CD - Would You pay this Postage?

Subject: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: RTim
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 08:52 AM

I am about to start selling a new CD.
It will be 28 tracks, 70 minutes and will have a 60 page information booklet all packed
in a plastic DVD case.
I live in the USA but the publishing label is in the UK.
I thought I might try and sell my last CD (which has not had many sales in the UK
at a discounted price WITH the new CD - only in the UK.
This will probably mean me posting both from the USA in a single package.
I inquired at the US Post Office yesterday what it would cost to send such a package.
I was staggered to find it would cost $8.25!! And also $6.20 just for the new CD.
Now my question is - Would you be willing to pay that sort of cost?

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: matt milton
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 09:03 AM

In a nutshell: no.

You're not helped by the current weak pound in that respect.

I'm totally guessing here, but I imagine the shape of the DVD package probably influences the price. In the UK, the postage is now determined by size of envelope (though obviously weight is still a factor).

Have you thought of simply offering the same package but just in a see-through plastic sleeve as a separate option? They cost almost nothing, and you could mention something on your website about that being an option for overseas sales. Less of a carbon footprint, too. Not sure if your 60-page booklet would still fit in, though.

A lot of record companies send out review copies in those plastic sleeves, or paper ones, and I don't think any less of the music inside when I receive one.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 09:04 AM

UK postal rates for airmail:
http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump1?catId=400023&mediaId=400033

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Janie
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 09:04 AM

I think that is the reality of postage costs today if you are shipping overseas. Unless you are distributed in stores or on something like Amazon, that is the only way you are going to get your CD's out there. And if someone wants one, they will be prepared to pay that postage charge.

I recently ordered a CD from a fellow mudcatter here in the USA. He sent it before I sent the check, so I was able to go ahead and include what I noticed the postage was, which was about $2.00. However, that did not include the price of the CD mailer he had purchased. My advice to him was to charge $4.00 per CD for shipping and handling.

I found this pretty detailed shipping information for USA and overseas for USPO and UPS. Don't know if it will be helpful to you or not.
http://www.swiftcd.com/faq/shipping.html

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: DMcG
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 09:05 AM

Perhaps you should explore if there is any way to sell a downloadable version.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 09:05 AM

I'm afraid it depends entirely on the content. If it were something I really really wanted, then no price would be too high... I've even been known to drive a round trip of 400+ miles to pick one up!

Is it possible to put both CD's in one jewel case? Some will take 2 but the thinner ones won't even take sleeve notes more than 2 sheets thick. You may have to review the 60 page info book or the paper it's printed on. It might not make a great deal of difference, but the cummulative effect might be appreciable.

LTS

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: matt milton
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 09:19 AM

just looked on xe.com and actually sterling isn't in quite such dire shape relative to the $ as I thought.

I guess what it would come down to for me is how much your'e going to charge for your album(s) were in the first place. But I really don't care about packaging, and i'm as happy with MP3s as I am with CDs.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Rasener
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 09:43 AM

Convert you booklet into a pdf file and let people download it for free.

As somebody said before, make the CD a downloadable file for a couple of dollars less than the full CD package.

Basically, postage is an absolute pain in the arse and in this day of technology, shouldn't be necessary.

Many people have MP3 players these days, so paying for downloads is quite normal.

It will save you a lot of hassle.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Will Fly
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 09:51 AM

I use plastic sleeves for my DVDs - they're very cheap and very light and don't cost too much to post to the US by airmail. And downloading DVDs can be a more onerous task than mp3 material. However, If something is beautifully packaged, with a good quality, 60-page booklet, and the content is just what I desire - then I, like LTS above, will simply pay the price.

Quick thought: Have you considered sending the CDs in one bulk consignment to the UK - to someone trustworthy who could then distribute over here? I haven't the faintest idea what costs would be, but it might make it more attractive to buy in the UK. However, downloading, as mentioned above, does sound a better option.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: artbrooks
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 09:58 AM

The new (as of last year) US postal rules say that anything larger than 3/4 thick, regardless of the other dimensions, is a package rather than an envelope. This may be what you are running into. A lot of CDs are coming in cardboard tri-fold envelopes these days. IMO, I'd rather pay a dollar more for a jewel case, simply because they make music easier to find on my shelf, but $6 seems excessive. I looked at the USPS web site, and the figure I come up with is $3.60 for a 4 ounce envelope, as long as you keep it under 3/4 thick.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: sharyn
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 10:09 AM

Well, Tim,

I would rather pay $8.25 for two than six-something for one, so I think your packaging the two together is a good idea.

Sometimes a booklet is important. Some of us like to hold them in our hand and want the complete package when we buy a CD. Some of us hate to go online to get the missing pieces.

Re: packaging. The best U.K. productions I have ever seen are the Songlinks CDs and booklets, which eliminate a lot of plastic. In the U.S. Oasis makes plastic-free wallet CD designs (sort of like old double albums). They are attractive, lighter than jewelcases, don't break or crack and don't waste resources. I just brought out my first CD ("Paris") in this format. I love it and have had many compliments on the design, which has a booklet in one sleeve and the disc in the other. I realize, you may have completed your packaging this time around, but you may want to consider this option in the future. (Also, there is a U.S. postal charge for "rigid packaging," which this option avoids. I can mail the CD in a light bubble-lined mailer for $1.17 postage, not including the cost of the mailer.

