I hate the BMG Music Club

Lorenzini · #1 12-25-2007, 02:23 PM

What a load of crap that company is.
Send you **** at random and send you a bill.

**** them!

Mon Rominee · #2 12-25-2007, 03:14 PM

Did you forget to send back the cards?

I don't understand the appeal of remastered substandard copy cds you end up paying maybe a dollar less for than retail stores, but that's just me.

I belonged to their service, 6-7 years ago for about 2 months. The quality was crap, I satisfied my commitment with stuff they offered from their label that wasn't copies, and cancelled promptly. I don't see how they stay in business these days.

Lorenzini · #3 12-25-2007, 03:35 PM

I believe the first time I just threw the card out thinking it was just spam.

I had to send it back cancelling or of course they would totally screw me over and send me a CD!

Stupid and ridiculous.

MJ5150 · #4 12-25-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

I believe the first time I just threw the card out thinking it was just spam.

Hate them all you want, but don't get mad for not following their rules. You didn't return the card saying no, so you got the CD.

Mon....I do.

-Mike

Chunk-O-Funk · #5 12-25-2007, 04:36 PM

I had them a few years ago too. Before the intarweb dayz.

I got stuck with one or two over a number of years with them. No one to blame but yourself.

IIRC you can send back the CD if you didn't open it. Ask your postman. I remember you have to write something on the box and it goes back to BMG.

seventhson · #6 12-25-2007, 05:43 PM

It's in their FAQ. If you receive a CD that you didn't want, just write "REFUSED" on the package and put it back in your mailbox. They will credit your account upon receipt. Very painless.

Mon Rominee · #7 12-25-2007, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Mon....I do.

-Mike

cheeky!

Vandelay · #8 12-26-2007, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

I believe the first time I just threw the card out thinking it was just spam.

I had to send it back cancelling or of course they would totally screw me over and send me a CD!

Stupid and ridiculous.

Next time, do a little homework before you join something. Most people know how these music clubs work, it shouldn't have been too hard to figure out. They've been doing the automatic "monthly selection" thing for decades now, so this is nothing new.

I think they now let you use email instead of postcards that you have to mail. You probably should switch to that, it'd make it a lot easier to tell them "no" every month.

middy · #9 12-26-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

I don't understand the appeal of remastered substandard copy cds you end up paying maybe a dollar less for than retail stores, but that's just me.

What, do they miss a few 1s and 0s when they copy the CDs? Why on Earth would they "remaster" something that's already available as a "perfect" copy off the shelf?

This may have been true in the analog days, perhaps they used second generation masters to press vinyl or record cassettes, but I'm willing to bet that their CDs are identical in data content to the store-bought ones.

I have no problems with BMG. I respond via the website to the emails they send me requesting a response to my monthly selection. I get no snail mail from them at all (except for the actual CDs), and I get no spam.

I've already fulfilled my obligation and I paid an average of less than $8 per CD including shipping.

Rattman · #10 12-26-2007, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by middy

What, do they miss a few 1s and 0s when they copy the CDs? Why on Earth would they "remaster" something that's already available as a "perfect" copy off the shelf?

This may have been true in the analog days, perhaps they used second generation masters to press vinyl or record cassettes, but I'm willing to bet that their CDs are identical in data content to the store-bought ones.

I have no problems with BMG. I respond via the website to the emails they send me requesting a response to my monthly selection. I get no snail mail from them at all (except for the actual CDs), and I get no spam.

I've already fulfilled my obligation and I paid an average of less than $8 per CD including shipping.

With a great post like this, even I could be persuaded to once again be a BMG member. Just my .02 worth... The period when I was a member was indeed 'painless'.. I read the membership details carefully, purchased quite a few CD's back in the early '90's and never felt confused, angry or exploited.. sure, sure BMG is kinda pushy, but when I told them "pull the plug!" it was all over without a single reprisal or 'sneak charge' afterwards. ..

