Another new CD..another broken "jewel case"
Posted by: winkyincanada on 30 May 2010
Why does nearly every CD jewel case come pre-broken? After 30 years, we deserve better.
I am glad I touch each case just twice; once to remove and rip the CD, and once to replace it and put it away in storage.
Posted on: 31 May 2010 by MilesSmiles
Only happens to me 1 in 20. I just get frustrated if it's a digipak with a hub.
Posted on: 03 June 2010 by vlada
Winky, just get upset yesterday. Bought 6 CD's. 5 cases broken. So I may not agree that every CD comes with broken case, but "only" 99% of them.
Posted on: 03 June 2010 by Ron Brinsdon
Also frustrating are "double" CD cases which are so hard to open for Disc 2 that the tray tends to fall apart.
Next time you get a "free" CD with Mojo, Uncut or whatever, burn the interesting tracks then dump the disc and keep the jewel case.
Have a good weekend and enjoy those curries responsibly!
Ron
Posted on: 06 June 2010 by James E. Avison
I am just glad that alot of artists/record companies seem to be moving away from Jewel Cases, with the new cardboard type ones, some just hold the CD in a sleeve, and others just have the inner of the Jewel Case stuck to the cardboard outer packaging, which to me is much better and allows for more artistic work, making them as interesting as Vinyl LP sleeves.
Posted on: 06 June 2010 by Nick Lees
It's funny how this comes around. When CD first came in I thought that jewel cases were so futuristic (don't laugh - I'm still waiting for the jet pack and car-that-turns-into-a-plane that Raymond Baxter promised me).
The few cardboard sleeves that turned up with CD singles were sooooo yesterday and besides got tatty quickly.
Then I became frustrated as the spindles and hinges broke and then as the P.O. used them to practice their formation tap-dancing on.
These days the digipaks are robust and as James says allows some more innovative design e.g. the full restoration Repertoire managed of Dr Strangely Stranges's Heavy Petting - complete with fold-out/cut-out as per the original L.P.
And though I'm far from convinced that Japanese pressing are by definition always better than their counterparts elsewhere, their LP replicas are satisfying aesthetically as well as being reassuringly solid.
And will they please make up their minds about how double CDs open? From the right or from the left? Sort it out!
Posted on: 06 June 2010 by Clive B
Yes, this message does keep coming round, but clearly the record companies aren't reading this forum. But I guess if they did they'd see contradictory messages. Some people like jewel cases, others prefer digipacks. Personally I prefer the jewel case as it fits the slots in my racks, but I'll happily live with the digipack, so long as the disc is protected and doesn't need to be slid in and out of a cardboard sleeve which either results in finger prints on the disc, or worse still, scratches on the playing surface.
I recently bought the new Natalie Merchant album 'Leave Your Sleep', which is a fine album musically and it's clear that a lot of thought has gone into the artistic presentation of the box. But the discs were located in thick cardboard sleeves and were scratched either on insertion or as I took them out. OK, they play just fine on my (fussy) CDS2, but I feel cheated. After all, I didn't order scratched discs. And if I were to send them back, there's no guarantee that the replacement would be scratch free, or the box might be dented or whatever.
So, if any record company reads this, please note that the overriding purpose of the case, pack, box or whatever is to PROTECT THE DISC.
Rant over. Thank you for reading this far.
Regards, CB
Posted on: 06 June 2010 by markah
I buy a lot of discs from Amazon and invariably there are several cracked cases, although the outer packaging is undamaged. I bought a big box of replacement cases very cheap on ebay and renew the broken ones straight away. I have complained to Amazon customer services a few times and they have been happy to credit me with a 5 pound voucher each time to cover my costs.
Mark
Posted on: 06 June 2010 by JamieL_v2
Funny, I just threw away a couple of dozen jewel cases.
Burning a lot of discs for either work or from downloads, and although I mainly use spindles of discs, I still end up with lots of spare cases.
Maybe I should bring a box of them next time I venture down South to meet a few fellow forum members.
Posted on: 06 June 2010 by Nick Lees
You're right Clive - some carboard sleeves are a menace too - e.g. the new MGMT where the disc is slid in and out of bare cardoard, but from the inside so there's even less chance of not scuffing the disc.
Hey ho. The music's good though.
Posted on: 06 June 2010 by King Size
quote:
Originally posted by Clive Blackman:
Yes, this message does keep coming round, but clearly the record companies aren't reading this forum. But I guess if they did they'd see contradictory messages. Some people like jewel cases, others prefer digipacks. Personally I prefer the jewel case as it fits the slots in my racks, but I'll happily live with the digipack, so long as the disc is protected and doesn't need to be slid in and out of a cardboard sleeve which either results in finger prints on the disc, or worse still, scratches on the playing surface.
