What's the deal with Columbia House and BMG?

[Grave_Addiction]

I've been thinking about joining one of these clubs, but before I do, I want to read up on them as much as possible.

I've heard of quite a few people getting in bad credit with them, but I've always thought it was just because they haven't bought the items they said they would.

From your experiences, are these things scams our are they totally legit?
I know that you have to pay shipping on each item, which is like $.99 at Columbia House, but that's not that big a deal, really.

Anyway, I'm going to wait to see what some of you say before proceeding on this.

[LV-426RS]

I go through BMG for CD's and Columbia house for DVD's. All you have to do is make sure you understand the timeframe of when you have to buy and how many. I've had no problems. After you buy your minimum you can cancel and then they will try to offer you another deal so you will stay in. It's will worth it IMO. CH has a deal right now unlimited movies for 50% off, but compare the prices to other retailers because there are some movies way overpriced.

[WeaponX2099]

They are not scams but they f-up your credit badly if you don't pay. BMG is the easiest to get out of, But the shipping/ handing is a bitch. CH wants you to buy more at a higher price that Musicland, so that BS. Just so the one that you are most comfortable with.

[PsyClerk]

How can these companies mess up your credit? Unless you order several hundred dollars' worth of stuff and then don't pay. I think my average bill from them (way back when I used those types of 'clubs') was $25-$30.

[JohnnyDrama]

I've been with BMG since 2000 and it's OK. I haven't bought a CD there in awhile, but I think I'm going to redeem my "3 free CDs" coupon soon.

[Mr. Anderson]

Can somebody give me a link to the DVD club? Sounds like a good way to get what I need.

[LinkinPrime]

They cant mess up your credit, they dont once ask for a social security number.

I have a friend who would order the free CD's and give a different name, he would keep the free CD's and when he got the bill he would write on the envelope "does not live here".

Not that im saying its right...

[Theenternal]

Also just do a search at www.dvdpricesearch.com and price out your orders overall. I joined the CH dvd club when it first started and although I saved a lot at first.. many dvds i bought ended up being in the walmart 5.50-7.99 bin after a few months.

[PsyClerk]

They cant mess up your credit, they dont once ask for a social security number.

I have a friend who would order the free CD's and give a different name, he would keep the free CD's and when he got the bill he would write on the envelope "does not live here".

Not that im saying its right...

This is what I was thinking. Not the scam part, though I think I know someone who did that a long time ago.

In fact, I think years ago one or maybe both/all those types of companies changed their policies on membership because people would join up, leave, and come back. Cost them a bunch of money apparently.

[drmuerto]

I've used these services several times over the last 12 years (most recently 2 years ago) or so to build up my CD back catalogue. They are a good deal if: 1) They already have the 10 CDs (or however many you need to buy) you actually want; 2) you are diligent about sending back the cards that say "No thanks" for this month's release (although BMG online made this easier); 3) you don't stick around too long.

Basically, these companies make their money off of people who forget to decline the "selection of the month " and thus get sent and charged way too much for CDs and S&H. I still remember getting stuck with a very poor Megadeth CD that I had to pay ~$20 back in 1992 because I forgot to send in the reply card on time. On the other hand, if you can get in, get your 10 CDs for something like $40 (1 regularly priced CD and a bunch of S&H), then get out within a month or two, you're doing pretty well for yourself.

My advice is to look around until you find a deal that only requires you to buy one CD at regular price (BMG has this more often than Columbia House). Look online or through magazines for the card that'll let you do that. Then buy that one CD ASAP and get out quickly. Also be aware that even though they have a good selection of more popular stuff, they don't have everything, new releases take a while to get to them, and you can forget about getting more indy-ish CDs from them.

Hope that helps.

[scdoanintendo]

I'm in the dvd club and so far so good. Just make sure you let them know if you don't want a movie because they will automatically send it to you. Is anyone in the cd club? If so I was wondering if they have new cd's to pick from every tuesday like the dvd club has because I want to join but their inventory seems old.

