1. Home
  2. tech-talk
  3. 999265201

CD Clubs -Press their own CD's?

I was thinking of joining a CD Club, like BMG or Columbia House, and I read the following quote from Dealdude.com, "The clubs press their own CDs, tack on shipping and handling fees of about $2 per CD, and work out special royalty deals with the labels...".

What is meant by, "The clubs press their own CDs"? Are these inferior to what can be purchased at the store?

http://dealdude.com/cdclubs.html?source=findwhat
brianmgrarcom
gs5556
769 posts
 
For a very informative take on this, refer to:
http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?55
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
What I know is BMG labeled CDs are much worse in sound quality than same artist/album non-BMG which gives me an idea that they remanufacture CDs with poor bulk quality. Columbia House is OK in that direction since they trade with originally pressed ones. For shipping-handling they do overcharge but there still possible to find a good deal on each of CD that you order from them. For example if you are obligated to buy off 6 CDs at original club price for 3 years of membership, you can buy them on buy 1 get 3 free deals and fulfill your obligation with such offers. At the end it figures that you'll have a bunch of sealed CDs at average price of $6!
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
The big clubs can press some of their own for a few big sellers. But the majority of discs are ordinary (same as retailers get amywhere) stuff.
The story that ColumbiaHouse and BMG make their own discs AND that they are 'inferior' is GREAT for the full price retailers bottom lines. BMG does print special inserts for the CDs that say they are from BMG.. So does Col.house, just to keep members from taking them, still wrapped, to retailers and claim them as 'gifts' in need of exchanging. Many, though, of the obscure titles don't have this feature. I have never noticed any "Quality Gap" in the many club CDs I've purchased over the years, and have to say it is a myth.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
...that's just what I thoght it is, Gs5556! --
Very informative and I am now more shure that I'm not nuts
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I suggest you all read the Stereophile article linked above. It found no difference what-so-ever; and the testing done was substantial. This included mixing/combining the two CDs with the polarity reversed on one. If they are identical they will cancel each other out. If one is inferior, then sound will be heard. All of the CDs tested passed this test completely (as well as all the other tests performed. I have been buying record club CDs since CDs came out. I have never had a defective CD. I have returned CDs bought in the store for replacement.
More to discover