CDWow Anyone?

Posted by: JackRabbitSlims on 29 January 2011

Hi.
Anyone using CD Wow as an online supplier of CD's or Vinyl??
I have been ordering quite a few CD's from them recently as the price point is pretty damn good compared to retail here in NZ, plus free delivery is great.
Only problem is that I seem to be getting quite a few smashed or cracked cases! One or two have been wrecked beyond use and even though the product (the cd) is fine, it p!sses me off when the case falls apart in your hands and CD falls on the floor coz the inner circle thingy that holds it in place has been pressed in and will not hold the CD in place......or the two pieces of the case no longer hold together.

Yes, I have been in email contact with them and seem to get a different CS's person each time who gives me the company BS apology, explaining that they cannot replace the actual case, but are happy to send out clear ones (which i can buy at the local Stationary shop)

OK, rant over.......just wondering if anyone else is suffering the same problem.

Posted on: 29 January 2011 by u5227470736789534

No. Must have received upwards of 50 CDs from them in the last couple of years. Never a cracked case.
Did receive a warped Air LP once which they swapped without fuss.
Overall I find them good.

red (also in NZ)

Posted on: 29 January 2011 by Nick Lees

No problem with them. On the (very) odd occasion I've had contact with their customer services, they've been almost as good as Amazon who, alongside Saga (sadly) are probably the best CS I've ever dealt with.

Oh, and hi there redeye - still owe you one for recommending Cinematic Orchestra gettoing on for 9 years ago!

Posted on: 30 January 2011 by madasafish

Play.com I had problems with. They ask that item be returned by recorded delivery for them to examine and adjudicate whether they will replace the item and their decision is final. At £2.99 I couldn't be arsed but a year or so later discovered their approach contravenes distance selling regs which, if I remember correctly, state that a mail-order item can be returned within 7 days for a full refund, including the delivery charge, for any or no reason.

Posted on: 30 January 2011 by Michael_B.

No particular problems with CDWow but have of course got the occasional cracked CD jewel case from practically everyone I regard it pretty much as a fact of life ....

Posted on: 30 January 2011 by Franx

Same here! Many cases have been broken during transport.

However, i am satisfied with their sercvice and price level.

They are far more reliable than bangcd.com which somehow have lost some of my orders (Ordered/paid/never arrived/ removed from order history)

CDwow still rocks for me!

Franx

Posted on: 30 January 2011 by JackRabbitSlims

OK - Interesting responses.....thanks.

It's kinda reassuring that I'm not the only one getting wrecked cases. For a while there I was beginning to think my mailman had it in for me!

Posted on: 30 January 2011 by u5227470736789534

Hi Gary
9 years!!
Where does the time go?
It's still a good cd though.

red

Posted on: 30 January 2011 by Paul Labrador

Hi,
Over 40 Cd's from CD Wow I received in Holland: never had a problem.
Prices are often good, but frequently you have to wait a few weeks.

Paul

Posted on: 30 January 2011 by TomK

Never had a problem with Play. I had one replacement sent with no need to return the broken jewel box.

Reference:

At £2.99 I couldn't be arsed but a year or so later discovered their approach contravenes distance selling regs which, if I remember correctly, state that a mail-order item can be returned within 7 days for a full refund, including the delivery charge, for any or no reason.

Maybe you should double check as I've never heard this before. Frankly it wouldn't seem sensible for a seller to be prepared to operate this way.

And exactly where do "distance selling regs" apply? Where you are? Where you bought it? Good luck pursuing this one

Posted on: 31 January 2011 by madasafish

Hi, Tom
here's a synopsis of the regs. I'm in the EU and so (I think) are Play. A re-read shows that sealed audio software is exempt - does that define a CD?
Anyway, it was a long time ago and, from reading the good experience of others, perhaps Play have moved on.
I tend to be a 'glass half full' bloke and didn't stress about it. In fact, I've bought dozens if not hundreds of items from them since.
Useful to know your rights, though.

Type of purchase:	Goods or services from an EU based business via mail order, phone or online.
Protection from:	The Distance Selling Regulations
Time to cancel:	Goods: Seven working days from the day after you receive goods Services: Seven working days from the day after the order is provided
Exceptions:	Fresh food and flowers (for obvious reasons of decay!), personalised goods, accommodation, transport, newspapers and magazines, sealed audio, video or computer software that has been opened or a service that has already started, can't be cancelled.
How to cancel:	You usually need to write to let the seller know, although some allow you do cancel by phone. As soon as you've cancelled take good care of the goods, as you have to send them back in reasonable condition and will probably need to pay for return delivery (unless the goods were faulty).
Getting a refund:	The seller must then pay back any cash within 30 days, including cost of delivery to you – although be sure to specifically ask for this to be included as some stores don't add it automatically. If it didn't tell you about your cancellation rights, you may have longer to cancel the order.
Specific delivery:	If you or the seller specified a certain delivery date (eg in time for a birthday or Christmas) but your order wasn't delivered on time you've a right to a full refund. If a date wasn't specified at all, then delivery should be within 30 days.

Posted on: 31 January 2011 by TomK

That's interesting. I wonder how often it's used. Play are in Jersey but I'd guess it doesn't apply with Amazon. And not surprisingly you'll have to pay the return postage yourself.

There are exceptions:
"

The cooling off period and right to cancel do not cover contracts for:

goods made to the your specification (custom-made)
perishable goods (flowers, fresh food)
CDs, DVDs, and tapes for software, audio or video if they are unsealed (have no packaging)
newspapers and magazines
betting, gaming and lotteries

"
So you can't order CDs and DDVDs, rip them, and return them. Not that I'd ever consider doing such a thing. :¬

Posted on: 31 January 2011 by madasafish

Tom, to answer your first question, I'd say very rarely. It came to my notice as a quiz question on the Martin's Money Saving Tips website where about 75% of us saving-savvy punters got the question wrong. Most still believe that the initial postage charge isn't covered and a few less think there has to be a reason for return (unless the suppliers ToRs allow it) - a hunch borne out of dealing face to face in shops, I guess.
It does seem to be loaded heavily in favour of the consumer but all the big suppliers will (or should) know the rules.
My particular experience concerned a CD that wasn't sealed on arrival and had a straight line of black glue (?) across the playing surface. I emailed Play and their reply about returns procedure seemed unnecessarily Draconian for someone who before and since has bought more stuff than they know what to do with. Anyway, to reiterate, I just couldn't be arsed - life's too short.

Posted on: 03 February 2011 by Franx

My latest positive experience... I pre-ordered a cd. It was sent to me on 31 January and received it today3 February. So it took three days from Hong Kong to The Netherlands. Cd arrived in a spotless condition.

So... I m happy once again.

Many Franx

Posted on: 03 February 2011 by JackRabbitSlims

7 CD's and 1Book in the mail today from CDWow, 4 of which have cracked / smashed / damaged cases!!

Annoying, frustrating and kinda confusing.