[PsyClerk]

If you forget to send in the reply card, you can return the package. Use 'return to sender' to send it back. However, if you do this more than a couple of times, they'll give you a call and ask what's up. If you piss them off, they'll just send you a bill for however many CDs you were supposed to buy and cancel your membership. You won't get any CDs either, even though you get a bill for $18-$20 x number of obligated purchases.

[Grave_Addiction]

Here's a quote from the Columbia House site, "As a Club member, all you need to do is buy 5 more movies in the next 2 years at regular Club prices (currently as low as $19.95 plus shipping and processing). You may cancel anytime thereafter."

So basically, some of the DVDs are priced as low as $19.95 and you still have to pay shipping and processing. But on the initial, five DVDs for $.49 each you have to pay for just shipping.

So, they could charge you the $20 for the item and add on whatever they chose to add for the shipping and processing.

So after you buy the five DVDs, at about $25 each, you will spend $125. Add that to the five original DVDs that cost $2.50 and $.99 for shipping each, that brings it to about $7.50.

Add the two together and you pay about $132.50 for 10 DVDs.That is assuming they only charge about $5 for shipping and "processing." They could charge more or less, I dunno. And it's also assuming you buy each $19.99 DVD they have.

Still, that is an average of about $13 per DVD.

But if you are a cheapass DVD buyer, you can still probably get single DVDs at the same price or cheaper if you shop right. And like theeternal said, he saw some of the DVDs at Wal-Mart for far cheaper than he paid full price for.

[evilmax17]

BMG charges $2 shipping PER CD.

Also...BE WARNED! The cd's that you get from these companies don't have barcodes, and as such, can't be taken from EB in trade in offers. I found this out the hard way :(

[drmuerto]

Re shipping:
I don't know if they've changed their policies but it used to be that shipping was like $2.49 for the first item and then less for any more (like $1+/-). So factor that in. You are on the right track tryiong to figure out how much this is gonna cost you in the long run before joining.

One other tip is that they will usually offer you a couple of free items if you can sucker... I mean convince a friend to join. So if you have gullible friends try that once you are in the club, or better yet get together with afriend that also wants to join and split the free CDs.

[SneakyPenguin]

actually, Ch has a lot of good deals for shipping and money off. i was able to round out my requirement when it was buy one get the rest half off, and buy three get free shipping. 3 dvds for about 40 bcks, when at the time each retailed for 25.

[ZForce915]

I've been with BMG for a long time. You get your 12 CDs for the price of 1. After shipping it comes to be about $3.50 per CD. If anyone is thinking of joining, drop me a PM and I'll explain anything you need to know.

[msdmoney]

I have joined Columbia House many times in the past, it is a great way to get many dvd's for a cheap average price. The key is to join, get your free dvd's, then complete your fulfillment and cancel. Don't stay a member, you can join, fulfill and cancel as much as you want as long as you don't have more than two accounts open at a time. Doing this you can average approx. $7-8 a dvd. This comes out to a pretty good deal especially since many of the enrollment dvd's you can choose from have high msrp's. This includes many special uber limited edition high msrp dvd's, that you can get as enrollment dvd's.

There is a list of all the columbia house dvd's available their msrp's, enrollment/fulfillment, etc. at this link
http://www.zuhause.org/ch/

DON'T use the standard offer Columbia House has when you go to there site. There are better offers where you can get dvd's for a better average price. These "codes" and all the info you ever wanted abou CH and how to get the best dvd's for cheap are discussed at DVD TALK. Here is the link to that board.
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=13

[starman9000]

Yeah, take msdmoneys advice. With the codes, you can really get good deals. Its just a matter of putting up with the hassle. (their website isnt the best in the world)

[godhatesjustyou]

can they mess up my credit if i didn't even give them any information about me? cause about a year ago, they mailed me the norah jones cd, and i was like "hey, what the hell" and i just gave it to my friend. then they sent the the christina aguleria(sp?) cd, once again "what the hell" and i just gave it to my friend. well, then they started to threaten me, saying that my credit is gonna pay or something. but i never gave them any information, at least, i don't remember. does it matter if i'm only 15 and have no credit card, or bank account or anything? can they really make me suffer?

