. 

	 FYI:
         I remember reading somewhere (I think in this file or
         perhaps AUDIO) that the RCA record club and the CBS
         record club are owned by the same company. 

         
         P.S. I also have a card if anyone wants to join (so
         I can get a free CD).
         
         -Eric

    
    I have fulfilled my obligation to CBS disc club.  I want to quit.
     Anybody know what you do to quit?  
    
    Jim
    

    When I quit the first time, I dropped a small note in with
    my payment of my last disc.
    
    It may also be possible to phone them.  Note 796.18
    (1-800-457-0500)

I quit CBS by ignoring them.  Every time they sent me a CD, I put it back in 
my mailbox marked "REFUSED", and the post office returned it at CBS' expense.
After about 10 CDs returned, they caught on.

						     
							- JP

    RE: .15
    
     Geez, JP - did they enrage you enough to pull that stunt? :-)
    
    RE: .13
    
     All I ever did was to write "Cancel Membership" across the reply
    card. Because of their "system", you may have to do this twice.
    After about four months, you'll get a letter from them telling you
    how much they miss you, and how they want their "best customer"
    to rejoin the club. And no, the enticement to rejoin is no better
    than the standard offering......
    
    
    
                                   Ken
    

    Re: .-1
    
    The first time I quit it was no hassle at all.  I wasn't even trying
    to quit.  When I sent in the payment for my last order (that forfilled
    my obligation), I dropped in a little typed note that said I would
    like to be put on the list where it is understood that if I don't
    send in the "selection of the month" card, it will be assumed I
    *don't* want it.
    
    They must of misread it because two weeks later they said "goodbye"
    and never tried to get me to rejoin.  (though I still got their
    Video club "join us" mailings).
    
    This time I'll try calling to be put on the "no auto selection"
    list because I would like to stay joined and just keep signing up
    friends and relatives to get the free CD's for doing so.

Re .-1

>     Geez, JP - did they enrage you enough to pull that stunt? :-)
    
Nope, I'm just cheap and lazy!

						     
							- JP

    
    Thanks for the input on how to quit.  I think I'll try another method
    than the one JP used.  
    
    Actually, the club is OK, not exactly the cheapest, but pretty
    reasonable when the 1/2 price tickets are considered.  On the plus
    side, they have a better classical selection than Noteworthy,
    especially the newer ones.  But I hate getting those stupid cards
    every 4 weeks and having to remember to send them back and use a
    25 cent stamp too.  If they sent me the mag and card and didn't
    send the disk unless I asked for it, I would stay in.
    
    Oh well, back to Tower I guess.  Noteworthy has a lousy classical
    selection.
    
    Regards, Jim
    

Hi,
    
    sorry to inform you it's cheaper in France. We got it for ... about
    $6.OO for the cheaper collection without going in any club.
    
    Pat.