Buying CD's on the web?

[Chancer]

I was just browsing the Tower Records web site (http://www.towereurope.com) and noticed that you can display the prices in Irish Punts, a handy option. Now I've never purchased CD's off the web, and am wondering if it’s worth the effort.

Does anyone use the web to purchase CD's, and are there substantial saving to be made? What sites are the most competitive?

[Anders]

I have bought almost every CD in the last 4 years on-line. And the reasons are:

- Selection. Couldn't get 99% of the CDs I want to buy in an Irish music store.
- Price. It's probably not as much of a saving with the current euro/dollar exchange rate, but I would expect to pay about $15 per CD including shipping to Europe. This is based on buying 3 CDs, which is probably the minimum for the shipping cost to make sense.

I use cdnow.com exclusively. They also give you points for each purchase that can be traded in for a CD. You should get a free CD with every 10 bought roughly.

Shipping takes about a week.

[Chancer]

Thanks Anders, I'll check them out later. It always good to hear from someone who's used such an ecommerce site with success and has no complaints with the service.

Is a pity that the exchange rate has taken a dive recently though. Hopefully the ECB will intervene and the Euro will recover some of its losses.

[PaulKanters]

another usefull site is www.gemm.com (http://www.gemm.com) if you are looking for old and new cd's. They basically link up a number of CD retailers and you can choose where you place the order. The site incorporates a Feedback system which is brilliant, as you place the order with the retailer that has the best reviews. I have bought a number of cd through gemm, that are not sold in the shops anymore, and the service was impeccable. Choose the retailer with the best reviews and got the cd's in from the states within two weeks!!

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Paul Kanters
Nothing beats Classic Motoring!
welcome.to/classiccarsireland (http://welcome.to/classiccarsireland)
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[Michael Power]

I find that my CD purchasing rate has slowed considerably since I started using the Napster software. It seems to have most of what I want, for free !

Michael

[Chancer]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Michael Power:
I find that my CD purchasing rate has slowed considerably since I started using the Napster software. It seems to have most of what I want, for free !

Michael<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What does this Napster software do then? If its free then are you talking about MP3's?

[Michael Power]

Napster is a piece of software available free from www.napster.com. (http://www.napster.com.) It enabled people to see MP3 files on C drives of other users all over the world and to download them. I've found many of the "oldies" that I always wanted but never really wanted to buy a rake of CD's to get. For instance, there's a song called Shannon from Henry Gross in the mid-70's...where the hell do you find that in a CD shop ?

It really is a great utility - give it a shot !

Michael

[Chancer]

That sounds like a neat idea all right Michael. I've downloaded the software but appear to have trouble connecting to server.napster.com :( . Is the software currently working OK for you?, or maybe there is a problem in general? Just wondering so I don't waste too much more time messing around with the proxy settings.

[Michael Power]

It works just fine for me.Installed without any difficulty at all.

Is that doesn't work too well there's another similar site. Check out www.spinfrenzy.com, (http://www.spinfrenzy.com,) from where you can also download free MP3s along the same principles as Napster.

Michael

[Michael Power]

...though don't install any of these at work as you could get into a great deal of trouble downloading large MP3 files. Keep it for home, or otherwise, stick to buying CD's.

Michael

[WhipLash]

Michael, that a typical managerial ‘cover my ass’ reply if ever I’ve heard one :p

[Justin]

Nice one, Michael. I've just downloaded Santana's She's not there, which is difficult to find on cd :D

[Junior]

Ok Guys whats all yer usernames ? I've been using napster with months and have a collection of stuff if anyones interested you can then add my name .. and it's not Junior you will have to ask ... to your hotlist and we can share ... anyone up for this ?

[Anders]

Just started using this Napster thing. I'm not surprised the music industry is annoyed, this is an automated tool for music piracy. So who is breaking the copyright, the people sharing their MP3 collection or the people downloading or both?

[Justin]

lets not explore this idea too much further :D

[WhipLash]

Forget pirates, this thing is a frigging Amarda! :)

[Tony]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Anders:
Just started using this Napster thing. I'm not surprised the music industry is annoyed, this is an automated tool for music piracy. So who is breaking the copyright, the people sharing their MP3 collection or the people downloading or both?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well I've just read a report into the effects that the Napster system is having on the record industry in the States. Occording to the article the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) have filed for an injunction against Napster.com, saying it is depressing sales of CDs near college campuses. They claim that Napster is responsible for widespread copyright infringements and industry harm, and described the system as being a haven for on-line music piracy. And who can argue that then?

[Junior]

Right lads ignoring all copyright issues here etc. Has anyone got Christy Moores Lanigans Ball on Mp3 I need to try and get a CD together for a Trad session Saturday in Ring and I need that song .. any help appreciated ...



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Junior
junior@eForecourt.com

Junior's Web (http://juniorsweb.hypermart.net)

[WhipLash]

So Junior, did you get your 'Lanigans Ball' then over the weekend? http://www.eforecourt.com/UBB/clown1.gif http://www.eforecourt.com/UBB/naughty.gif

[This message has been edited by WhipLash (edited 19 June 2000).]

[Junior]

Nah Whippy I had to go buy a Christy Moore Cd for one Song ... ahh well I normally buy CD's and or Vinyl if i am doing a gig but when theres stuff thats hard to find napster is used to create either a CD or a MiniDisc. Doing Trad nights are the best laff ever .. As for getting my Laningans Ball in the sense you mean .. nah the better half is on holliers sans family in Greece :(