| Now that Columbia House has been acquired by | | | | those first 12? |
| BMG, who will take the place of the music club | | | | Compare CD Clubs BMG vs. YourMusic: |
| giant's competitor? The emerging company | | | | Commitments |
| YourMusic appears to be the industry's newest | | | | Whether it's buying CD's online or getting hitched, |
| contender. But with a pricing structure so | | | | many of us have a fear of commitment. It's |
| different from the traditional music club, is it a | | | | discomforting to know that we are required to |
| better buy than BMG? In this article, we'll compare | | | | buy a certain number of future CDs from a |
| CD clubs, digging through the marketing hype and | | | | particular company whether we want to or not. |
| the confusing pricing structure to determine the | | | | However, BMG's commitment is one that even |
| best buy. | | | | the most commitment phobic can handle. You're |
| Compare CD Clubs BMG vs. YourMusic: Cost | | | | only obligated to by 1 CD over the course of an |
| It's difficult to resist the allure of a mailbox full of | | | | entire 1 year. |
| free CDs, but are these CD's really free? Will you | | | | But don't think BMG is going to let you go that |
| end up paying for these 'free' CDs by way of | | | | easily. During that year in which you are a |
| shipping charges and overpriced CD's that you're | | | | member, the company will be sending you CDs of |
| obligated to purchase later? | | | | their choice every 3 weeks. You can choose to |
| First, let's examine BMG's pricing structure to | | | | keep the CDs and pay for them, or you can send |
| determine the cost of a single CD. BMG | | | | back within ten days. No doubt they make a small |
| advertises 12 CDs for the price of 1. However, | | | | fortune from those people who never get around |
| you must pay $2.79 shipping and handling per CD; | | | | to sending the CD's back although they don't |
| information that they do not make readily | | | | want the music. With BMG, you'll pay less for your |
| available in their FAQ section. | | | | first 13 CDs but will have to live with the fact |
| The cost of a 'Free' BMG CD | | | | that you'll be returning packages or buying a new |
| 12 total CDs at a delivery cost of $2.75 each: | | | | CD every three weeks. |
| $2.79 x 12 = $33.48 | | | | YourMusic will send you a CD every month also. |
| 1 regular priced CD (most are $18.98): $18.98 | | | | However, it will be a CD of your choice. The way |
| Total cost of 12 'free' CDs: $52.46 | | | | it works is that you load up your queue with your |
| The newest CD club competitor YourMusic | | | | favorite CDs, one of which will be shipped to you |
| doesn't attempt to hook you with visions of a | | | | automatically every 30 days. While you're a |
| mailbox full of CDs. YourMusic pricing structure is | | | | member, you can buy as many CDs as you like |
| refreshingly simple with a cost of $6.99 for each | | | | for the $6.99 price, but you'll have to be certain |
| CD. Compare this with the $14.98 - $24.98 sticker | | | | to keep at least one CD in your queue. If queue is |
| price of BMG CD's and you might initially think that | | | | empty when your monthly shipping date rolls |
| YourMusic offers a much better deal. | | | | around, you will be charged and you won't get a |
| Even better is that YourMusic charges nothing at | | | | CD. |
| all for shipping. It can feel irritating to shell out | | | | Compare BMG vs. YourMusic ' total commitment |
| extra money to ship a CD when you could have | | | | cost: |
| just picked it up for free at your local Walmart. | | | | BMG ' 13 CD's plus shipping and handling: $74.23 |
| With a $6.99 sticker price and zero cost for | | | | YourMusic (no commitment, but the cost of 13 |
| shipping and handling, buying CD's through | | | | CDs): $90.87 |
| YourMusic definitely works out to be less | | | | Though more confusing and at first seemingly |
| expensive than buying CD in your local store. | | | | more expensive, 13 CDs from BMG actually costs |
| However, and quite surprisingly, buying CDs | | | | less than 13 CDs from YourMusic. However, if |
| through YourMusic is not necessarily cheaper than | | | | you were to buy more than 13 CDs, a cost |
| buying from BMG, depending on how many you | | | | comparison would quickly favor YourMusic. When |
| buy. | | | | comparing CD clubs, there is more to consider |
| Compare BMG vs. YourMusic for the cost of the | | | | than just the price. It's up to you to decide if the |
| first 12 CDs: | | | | $16 difference between the two companies is |
| BMG: $52.46 | | | | worth the hassle of sending CDs back each |
| YourMusic: $83.88 | | | | month. Either way, both of these CD clubs offer |
| But what about commitments? What is the cost | | | | a nice solution for building your music collection |
| of those CD's you're obligated to purchase after | | | | quickly. |