I recently bought the new Natalie Merchant album 'Leave Your Sleep', which is a fine album musically and it's clear that a lot of thought has gone into the artistic presentation of the box. But the discs were located in thick cardboard sleeves and were scratched either on insertion or as I took them out. OK, they play just fine on my (fussy) CDS2, but I feel cheated. After all, I didn't order scratched discs. And if I were to send them back, there's no guarantee that the replacement would be scratch free, or the box might be dented or whatever.
So, if any record company reads this, please note that the overriding purpose of the case, pack, box or whatever is to PROTECT THE DISC.
Rant over. Thank you for reading this far.
Regards, CB
I agree with you about the plain cardboard sleeves - I genuinely dislike them for that very reason.
BTW - I work for a record company and there are a number of factors that go into the packaging decision such as cost, royalties, artistic preference etc. As you so rightly point out though you can't keep everyone happy all of the time, and if a lot of what is to be said on this forum is to be believed we should stop worrying about the CD anyway as its a dying format
Posted on: 06 June 2010 by ewemon
I loathe cardboard cd holders and digi paks. The number of times I have bought a cd in a cardboard only to find it had more scratches on it than a Hip Hop DJ's party night down at the local club beggars belief. Digi paks my problem with them is if the cd inner gets cracked or the spindle gets trashed they are prtically unsaleable.
I have had 5 copies of one particular expensive cd recently bought from different sources and they have all been badly scratched due to the disc being held in a hard paper cd holder.
A typical example of a badly designed cover is the latest remaster of Isaac Hayes- Black Moses. I defy anyone to be able to take the discs out without ripping at least one of the sleeves. Trul awful and whoever designed it should be taken out and shot.
One thing you can always say about the Japanese they certainly know how to package their cd's. Thick cases, slghtly larger cardboard sleeves so you can get the disc out without scratching it etc. It is almost like they treat the product with true reverence
Give me the good old jewel case anytime. I always keep a large batch of different styles in the house (super jewel, fatboys, doubles clear etc)just in case but at least they are cheap.
Posted on: 25 June 2010 by Gavin B
Does anyone know where to buy new innner trays? I've had a look on Amazon, but I'm not even sure of the right terminology. I don't want to buy whole cases, just the plastic insert bit that holds the CDs
Thanks
Gavin
Posted on: 25 June 2010 by markah
quote:
Originally posted by Gavin B:
Does anyone know where to buy new innner trays? I've had a look on Amazon, but I'm not even sure of the right terminology. I don't want to buy whole cases, just the plastic insert bit that holds the CDs
Thanks
Gavin
Gavin,
Put a search in on ebay for CD jewel cases (or something similar) and you will find what you are looking for there. It will show all the different cases and just the inserts as well, normally very cheap. I have bought from there before (see my post above). Good luck.
Mark
Posted on: 25 June 2010 by Gavin B
Hi Mark
I found the complete cases, but wondered whether it was possible to get just the inner tray. I think I've found somewhere - the trays are pretty cheap, but the postage more than doubles the cost of buying 20!
Gavin
Posted on: 25 June 2010 by markah
Gavin,
I can't remember exactly but I think when I was searching before I found that if you looked at the sellers other items (if they were only advertising the whole case complete) they would be selling the insert trays separately as well. When I bought mine I ordered 200 (I think) cases complete and they worked out at about 10p each! It would be worth it at this price just for the insert tray, but I guess you don't need so many!
Mark
Posted on: 25 June 2010 by BigH47
Just given about 600 CD cases away.
Gone over to those J-Loft sleeves.
Posted on: 28 June 2010 by Mick Roberts
I have moved most of my CDs into paper sleeves. That way they can be conveniently stored together with the booklet, which makes reference to the information much easier. Not only are jewel cases designed to break, they are designed to shred the booklet. I have kept the cases in case I need them in the future, they are stored in Naim boxes which are being kept for much the same reason.
The CDs now take up less room and are easier to access.
Posted on: 19 July 2010 by davidge
I had a number of CDs that would not even come off the plastic spindle in the inner tray and I ended up breaking them (the CDs) trying to do so!
That was the last straw for me and I've now switched to Fleecepack sleeves which take up much less space and are pretty robust although flexible like all vinyl/paper type sleeves.
Posted on: 21 July 2010 by Fraser Hadden
Davidge,
I think your breaking CDs is 'operator error'.
If you grasp the edge of the CD with thumb and 4th fingers and then depress the spindle with the 1st or 2nd, you will deform the central retainer sufficiently to release the CD. This deformity is a design feature - and why the spindle is not just a solid hub.
Similarly to get the tray out of the case, use a kitchen knife, inserting it at the top edge and levering slightly. The tray then detaches with ease.
Fraser
