The Super-Duper Cheap Bargains Thread

[mc ukrneal]

Hey everyone. Long time lurker, first time poster here.

I was browsing the last couple pages of this thread and was shocked to see no mention of the recent EMI box set blowout that ImportCDs had on their web site right before Thanksgiving. There were a few people over at the Steve Hoffman forum who heard about it in the classical thread, and I know a some of them post here.

Anywho, they had HUGE discounts on box sets from EMI. I'm talking like 90%+ off. Here's what I got:

$11.16   Alban Berg Quartet-Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets
$15.26   Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies by Jochum
$14.68   Maria Callas, The Complete Studio Recordings 1949-1969
$15.13   Aldo Ciccolini-Complete Emi Recordings 1950-1991
$13.93   Aldo Ciccolini-Satie: Piano Works (I found this on the site before the complete set, I'm gonna sell it)
$13.28   Composers In Person
$11.33   Elgar: The Collector's Edition
$10.96   Karajan-The Complete Emi Recordings 1946-1984, Vol. 1: Orchestral
$10.96   Karajan-The Complete Emi Recordings 1946-1984, Vol. 2: Opera & Vocal
$8.33   David Oistrakh: The Complete Recordings
$15.28   Mstislav Rostropovich: Complete Emi Recordings
$10.53   Paul Tortelier -The Great Emi Recordings
$11.13   Vaughan Williams: The Collector's Edition

Yeah, it was insane. The sale lasted about 2 days. A lot of the sets I ordered were out of stock, but they have since honored the prices and shipped everything. I just got the Callas set today.

Just a heads up to everyone to keep an eye out on their web site.

Welcome! Those are some unreal prices!

[Harry]

Welcome! Those are some unreal prices!

Yeah especially the orchestral Karajan, would be nice if there would have been a link, if its still available:)

[evanft]

Yeah especially the orchestral Karajan, would be nice if there would have been a link, if its still available:)

The sale lasted about 2 days and has been over for about 2 weeks. The ImportCDs website is just www.importCDs.com

[Coopmv]

The sale lasted about 2 days and has been over for about 2 weeks. The ImportCDs website is just www.importCDs.com

I paid on average $1.50 per CD for the Vaughan Williams: The Collector's Edition set at Amazon US.  The ImportCD price would have been about $0.40 per CD.  I have not bought from ImportCD in months, its packaging is the worse among the Amazon MP vendors.  I have not received any orders from them without any busted CD jewel cases in a very long time ...   

[Scarpia]

The sale lasted about 2 days and has been over for about 2 weeks. The ImportCDs website is just www.importCDs.com

It would have been helpful if you had posted that before the sale ended.   

[Coopmv]

It would have been helpful if you had posted that before the sale ended.   

The insane prices at which ImportCD was selling these CD sets might have something to do with the precarious financial condition of EMI, which is now doing all it can to maximize its cash flows.  Back in last spring, I read an article that the private equity group that did the LBO on EMI might have to let EMI go into bankruptcy since it was in danger of violating the debt covenant with Citigroup.  Perhaps ImportCD itself is in trouble as well ...

[Scarpia]

The insane prices at which ImportCD was selling these CD sets might have something to do with the precarious financial condition of EMI, which is now doing all it can to maximize its cash flows.  Back in last spring, I read an article that the private equity group that did the LBO on EMI might have to let EMI go into bankruptcy since it was in danger of violating the debt covenant with Citigroup.  Perhaps ImportCD itself is in trouble as well ...

I suspect ImportCD needed to raise cash and get rid of some idle inventory.  EMI may or may not be near bankruptcy, but classical music is a small part of their business and their financial position presumably depends on their pop music business more than anything else.

It would be a shame if ImportCD disappeared.  Their prices are low, and tend to push everyone else's prices down, so you benefit from them even if you don't buy from them.  I've gotten a fair amount of stuff from ImportCD, but they ship from California so I normally prefer similar vendors that ship from the east coast.  The one time I had a problem with one of the products I got from them they were very efficient in issuing a refund.

[Coopmv]

I suspect ImportCD needed to raise cash and get rid of some idle inventory.  EMI may or may not be near bankruptcy, but classical music is a small part of their business and their financial position presumably depends on their pop music business more than anything else.

