One & Only BMG Music Service Thread Part 2

[SAShepherd]

At 10 pages, it's probably time to shut down the original thread. (I've asked the mods to do this.)

Here's the link to the original thread:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=269292

*******

Every couple weeks it seems like somebody asks if there are codes for the Columbia House CD club. Given this continual interest, I think setting up a one-and-only thread might help reduce the number of these inquiries in general, and hopefully be of some use to those of us in the clubs and/or thinking of joining. (Side note: I think the big problem is that you can't search on "CD" because it's only two letters long.)

The best codes at Columbia House are "wxr" and "wxv". The first code provides 15 for free (no s/h), with an obligation to buy 4 more CDs in the next 2 years. The second code ("wxv") provides 15 for $0.99 each (no s/h), with an obligation to buy 3 more CDs in the next 2 years. To fulfill your membership, you need to buy CDs priced at $14.98 or higher. Newer CDs are generally more like $17.98 or $18.98. Shipping/handling (unless otherwise specified) is $2.99 per CD, $3.99 per double CD, and $4.95 per 3-or-more CD sets. If you wait long enough, CH will run Buy 1 Get 2 (or even 3) Free deals. Both these deals require PSNs (Preferred Status Numbers), but you can use PSNs you may have received through the DVD club.

There are no codes (yet) at BMG. The standard offer is get 7 for free (plus s/h), buy 1, get 4 more free (plus s/h). Shipping/handling is $2.79 per CD. I understand that BMG has run Buy 1 Get 3 Free deals in the past.

If you're doing the math...

"wxr" (19 CDs) comes out to $3.87/CD with $14.98 CDs, $4.50/CD with $17.98 CDs, and $3.99/CD (27 CDs) with $17.98 CDs bought during a Buy 1 Get 2 Free offer.

"wxc" (18 CDs) comes out to $3.92/CD with $14.98 CDs, $4.42/CD with $17.98 CDs, and $4.01/CD (24 CDs) with $17.98 CDs bought during a Buy 1 Get 2 Free offer.

(Please note that special low-priced multiple-CD albums may drive these averages lower.)

BMG (12 CDs) comes out to $4.04/CD with a $14.98 CD, $4.29/CD with a $17.98 CD, and $3.99/CD (15 CDs) with $17.98 CDs bought during a Buy 1 Get 3 Free offer.

Note: With the 15-for-1 offer (see above), BMG comes out to $3.79/CD with a $14.98 CD, $3.99/CD with a $17.98 CD, and $3.79/CD (18 CDs) with $17.98 CDs bought during a Buy 1 Get 3 Free offer.

CDs look like regular CDs you'd buy in stores or online, though BMG discs may have a "manufactured by BMG" replacing the bar code, and some CH discs have "CRC" printed next to the bar code. There is no audio difference between club discs and non-club discs.

Different CDs appear in CH and BMG, some for obvious reasons, and some for mysterious reasons. Some artists' CDs (e.g., Rolling Stones, most Beatles CDs) will probably never appear in the clubs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has the better selection?
It all depends on what you're interested in. Some artists won't appear on either roster. I think BMG may have a better classical music selection (their parent company, Bertelsmann, also owns Deutsche Grammaphon, a great classical label). Many artists appear on both labels.

Thanks to: (names to be inserted soon!)

[rekhabite]

I do not have a Preferred Number Status to use either of the CH music deals. Is there a way to get one another way than joining the DVD club?

[Gunshy]

Ahem, I was thinking of doing the BMG thing again late last year but had a devil of a time finding the required (and bonus) CDs on their site (too much html candy, not enough content).

While nursing a broken ankle this winter I created a web site that distills their web (not paper catalog) selections, making it *very*easy to browse them *all*.

Is this something that would be of any use to others? I don't want to post the link if it's a Bad Thing to do here.

-Gunshy

[JoeR63]

I would think that it would be all right. In the CH DVD forum, bga does the same thing with all the titles available in the DVD club. It's usually updated weekly. You can download the spreadsheet and even sort by price or title, etc.

Here's a link to the thread:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=279483

[kevin75]

gunshy,

i am thinking of joining bmg again, so that would be a very helpful thing.

[kenbuzz]

Ditto. Please post the frambis.

[Gunshy]

Originally posted by JoeR63
I would think that it would be all right. In the CH DVD forum, bga does the same thing with all the titles available in the DVD club. It's usually updated weekly. You can download the spreadsheet and even sort by price or title, etc.

Here's a link to the thread:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=279483

Ah, very good, same idea as mine only I handle BMG and go one step further and take the file and format it for web viewing. I guess I could make a downloadable list as well...

-Gunshy

[Josh-da-man]

Originally posted by rekhabite
I do not have a Preferred Number Status to use either of the CH music deals. Is there a way to get one another way than joining the DVD club?

If you get CD/DVD club mailings -- the ones with all of the little stamps -- you should have a PSN on those that you can apply to the either club for any deal you see here that requires a PSN.

[Gunshy]

Originally posted by kevin75
gunshy,

i am thinking of joining bmg again, so that would be a very helpful thing.

OK, here we go.

First some caveats

- This is version 1.0 if you will. That means there are some missing features, probably some formatting issues yet, at least one bad image link, and I just noticed the left arrow (<<) isn't correct for some pages.

- I made no allowances for multi-page breakdowns for large categories so some of these pages (e.g. artist "V") are huge and not dial-up friendly - sorry.

-I am not yet set up to update the list bi-weekly or sooner so some of this data will be stale (the dates you do see were when the web pages were generated).

