I must admit I am a big fan of Naxos. I even bought the book they published last year (The Story of Naxos (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Story-Naxos-extraordinary-independent/dp/0749956895)), which — although it sometimes reads like an adoration of Herr Heymann — is definitely an interesting look at the history and inner workings of the company.
Klaus Heymann is a peculiar man. He insisted on keeping on with the original simplistic design of the Naxos covers (clean serif typeface on a white background) and it has certainly served them well.
What I find interesting is that they are now using a different type of cover design for some of the recordings: a cardboard sleeve on top of the typical white insert.
I know they are doing it with Petrenko's Shostakovich cycle, Gerard Schwarz/Seattle SO, and Marin Alsop to name just a few. Is it random or is there any system to it?
Perhaps they want to say: yes, we are the "budget label", but this is the premium stuff?
Does any other label use similar cardboard sleeves?
I think Naxos introduced cardboard sleeves in 2006 or so, as a way of highlighting their "featured" recording each month. Since Alsop, Petrenko, etc. are "stars" on the label, they got the sleeve treatment. The first cardboard sleeve from Naxos that I encountered was this from 2004. (http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.557279)
However, more recently - starting about a year ago - they have started to do away with the sleeves again, and they are eliminating the white space on those "featured" recordings. Here's the booklet cover of one of this month's top features:
(http://cdn.naxosmusiclibrary.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/8.573071.jpg)
By the way, I've seen paper sleeves a handful of times on other labels, including this Supraphon CD:
[asin]B007AX2UBC[/asin]
and this Harmonia Mundi CD:
[asin]B0049BX0FS[/asin]
I've gotten CDs in those cardboard sleeves from several companies besides Naxos, including Harmonia Mundi, although the usage does seem to have slacked off over the years. But I have these type of sleeves on most of the individual issues of Gergiev's LSO Mahler (not the ones I ordered from Amazon, but those I bought instore at Borders), and Naive's Vivaldi series (and, come to think of it, a number of their non Vivaldi issues), MTT's Mahler series on SFO, and a couple of Abbado's second Malher cycle (meaning those recorded with the BPO)--there may well be others that I don't remember at the moment. Or perhaps it became a favorite trope among Mahler conductors....
Also, a number of Gramophone award winners came with a cardboard sleeve announcing themselves as such--I have Gilel's recording of the Hammerklavier Sonata and the Takacs Quartet recording of Beethoven's Middle Quartets with such sleeves.
I love Naxos! Their covers are a bit drab, but I can easily spot them in my collection.
I love Naxos!!! They rock!! I meant....they Classical! ;D
Naxos have certainly come a long way. My only wish is they continue to record unknown repertoire and forget about things such as Alsop's Mahler, Bartok, Brahms, and Dvorak. There are better performances of all of these composers by more esteemed conductors and more prominent orchestras. I consider these things Naxos' trying to fit into the classical mainstream market where it has always, in my opinion, been third-rate. Again, my only wish is for them to continue to thrive in unknown music. This is where they excel.
I do agree, John. Yet, I do hope they finish the Petrenko/RLPO Shostakovich cycle. :D
Three of my favourite string quartet ensembles are on the Naxos label:
Maggini Quartet (they excel at English/UK chamber music repertoire)
Fine Arts Quartet
Carpe Diem SQ
Quote from: ChamberNut on January 14, 2013, 06:05:09 PM
I do agree, John. Yet, I do hope they finish the Petrenko/RLPO Shostakovich cycle. :D
Exactly right - they do have less of a track record in mainstream repertoire, but some of their work there has been outstanding. Petrenko's Shostakovich, Jando's Bartok or Liszt, a lot of the orchestral Elgar and Vaughan Williams, some pretty awesome Handel, Haydn, Smetana and random odds and ends like the Mendelssohn string quartets (NZSQ).
