When protection isn't good!!!!
By sunshinecup
@sunshinecup (7871)
February 7, 2007 5:30am CST
I have waited 3 years to buy the CD I purchased yesterday. Finally I get it and I am as giggly as a virgin on prom night, let me tell ya. So I run home pop it in the PC, so I can listen to it while catching up on posts, and… nothing. That’s it nothing, the darn thing won’t play. Oh it plays fine in the stereo in the living room, but not in my PC like the rest of my CDs. Seems there is some piracy protection on it preventing the PC from recognizing it’s even in the stinking computer.
So, now I am stuck with a CD I can not listen to myself, unless I broadcast it from the next room, and I can’t take it back for a refund since it’s been opened. Great!!
Companies protecting themselves from pirates, are the real crooks. They are already making up their “losses” by charging us, the consumer, 3 times as much for the product to begin with. The funny thing is, now here is a product that can not be copied and I paid the same flippin amount for it, as I would for one that could be!
Now my “venting” is done, here is my questions –
1) Do you think if they are going to sell CDs that will not play on certain players, including on a PC, the CD should be plainly marked for the consumer to see, BEFORE they purchase it?
2) Would you buy a CD the had limitations as to what it will play on?
***Thanks in advance,I...
read all, rate all, but can’t answer to all.
12 people like this
34 responses
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
7 Feb 07
I think this is just plain stupid and you should be able to get a refund just because it wasn´t marked. What if u didn´t have a cdplayer and did all your musiclistening on the PC - like I do.. i would be really pissed of and probably go back and have a go =)
I hardly ever buy cds though. i am one of those crooks that actually download music. And I would also NEVER buy a cd that i couldn´t play on my computer - whats the point since that´s where I do all the listening!
4 people like this
@kaseythebastard (16)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I'll drink to that, fellow downloader. Cheers.
1 person likes this
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
7 Feb 07
How annoying!!!
It should definately state what systems the CD can be played on and if not you should have the right to a refund.
I am one for downloading music as in the UK the prices are expensive, a new CD can cost as much as £12 which is about $20, I think.
If the music business is so paranoid they should lower their prices and I am sure more consumers would stay loyal.
They make loads of profit and the musicians do not seem to be starving from people having the choice to download their songs or copy them.
It is also encouraged. I can legally go into a shop and buy rewritable CD's, which are for copying, have a CD rewriter installed in my computer and now a Dvix converter to download films and put these onto CD's aswell.
I wouldn't have half the music or films I have if it weren't for this and I will continue as long as I can.
However, I will still purchase CD's from artists I like, but reading your discussion I will look carefully to see whether these restrictions are on any in future.
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
8 Feb 07
I can still remember the days when we use to tape the songs off the radio? Better yet, taped a whole album for friends. Where was all this piracy fits then? I could not have tossed a rock in the air without hitting someone that did that back then. IMO it's a flippin scam on the industries part.
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
8 Feb 07
I remember taping the top forty off the radio and having the stress of pressing that pause button before the DJ starting speaking.
It took me ages, rewinding, forwarding and pausing at the exact moment.
Can they not realise the good that is being done today with copying and downloading music.
Today's youth no longer have to go through this agony every week like we did!!
@shenzhouplaza (1676)
• China
7 Feb 07
From my experience, The CD manufacturers usually provide thes infomation of the cover of the CD. I mean , On the cover of the CD, you may find on what kinds of machins the CD you purchese can play. If you can not find this information on the cover or somewhere else, I think you are entitled to ask a refund from the seller.To your sencond question, I usually will spend a few minutes to read what kinds of players can play the CD before I buy it.
2 people like this
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
8 Feb 07
Nope, it's a music CD and I haven't ever seen one that suggested what machines you can play them on. This one I checked and rechecked including the plastic sleeve it came in, nothing. No warning at all, to me that is dirty.
