Mail Ordered Cds. Query?

Subject: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:03 PM

I just discovered recently that CD Baby does not include the jewel cases when shipping overseas. I don't know if this is also the case with their domestic & Canadian orders.
Also, a friend purchased a DVD at a "What do I have to lose?" price and had a little chuckle to himself when the DVD & Artwork arrived with no DVD case included.
Your thoughts and experiences, please?

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:10 PM

According to CD Baby's website, they offer their international customers the option of receiving their CDs with or without jewel cases. This can save up to US $3- for an international order, which is far less than the cost of buying a jewel case. Seems like a good idea to me.

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:15 PM

CD and DVD cases are not that expensive, but of course you will need to buy more than one.

Check out your local stationary or office supply store, I am sure they have other options for storage.

I receive CD's all the time for my radio show, and often they arrive without jewel cases - which I don't use anyway. I use a product called jewel sleeves (www.jewelsleeve.com) which enables me to store 4x the number of CD's in the same space.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:16 PM

"This can save up to US $3- for an international order"
Is that what the customer saves, Dan?

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: andrewq
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:24 PM

I've ordered from CD Baby and shipping without jewel cases makes it far cheaper for those of us in the UK. The service works very well.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:29 PM

http://www.jewelsleeve.com/
Ron: I can't seem to find a proper description of the product there.
Are those plastic envelopes?

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:43 PM

Jim and others -

Here's the link for the info on CD-Baby - and yes, that's what the customer saves. Your thread interested me because I'm shortly going to be doing business with CD Baby and I was curious what their international shipping policies were.    I'm pleased to know it's an option, not a requirement - but not ever having ordered anything from them, let alone internationally, I have no idea how that plays out in terms of default settings, etc.

Of course, Ron has a good point that it's hard to buy just one CD jewel case - but for $3 I can by 10 at the local drugstore, which comes in handy, since they break easily.

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Girl Friday
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:49 PM

I am looking around for single jewel cases. All the stationers seem to sell these days are doubles. Bought the last big quantity from a CD fair, local market man sells them lose. £1.00 for 6, £2.00 for 13.
I got a good price from big pockets but the postage is almost double the cost of the cases.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: nickp
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:50 PM

Having ordered a few over here in the UK it only starts making a difference when you get into quantities, off the top of my head I can't remember but you need to be getting towards to 10 cd mark before it reduces.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:52 PM

Thanks Dan: I offer something like a $7.50 saving for no jewel case but so far, no takers and the overseas shipping for Cds with the jewel case comes to around $7.50 Canadian funds.
So I'm thinking about sending them with jewel cases but in regular envelopes for overseas, just to keep the weight under 100 grams.
Canada Post adjusted their prices a few years ago, specifically to target CD sales and I'd like to find a way to beat their pricing and still please the customers.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:57 PM

Jim - Jewelsleeves are vinyl envelopes, but you can store both the booklet (from the front of the jewel case) as well as the tray card (the back of the jewelcase, and the CD. There is a thin sheet of foam-like material that protects the CD, and can actually remove dust!

They are slightly longer than a jewecase to account for a "tab" that can house a slip of paper (from a form they provide) that can list information.   Because you cannot see the traditional "spine" on a shelf, all you do is run your finger across this tab and you can read the information.

They are not for everyone. Some people cannot get by without having a CD spine. I found it very easy to make the switch. I have a couple of traditional wall units that were built to house 900 CD's per unit in traditional plastic jewel cases. I have close to 4000 CD's in the each of same shelf unit - and I bet I can locate a CD quicker than anyone. It is very, very easy to store everything in alphabetical order without having to move shelf loads of CD in standard (and heavier) jewel cases.

Because I do a radio show I have a very large collection. I have not done a count, but I must have over 10,000 CD's on file. There was some cost factors involved in making the switch - but I found the cost justified. I would not have been able to store so many CD's in my home library without them, and there is no way I could keep an active library in alphabetical order without them.

This is not a commecial, I have no connection with the company. It is a product that is very useful for my situation and it might be for others as well.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 01:57 PM

Here's a thing: I sent 3 CDs, artwork included, no jewel cases & in one plain envelope to Australia for no more than it costs to mail a letter. The deal was prearranged with the person who brought the CD Baby thing to my attention and I owe her big time but "Jeesh", what an eye opener!

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 02:02 PM

The math is simple--it costs one pound (two bucks US) to ship a jewel case from the US to the UK. You can buy a lot of empty jewel cases for that.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 02:31 PM

Oh, I know the math is simple but if it's not what the customer wants..... Thanks Dick.
I think Jed mentioned "Slimline, Jewel Cases" on his site, at one point.
Maybe if he drops in here, he'll have some input for us.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 02:38 PM

Jim, I thought originally that you purchased a CD without a case, but now I see that you are actually concerned about sending customers CD's without cases. Have you had customers complain about this?   Most of the overseas CD's that I receive come without CD cases because of the costs.   I would suspect that most people would understand that you are passing the savings on to them.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 02:45 PM

They would if they were actually paying less.
I make a special offer for no cases and as I said, no takers.
I sent one off to the UK on Friday and paid over $7.00 for postage.
The post office is making more than I am.
I'm glad to hear that you expect this. That's a comfort. Now I have to find a way to present this to the customer.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 02:46 PM

With the falling production costs of CDs & DVDs many newspapers over here (UK) give away the occasional CD/DVD, attached to papers/magazines, in cardboard sleeves. Even if the CD/DVD is a good one you rarely see people getting jewel cases to keep them in.

