There are piranhas in the Amazon
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 2:50 am
It seems most collectors prefer to have the hard product in their possession: CDs, SACDs, DVDs. Perhaps others like myself download an occasional track to check it out before buying a disc as Amazon's 30 second chunk isn't always enough.
And there are times when a set is now OOP but the label allows a download at a huge discount against some marketplace collectors' prices. One such is Donizetti's L'Assedio di Calais. Download price: £14.98; Mr (Hopeful) jukeboxusa's price: £310. I will be pestering Opera Rara to get it back in print, asap! Thankfully they do listen.
There are also a few recordings with download the only option: recordings made by the Louisville Orchestra, if you happen to like American music: 96 albums altogether, and a few popular albums. I acquired a few.
Until recently, Amazon allowed us to put tracks or albums in the basket which, after a good browse, we could edit then finally pay for. Very useful when alternatives exist and we'd like to think about it, or spread purchasing over a few days.
No more. It's invented this cloud thing. Your download choice gets stuffed in this cloud* from where you have to download it. Point is, though, the shopping basket is no more. For downloads, 1-click ordering is permanently on so every track/album you click is instantly ordered and charged. There's no mind-changing, no refund if you don't want it.
Second point is that using the "cloud drive" is subject to its own terms and conditions. As is my wont I read them front to back and could neither comply with them, nor would the cloud be relevant as I'm sure my phone company's going to love to charge me for streaming music on the Continent, roving or not. As Amazon claims there's a way of downloading direct without the cloud I thought that would be fine but no, it gets to this cloud all the same.
It took one track to learn what was going on then I wrote, said I hadn't downloaded it, hadn't had a chance to agree to the t&c and they cancelled it.
Beware all ye downloaders, therefore! And let's hope they restore the previous facilities soon.
*cloud? The way it's teeing down with rain outside there'll be music flooding everywhere!!
And there are times when a set is now OOP but the label allows a download at a huge discount against some marketplace collectors' prices. One such is Donizetti's L'Assedio di Calais. Download price: £14.98; Mr (Hopeful) jukeboxusa's price: £310. I will be pestering Opera Rara to get it back in print, asap! Thankfully they do listen.
There are also a few recordings with download the only option: recordings made by the Louisville Orchestra, if you happen to like American music: 96 albums altogether, and a few popular albums. I acquired a few.
Until recently, Amazon allowed us to put tracks or albums in the basket which, after a good browse, we could edit then finally pay for. Very useful when alternatives exist and we'd like to think about it, or spread purchasing over a few days.
No more. It's invented this cloud thing. Your download choice gets stuffed in this cloud* from where you have to download it. Point is, though, the shopping basket is no more. For downloads, 1-click ordering is permanently on so every track/album you click is instantly ordered and charged. There's no mind-changing, no refund if you don't want it.
Second point is that using the "cloud drive" is subject to its own terms and conditions. As is my wont I read them front to back and could neither comply with them, nor would the cloud be relevant as I'm sure my phone company's going to love to charge me for streaming music on the Continent, roving or not. As Amazon claims there's a way of downloading direct without the cloud I thought that would be fine but no, it gets to this cloud all the same.
It took one track to learn what was going on then I wrote, said I hadn't downloaded it, hadn't had a chance to agree to the t&c and they cancelled it.
Beware all ye downloaders, therefore! And let's hope they restore the previous facilities soon.
*cloud? The way it's teeing down with rain outside there'll be music flooding everywhere!!