It would be a shame if ImportCD disappeared.  Their prices are low, and tend to push everyone else's prices down, so you benefit from them even if you don't buy from them.  I've gotten a fair amount of stuff from ImportCD, but they ship from California so I normally prefer similar vendors that ship from the east coast.  The one time I had a problem with one of the products I got from them they were very efficient in issuing a refund.

I agree with you that ImportCD has put lots of pricing pressure on other Amazon MP vendors.  As such, I do benefit from its pricing even though I no longer buy from it that often ...

[71 dB]

$11.33   Elgar: The Collector's Edition

What the hell? I have been waiting for this set to get cheap for ages but it is not happening. I already own about half of the box and that's why I am unwilling to pay much for it. $43.43 on Amazon.com and £33.35 on Amazon.co.uk.

[Harry]

What the hell? I have been waiting for this set to get cheap for ages but it is not happening. I already own about half of the box and that's why I am unwilling to pay much for it. $43.43 on Amazon.com and £33.35 on Amazon.co.uk.

Yes, it would have been handy if the poster that knew about it, would have alerted us right away, it only lasted 2 days, but comes wandering in and proclaims what fine deals he had, but o, yeah, sorry guys the sale is over:(

[canninator]

For Chopin's fans...




...look here!
http://www.amazon.de/gp/offer-listing/B003DQIQ7C/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&qid=1290462488&sr=1-5&condition=new

Orpheus 

Too good to be true. I had been waiting on this for a while and the marketplace vendor just e-mailed me to say they cannot provide this and are refunding me. 

[George]

http://www.bordersmedia.com/coup/50sa20101214.html?cmpid=SA_20101214

Half off any single item at Borders, for the next three days. If you don't already have one, the required Borders Rewards  membership is free and can be obtained in any store within a few minutes.

[evanft]

Yes, it would have been handy if the poster that knew about it, would have alerted us right away, it only lasted 2 days, but comes wandering in and proclaims what fine deals he had, but o, yeah, sorry guys the sale is over:(

I only found out about the sale at the tail end. By the time I thought to come post about it, it was already over.

[nigeld]

Following up  a recommendation from another thread to buy a double cd from the Florestan Trio in Brahms, I went to the Hyperion website and saw it there for £23.  Ouch!

I then visited Amazon and found this box on for £33.  It contains the music I was looking for plus another 10discs.  Top notch ensembles as far as I can see.

Bargain time!

[MN Dave]

Following up  a recommendation from another thread to buy a double cd from the Florestan Trio in Brahms, I went to the Hyperion website and saw it there for £23.  Ouch!

I then visited Amazon and found this box on for £33.  It contains the music I was looking for plus another 10discs.  Top notch ensembles as far as I can see.

Bargain time!

Well done. Thanks.

[mc ukrneal]

Following up  a recommendation from another thread to buy a double cd from the Florestan Trio in Brahms, I went to the Hyperion website and saw it there for £23.  Ouch!

I then visited Amazon and found this box on for £33.  It contains the music I was looking for plus another 10discs.  Top notch ensembles as far as I can see.

Bargain time!

I had picked it up for $14 at Berkshire (no longer available), but the box is a good way to get it as it has a number of not just good performances, but great performances.

[Harry]

Following up  a recommendation from another thread to buy a double cd from the Florestan Trio in Brahms, I went to the Hyperion website and saw it there for £23.  Ouch!

I then visited Amazon and found this box on for £33.  It contains the music I was looking for plus another 10discs.  Top notch ensembles as far as I can see.

Bargain time!

You mean 80 pounds, for thats the price, on Hyperions website. Would love it for 23 pounds, so if you have a link:)
Better still could someone give me a link to the lowest price of this set

[Harry]

I had picked it up for $14 at Berkshire (no longer available), but the box is a good way to get it as it has a number of not just good performances, but great performances.

Geez 14 dollars, Neal! Could you not have told me

[nigeld]

You mean 80 pounds, for thats the price, on Hyperions website. Would love it for 23 pounds, so if you have a link:)
Better still could someone give me a link to the lowest price of this set

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brahms-Hamelin-Lane-Power-Isserlis/dp/B001F4YGU0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292601956&sr=8-1

there you go Harry

[mc ukrneal]

Geez 14 dollars, Neal! Could you not have told me

This was much earlier this year and I had no idea it would be so good. But I am talking about the 2CD set, not the box (just to be clear), which I don't have. The box was much talked about earlier this year at that French site sale - at least I seem to remember people posting about a very low price for it.