The Super-Duper Cheap Bargains Thread

[Cosi bel do]

And now Brilliant's Bach Complete Edition - 50,99€ !!!

[king ubu]

They had the Brahms, too - but both way too rich for me (or rather I've got too much of the repertoire in versions I actually picked myself). And in the morning the Brendel Vox/Brilliant set. Again, I have all that repertoire and so far, nothing draws me to Brendel.

In the morning, I ordered the Reiner Strauss (11 discs, I think) for 11 or 12 Euros - gone within a few minutes it seems. They seem to let got a certain number of items only (if the number isn't reached, the offer ends after a few hours - two only,I think?).

[Jo498]

There is both a time limit and a limited number of items. The orders are presumeably placed first come first serve, but one is put on a "waiting list" if 100% is reached. But most of the very same offers were recycled during the last week (today was the last day), so there were usually 2-4 chances to grab stuff within that week.

(I didn't buy anything. I have had almost everything from the original box I want for years)

[king ubu]

Thanks for the explanation - wasn't sure how this all really works, only found out about it today. (I don't do Halloween and all that stuff ... and though I'm of course a frequent consumer of various goods, I don't quite get the concept of "Black ... week" - wasn't it supposed to be Friday once? And isn't that name slightly problematic?)

[Brian]

I don't quite get the concept of "Black ... week" - wasn't it supposed to be Friday once? And isn't that name slightly problematic?

"Black" refers to the old idea that before Christmas, retail stores have not made money on the year, so their profit numbers are "in the red" (negative). Historically negative numbers were supposed to be printed with red ink, and positive numbers were printed with black ink. So after the Christmas shopping season, if a deficit became a profit, the store was "in the black".

Somehow this became attached to not just Christmas shopping in general, but to the big push around the start of December to convince everyone to all buy everything at the same time with big sales. It started with Black Friday, but sales are not succeeding these days because the economy is so poor. Stores are growing more and more desperate, and the more desperate they get, the longer the Black Friday sales last.

[PerfectWagnerite]

And now Brilliant's Bach Complete Edition - 50,99€ !!!

That is not really that cheap. For awhile Amazon in the US had it for around $70. I got mine but never felt like opening it once the inital excitement of owning it was over.

[king ubu]

"Black" refers to the old idea that before Christmas, retail stores have not made money on the year, so their profit numbers are "in the red" (negative). Historically negative numbers were supposed to be printed with red ink, and positive numbers were printed with black ink. So after the Christmas shopping season, if a deficit became a profit, the store was "in the black".

Somehow this became attached to not just Christmas shopping in general, but to the big push around the start of December to convince everyone to all buy everything at the same time with big sales. It started with Black Friday, but sales are not succeeding these days because the economy is so poor. Stores are growing more and more desperate, and the more desperate they get, the longer the Black Friday sales last.

Okay, thanks! Thought there was more to it ... we still have that expression about red or black numbers over here, too. Thought it was somehow related thanksgiving (not halloween as I mistakenly wrote above), but I guess it's just *that* part of the year then.

[Ken B]

Okay, thanks! Thought there was more to it ... we still have that expression about red or black numbers over here, too. Thought it was somehow related thanksgiving (not halloween as I mistakenly wrote above), but I guess it's just *that* part of the year then.

I dispute Brian's etymology. Black Friday was named that for reasons similar to why Black Tuesday was named.

http://useconomy.about.com/od/demand/f/Black_Friday_Name.htm

If Brian is right the presumably there should be references to it going back a long time. There do not seem to be.

[Moonfish]

I dispute Brian's etymology. Black Friday was named that for reasons similar to why Black Tuesday was named.

http://useconomy.about.com/od/demand/f/Black_Friday_Name.htm

If Brian is right the presumably there should be references to it going back a long time. There do not seem to be.

Seems like the internet is cooking with variations although the traffic jam versions seem to dominate.
http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2013/11/29/black-friday-etymology
I kind of liked the red/black ink version...   

[Manos]

Well, I missed the whole thing, but I am marveling at how well the Amazon.co.uk price guarantee worked with the Monteux box that was released today in the UK. My final price was £50.67 excluding VAT, plus £3.08 shipping. By comparison, Amazon.com's current price is $172.19 with free shipping. I never actually saw Amazon.co.uk's price go that low. Adquisitio reports £60.80 was the lowest, but Discobolus did mention a price drop on Sunday.

[king ubu]

That's the same price I got - mine was already shipped when Discobulus posted and I wondered if the price had fallen even further - seems not, then (it was a this level sometime in the last few days, but definitely before Sunday).

[Cosi bel do]

Well, on Sunday, the price was 60,80£ incl. VAT of 20%, which gives a price excl. VAT of 50,64£. Seems this was the lower price, then. And even if your box had shipped a little before I reported the price drop, it is possible it was already that low. I never saw such a price for this box before this weekend actually.

[king ubu]

Well, on Sunday, the price was 60,80£ incl. VAT of 20%, which gives a price excl. VAT of 50,64£. Seems this was the lower price, then. And even if your box had shipped a little before I reported the price drop, it is possible it was already that low. I never saw such a price for this box before this weekend actually.

I did, but I can't tell you for sure when (Thursday or Friday I think) - but I only looked at my order summary, not at the actual page, so maybe it had once dropped that low before (my pre-order was running since October 4). Not sure, but glad I didn't miss out on an even better deal because of quicker shipping!

[listener]

The new DHM50 box (due Dec.16) from amazon.ca $Cdn 68.63, current conversion for UK £38.52.  If interested, full listing at the German site, http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00NX4NMGO/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p15_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1H38J8YAJJ4B6G16504J&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=455353687&pf_rd_i=301128

[jut1972]

Don't you have to pay import taxes to the UK from amazon Canada?

[Papy Oli]

Don't you have to pay import taxes to the UK from amazon Canada?

Yep, in my case, I had to pay VAT and duty to DHL when I ordered the Annie Fischer cycle from amazon CA a few months back. The package came to my work and the VAT / Duty was included into a subsequent DHL invoice received at work 3-4 weeks after the package.

[Moonfish]

The new DHM50 box (due Dec.16) from amazon.ca $Cdn 68.63, current conversion for UK £38.52.  If interested, full listing at the German site, http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00NX4NMGO/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p15_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3JWKAKR8XB7XF&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1H38J8YAJJ4B6G16504J&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=455353687&pf_rd_i=301128

Amazon.jp has similar pricing (and great shipping).
http://www.amazon.co.jp/deutsche-harmonia-mundi-50-Collection/dp/B00NX4NMGO

[AnthonyAthletic]

Don't you have to pay import taxes to the UK from amazon Canada?

Anything over £15 and it's an extra bill as Olivier says.  I bought the EMI Mozart 50 cd set last year and the total was £15.49, got hit with a further £12 tax and service.  Buy under £15 and no charges.

Shame most of our goodies are over the £15 bracket.....and yeah, they wait a few weeks then hit you with the delivery bill.

Saying that, not sure about Europe, I just got the DG Originals awesome bargain today from Germany Amazon for £37 delivered.  Early Christmas present to ones self. Also picked up Tennstedts Mahler 16 cd set for £14.50 on UK Amazon, dropped quite a few pounds and well worth the dough. 

[Jo498]

Amazon.de has again the Vivarte box on sale fpr EUr 39.99 and later today the DG Originals

http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00AOTZ156/?tag=hf-bench1-21&ascsubtag=imgpe&linkCode=ur2

[Harry]

Bookmark this link, you will see there all the actual offers over December. Go there every day, new items are added constantly.

http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&url=search-alias%3Dclassical&field-keywords=