Good luck with your distribution and U.S. sales. I would buy the two CD package.

Sharyn

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: kendall
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 10:31 AM

I mailed a CD to Iceland for $3.00.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: DebC
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 10:45 AM

As I PM'd to Tim, I am right now in the process of sending out copies of my new CD to places in both the UK and USA. It costs me $3.80 to send one CD to the UK. I can't recall right now how much it is for two in one parcel, as I am too lazy to dig through the receipts right now. :-)

I do ask my patrons to assist with postage and handling. In the UK, I ask £5 for one CD which makes the cost a total £15, and folks seem to be happy to pay that, especially since the CDs are coming from the USA. I do now have a friend who is willing to take care of UK based orders for multiple CDs. For three CDs mailed from the UK, I am asking £35 as opposed to £50 if mailed from the US.

As for the PDF download, I have many folks in my audience who barely have computers, let alone know how to download stuff. I guess this stems from my own personal preference as I enjoy the booklet that comes from a CD. When the new CD is released at the end of April, we will include a PDF download of the booklet.

Deb Cowan

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 11:07 AM

Postage is a real issue. I've been mailing out copies of my book, and it costs a fortune to send it overseas. I'm encouraging overseas frinds to buy the book through amazon.com. Once the weight goes over a pound or so, you have to send it parcel post. I discovered that if I put two books in the same envelope (mailing in the States) I had to send it parcel post and it cost me more than it would for the one package that it costs to send them in individual enevelopes.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 11:13 AM

http://www.ithinkmusic.com/ might be the answer: worldwide sales of digital downloads with no postage or manufacturing costs. Or selling via CD Baby. Or maybe these: http://www.bigcartel.com/. Even if you want to stick to a physical format, you should think about something less cumbersome than DVD wallets: personally I'd have to really want something badly to pay that much postage for a single CD. And DVD wallets don't even fit in a CD rack. I have to admit if I buy something with non-standard packaging, it gets copied onto the computer and the iPod and the packaging goes in the attic with all the other junk.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: RTim
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 01:15 PM

Thanks for everyones comments thus far.
I should add that the 60 page booklet is DVD case size (like that issued by
Musical Traditions), and not only contains info. on the songs and tunes recorded, but also
info. on the life (as much as I have been able to find) of the singer whose
repertoire I have recorded: plus info. on the rest of his songs;
48 songs, 1 recitation and 4 toasts. I will probably offer overseas sales in a clear folder and ask those who wish
to buy a case themselves if they want to.

I, of course, face to face, will be selling it in a DVD case.

Thanks again - Tim Radford

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 01:26 PM

Ship the CD, biiklet and cover insert sans case at small packet rates.. Cheaper, faster....there's no problem in the purchaser buying an empty case.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 04:00 PM

RTim - I send my books and CDs here in the US via Media mail with the USPS.

It's much cheaper and just as efficient.

Seamus

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 06:23 PM

In Canada, I often buy classical cds I can't find at a Canadian retailer or Amazon.ca, from a UK company. I just received a DVD (2) in case with booklet and was charged £2.50, which currently works out to U. S. $3.50 or C$4.00.

A recent shipment of a cd in jewel case from Amazon.com soured me on shipments from the U. S., Shipping and handling US$7.98 for a cd priced at $6.98.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: oldhippie
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 06:26 PM

What class of mail is the quote? Media mail is normally cheapest, but for certain weight parcels, first class is less expensive and quicker. For international addresses, first class international (air) is the way to go for the size and weight you're looking at.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Peace
Date: 10 Mar 09 - 06:27 PM

The problem is the plastic case with CDs. Get simple sleeves, include the cover and back and printed material (sandwich the CD or DVD or whatever) and it'll likely be the size of a heavy letter. The folks at the receiving end can then go purchase their own jewel case or DVD case, assemble the thing and voila. It'll save each of you some bucks--or pounds, etc.

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 02:18 AM

I prefer to buy a packet of jewel cases for a few dollars & receive CDs from overseas without cases.

I don't download tunes, cos I like CDs & prefer to read the/a booklet while listening to the track. Downloadable booklets are much better than no booklets!

sandra

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 06:37 PM

If I buy cds from the States, via Amazon UK, I am charged £1.25 postage! That's less than $2 dollars! How can they do that?

Subject: RE: CD - Would You pay this Postage?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 09 - 07:02 PM

In a lightweight cardboard sleeve a CD doesn't weigh much. I mailed some last year for a lot less than your quote.

Visit the USPS calculate postage site and look around. If you mail in a large rigid envelope ("rates apply to Large Envelopes that are rigid, nonrectangular, or not uniformly thick") a 3 ounce package costs $2.80. How large is large? Yours will be rigid, so I think you could work with this rate.

SRS