Frustration with HD Tracks in the UK

Search www for IP Blockers,  most have a free trail period & the cost about the price of a download for 1 year.  

They are intended to hide your IP when using public wifi hot spots, but they do the same for the regional restriction problem in USA - you set your "location" as USA & remember to only use it for the download as it screws up some of your PC settings that use your actual location.  

I wrote to HDTracks asking when they will make the promised move to UK,  the non-committal reply said hopefully sometime soon this year. 

For the first time for a long time, 30 minutes ago HD Tracks appeared 'wide open' with no Region restrictions at all. I have no IP blocker and am UK registered so it seems to be a case of get it while you can.

Confirmed,  just downloaded 2 high-res albums 

I originally had the same issue with HDtracks and Qobuz. After building some solid records of purchases, I just ask them if they would consider lifting the blockers. They both simply and kindly did it.

Chag -

I didn't know HDT would do that. That's very useful to know. I use Hide My IP and Qobuz lifted the block when I asked them.

Seems that HDT might know the difference between industry agreements and consumer law. I might give it a try.

Just downloaded Eliane Elias/Marc Johnson "Swept Away" ECM album 96/24 ALAC, previously not available in the UK.

Dave

try rutracker.

It is available to all in the UK.  AT the moment anyway.

Wonder wots going on ??? 

But whatever,  with no tricky stuff like IP Blockers or using my US buddies ID,   Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs in 96/24 WAV is winging its way across the airwaves as I write.  

The only frustration is the need to fill in a phone number in the US (123) 456 or 123-456 style.

& I just found that any old number will get you past the page just so long as it looks right.  

Yes I think they are up to something. The only issue I have is I apparently need to reset my password (which is only about 2 weeks old) because of 'changes' to the site and they are not sending me the email to do it at present - I've checked Spam and nothing there either.

Clear your cache and try again. It worked for me.

Dave

Success! Cheers Dave

I was lucky and had no trouble at all and downloaded 'Tommy' and 'Abraxas' - great sound quality - lovely jubbly.

Has anyone downloaded 'Let It Bleed' from HDTracks, because my CD version sounds absolutely dreadful and that is putting it mildly.

In the past I have found that paying with Paypal and not using a credit/debit card direct has enabled me to buy some albums, but not all. It seems now that everything I have tried is available, hope it lasts.

Yes, PayPal is the best option if you have it. The exchange rate is better and you don't get 'non sterling transaction' charges.

I bought Let it Bleed last year and it is excellent, far better than the CD.

Gerry

Thanks for that Gerry, I love that album.

I agree that PayPal is the best option, it does tend to give a better rate and if I use my Credit Card I also get lumbered with a transaction charge of about 60 or 70p.

HDTracks is currently accessible from Germany too, i.e. without IP blocker. Currently downloading Random Access Memories, which didn't work before. I only hope that no one really uses (123) 456-7890 as phone number .

Perhaps these are foreshadows of TTIP?

Well it's not working for me . Just failed to get the new Natalie Merchant due to territorial blocking.

I cleared my cache, but it made no difference.

Every time I click on an album, it shows "region restrictions". What am I doing wrong?

You are doing nothing wrong. Restrictions are back. This makes no sense whatsoever.

Yes, restrictions are back, "Random Access Memories" is not accessible anymore. It seems that their geo IP filter was out of order for some days.

How can I bypass the geo IP filter?

Use an IP blocker.

Or use a VPN connection with a US Server

Bizarre, seems the restrictions are back indeed.