Problems with buying used Opera Cds

[DarkAngel]

I have no  big problem with the frequent cracked CD jewel case during shipping and keep a supply of extra ones on hand to replace cracked ones. (although an experienced seller should know how to ship a CD so it will not arrived with cracked case    )

The problem I have with used opera CDs is missing outer slipcover and large booklet!
The problems seems to be sellers who are not original owners and have no knowledege of typical classical CD packaging, they list CD set as like new but make no mention that these items are missing.......requires extra step of contacting seller and trying to work out some form of refund, often they want you return set to them "before" they will isssue any refund a huge hassle. This happens about 5-10% of the time for me with Amazon sellers

Anyone else experience this problem and how do you avoid it?

[Brünnhilde forever]

You give the seller of such discs a bad rating! 

[Que]

I have no  big problem with the frequent cracked CD jewel case during shipping and keep a supply of extra ones on hand to replace cracked ones. (although an experienced seller should know how to ship a CD so it will not arrived with cracked case    )

The problem I have with used opera CDs is missing outer slipcover and large booklet!
The problems seems to be sellers who are not original owners and have no knowledege of typical classical CD packaging, they list CD set as like new but make no mention that these items are missing.......requires extra step of contacting seller and trying to work out some form of refund, often they want you return set to them "before" they will isssue any refund a huge hassle. This happens about 5-10% of the time for me with Amazon sellers

Anyone else experience this problem and how do you avoid it?

This is why I never buy items "used" if cardboard slipcases and boxes are involved, also: if not missing they look terrible. The classic jewel case however, can easily be replaced and I do that almost every time upon receival of an item that is really used and not just new without wrapping.

Q

[nut-job]

I have no  big problem with the frequent cracked CD jewel case during shipping and keep a supply of extra ones on hand to replace cracked ones. (although an experienced seller should know how to ship a CD so it will not arrived with cracked case    )

If you think any seller can defeat the postal service in its mission to crush your package you are kidding yourself.  And even using fairly moderate packaging Amazons shipment allowance does not cover actual shipment cost.

[DarkAngel]

This is why I never buy items "used" if cardboard slipcases and boxes are involved, also: if not missing they look terrible. The classic jewel case however, can easily be replaced and I do that almost every time upon receival of an item that is really used and not just new without wrapping.

Q

Intertesting to see Amazon sellers response when I inform them that booklet and slip cover are missing.........

I just had two cases recently:
-one seller did the right thing and apoligized and sent me full refund right away no questioned asked.   

-the other seller acted irritated and insisted I return mail the opera set to him and then he would "see what he could do" for me   
(no surprise that this set also arrived with badly cracked jewel case)

[DarkAngel]

If you think any seller can defeat the postal service in its mission to crush your package you are kidding yourself.  And even using fairly moderate packaging Amazons shipment allowance does not cover actual shipment cost.

Some sellers try to make extra profit on Amazon shipping allowance and use cheapest packing possible, very often arriving with cracked jewel
cases......this is so common I don't even think twice about, just keep extra jewel cases at home.

For CDs I sell I discovered long ago that if you wrap CD in bubble pack and use bubble pack envelope (double layers bubble pack) your CD jewel case will not get cracked in shipping unless package has been vitually destroyed by post office..

[Jay F]

I really don't think most Amazon Marketplace sellers are in business to screw people over. I know that's not my objective when I sell something there.

As a buyer, I always "ask seller a question." If I get no response, or the wrong response, I don't buy the item. I avoid places like Go Hastings, ones that "can't" or won't take the time to look. In addition to complete packaging, I also ask about foam inserts in classical and opera box sets, i.e., whether they're yellow, brown, powdery, rotten. The brown, powdery, and rotten ones can really scratch a disc, in addition to being pretty damned disgusting.

I don't buy anything if the deal doesn't sound right. An acceptable copy will show up eventually.

[DarkAngel]

As a buyer, I always "ask seller a question." If I get no response, or the wrong response, I don't buy the item. I avoid places like Go Hastings, ones that "can't" or won't take the time to look. In addition to complete packaging, I also ask about foam inserts in classical and opera box sets, i.e., whether they're yellow, brown, powdery, rotten. The brown, powdery, and rotten ones can really scratch a disc, in addition to being pretty damned disgusting.

I don't buy anything if the deal doesn't sound right. An acceptable copy will show up eventually.

Foam inserts...??
I can't remember the last time I bought a used opera set at Amazon that still had foam inserts used 

You are unfortunately right that if you want to be sure there will be no surprises buying used CDs opera set you need to email seller first and make sure all items are included

[mwb]

I really don't think most Amazon Marketplace sellers are in business to screw people over. I know that's not my objective when I sell something there.

Exactly.  Plus some of the buyer's expectations can be pretty bizarre (not those in this thread which are quite reasonable IMO.)  And I know I'd be annoyed if those items weren't included.

I used to sell stuff on half.com years ago (mostly thinning my book collection and getting rid of VHS in my move to DVD back then) - and one of my favorite things was the disconnected shipping comments.

One great pair was one person who said how thrilled they were with how quickly the package arrived - in just two days.  Yes I always shipped the first business day after getting an order, but they failed to notice that they were in the same exact zip code as where I was shipping from!  So naturally this was quick shipping.

But the better one was a person who referenced that comment and "complained" how come that person got his with two days but it took a week for them to get theirs.  Hmmm, maybe if you noticed that the package came from Massachusetts and you were in Nevada and you just paid for book rate shipping (not priority.)

I know that's just crazy talk! 

----------------

Listening to: Glazunov, Alexander - Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 82 II. Andante — Julia Fischer (violin)/Yakov Kreizberg (conductor)/Russian National Orchestra

[DavidRoss]

I really don't think most Amazon Marketplace sellers are in business to screw people over. I know that's not my objective when I sell something there.