@kitchenwitchoftupper (2290)
• United States
7 Feb 07
Poor Sunshine, What a shame for you! I don't much listen to music as it is very distracting for me, but it seems as though if a company is going to do that, they should put a lable on the outside of it saying that it will not work on a PC. Maybe that was a really dumb thing to say since I am totally ignorant of the subject ~Donna
2 people like this
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
8 Feb 07
No not a dumb thing to say at all. Many people have only their PC to listen to their music on, the company should put a warning on the it. By not doing so, is dirty in my opinion.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
7 Feb 07
You are describing my situation exactly I couldn't find my CD in the stores so I had to order it. I think there should be a disclaimer that the CD had limitations. Also think that a CD which had limitations should be cheaper than one which could be played on all types of players.
2 people like this
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
8 Feb 07
That is how I feel, copy protected CDs should be cheaper. It makes me question who is ripping who off here?
@moonmagick (1458)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I recently read about a class action lawsuit against Sony BMG for this kind of anti-piracy software on CD's. The news said something about the software making it near impossible for people to put the music on their ipod, which is perfectly legal, and that there was also some kind of spyware on the disc that could potentially leave users computers vulnerable. www.eff.org/IP/DRM/SONY-BMG/ has some info on the settlement and the software and how some customers can get refunds.
I think it is awful that the company would go to those extremes. I don't believe I will be buying any more CDs from their company.
2 people like this
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
8 Feb 07
I read about that yesterday as well. I agree no more purchases from that company. Here so worried about lossing a penny yet careless how much they cost others.
1 person likes this
@emisle (3822)
• Ireland
7 Feb 07
I definitely think that it should be displayed on the cover whether it will play on your computer or not. I download music and than burn it onto a cd. I've saved a tonne of money by doing that..:)
And if I did buy a lot of cds, if it didn't play on my computer it would be a bit of a turn off alright, I'd hope I wouldn't have to pay as much for it.
1 person likes this
@patootie (3592)
•
8 Feb 07
I think it's happening all the time now .. with so many people having multiple play systems in the house and car it's a bit of a cheek that the companies make it limited to just a few places to listen .. I see their reasoning .. but when someone only wants it for their own use it's very annoying ..
And that's why so many folks try and find ways to copy discs .. or get friends to copy it for them .. so that they can use it anywhere they want ...
I honestly think the music and movie trade as it is now is very much going to die out .. it won't be much longer before we simply order what we want online pay a small fee and then use the download as we wish ...
If companies just stopped and thought for a few minutes they'd realise that hundreds of small profit sales from high disk prices may look good on paper .. but millions of sales with small profit prices but no production costs on their part will net them far more profits and far more folks would be happy !!
1 person likes this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
7 Feb 07
Your post is making me feel glad that I haven't really had the means to purchase any new CD's in the last while. It would drive me crazy if what happened to you happened to me, lol!
Yes, I absolutely think that they should have to put a warning on any CD that potentially might not play in all players due to such protection. I don't think that it's at all fair that they don't have to do this.
If I knew that a CD had those limitations in place, I probably would not buy it, unless it were an artist that I dearly wanted to support. I really would rather not mess with that kind of frustration. If I buy music, I want to be able to listen to it wherever I am at.
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
8 Feb 07
See that is what is the kicker here, the industries with these low life tactics are costing the groups money. Who wants to go through the hassel of buying a CD that won't play on certain equipment? It's sad really.
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
7 Feb 07
YOu know, it's funny, but there was just a lawsuit against Sony over this. You might want to look into it. I think it should absolutely be posted on the packaging. I would take it back and simply tell them it wouldn't play on your machine. Who cares if it's been opened, if it won't work on your equipment because of something the factory did, then it's their problem, not yours.
1 person likes this
@aprilten (1966)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
yes and no. yes, is my answer to q1. they should mark it so consumers will know exactly what they are buying. no to q2. i won't buy a CD with limitations on where to play it, especially now that the pc is a multi-media equipment. others don't buy cd players anymore, they just use their pc. your experience is so bad. i emphatize with you.