The key, as always, is good talent scouting and good taste. :) I do like their policy of having artists "work their way up." Thus Tianwa Yang proved her incredible violin skills with the complete Sarasate and Wolfgang Rihm, and now (Feb '13) she gets to do the Mendelssohn violin concertos.
Quote from: ChamberNut on January 14, 2013, 06:05:09 PM
I do agree, John. Yet, I do hope they finish the Petrenko/RLPO Shostakovich cycle. :D
Yeah, Petrenko's Shostakovich cycle proved to be very good, but I still don't rate as highly as Haitink's or even Barshai's. Another selling point for Naxos has been their reissuing of OOP recordings. Like many of the Schwarz recordings that have flooded the market over the past year or so. I wish Naxos would record the Chavez symphonies. This is one symphonic cycle that's in desperate need of a modern update.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 14, 2013, 06:15:40 PM
Yeah, Petrenko's Shostakovich cycle proved to be very good, but I still don't rate as highly as Haitink's or even Barshai's. Another selling point for Naxos has been their reissuing of OOP recordings. Like many of the Schwarz recordings that have flooded the market over the past year or so. I wish Naxos would record the Chavez symphonies. This is one symphonic cycle that's in desperate need of a modern update.
For me personally, Petrenko's 8th, 10th and 12th by far exceed Haitink. I have only listened to Barshai's 9th as yet.
I am eager to hear how Petrenko fares with No. 7 and especially No. 4 (fingers crossed).
Quote from: Fafner on January 14, 2013, 09:41:12 PM
For me personally, Petrenko's 8th, 10th and 12th by far exceed Haitink. I have only listened to Barshai's 9th as yet.
I am eager to hear how Petrenko fares with No. 7 and especially No. 4 (fingers crossed).
I'm still in awe of Haitink's 8th. For me, the best 8th on record. Petrenko's is certainly good, but it doesn't dig the depths that Haitink's does.
I don't like how Naxos changed their CD covers so that the Naxos logo is on blue square.
Those discs look stupid on bookshelf next to the "old ones" with all white sides.
They even removed the cataloque number on the cover so simple people don't find them so complex... ::)
Quote from: 71 dB on January 15, 2013, 09:37:10 AM
I don't like how Naxos changed their CD covers so that the Naxos logo is on blue square.
I don't have any problem with the change. Naxos has never had attractive covers, and the cosmetic aspects have nothing to do with why I've acquired so many Naxos discs over the years. Quality and price are the calling cards of this company.
I got a great book recently on the designer Steinweiss. Someone should give a copy of that book to Naxos. It's possible to maintain a distinctive look, have variety, simplicity and good design. Naxos covers are artless.
http://www.dummymag.com/inc/img/upimages/5428.jpg
http://www.albumartexchange.us/images/600-grand_canyon.jpg
http://www.burningsettlerscabin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/ce_steinweiss_06.jpg
http://www.printmag.com/CMSAssets/Blog/AssociatedImages/Steinweiss%206.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_j8LW8RreQHs/S7wT0hi32GI/AAAAAAAAAIg/WXavCVyJ8fo/s400/SteinweissBeethoven1945lores.jpg
"Artless" is actually a good thing. I wonder if you actually mean that. I've always thought that Naxos' covers were representative of exactly what they were trying to convey about their entire company image, so I have no problem with them at all.
8)
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on January 15, 2013, 10:33:58 AM
"Artless" is actually a good thing. I wonder if you actually mean that. I've always thought that Naxos' covers were representative of exactly what they were trying to convey about their entire company image, so I have no problem with them at all.
