Are Promotional CDs Worth Less Than Original CDs?

[George]

Great thread George.  However, this line has me laughing so hard that I will have to re-read the responses when I believe I can handle it.  (still LOL)

[George]

They are worth less (not worthless) to me...as are "record club" CDs.  Occasionally I'll buy a used CD from AMZN marketplace that's a promo or club CD not identified as such by the seller.  Pisses me off because I would not have bought it had the seller honestly disclosed the nature of the merchandise.  Caveat emptor. 

Good to know that I am not going crazy. My interaction with this person ruined my afternoon. I have difficulty in situations where the other person confidently has an opposing view and because I no longer walk around in a suit of armor, his/her harsh comments hit close to the bone. However, though these interactions may upset me, I wouldn't be happy returning to living my life as this clerk does. As DavidW has reminded me in the past, I am a sensitive guy. I just need to find a way to accept that or even capitalize on it. 

[George]

That's when you say in the most authoritative voice that you can muster "you know they're not worth much more than a dollar.  You wouldn't want to have to call your manager and get into trouble for bothering him would you?  I'll tell you what, the most you could maybe sell these cds for is $3 at the most, but only a few would sell at that price.  So I'll do us both a favor, we'll split the difference and call it $2 a cd, and you make enough of a profit to not upset the manager on top of moving merchandise that was collecting dust, and I get my cds.  What do you think?"

There was a time in my life when I would have taken things so far with the guy that he would have been forced to eat a high fiber diet in order to remove the CD in question from his rectum. However, I know realize that I cannot indulge in certain confrontations without ruining my original purpose. I think it's very hard (at least for me) to interact with someone who's miserable without coming away from it feeling just as miserable. I told orbital later that day that if I were 55 and still living at home with mom and working in a shady used CD store, I might have an attitude myself.

[longears]

There was a time in my life when I would have taken things so far with the guy that he would have been forced to eat a high fiber diet in order to remove the CD in question from his rectum. However, I know realize that I cannot indulge in certain confrontations without ruining my original purpose. I think it's very hard (at least for me) to interact with someone who's miserable without coming away from it feeling just as miserable. I told orbital later that day that if I were 55 and still living at home with mom and working in a shady used CD store, I might have an attitude myself.

Not worth letting the poor schmuck live rent-free inside your head.  I know I'm making some progress in life when I just smile and shake my head in wonderment instead of having to restrain myself from re-enacting "The Dance of the Enraged Cape Buffalo" on his poor, benighted noggin.

[George]

Not worth letting the poor schmuck live rent-free inside your head.  I know I'm making some progress in life when I just smile and shake my head in wonderment instead of having to restrain myself from re-enacting "The Dance of the Enraged Cape Buffalo" on his poor, benighted noggin.

Indeed, this restraint results in a beautiful act of love, not only towards him, but ourselves as well.

[Bogey]

Not worth letting the poor schmuck live rent-free inside your head.  I know I'm making some progress in life when I just smile and shake my head in wonderment instead of having to restrain myself from re-enacting "The Dance of the Enraged Cape Buffalo" on his poor, benighted noggin.

Keep it going folks!  I am taking notes, LOL,  and will be looking for the opportunities to use these one liners at work on Monday  

(Karl, might you pass me your proverbial popcorn from the Beethoven: Last great classicist ... or first great romantic thread?)

[DavidW]

There was a time in my life when I would have taken things so far with the guy that he would have been forced to eat a high fiber diet in order to remove the CD in question from his rectum. However, I know realize that I cannot indulge in certain confrontations without ruining my original purpose. I think it's very hard (at least for me) to interact with someone who's miserable without coming away from it feeling just as miserable. I told orbital later that day that if I were 55 and still living at home with mom and working in a shady used CD store, I might have an attitude myself.

And I wouldn't even be in that situation anymore, because the only music store in town is sigh... Hastings.  You lucky New Yorker you.

[Szykneij]

Something you need to remember in a case like this is that the guy you're talking to probably has no control over the situation. If he was only a clerk, someone else did the actual pricing and he would probably be fired for selling CDs for less than they were marked. His response should have been "I understand your point, but I'm not responsible for the prices. I'd be glad to get a manager for you" and let the person who had the authority to make any price adjustments handle the heat. I remember being in line behind a rude customer in a department store who was reaming out the teenage clerk because the store didn't carry the type of coat he wanted. I said to the guy "Yeah, I'm sure she's in charge of buying for the entire chain" when he left in a huff. He couldn't get what he wanted, so he was venting his wrath on a poor kid who was just trying to do her job. If he was smart, he would have spoken to someone in a decision-making position. Nine times out of ten, that's how you get positive results if that's what you're really looking for.