If the CD/DVD is crap I keep the cardboard sleeve and cover it over with a sticky label to re-use.

Cheers
Nigel (Cheap & Cheerful!)

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 03:06 PM

Just in case anyone cares what the customer wants, I throw out jewel cases before they have a chance to pile up, because all my CDs are stored otherwise.

~S~

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 04:09 PM

Maybe, custom envelopes along with the artwork?

So, if I'm mailing out Jewel Cases in non padded envelopes, does it matter if the odd one gets cracked?

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Effsee
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 04:14 PM

I find a lot of them get cracked whether they're in padded envelopes or not.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 11 Jun 07 - 04:21 PM

In all my years receiving CD's, I've only had one damaged CD.   I probably have had hundreds of cracked jewelcases, but that does not effect the CD.

You can find stiff cardboard envelopes that will hold your CD safely. A padded mailer would be a good recommendation - clearly marked "Do Not Bend" (not that that mailperson willpay attention, but if makes it appear that you did your part!)

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: vlmagee
Date: 12 Jun 07 - 11:33 AM

Shipping from the US to Europe costs $3.60 for one "well behaved" CD, meaning one which, with the packaging, weighs less than 4 ounces. Before the price increase it was $3.35. (A 5 oz package would cost $4.50 today). Shipping the same 4 oz or less CD within the US costs $1.64 in postage today.

I don't suggest shipping without the case, and so far I have never been asked about it, and I have been shipping CDs for several years now. I don't think the difference is significant, especially since US (or Canadian) CDs are almost always priced slightly higher when sold abroad, so the total cost for a CD remains well within expectations (and comfort zone). The price climbs quickly with increased weight, however, so if ordering a lot of CDs shipping without the cases might be worthwhile. If someone asks about it, I would probably do it, although I would then have to look around for something to ship it in, and would be a little more nervous about the CD arriving undamaged. It could be that protected shipping is one of the advantages of the case!

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 03:32 AM

I've received 3 orders from CD-Baby & one from Jim, & had no problems.

CDbaby uses a mailer that is slightly thicker than a normal envelope & put their the CDs into one of those paper envelopes with cellephane? front that are used for software.

sandra

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 11:45 AM

Incidentally, does anyone in the US have a good bulk source for CD mailers (the kind that can fit jewel cases)?

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 12:16 PM

i buy CDs regularly from US to UK..

and now refuse to take 'advantage' of the 'cheaper' price
for shipping without cases

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 12:22 PM

i buy CDs regularly from US to UK..

and now refuse to take 'advantage' of the 'cheaper' price
for shipping without cases

because i got sick of brand new discs arriving covered in fingerprints and scratches.

[plus the hassle of buying bulk CD cases]

Theres a very good reason why new US CDs are sold in cases
sealed along the top edge with security sticky tape.

I wish this rule was imposed on UK High Street CD shops as well !!!

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 12:23 PM

Vlmagee: Shipping CDs from Canada, overseas = $7.30.

Sandra: Weren't you freed by the jaws of life & rushed to emergency after trying to insert your own covers?

Dan: Staples. Don't know if you have them there, I think you do but they are reasonably priced and you can return one year later to find the exact same product, on the shelf.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 06:48 PM

No - I managed to stem the blood myself, when one of the Very-Cheap-&-Nasty-Brittle-Plastic-Covers bit me! Then I (carefully & gleefully) bent & snapped the rest of the batch (it's not often ya can deliberately break stuff!!) & went shopping.

I bought a batch of Good-Plastic-That-Does-Not-Break-CD-Covers & now life is perfect, especially when listening to your wonderful voice.

The moral of my story is that I need to pay $5 for 10 TDK covers, not $2 for 5 of the nasty ones.

sandra

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 07:23 PM

BBC Music Magazine recently stopped using jewel cases on the cd supplied with the magazine, which usually arrived cracked, and now use the plastic sleeves. Much better!

All of my cds will soon be in plastic, and the jewel cases will go to recycle pickup. Hundreds of them!

Operas- The thick librettos won't fit in the sleeves I have found, so the boxes with jewel cases are retained. Any suggestions? The cardboard boxes are flimsy.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 07:43 PM

I seriously considered a cardboard "digipack" for my new CD, but I've had too many break on the inside - and they aren't easily replaceable. Besides, it's harder to make that kind of packaging work well with a 20 page booklet of lyrics and notes.

It seems the jewel box, for all of its problems, still has a place.

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 10:06 PM

In my recent sort out of overflowing shelves, I moved an assortment of double & triple CDs into thinner cases except those with huge booklets. They still take up space, but as there are very few of them it doesn't matter, tho that would be a major problem for a collection that had lotsa' librettos.

sandra

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 10:16 PM

Well this is all over the map!
I like the idea of cardboard cases. I always get a kick out of the big names who go on their "Save the seals" campaigns etc., knowing that they've spun out millions & millions of black plastic Frisbees, over the years.

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 10:21 PM

Hunh? Frisbees were made out of seals? Or are you saying that seals are made of cardboard?

Subject: RE: Mail Ordered Cds. Query?
From: Jim Lad
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 10:57 PM

I'm saying that caring for the environment is all encompassing and that perhaps Mr. McCartney & company should look to themselves for solutions.