8)
I always felt they had a cheap look, but that they were perhaps consistent in their presentation. Lately, they seem less consistent, though the covers have improved. This all said, ugly covers are rarely a criteria in the buyng process (I suppose it could be if there were two similar options). In any case, the image I got was no-frills and cheap. Although, their more recent prices on Amazon are not particularly cheap anymore, so if they are changing their price point, an image change would not be unwarrented.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on January 15, 2013, 10:54:50 AM
I always felt they had a cheap look, but that they were perhaps consistent in their presentation. Lately, they seem less consistent, though the covers have improved. This all said, ugly covers are rarely a criteria in the buyng process (I suppose it could be if there were two similar options). In any case, the image I got was no-frills and cheap. Although, their more recent prices on Amazon are not particularly cheap anymore, so if they are changing their price point, an image change would not be unwarrented.
Regardless of whether a cover is ugly or attractive, as a collector I always associate a recording not only for the music itself, but for the cover. If someone asks me have I heard Adrian Boult's recording of Holst's
The Planets on EMI, I'll ask them what does the cover look like? The front cover helps me remember if I've heard the performance or not. I'm a visual person by nature and this traces back to my teenage years when I was
very interested in art and art history.
Naxos cover art is certainly poor, they have improved over the years, but i feel they need a new image, Deutsche Grammophon got rid of their huge yellow banner logo, and replaced it with a discreet small logo in the corner, and what an improvement that was, Naxos need to do something similar, everything from the banal paintings to the lettering font / colours scream cheap, a case in point is the Kodaly's Haydn String Quartet series, featuring horrendous portraits of once famous people.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41TmK7fKu%2BL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Quote from: Octo_Russ on January 15, 2013, 04:19:54 PM
Naxos cover art is certainly poor, they have improved over the years, but i feel they need a new image, Deutsche Grammophon got rid of their huge yellow banner logo, and replaced it with a discreet small logo in the corner, and what an improvement that was, Naxos need to do something similar, everything from the banal paintings to the lettering font / colours scream cheap, a case in point is the Kodaly's Haydn String Quartet series, featuring horrendous portraits of once famous people.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41TmK7fKu%2BL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
;D
That is a horrendous one! 8)
Quote from: Octo_Russ on January 15, 2013, 04:19:54 PM...featuring horrendous portraits of once famous people.
Or, simply portraits of people who looked horrendous.
To me Naxos covers are far from poor. They are stylish, clear and purposeful. Texts on white background are easy to read. They put the painting and they select 2 colors from that painting which they use for the texts. Composer name uses the other (usually darker) color while the other texts use the other color. Sometimes the names of the performers are in the same color as composer name. Very good simple rule in my opinion.
The blue boxed logo is not the problem but the fact how the sides look like (the blue areas). All-white sides look much better.
Bad design is not a style, and lack of style is not clarity.
Naxos covers are poor in design, but, as mentioned, they're improving. The covers aren't really a lot of their problem anyway. Their problem is devoting more recording time to repertoire that has already been done better on another label. I mean did Alsop actually think she'll do a better job with Dvorak than Kertesz? He had the LSO for crying out loud! Did she think she'll do better than Kubelik or even Neumann? They need to stop this endless, and pointless, charade of trying to compete with other labels in oft-recorded repertoire. They need to get back to doing what they excel in: unheard repertoire from unknown composers.
I guess Klaus Heymann knows best what butters his bread.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 16, 2013, 10:17:03 AMrepertoire that has already been done better on another label. They need to stop this endless, and pointless, charade of trying to compete with other labels in oft-recorded repertoire.
Here are a few examples of releases post-2005 that prove oft-recorded repertoire can be recorded again with success.
(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/non-muze2/large/145074.jpg)(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/non-muze/full/523183)(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/non-muze/full/778260.jpg)(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/non-muze/full/225509.jpg)(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/full/97/976537.jpg)(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/non-muze/full/687793.jpg)(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/non-muze/full/250785.jpg)(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/non-muze/full/492452.jpg)(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/non-muze/full/687171)(http://www.arkivmusic.com/graphics/covers/non-muze/full/668069.jpg)
And I was just getting warmed up. There is no need for people to stop recording music once it's been recorded successfully. There is no such thing as "definitive." But there is a need for quality control. I agree with you that Marin Alsop's Dvorak was totally unnecessary, but I don't share your pointless anger and contempt. Naxos can release what it wants. They've done well by mainstream repertoire before and they'll do well by it again.