[George]

Something you need to remember in a case like this is that the guy you're talking to probably has no control over the situation. If he was only a clerk, someone else did the actual pricing and he would probably be fired for selling CDs for less than they were marked. His response should have been "I understand your point, but I'm not responsible for the prices. I'd be glad to get a manager for you" and let the person who had the authority to make any price adjustments handle the heat. I remember being in line behind a rude customer in a department store who was reaming out the teenage clerk because the store didn't carry the type of coat he wanted. I said to the guy "Yeah, I'm sure she's in charge of buying for the entire chain" when he left in a huff. He couldn't get what he wanted, so he was venting his wrath on a poor kid who was just trying to do her job. If he was smart, he would have spoken to someone in a decision-making position. Nine times out of ten, that's how you get positive results if that's what you're really looking for.

I fully agree. After my brief encounter with the clerk at the back of the store, I asked in the front for the guy who does the pricing. I was politely told that he would be in the following day. I didn't go back the next day because I had decided not to support their store anymore. Over the years there have been other situations at that store with employees/managers who did have a say in things, but chose not to act fairly. Like the clerk I spoke with recently, they acted like I was crazy, relying on the fact that I am a rabid collector who would buy it anyway. This was true, until last week when that twerp's shitty customer service pushed me over the edge. In the end the only thing a company cares about is my money and the only real power I have as a consumer is how I spend my money.   

[DavidW]

I fully agree. After my brief encounter with the clerk at the back of the store, I asked in the front for the guy who does the pricing. I was politely told that he would be in the following day. I didn't go back the next day because I had decided not to support their store anymore. Over the years there have been other situations at that store with employees/managers who did have a say in things, but chose not to act fairly. Like the clerk I spoke with recently, they acted like I was crazy, relying on the fact that I am a rabid collector who would buy it anyway. This was true, until last week when that twerp's shitty customer service pushed me over the edge. In the end the only thing a company cares about is my money and the only real power I have as a consumer is how I spend my money.   

Let me get this straight the clerks who are not allowed to even think for themselves are left unsupervised while the manager takes the day off?  If the manager takes off, then one of the clerks should have the power to make decisions such as what price are the unpriced cds, or the manager should be around.  I mean c'mon this kind of stuff can pop up all the time, that's why you need someone to take responsibility present.

[Mark]

Cd's marked "for promotional use only" must be freely given away and not sold.

I know of resellers (dealing in used, not new, discs) who regularly sell on promotional CDs. Not necessarily at inflated prices, but they do sell 'em all the same. I've picked up a couple myself before now.

[George]

Let me get this straight the clerks who are not allowed to even think for themselves are left unsupervised while the manager takes the day off?  If the manager takes off, then one of the clerks should have the power to make decisions such as what price are the unpriced cds, or the manager should be around.  I mean c'mon this kind of stuff can pop up all the time, that's why you need someone to take responsibility present.

No, there was a manager there, but he doesn't set the prices. He just supervises.

[George]

I know of resellers (dealing in used, not new, discs) who regularly sell on promotional CDs. Not necessarily at inflated prices, but they do sell 'em all the same. I've picked up a couple myself before now.

Did you pay less than a non-promo CD?

[Mark]

No, there was a manager there, but he doesn't set the prices. He just supervises.

Then he should be called a supervisor, no?

[George]

Then he should be called a supervisor, no?

I suppose. It's not exactly an organized store and I am not sure what they call the people in charge, to tell you the truth. I can say that the guy who sets the prices is not in charge of other people, just the prices.

[Mark]

Did you pay less than a non-promo CD?

Yes, I imagine so in both cases, because we're talking about used discs. As used stock has no RRP, however, it would be impossible to tell whether one was being overcharged for a used promo disc unless the same disc (only non-promo) was also being sold by the same seller at the same time.

[BachQ]

I know of resellers (dealing in used, not new, discs) who regularly sell on promotional CDs. Not necessarily at inflated prices, but they do sell 'em all the same. I've picked up a couple myself before now.

That would be unlawful in the USA.  I suspect, but am not certain, that it would also be unlawful in the UK.

[Mark]

That would be unlawful in the USA.  I suspect, but am not certain, that it would also be unlawful in the UK.

Well, I'm not certain about the law here on the resell of promo goods. I can't imagine anyone coming down hard on a charity shop for selling such a CD, for example.

[BachQ]

I can't imagine anyone coming down hard on a charity shop for selling such a CD, for example.

I agree.  It would be a problem only if done on a large scale, or in moderate scale, but done in combination with other factors (such as in combination with selling pirated music).

[Szykneij]

It's probably illegal for a retailer to sell a "promotional copy" ........

I just came across the following information on a Tripod site that addresses the question:

G003   I have some items marked "Promotional - Not For Sale".
   Is it really illegal to buy and sell these?

    No.  The record companies will occasionally rattle their sabres on this
    issue but in fact they have no legal power to prevent people from buying
    and selling marked promos.  In fact, they are well aware that most of
    the promos they issue end up being sold in the open market sooner or
    later, and often will send out "collectable" promos in bulk as a sort
    of bribe to encourage record shops and radio stations to push their
    product.  The "Must Be Returned To The Record Company On Demand" wording
    of some promo labels is meaningless; no record company has ever issued
    the demand.