HD Tracks UK

Still lots of "This product is not currently available due to region restrictions". So what's changed other than there now a HDTracks.co.uk site?

Dave

I can't log in to HDT.co.uk

I get a message "If you are having trouble logging in, please try clearing your browser's cookies and logging in again"

Did that but still a problem

Made sure I was logged out from USA

Still a problem

(I can log into HDT.com - no probs)  

Oh and of those albums available, surprise, surprise the prices are higher than on the US site.

Dave

Mike-B

I had to re-register to use the UK site..

Dave

OK thanks Dave

I will give that a go & have a look later,  but if prices are higher, then no point,  I'll just keep using IP subterfuge

I've been moving towards Qobuz recently,  better pricing providing they have what yr looking for.   

I had no problems getting on. As someone said above there are still regional restrictions on many albums.

It's weird. I bought Anita Baker's Rapture in 192k on Friday, from the US site. I looked on the UK site just now to compare prices, but the album is showing as not available, due to region restrictions. I didn't hide my address on the US site (I would not know how to), so what's going on?

Note: all downloads were HiRes 96/24.

Hi,

Its with .co.uk on the end instead.

No. The labels haven't found a regional distributor but there are no regional restrictions. Punters located anywhere in the world can buy from anywhere in the world. It's just that the labels would prefer them not to and some retailers will go along with this want. It's nothing more than a form of attempted price fixing, just like Regional codes for DVD and BD. There is no law stipulating a restriction.

Harry

Perhaps you could drop HDTracks an email to tell them to amend the statement on their web site(s).

Dave

And as ever we in the UK are penalised on price!

The 3 disc version of Jazz at the Pawnshop is £29.78 ($49.98) on the US site and £38.40 in the UK

I just took a very quick look at the prices of equivalent downloads from Qobuz and HDTracks UK. Just taking the first albums on the HDT 'Audiophile Picks' and 'Top Hi-res Female Vocalists' lists as examples:

Joni Mitchell Court And Spark: HDT - £18.06 Qobuz - £14.69

Doug Macleod There's A Cloud: HDT - £18 Qobuz - £11.99

Qobuz's downloads are even cheaper if you can use a euro-based site.

I probably won't be using HDT UK's services much.

OK Dave. Sorry. I'll put my soap box away.

It's just that when honest music lovers start to default into talking about "restrictions" and "regional restrictions", the work of the labels is complete because we have convinced ourselves of the validity of their invalid inferences.

Or something like that.

I was only quoting the site Harry. It says 'not available in your region' which I take as a regional restriction, legal or not.

Steve

Sorry Steve. Didn't mean to give the appearance of having a go. I get a bit knee jerky when we start regurgitating out the industry's drivel without even realising it. My problem.

No problem. It's bloody frustrating.

The price difference is probably due to the cost of transporting all those digital bits across the pond ?

It surely can't be down to the crazy notion that those Brits are so loaded with wonga they'll pay anything you ask.....  can it?  (I thought only car manufacturers had that idea.)

And of course 20% VAT probably adds to the difference to some extent...

I tried putting in my home address in Switzerland and it still gave me the same price (which is probably a flaw in their system but still).

If I can buy a CD for £10 from amazon then I am not going to pay £17 for the HD version.

Conrad, I managed to download blues singer Koko Taylor , she does "Born under a bad sign" with Buddy Guy. Very good indeed. I just bought this song only. Also Van morrisons" Moondance" sounds better from HD tracks than my ripped CD in the unitiserve via superuniti.

Hi,

i have chaged my IP adress, so HD tracks thinks that iam inside the US. So for me HD Tracks US works smooth and is cheaper than in Germany. (because we also have to pay a special Tribute for some shit)

M

Even allowing for VAT it's still a few dollars more. didle didle dah, dah dah dah.

Indeed, and there are, of course, various sales taxes in the US so its not a case of comparing 20% tax with zero tax.  BTW the situation in the US w.r.t tax seems very complex.  There are various Wiki articles about it if anyones interested.

Qobuz charges the same numerical price in £ as it does in Euros i.e. £12.99 versus 12.99 Euros. This means that we in the UK are paying 25% more for downloads than our friends in the eurozone which should not be acceptable/legal in a "single market".  Despite this typical Qobuz prices in £ are still cheaper than HDT UK.