Quote from: The new erato on January 16, 2013, 10:33:30 AM
I guess Klaus Heymann knows best what butters his bread.
This.
Klaus Heymann has always tried to micro-manage everything that was going on in his company (or at least he did when they started). He is definitely not an artist or a designer, but he is a savvy businessman. These covers managed to convey exactly the message he intended: cheap, no-frills, with the DDD stamp prominently featured, which is what was in demand at that time. It may not be pretty, but it was distinctive enough to build him a recognized brand.
Today, Naxos is a well established player on the market; possibly one of the few who are profitable and it kind of makes sense they are trying to expand beyond the "budget label" image.
Quote from: Brian on January 16, 2013, 10:51:27 AM
. . . There is no need for people to stop recording music once it's been recorded successfully. There is no such thing as "definitive." But there is a need for quality control. I agree with you that Marin Alsop's Dvorak was totally unnecessary, but I don't share your pointless anger and contempt. Naxos can release what it wants . . . .
Excellent points, all. It would be neither fair nor quite rational to demand of Naxos a 100% artistic success rate.
Quote from: Brian on January 16, 2013, 10:51:27 AMAnd I was just getting warmed up. There is no need for people to stop recording music once it's been recorded successfully. There is no such thing as "definitive." But there is a need for quality control. I agree with you that Marin Alsop's Dvorak was totally unnecessary, but I don't share your pointless anger and contempt. Naxos can release what it wants. They've done well by mainstream repertoire before and they'll do well by it again.
I have no anger towards Naxos just pointing out how I feel about their current creative direction. Where I'm getting at is that Naxos used to be a label where you could hear music off the beaten path. Yeah, the company can release what it wants, that's an obvious statement, but this doesn't mean I have to nod my head and praise them for everything they release. They're like any other label --- they have their flaws.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 16, 2013, 11:23:59 AM
They're like any other label --- they have their flaws.
Like making boring moneyspinners that subsidizes the stuff you are interested in? I would se that as a blessing rather than a flaw and wish more companies used the surplus from their mainstream issues to subsidize lossmaking issues of marginal repertoire.
Quote from: The new erato on January 16, 2013, 11:28:24 AM
Like making boring moneyspinners that subsidizes the stuff you are interested in? I would see that as a blessing rather than a flaw and wish more companies used the surplus from their mainstream issues to subsidize lossmaking issues of marginal repertoire.
I see your point here, erato. Naxos have been quite intelligent in the way they continue to do this. I wonder what kind of profit Naxos makes for their distribution? Many labels let Naxos handle all of their worldwide distribution, which I think is impressive.
Quote from: The new erato on January 16, 2013, 11:28:24 AM
Like making boring moneyspinners that subsidizes the stuff you are interested in? I would se that as a blessing rather than a flaw and wish more companies used the surplus from their mainstream issues to subsidize lossmaking issues of marginal repertoire.
Exactly. DG puts out one or two interesting discs a year - Szymanowski recently - but look at this month's new releases from Naxos: there's a Mozart divertimenti CD along with Clementi, Gliere, Camargo Guarneri, Maxwell Davies, and Whitbourn. Which one's gonna pay for the others?
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 16, 2013, 11:23:59 AM
I have no anger towards Naxos just pointing out how I feel about their current creative direction. Where I'm getting at is that Naxos used to be a label where you could hear music off the beaten path.
See above. I do not see a change in Naxos' creative path. If anything they have become
more devoted to the unrecorded repertoire. Antoni Wit, one of the best conductors on earth, has a full schedule right now recording Panufnik, Moniuszko, Weinberg, Bacewicz, and Penderecki. When he started on the label in the early 1990s, he was recording Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Dvorak. That's just one example.
