Anyone joined those music service/clubs way back then?

[jtvang125]

I remember as a kid I joined one where it was 12 cassettes for 1 cent. Of course with no income things went south pretty quickly. I think I joined again when CDs came around but I actually fulfilled the ToS since I had a job. I think I only had to buy one but at $16 a pop it was a tough pill to swallow back then.

I wonder how many people joined just to take advantage with little intentions of ever paying since they didn't require a credit card.

 

[Ns1]

didn't we all?

 

[BoomerD]

Hell yes...Columbia Records, BMC Music, maybe another one. Their “requirements” were pretty easy to work around.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I joined the CD version multiple times. Back when CDs were $16 because of the price fixing by the major labels (later busted by DoJ), the Columbia House / BMG deals were sometimes pretty good, like $6-8 per CD instead. They'd also have closeouts for even less.

Once the discount online CD stores appeared, and later Amazon selling music, I stopped the cycle of join - fulfill obligation - quit - rejoin.

 

[ImpulsE69]

This is a trap thread. He works for them and is looking to collect on past debts with interest!

 

[jtvang125]

I joined the CD version multiple times. Back when CDs were $16 because of the price fixing by the major labels (later busted by DoJ), the Columbia House / BMG deals were sometimes pretty good, like $6-8 per CD instead. They'd also have closeouts for even less.

Once the discount online CD stores appeared, and later Amazon selling music, I stopped the cycle of join - fulfill obligation - quit - rejoin.

I was reading on how they made any money and turns out they were exploiting loops holes with licensing and underhanded tactics. They were saving so much money with these exploits that they could afford to practically give the music away yet still make money.

 

[Zeze]

I remember those Columbia records ads in magazines. Like 1 dollar or cent per record.

It always seemed fishy and I was always skeptical. What was the catch? You had to buy 10 more at full price or some crap?

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I did them and the Book of the Month Club.

 

[Ns1]

I remember those Columbia records ads in magazines. Like 1 dollar or cent per record.

It always seemed fishy and I was always skeptical. What was the catch? You had to buy 10 more at full price or some crap?

Not that many, something like 1-3. I remember when they started offering DVD's, I would buy all the good stuff and resell on eBay.

 

[Thebobo]

My first album was from one of those services, K tel album with "in the world 2525" and "Paint it black" on it.

 

[stargazr]

Yes, several times. The first time I got 8-track tapes.

 

[SKORPI0]

Porn was also available then in VHS/Beta and DVD.

Online streaming obviously killed this type of business, specially for movies. But I'd rather have the physical media
of just the favorite movies/documentaries that I will be watching again once in a while. As for music, you can fit
a lot in a memory/flash drive.

 

[Perknose]

In different venues, the terms of the deal would vary somewhat. IIRC, I discovered that the very best offers were in Rolling Stone. And . . . there was no need to cheat them. After getting the free or nearly free haul, you typically only had to buy one at full price, and sometimes even that one was "half" price.

 

[IronWing]

Did you remember to fill in the gold box?

 

[SKORPI0]

Did you remember to fill in the gold box?

"Do you have a telephone?" - No, If I did I'd get telemarketers, etc. I used to order a lot of CDs from Columbia House/BMG.
These days, I can borrow new release Music CDs, DVD, PS3/PS4, X-Box games, Blu-rays and lately UHD from the local library. They still have VHS tapes in the shelves.

 

[nakedfrog]

I remember those Columbia records ads in magazines. Like 1 dollar or cent per record.

It always seemed fishy and I was always skeptical. What was the catch? You had to buy 10 more at full price or some crap?

Yes, and by default they'd send you a selection every month that you'd need to return if you didn't actually want it (but you could opt out of it).

 

[FeuerFrei]

Yep, that's how I got my cd collection started in college. BMG and Columbia House. You end up buying albums unnecessarily simply because you had to pick 3 to get the deal.

 

[TXHokie]

I still have a bunch of those CDs now. Rejoined once a year to get some new selection but once you've met the initial buy, selections become slim. I usually just get the requirement right away and cancel membership so they don't send me some random crap that I'd have to return.

Kids nowadays only know about streaming videos and movies instant gratification - they have no idea of the struggle we went thru with cassettes, CDs, VCRs and such. Hell, even taking photos was a crapshoot that you don't know the result until it's sent away to be developed and wait a week to get back your result - throwing out half for bad shots.

 

[IronWing]

Darn kids don't even know what a Fotomat is or that the modern coffee shop industry was built on the bones of Fotomat.

 

[jtvang125]

Porn was also available then in VHS/Beta and DVD.

Online streaming obviously killed this type of business, specially for movies. But I'd rather have the physical media
of just the favorite movies/documentaries that I will be watching again once in a while. As for music, you can fit
a lot in a memory/flash drive.

I joined one of those DVD clubs too. I still have some of the movies in a box collecting dust.

 

[KeithP]

Get your first two DVDs for just $9.95 each...
https://www.columbiahouse.com/

-KeithP

 

[Fritzo]

I got half of my album collection from those things I was 12, taped a penny to an order form, got like 8 albums, cancelled then did it again with another service. Nothing like getting a box in the mail when you're a kid full of new albums. My parents would keep asking "How are you paying for those???" hahah.