selling CDs online - advice?

Subject: selling CDs online - advice?
From: Stewart
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 03:38 PM

Are there alternatives to CDBaby and PayPal for selling CDs online?
I used CDBaby for my previous CD, but with a $35 initial charge I have to sell 3 CDs just to break even and since I don't sell that many it is hardly worthwhile.

So I tried PayPal, but found it impossible to sign up. When I signed up online for a premier account they told me I had a personal account, but to upgrade it I had to log in. But then log in didn't work - said I didn't have an account. But when I tried to sign up again it said the account already existed - so an endless loop of frustration. Email help is hopeless and when I tried phoning it was an infinite wait. So I have given up on PayPal.

I already have a web site (no problem) and a form to fill out and send with check (US currency) to me and I will send CDs. But for foreigners it is often difficult to get currency transfers. So what else can I do?

S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: MMario
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 03:55 PM

try to get the PayPal account straightened out. It really is the most convenient thing for moving money about

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: bobad
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 05:11 PM

Most banks (in Canada anyway) now have e-mail money transfer, something you may want to look into.

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 06:55 PM

In Australia, all major banks have US offices (usually in New York), and can write a bank cheque in US funds. The Australian Post Office can do the same, as well as the international money order system. We also have Western Union Agencies at all Post Offices. They advertise about how the uni student can ring his dad after he has ordered the pizza and pick up the cash before delivery - would not believe it's that fast for international use though.

They all have various charges for their services though - for amounts under $30, they can be in some cases a significant proportion.

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 07:00 PM

I am intrigued with the free downloads at Amazon.com..then there are ways to sell through them. I would put a couple of songs (could we get permission for Washington, Washington?) on as free downloads and then you can get reviews and everything I think....mg

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 15 Sep 05 - 09:21 PM

I have routinely sold CD's through CD Baby and Paypal for several years now. Both of these give the purchasers the opportunity to securely pay with their credit cards and in whatever currency they normaly utilize. Granted, there is a set up fee with CD Baby, but the site is also very easy for my customers to use and is professionally maintained. I have sold CD's over the internet on three continents, which would have been very difficult without these useful tools. They have been well worth the costs involved.

Mike

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 11:51 AM

If you've made a CD, it's likely that the only significant sales you'll get will be at gigs you work. People only buy what they've heard.

I sell CDs online, but I carry some 2000 titles, and I barely get by.

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: Stewart
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 12:08 PM

I think I would still like to sign up with PayPal, but that just doesn't seem possible. They don't answer my email and their phone help puts me on infinite wait. When I try to log in they say they have no record of my registering, but when I try to register again they say I am already registered and can't re-register. So I guess that's the end of that.

My previous experience with CDBaby was good, except since I have only sold 3 CDs through them, I have just recovered my initial fee but have also paid for mailing CDs to CDBaby. So I would have been better off just giving the CDs away. But maybe this new one will sell better, so I'm inclined to use CDBaby again.

Back to PayPal - I can't understand how a company can stay in business when they ignore potential customers and make it difficult to impossible to do business with them. Perhaps only by controlling the market and keeping any competition out. Oh well, so much for the levelling effect of e-commerce and world trade!

How about the barter system - I'll send you a CD and you can send me another CD or something of equal value in exchange.

S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: GUEST,Squeezy
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 06:03 PM

Hi Stewart,

I have to agree with the people who say that PayPal is the easiest solution to your problem. Selling Spiers & Boden CDs - I tried a few solutions before and they were all much too expensive.

A few tips for you if PayPal are having trouble with you re-registering:

Firstly they see your identiny based on email address, try signing up for a new account with a new email address (set up a new one with G-mail, hotmail or some other web based email host). That should work.

Secondly - it could be to do with the card details you're giving being the same as a previous account you set up with them. Try it with another credit/debit card if you have one - it might even be worth your while getting a new one just for this purpose. After all, your goal is to be receiving money with this account, not spending it!

It seems like a lot of work - but it definitely is the cheapest optiion. If you have no joy - there are other PayPal-like solutions. A google for IKOBO or WORLDPAY could be helpful.

All the best,

John Spiers

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: hesperis
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 06:26 PM

I can set you up with a gmail.com address if you want... just email from your normal email to chagallmusic at gmail and say you're a mudcatter looking for a gmail invite. Then you can use the new email address to register at paypal.

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: mississippitom
Date: 16 Sep 05 - 08:03 PM

Something all people trying to sell their Cd's online should consider is digital distribution.
This is a tip that CD Baby also gives so I'll give the credit to them even though I thought of it long before they said it.If you type your name and or the name of a song into one of the p2p networks and you actually show up it is a big plus for you.
Yes it means that some folks are getting your music for free but the marketing value is way beyond that problem.
The problem we all have selling on the Internet is number one there is so much stuff out there.Quite a bit of it is very good.Someone said on here that is is hard to sell what people cannot here.That is very true.
It is important to do some cover songs for several reasons.
A very important one is that when people are looking for a particular song and your name comes up on that title then they listen to it and like it,they will want to know what else you have done.
Marketing is the greatest cost factor in selling anything and anytime you can get your name out there you need to do it.
Good luck,I hope you sell a million.

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: semi-submersible
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 07:25 AM

I had a similar problem with PayPal. It took days for them to get around to responding to me by email, but they did help me and the problem was fixed within a week or so. (When my credit card expiry date expired, it deactivated my account, I think.) Could be there's hope yet?

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: Will Fly
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 07:38 AM

I sell DVDs through my website using PayPal and have never had any bother. The only problem I've encountered is when non-UK customers without PayPal want to pay by cheque - this causes my band problems as the amounts are too small to deal with. So I usually ask these people to put equivalent notes, in a letter, in an envelope!

PayPal also takes its slice off the transaction, but I just accept that that's part of the price to pay for its usefulness. So - I would agree with others - try and get your PayPal sorted and all should be fine. You can then put a PayPal button(s) on your web pages for easy payment.

Subject: RE: selling CDs online - advice?
From: semi-submersible
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 07:44 AM

Dang, sorry, I didn't realise I was posting to an old old question. A spam posting (since deleted) reactivated this 2005 thread, and I replied to it, thinking it was a new discussion.