Naxos is no longer budget priced. Super budget prices from big label back catalog has usurped that.
Quote from: bigshot on January 16, 2013, 01:44:08 PM
Naxos is no longer budget priced. Super budget prices from big label back catalog has usurped that.
They are still considerably cheaper with their new releases.
Box sets and reissues are a different animal altogether.
Quote from: Fafner on January 16, 2013, 01:54:21 PM
They are still considerably cheaper with their new releases.
Box sets and reissues are a different animal altogether.
Hmmm. On Amazon, most new releases seem to be in the $13 range (see upcoming Gliere as an example). Meanwhile, Hyperion is about $17.99 with new releases, Chandos seem to be at about $17-20, and so they are really not so much budget as they used to be.
Buying directly from Amazon for a single recording can be quite expensive. This is why I go through Amazon MP sellers most notably Classical Music Superstore (aka Naxos of America). They offer better prices on Naxos and Naxos-related recordings than any of their competitors.
(This is not an advertisement, but it sure does sound like one.) :)
Of many, many Naxos purchases, even fairly recent releases, I have only seen one instance of a "true"/clamshell type box for a box set, instead of a cheap cardboard sleeve housing the previous single jewelcase releases. It's this Poulenc by Tharaud et al:
[asin]B000SKJQWK[/asin]
Why was this given the clamshell-with-cardboard-sleeves treatment and not other Naxos box sets? Or perhaps there are others. I see the cover art is rather different from the usual Naxos cover. More....Gallic? [sic]
Quote from: Octave on January 16, 2013, 06:58:32 PM
Of many, many Naxos purchases, even fairly recent releases, I have only seen one instance of a "true"/clamshell type box for a box set, instead of a cheap cardboard sleeve housing the previous single jewelcase releases. It's this Poulenc by Tharaud et al:
[asin]B000SKJQWK[/asin]
Why was this given the clamshell-with-cardboard-sleeves treatment and not other Naxos box sets? Or perhaps there are others. I see the cover art is rather different from the usual Naxos cover. More....Gallic? [sic]
This Debussy/Markl box set got the deluxe Naxos treatment:
(http://www.junmarkl.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Box-set.jpg)
These is a true box set with cardboard sleeves and a detailed booklet.
Edit: If there was any set in Naxos' catalog to receive this treatment, their Poulenc chamber series is most deserving of it IMHO. It's simply marvelous music-making.
I'll take almost anything over DG's penchant for the air-brushed/photo-shopped super model approach! Hyperion usually manages to have classy covers, and many of Naxos' are fine, too.
Quote from: Daverz on January 16, 2013, 09:57:10 PM
Boston Symphony Chamber Players:
[asin]B0043WBZP0[/asin]
Is this an example of DG trying to immitate Naxos cover style (and failing badly)? ;)
This isn't DG. It's the Australian budget Eloquence label (with rights to reissue Universal catalogue). I think the cover is fine BTW.
Quote from: The new erato on January 16, 2013, 11:01:07 PM
This isn't DG. It's the Australian budget Eloquence label (with rights to reissue Universal catalogue). I think the cover is fine BTW.
I did not know Eloquence was a real label. I thought it was just Universal's own line of budget reissues.
More info here:
http://www.buywell.com/cgi-bin/buywellic2/eloqoverview.html (http://www.buywell.com/cgi-bin/buywellic2/eloqoverview.html)
DG had a reissue series with a somewhat similar name once upon a time IIRC.
Quote from: The new erato on January 16, 2013, 11:12:41 PM
More info here:
http://www.buywell.com/cgi-bin/buywellic2/eloqoverview.html (http://www.buywell.com/cgi-bin/buywellic2/eloqoverview.html)
DG had a reissue series with a somewhat similar name once upon a time IIRC.
Ah, that is it then. I own a couple of discs from the other Eloquence.
Same name, different logotype.