- There is no search, that's what BMG's site is for I guess I could add that feature in, an edit box and button that would take you right to their engine...

- BMG's site is very cookie centric, i.e. your first click (for any session) will likely bring up their home page so don't despair, just click on the link again - it should work fine from then on, for that session.

- The prices in green idea didn't work quite the way I planned but I have yet to change the color so bear with it for now.

- The artist sort is atypical. I currently sort on the first token of the artist's name versus the more traditional way of sorting on last-name for persons. This is partly due to a Perl software bug (and laziness since I don't feel like reinventing the wheel). I may be able to overcome this in the future but it will take some time.

- There is no downloadable (csv) list but if desired I could probably set something up fairly quickly.

Lemme know what ya'll think.

All BMG CD Titles

-Gunshy

[potnoodlez]

Thanks, Gunshy! That is really useful!

Here are some codes if anyone needs them.

BMG B1G3: B4MC

CH B1G3 + triple music points: 957204 or 717204

Originally posted by evitagen
Has anyone ever enrolled in the CD Club at CH over the phone? The CSR I spoke with said she I couldn't apply over the phone.

I haven't enrolled myself over the phone but I know people who have successfully done it in the past. Maybe you used the wrong number

[pushx]

Gunshy put up the downloadable files. I'm on 56k and it is taking forever for the pages to load. what I can see looks really cool.
thanks

[classwar]

Gunshy - thanks for all of that work - this is a great feature.

eddie.

[bigjim25]

Originally posted by potnoodlez CH B1G3 + triple music points

Thanks for reminding me about triple bonus points. I got:

DVD Friends Season 7 (4 dvd box set) 838441 $33.71
Johnny Cash - The Essential Johnny Cash 347666 Free
War - The Very Best Of War 835322 Free
The Eagles - The Very Best Of 835298 Free

DVD Cheaper By The Dozen 838375 $19.98
Marty Robbins - The Essential Marty Robbins: 1951-1982 432252 Free
Marty Robbins - The Essential Marty Robbins: 1951-1982 432252 Free
Bill Monroe - The Essential Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys... 449587 Free

Subtotal $53.69
Shipping & Processing $28.92
Tax Free
Total $82.61
(not bad for 2 DVDs & 6 double CDs + 162 bonus points good for 2 free single CDs)

[potnoodlez]

I recently placed an order with BMG to fulfill my account and I placed an order for the 4 discs they owed me from enrollment. It says they shipped my fulfillment order but not the free discs. Will they ship them as soon as they are available or do they wait until my fulfillment is paid?

[Gunshy]

Originally posted by classwar
Gunshy - thanks for all of that work - this is a great feature.

eddie.

You're welcome, glad it is of some use to others .

I aim to fix some things with it this weekend, as well as run an update, if I can finally get my freakin' taxes done this week

Updated: OK, I fixed the bad links, added pages for multiple disc sets, and fixed some of the formatting issues. Update, along with links to reviews, is next...


-Gunshy

[secrethero303]

Originally posted by potnoodlez
I recently placed an order with BMG to fulfill my account and I placed an order for the 4 discs they owed me from enrollment. It says they shipped my fulfillment order but not the free discs. Will they ship them as soon as they are available or do they wait until my fulfillment is paid?

Yes, they ship them after you've paid. This just happened with one of my orders too. As soon as the credit card went through, the order shipped almost instantly.

[missmhyk]

Originally posted by bigjim25
Thanks for reminding me about triple bonus points. I got:

DVD Friends Season 7 (4 dvd box set) 838441 $33.71
Johnny Cash - The Essential Johnny Cash 347666 Free
War - The Very Best Of War 835322 Free
The Eagles - The Very Best Of 835298 Free

How much was The Eagles-The Very Best of 835298 showing up as?

It's showing as on sale for $19.98 on one page, but when I add it to my cart it shows as $21.98. I was hoping to get this as a free selection after purchasing a DVD.
Any suggestions on how to solve this issue?

Thanks!

[Alvis]

Originally posted by potnoodlez
Chicago - $35.99

Yes - $ 44.98

I think you can apply the 4 free cds they owe you as part of the introductory offer towards the box sets. You can also refer a friend and use the free cds towards the box sets so you can get away with paying for just the shipping.

Apparently, you cannot apply your 4 free cd's towards a box set. I keep trying on the website and it won't let me redeem my 4 free for the Yes or the Chicago box sets. It will let me redeem individual cd's, but not the boxes. Guess I should have checked before hand, unless anyone knows a way around this, like calling a csr?

Edit, just found this:

BOXED SET
Multiple-CD set: Already specially priced and/or specially packaged, not part of regular sale, or available as a bonus or free selection, or free with Music Points.

Oh well, I am getting some other cd's that I really like. Heart, Alive in Seattle, is excellent.

[nick490172003]

Hi, I signed up for bmg like a week ago but havent heard anything no emails no nothing, I was just wondering if they just send the cds out without telling you? when i log in it says :
Thanks for joining! Your enrollment application is in process. You may add items to your cart for purchase once your membership is confirmed. Please check back in 48 hours.
Could they be in the mail even though it says this? Thanks

[Hollowgen]

they'll let you know once your cds have been shipped + you've been accepted into the club. how did you pay? or did you select bill me later?

[nick490172003]

I selected bill me later. Thanks

[Hollowgen]

that usually takes a bit longer to process your application. give it a week or so longer.

[nick490172003]

Ok thanks for all the help

[Liquid Death]

Any new B1G3 codes for BMG? The one posted above has expired...

[aisle9]

CH has 10% off today.