@Tetchie (2932)
• Australia
7 Feb 07
That would annoy me. I can buy a CD even if I only like 2 or 3 songs. The most common thing I do is make up compilations so I can listen to my favourites which is what I used to do when we had vinyl records and tapes.
I'd definitely think twice about buying one if I couldn't do this.
2 people like this
@mbarryton (1872)
• United States
7 Feb 07
i agree they should but a notation on the cds its crazy hey dont. and no i wouldnt buy a cd that had those limitations. i think its crazy that some do and some dont
2 people like this
@awonderfullife (2893)
• United States
7 Feb 07
What a hassle, huh? I usually download music from Itunes. It's legal and it only costs 99 cents per song (less if you download a whole CD). I believe you can then burn it to a CD, although I've never done that. I also have all of our music backed up on our IPod. In answer to yoru questions:
1. CD's should be clearly marked if they are not PC-compatible.
2.I would not buy a CD with limitations. I like to be able to play it on a CD player, PC or DVD player.
By the way, just curious if this isn't too personal-- what CD was it?
2 people like this
@sunshinecup (7871)
•
8 Feb 07
Celtic Women, an Irish group of ladies. I seen them perform on Public TV like 3 years ago, but you could only purchase their CD through the station for something like 44.00. I know the proceeds would have helped the station, but I just don't have that kind of money. Then this week I came accross it at the store, reasonably priced and was just so happy. As you can tell that didn't last very long at all. :-(
@khushboo1984 (1257)
• India
7 Feb 07
This is really stupid on the part of the CD Manufacturing company. Now a days people generally prefer to listen to the songs on their computer when they work. I agree with you that if a CD does not play in a particular media it should then be mentioned so on the cover. I would never buy such a CD
@mikeyr6000le (2123)
• United States
7 Feb 07
It might just be your copmuter or maybe just something wrong with the disk itself. I would take it back and tell them what's wrong and see if the store can do anything about it. Answering your questions though. Yes, I think companys and stores should put lables on their CDs and DVDs if they won't play on cetain things like a computer. My mom doesn't have a DVD player so she playes them on her computer. they seem to work for her unless the disk is messed up.
1 person likes this
@paogutierrez (465)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
1. If they will sell cds like that, they really should put some markings on it for the consumer to see. It is the consumers' right.
2. I usually download from the internet the music i want to hear. If i like the song, i buy pirated cds! lol JOKE! I guess that's why music companies resort to that. Pirated stuff are always available on the market at a bargain price. So it is not the fault of the consumers if they will patronize this illegal business. It is so tempting! The government must act against it and allowing cds playable only on certain players is one way of it. Though we shouldn't underestimate people behind cd piracy.. :)
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
7 Feb 07
You darn right it should be labeled that it won't play on certain players! What if that is the only player the consumer has? It really is underhanded to sell it as 'normal' when it is limited in fuctionality. I personally would not buy such a CD because I only listen to CDs on my computer so it would be of no value to me! I am uncertain what the answer is for this problem, as I am sure the artists are concerned with piracy. But no matter what, a limited fuction CD should be labeled as such so that the consumer can make an educated purchase!
p.s. I loved your saying, "giggly as a virgin on prom night" that is a new one for me!
@ashjoe76 (1422)
• India
7 Feb 07
I had been in a lot of similar situations lately. It's quite annoying. I won't buy a CD that is limited to certain players, if they mark it. When I spend my money on something like a CD, I need to play it wherever I like, on whatever equipment. I don't like the idea of someone limiting my freedom and desire to listen to music the way I like it.
@all4ucnc (861)
• United States
7 Feb 07
That sounds like my luck, chances are that if you didn't really want it, It would have worked just fine. But your right, The limitations should either be non-existant or be in BOLD Print across the whole case, so the person buying it is sure to know what they are getting.
1 person likes this