Quote from: Octave on January 16, 2013, 06:58:32 PM
Of many, many Naxos purchases, even fairly recent releases, I have only seen one instance of a "true"/clamshell type box for a box set, instead of a cheap cardboard sleeve housing the previous single jewelcase releases.
Why was this given the clamshell-with-cardboard-sleeves treatment and not other Naxos box sets? Or perhaps there are others. I see the cover art is rather different from the usual Naxos cover. More....Gallic? [sic]
I have that Poulenc set. It's a joy!
Anything from Naxos that says "The Complete Haydn" is even more luxuriously presented: the symphonies, sonatas, concertos, quartets, masses, oratorios. They have pop-tops and massive booklets. The keyboard music set by Tom Beghin even has a full-color booklet, which I think is the only one Naxos has ever done.
Quote from: Brian on January 17, 2013, 04:37:14 AM
The keyboard music set by Tom Beghin even has a full-color booklet, which I think is the only one Naxos has ever done.
Also a quite entertaining and informative DVD, the only one I'm aware of in their catalog.
8)
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on January 17, 2013, 04:52:14 AM
Also a quite entertaining and informative DVD, the only one I'm aware of in their catalog.
8)
Argh, and I've yet to watch it !!!!
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on January 17, 2013, 04:52:14 AM
Also a quite entertaining and informative DVD, the only one I'm aware of in their catalog.
Initial pressings of the Carter 100 celebration had a DVD as well. I'm sure Naxos has done others.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on January 16, 2013, 06:31:20 PM
Hmmm. On Amazon, most new releases seem to be in the $13 range (see upcoming Gliere as an example).
Best to forget Amazon on this one. Naxos new releases are $9.99 at ArkivMusic; that includes the Gliere recording.
I have no idea why anyone would say that Naxos is no longer a budget label; the evidence is otherwise. I've also noticed that Brilliant Classics has increased its prices as well.
Quote from: Sammy on January 18, 2013, 08:59:47 AM
Best to forget Amazon on this one. Naxos new releases are $9.99 at ArkivMusic; that includes the Gliere recording.
I have no idea why anyone would say that Naxos is no longer a budget label; the evidence is otherwise. I've also noticed that Brilliant Classics has increased its prices as well.
They may ultimately be cheaper, but you cannot compare $13.99 to 9.99. Amazon has free shipping over $25. But Arkiv does not. SO it will be 13.99 vs. 10.99-12.98.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on January 18, 2013, 09:29:31 AM
They may ultimately be cheaper, but you cannot compare $13.99 to 9.99. Amazon has free shipping over $25. But Arkiv does not. SO it will be 13.99 vs. 10.99-12.98.
We're not on the same wavelength here. I'm talking about the cost of a single disc; you're talking multiples.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on January 18, 2013, 09:29:31 AM
They may ultimately be cheaper, but you cannot compare $13.99 to 9.99. Amazon has free shipping over $25. But Arkiv does not. SO it will be 13.99 vs. 10.99-12.98.
I bought ArkivMusic's VIP program, which is $10 for free shipping on every order for 365 days. My first order of the year would have had a $6 shipping charge so after one more order I've made it a worthwhile investment and get "free shipping" for the rest of the year.
Quote from: Brian on January 18, 2013, 10:49:37 AM
I bought ArkivMusic's VIP program, which is $10 for free shipping on every order for 365 days. My first order of the year would have had a $6 shipping charge so after one more order I've made it a worthwhile investment and get "free shipping" for the rest of the year.
Oh, a potentially dangerous piece of intelligence . . . .
Quote from: Sammy on January 18, 2013, 10:08:06 AM
We're not on the same wavelength here. I'm talking about the cost of a single disc; you're talking multiples.
No. I am talking 'all in cost' vs 'disc only cost'.
Quote from: Brian on January 18, 2013, 10:49:37 AM
I bought ArkivMusic's VIP program, which is $10 for free shipping on every order for 365 days. My first order of the year would have had a $6 shipping charge so after one more order I've made it a worthwhile investment and get "free shipping" for the rest of the year.
