I've also been a member of Columbia House and BMG Music Services, the two big record clubs (now merged), for 13 years. They fill a useful niche by selling major label music at rock bottom prices. They have recently spawned YourMusic.com, a new online outlet which is simpler and even cheaper. Here's the pros and cons of each:
BMG Music Service:
- the old familiar story, an introductory offer, an obligation to buy at least one CD at "regular price", then monthly "featured selection" and an ever-changing array of "buy one, get unlimited $2.99" sorts of deals.
- no obligation to buy anything (after your initial obligation is completed)
- no more annoying monthly cards to fill out (it's online now)
- complex pricing, with "bonus points" and $2.39 S&H fees per disc, plus local tax
- good deals, approximately $7.50 per CD, if you wait for the best deals and buy several CDs at one go ("buy one, get 3 free")
YourMusic.com:
- simple concept: you must buy one CD per month (you preload a queue with your selections and they send from that, kinda like Netflix)
- simple and very good pricing: $6.99 per CD, no shipping, no handling fees
- $6.99 per CD yields excellent pricing for multi-CD sets (5 CD Tori Amos box is $35.95, compared to Amazon's $45.97)
Sure, you may not buy much major label music, but I bet there is some major label music you want. Record clubs are great for classic jazz albums (Columbia), filling out a classical music collection (Deutsche Gramophone, ECM, Hyperion), and getting remasters of major label classics (Bob Marley, The Cure, The Police).
Anyhow, if you're interested in joining YourMusic.com, let me know, since existing subscribers get a free CD when they recruit new members. Heh.