[rfoster9]

if anyone is wanting to join the DVD club hold out and wait til they have a special with no S&H, makes the total just 2.48 for initial shipment. the prices are definitely the end downfall. you have to really watch for the specials and such, especially with prices at retail so much cheaper now. its really only worth ordering cds when they have the buy 1 get 3 deal, cause that will cost you around 30 bucks alone. and with S&H, their DVDs when they first come out are a good 10 bucks more than the 15.99 they start out at routinely at target and circuit city. the only thing they will do is if you default on payment or something they charge you the full amount of whatever you were suppose to pay, like columbia house back in the day sent me some crap saying i owed them 250 bucks for cds. ive joined twice more since then, the most they will do is bombard your mailbox with bull from credit agencies for a while, then give up.

[PsyClerk]

can they mess up my credit if i didn't even give them any information about me? cause about a year ago, they mailed me the norah jones cd, and i was like "hey, what the hell" and i just gave it to my friend. then they sent the the christina aguleria(sp?) cd, once again "what the hell" and i just gave it to my friend. well, then they started to threaten me, saying that my credit is gonna pay or something. but i never gave them any information, at least, i don't remember. does it matter if i'm only 15 and have no credit card, or bank account or anything? can they really make me suffer?

I really doubt it. I don't think you're old enough to even legally sign a binding contract, but I'm no lawyer.

Mainly what they do is refer your account to a collection agency. So then you get inundated with bills from them. It's just the same old 'pay X dollars to prevent further action.' Further action is another bill, etc etc.

[rfoster9]

also dont join that stupid tv on dvd club, it makes it seem like you get the season on dvd but they break each season up into like 8 groups, then charge you 25 bucks for each dvd which usually has 4-6 episodes on it, total scam.

[godhatesjustyou]

so..i just do nothing? i mean, its not like i have anything to worry about, right?

[Wet Ninja]

I've been a member of BMG Music Service for 10 years and was a member of Columbia House's CD club for a few years, but needed only one and decided BMG was better. I've been in Columbia House's DVD club for a few years now. Several observations:

1) New releases usually aren't available right away (more so in BMG than in the CH DVD club). They still become available, but usually a couple of months after they've been in stores.

2) Prices are slightly higher ($2-3) than retail

3) Shipping and handling can be a bit expensive because it's per item and not per shipment (around $3 for the first item; less for subsequent items)

4) The deals get better as you go. When I first joined BMG, the deals they were offering me were "Buy 1, get 1 50% off." Now, I consistenly am offered, "Buy 1, get 3 free" or "Buy 1, get 2 free, then unlimited 50% off."

With these observations in mind (especially #2-4), the best advice I can give is to avoid buying just one item if you can. Instead, wait and buy at least three or four items at a time. This was, you pay full price for the first item, but the deals you get on the rest of the items negate the higher prices and the shipping cost, and you end up saving money.

Overall, I'd say they're both worth it, especially if you buy either CDs or DVDs fairly often (one a month or more). If you don't buy CDs or DVDs very often (fewer than 10 a year), it could still be worth it if you clump them into a few big orders instead of spreading the out. I've been pleased with both clubs in the time I've been with them.

[PsyClerk]

so..i just do nothing? i mean, its not like i have anything to worry about, right?

Personally, I'd pay them the $30 or whatever you owe. You can also pay just little bit and they'll apply that towards the balance. So if you can only pay $10 a month, it'll still go away.

It's the ethical, honorable thing to do.

[WeaponX2099]

so..i just do nothing? i mean, its not like i have anything to worry about, right?

Call them, tell them that you didn't order that crap. If them continue, just blow them off. Because you are a minor, and you have no credit nothing will happen. And soon as you turn 18 they will try to sign you up again.