As a buyer, I always "ask seller a question." If I get no response, or the wrong response, I don't buy the item. I avoid places like Go Hastings, ones that "can't" or won't take the time to look. In addition to complete packaging, I also ask about foam inserts in classical and opera box sets, i.e., whether they're yellow, brown, powdery, rotten. The brown, powdery, and rotten ones can really scratch a disc, in addition to being pretty damned disgusting.

I don't buy anything if the deal doesn't sound right. An acceptable copy will show up eventually.

Duh!  I never knew this option existed but after this post I found the link to contact seller if you open the seller's expanded ratings page.  Thank you!  Maybe now I'll be able to avoid unwanted record club CDs--just have to ask every seller first since many don't identify them as such in their listings.

Other than record club issues, I don't think I've ever had a problem with used opera recordings.  I suspect that opera buyers are usually mature enough not to use the CDs as coasters or dog toys. 

[ChamberNut]

I just can't stand the plastic jewel cases, and I can't believe they are still being used at all for CDs (although perhaps they are the cheapest packaging option?)

The middle part, once it cracks and breaks down, makes the CD float around and get scratched.  I always loved CDs that come in a cardboard box with cardboard sleeves.  Much prefer this method of packaging CDs.  Just my own preference. 

I don't like opera CD's that come in jewel cases either!  Multiple CDs in jewel cases are even worse than single cds in jewel cases.

[Jay F]

Duh!  I never knew this option existed but after this post I found the link to contact seller if you open the seller's expanded ratings page.  Thank you!  Maybe now I'll be able to avoid unwanted record club CDs--just have to ask every seller first since many don't identify them as such in their listings.

When I "ask" more than one seller at a time, I always insert the seller's user ID in the salutation, so I'll know who's responding about which item. The Amazon Marketplace e-mail system does not provide a link back to the product, so if the e-mail address and the user ID don't match, you don't know who is responding to what. It's very bizarre. I've complained to Amazon at least five times about this, but they do nothing.

[Jay F]

The middle part, once it cracks and breaks down, makes the CD float around and get scratched.  I always loved CDs that come in a cardboard box with cardboard sleeves.  Much prefer this method of packaging CDs.  Just my own preference. 

I love jewel cases, and hate the cardboard boxes and sleeves. The trays are replaceable, and jewel cases don't scratch the discs the way cardboard sleeves do. Plus, the cardboard cracks and you see white in the creases. The Bob Dylan SACDs are especially egregious.

[Jay F]

Foam inserts...??
I can't remember the last time I bought a used opera set at Amazon that still had foam inserts used 

I bought three this year alone, all DG first pressings, one Abbado Mahler, one Bohm Beethoven, another I can't remember. All a mess. OTOH, I bought some HVK Mahler earlier whose foam inserts were perfect. They even included the little booklets. And the CDs looked as if they'd never been played.

You are unfortunately right that if you want to be sure there will be no surprises buying used CDs opera set you need to email seller first and make sure all items are included

I learned the hard way.

[ChamberNut]

jewel cases don't scratch the discs

I find this to be only the case when the middle piece if firm and has a very, very tight fit with the CD, where it has no opportunity to move at all.  Where it makes it almost difficult to remove the CD from the jewel case.

Who wants it more.....you or the jewel case? 

[DavidRoss]

I love jewel cases, and hate the cardboard boxes and sleeves. The trays are replaceable, and jewel cases don't scratch the discs the way cardboard sleeves do.

That makes two of us.  When the sleeves are particularly tight I replace them with ultra-thin jewel cases or soft lined plastic sleeves.

[DarkAngel]

That makes two of us.  When the sleeves are particularly tight I replace them with ultra-thin jewel cases or soft lined plastic sleeves.

I like to use black paper sleeves with round window and flap cut off.........very attractive presentation also, sexier than white paper.

Anyone notice it is very hard to find/purchase extra 2cd or 3cd chubby jewel cases that have room for thick opera type booklet inside?
They are almost always sold as quads or 4CD version and the raised center hub prevents thick booklet from fitting in properly.

The solution for a cracked 3CD chubby jewel case is to just replace the clear end panels and keep the original center spine/tray assembly

[DarkAngel]

One other minor irritation when buying used Opera Cds from large retail vendors is use of multiple labels stuck
on jewel case that cannot be removed without adhesive remaining on jewel case 

-price sticker
-"used cd" sticker
-store name sticker

If they would use those labels that are easy to remove and don't leave adhesive on jewel case that would be
OK, but that would be too easy wouldn't it.........also over long period of time some adhesives can discolor the jewel case plastic underneath it

[jhar26]

One other minor irritation when buying used Opera Cds from large retail vendors is use of multiple labels stuck
on jewel case that cannot be removed without adhesive remaining on jewel case 

-price sticker
-"used cd" sticker
-store name sticker

If they would use those labels that are easy to remove and don't leave adhesive on jewel case that would be
OK, but that would be too easy wouldn't it.........also over long period of time some adhesives can discolor the jewel case plastic underneath it

Quickly move a lighter a couple of times over the sticker, then try to remove it. Works 99% of the time - and without damaging the jewel case.

[George]

One other minor irritation when buying used Opera Cds from large retail vendors is use of multiple labels stuck
on jewel case that cannot be removed without adhesive remaining on jewel case 

To remove the goo left from sticker on jewel cases I use two methods:

1. Take some sticky packing tape and stick it to the jewel case a number of times, back and forth. A lot of times this takes it off cleanly.

2. If tape doesn't do it, I use 98% alcohol with a paper towel. This almost always wipes it right off, even off of cardboard sleeves.