Cracks

Posted by: EJS on 11 September 2013

With the glory days of CD seemingly behind us, it's frustrating to see how companies are only speeding up the inevitable through the continued use of those flimsy jewel cases and increasingly cheap mail order packaging. Nowadays I buy virtually all CDs via online retailers, and the % of cases that survive the transit to my office intact is shockingly low... So far just an inconvenience and no actual damage to the discs, but wouldn't it be fun to receive items bought new and actually looking like new, too?

 

Cheers,

 

EJ

Posted on: 11 September 2013 by BigH47

Doesn't bother me I don't use CD cases all non digi pack CDs go into JazzLoft CD sleeves.

Posted on: 11 September 2013 by winkyincanada

Mine get ripped immediately and put away. I rarely even read the booklets. If I had to use the cases repeatedly, it would drive me nuts. I estimate that 75% are busted when I get them.

Posted on: 11 September 2013 by kuma

So far I've been lucky with online retailers like B&N or Amazon with no instances of busted jewel cases.

 

The only time the item arrived damaged was from a UK retailer but then when I told them that the case was arrived with damaged corners, they've sent a replacement case!

 

I wasn't expecting it but they should have put it in a sturdier box or shipping pak rather than sending it in a padded envelope!

Posted on: 14 September 2013 by Florestan

I feel your pain, EJ.  I struggle regularly with this problem as well.  

 

I can't place much of the blame on the CD holder itself though.  99% of the problems I experience are due to mail packaging (the envelope style with some pathetic half bubbles), the postal system/unionized workers, and if applicable (and especially) the obtuse gorillas who seem to commonly get unionized customs inspection positions.

 

I doubt if vendors can get insurance to cover shipping damages or have any recourse against a postal system but if not it is unfortunate that the postal system / customs tends to increase the cost to vendors and ultimately all of us.  In my opinion, a lot a the damage could be avoidable but again, I don't want to keep mentioning the obtuse gorilla problem.  The flip side is that vendors would alternatively be forced to increase costs to try and avoid shipping damages.  

 

I like vendors that have good packaging.  Rarely have a problem then but I can see that if a vendor has to maybe double the cost of their packaging (and post cost) to improve it many would rather take the risk of a small number of fussy people who expect an item to be in new, undamaged condition.  As noted a couple times in the other posts above I bet a large percentage never report minor damages.

 

Most of the vendors I use are very good about fixing the problem of damaged CD cases.  I avoid the ones who give me problems or make the process very difficult for me and support the ones who, with no question, go the extra mile.

 

I admit too that the work and organization involved in making a claim and following through has worn me out over the years and this last year I started closing a blind eye to a few.

Posted on: 14 September 2013 by Ebor
I've bought huge amounts of s/h CDs online in the last year, and can't remember a single one arriving wih a cracked case. One or two very civilised sellers even sent the CD in a brand new unmarked case at no extra cost.

I wish I could say the cases survive well once they arrive, but I've even known them break from dropping on thick carpet. Replacements are fairly easy to source from the few decent shops left in the world (my vote goes to Bath CDs, for what it's worth).

Mark
Posted on: 15 September 2013 by Bert Schurink

Agree - the best ones are the ones which are in a high value paper coverage - I have also a lot of damages plastic ones...

Posted on: 15 September 2013 by DrMark

I have had a fair number of my online purchases arrive with damaged cases.  It is a bit frustrating when the damage involves the hinges and the case won't even stay together.

 

I have a fair number of spares from when I worked at MCI and they were getting rid of documentation CDs for obsolete products, and I dutifully (with permission) scooped up every jewel case that I could.  Of course, eventually those too will run out.

 

Like winky said, the fact that I rip immediately and then store is the only other saving grace; if i had to use them all the time it would be a bigger issue than it currently is.