What the heck is this all about? Maybe I'm the last one to find out about this.

I went to Amazon to get me some Howard Jones (because I've made it 33 years on this planet without Humans Lib but I don't know how I did it, so it's high time to get this album). Anyway, the CD that Amazon is selling has this caveat:

So it's like a DVD "burn on demand" type thing right? Okay, that's cool except why is it $14.00? I might buy a burn on demand CD-R album if it was $5 or $6 but $14.00! That's full retail for a bogus item. So I bought a used copy of the REAL album for $3.00. Who wants this CD-R bullshit?

That's a new one on me. Don't think I'd ever go for that, either.

Not sure if this will help you http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/sh...d.php?t=209216

$15? Screw that.

Amazon has it's own mp3 store, why the hell would they offer it on demand like that? Is it the label?

Amazon's been offering MOD cds for a while now. I've never bought one and probably never will.

Thanks. That thread covers just about all the pitfalls of this issue. The biggest problem I see is that these CD-R's will start showing up in used bins and Amazon Marketplace "used CD" stores and the like. When buying over the internet you have no way to confirm if it's a CDR or not. When I buy a used CD to avoid the CD-R I hope I don't get screwed and have some unaware seller send me a CD-R.

So why would I pay full price for a CD-R, rather than borrowing a friend's copy and making my own? (Aside from all the legal stuff, that is.)

Songs are just files on a disc. Why would anybody pay to download a song/file? At least with CD-R you get a hard copy.

Some people like physical CDs instead of MP3.

No reason to buy MOD when it's cheaper used, but if it's not available otherwise, it's nice to have an MOD option.

Amazon gets paid either way so they're fine. MOD is probably a preferred option for labels who want to give people an alternative to used.

DVD MODs often cost more than their DVD versions too. I read descriptions very carefully anymore when looking at CDs and DVDs on Amazon. And, they're already on the Amazon Marketplace for ridiculous prices. I usually email the seller (when contact information is available) to double check if something I'm interested in is a pressed CD or not.

I know. I'm one of them. I never purchase mp3s. I rip all of my own music.

What I mean is I don't understand why Amazon would offer it as MOD. Some studios offer the DVD titles MOD in which Amazon sells. I was wondering if record labels were now doing the same thing.

So very strange. Not too long ago I was thinking that this would be the future of selling cd's, and I was right.

They should stick to limited editions (first press) for collectors, and "on demand" productions for those that follow. It would knock the collectability up a notch for the artists too.

It doesn't have to be the future or the present. Vote with your pocketbook. If people don't buy them they won't sell them and would stop making them. I haven't bought any and hopefully never accidentally will.