I've purchased more than 1,000 CDs in the past four years or so (just by
coincidence, this is the same length of time that I've been subscribed
to P2...). One of my pet peeves is broken jewel cases. When I buy a CD
from a store, I'm careful to make sure that the exterior of the case is
in good condition (but I've been fooled more than once by a crack that
was hiding under a sticker). What really bugs me though is when I open
up a brand new jewel case and discover that the ring that holds the CD
in place is busted. For the (exorbitant, IMO) price of most CDs, this
happens way more often than it seems like it should. I'd estimate that
maybe 5% of the CDs that I've purchased had broken rings.
I usually have some blank jewel cases available to replace the broken
ones but these are generally the generic clear case / black tray
variety. It may just be my imagination but it seems to me that the
jewel cases with clear trays have busted rings more often than the ones
with the black trays and unfortunately I do not have extras of those.
I once purchased a copy of Beau Jocque's "Pick Up On This!" with a
beautiful (orange, I think it was) case / tray and was very
disappointed to find the ring inside of it broken. I even wrote to
Rounder to inquire about getting a replacement (even offering to pay
for it) but I never got a response.
Here are some questions that I have for you smart people:
1. Is it okay to simply return as defective a CD with a broken ring?
The few times that I've done this, the store clerks were nice enough
about it. They usually just put the CD and the booklet into a new
case. But this is impossible with the cardboard sleeve / plastic tray
combinations - I had to get a whole new copy of Scarnella's "Scarnella"
CD because the ring was broken and the tray and the sleeve were
effectively one piece. I have no idea how common this type of return
is, however, and would be curious to find out what you retail types
have to say about this.
2. Does anybody know of a source for the more exotic jewel cases? I
don't know of anybody that sells empty jewel cases with clear trays but
I'm sure there must be some retail outlet that does.
3. Is this a problem for anybody else? Or am I just unlucky? Or am I
being too much of a record collector geek by letting this bother me?
Thanks in advance for any help / insight.
Tony Lombardi
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
np: James Carter - In Carterian Fashion