Jared Lash · #11 12-26-2007, 07:44 PM

I belonged to BMG (and Columbia House) once upon a time. I just mailed back the cards indicating I didn't want their selection of the month (like I need Hootie and the Blowfish) and those rare times I forgot, I just took a sharpie and blacked out my name & address on the plastic and wrote "Return to Sender" on the box. No problems.

The key was to wait until they had a "Buy one, get two free" offer and buy CDs then to fulfill your obligation. It worked out to around $7 a piece.

On the other hand, I remember my step sister (who is six years older than me) signing up and then making up fake names to sign herself up as her own "friends", She ended up owing BMG hundreds of dollars in the end.

Chunk-O-Funk · #12 12-26-2007, 08:07 PM

I wonder what kind of state BMG is in with MP3's being so popular.
Didn't BMG buy Columbia House's CD services a while ago?

I remember I switched back and forth a couple of time and made out pretty good with each company. It seemed the longer you waited to respond, they would sweeten the deal to get you back as a customer.

Spector_Ray · #13 12-26-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seventhson

It's in their FAQ. If you receive a CD that you didn't want, just write "REFUSED" on the package and put it back in your mailbox. They will credit your account upon receipt. Very painless.

You can write "Refused" as long as it's not opened. If you open it, you have to pay return shipping.

Lorenzini · #14 12-27-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vandelay

Next time, do a little homework before you join something. Most people know how these music clubs work, it shouldn't have been too hard to figure out. They've been doing the automatic "monthly selection" thing for decades now, so this is nothing new.

I think they now let you use email instead of postcards that you have to mail. You probably should switch to that, it'd make it a lot easier to tell them "no" every month.

The problem is I NEVER signed up for the service, knowingly.
I suppose the only wrong thing I did was not REFUSE their packages and instead e-mailed them, telling them to stop sending me things and cancel whatever account I supposedly started with them. Only thing they did then, was send me more ****!

Mon Rominee · #15 12-28-2007, 10:32 AM

Remastered is the wrong word. Re- EQ'ed is the right one, sorry. They are licenced to duplicate the works, but I have heard that the copies are altered EQ-wise a tad, as to not be an exact copy...

If I am wrong, I apologize, I have nothing to back this up tho... either way, I had heard that, went about satisfying my agreement with them, and vowed never again to participate in those dealings.

To each their own.

vbsurfer3001 · #16 12-28-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunk-O-Funk

It seemed the longer you waited to respond, they would sweeten the deal to get you back as a customer.

Yep, that is true, I fulfilled the required purchases a couple of years ago. I get a monthly email with a selection and I just go to the website and click NO. After a few months they will offer "points" and free cd's and then they keep on going. The last time I bought from them I bought 8 cd's and I think the total cost was about $30.

But I'll probably cancel before to long...

The Crusader · #17 12-28-2007, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

What a load of crap that company is.
Send you **** at random and send you a bill.

**** them!

agreed

GregC · #18 12-28-2007, 10:54 AM

*shrug* I used them to get the free-ish CDs, loading up on older stuff I'd always wanted but never bought. I used the online notification system--it was far easier than snail mail. But once I fulfilled my commitment and took advantage of some good sales, I pulled the plug.

tplyons · #19 12-29-2007, 10:10 AM

Did you ever send something back saying you want the 12 for a penny or whatever it is? Then you have to fulfill the obligation.

If you're aware of the rules, it's fairly easy to get a good deal out of it.

Nowadays I'll just buy the CD's in the store.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #20 12-29-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

The problem is I NEVER signed up for the service, knowingly.
I suppose the only wrong thing I did was not REFUSE their packages and instead e-mailed them, telling them to stop sending me things and cancel whatever account I supposedly started with them. Only thing they did then, was send me more ****!

You didn't join the club in any way or form? You didn't sign up to get the 12 for 1 deal?

I've used the BMG 12 for 1 deal about ten times now. I quit after my initial deal and they always ask me to come back with the same deal a few months later. You can refuse the featured selections online as well- no need to send in the cards.