Well that is interesting. Shipping is one of the reasons they are (were) sometimes uncompetitive.
Quote from: mc ukrneal on January 18, 2013, 11:43:55 AM
No. I am talking 'all in cost' vs 'disc only cost'.
You're the one who said that at least $25 has to be spent at Amazon to avoid shipping costs. If that's correct, a single Naxos disc (including shipping) costs less than the same disc at Amazon (including shipping). If one is on the market to buy only one Naxos disc, Arkiv has the price advantage. If I'm missing something here, please tell me what it is.
Quote from: Sammy on January 18, 2013, 12:46:25 PM
You're the one who said that at least $25 has to be spent at Amazon to avoid shipping costs. If that's correct, a single Naxos disc (including shipping) costs less than the same disc at Amazon (including shipping). If one is on the market to buy only one Naxos disc, Arkiv has the price advantage. If I'm missing something here, please tell me what it is.
I really thought this was obvious. If one compares one disc purchase, yes, then one must add the shipping to Amazon to get the comparison. But by getting to $25, the advantage is to Amazon on this point. And at Arkiv (until their new offering), there was no possibility of free shipping. I cannot remember the last time I placed an order under $25 at Amazon. Unless you really need to have something urgently, there is no reason not to take advantage of the free shipping. Thus, for all practical purposes, shipping is free at Amazon, and it is costly at Arkiv.
To say that Arkiv has a price advantage by insisting on comparing only one disc is ignoring the bigger picture (a picture that has now changed with Arkiv's new offering).
Quote from: mc ukrneal on January 18, 2013, 01:12:25 PM
I really thought this was obvious. If one compares one disc purchase, yes, then one must add the shipping to Amazon to get the comparison. But by getting to $25, the advantage is to Amazon on this point. And at Arkiv (until their new offering), there was no possibility of free shipping. I cannot remember the last time I placed an order under $25 at Amazon. Unless you really need to have something urgently, there is no reason not to take advantage of the free shipping. Thus, for all practical purposes, shipping is free at Amazon, and it is costly at Arkiv.
Yes, I know all that. However, there are plenty of folks who only want one particular recording over an extended time period (that's most of the people I personally know). For their purposes, acquiring a Naxos disc through Amazon currently appears to be loser. Put another way, not everyone is like you and me concerning our music buying habits.
It's now time for me to dive into another trivial activity - folding laundry.
Quote from: Brian on January 18, 2013, 10:49:37 AM
I bought ArkivMusic's VIP program, which is $10 for free shipping on every order for 365 days. My first order of the year would have had a $6 shipping charge so after one more order I've made it a worthwhile investment and get "free shipping" for the rest of the year.
You're late to the party, I signed up for it when it started back in time for Christmas shopping. Oddly enough, I've been ordering much less than usual from Arkiv from exactly that time, but still I've already ordered enough with the program that I've already paid myself back, so to speak. (Remember those 7 or so CDs I ordered off the clearance sale?)
BTW, the biggest negative I have with Arkivmusic is (beyond the fact that their prices are often not very competitive with Amazon Marketplace or Prestoclassical) that I have to pay sales tax on orders I place with them, unlike Amazon (but like Barnes and Noble).
As for Naxos, I usually wait for Arkivmusic to have one of its 3 for $20 sales. And normally individual CDs I don't order from Amazon itself--usually I find that Amazon's listed price is higher than those offered by Amazon Marketplace vendors, even when you tack on the 2.98 shipping charge for Marketplace items.
New releases I seem to either order from Arkivmusic or Prestoclassical, or just wait to get it. (When I do order from Amazon, it's usually a box set or two, and in that case I may throw on a single CD if the price is withing reason.)
My favourite Naxos cover design:
[asin]B0052FG8P4[/asin]