A Store Offering Bargains, Bubble Gum and Selection

MyMusic Online Store

There is a new cut-rate
music company on the wild web, and for prices and service, they must just
be the best out there. MyMusic is a Canadian company with U.S. shipping
facilities and enough recorded music variety to sate virtually every taste.
The only negative I experienced shopping there was a very slight order
fulfillment delay. Had I been purchasing anything other than a brand new
release, even this minor delay would be perfectly acceptable.

Amazonian Hype, Discount Prices

The selection at MyMusic includes pre-ordering of new releases and a
well stocked catalog of popular artists. The prices sometimes
beat any of the major retailers and may initially cause shoppers
to be concerned that they are purchasing returned CDs. I do
not think that is the case, but I do think that some of the
CDs are remaindered or cut-outs. Ordering Matchbox
20′s newest release, out this month, I received a sturdy
seemingly factory-sealed product with two small holes drilled
at the end of the jewel case. If you do not mind the case being
marred that way, the deal was unbelievable — a good $5 less
than Amazon or CDNow, including shipping.

There is also a DVD section, but no books or other media to clutter
the experience. I am reminded of a midtown New York record store, stuffed
to the gills with everything anyone could want at a decent price. And
unlike the web’s megastores, MyMusic gives the appearance of being
run by music fans, not a sophisticated algorithm.

The DVD prices seem reasonable, but the store’s main attraction is CD
pricing. For comparison purposes, I picked ten random, relatively popular
CDs and new releases. MyMusic beat two megastores in six and tied on two
others. Granted, the test was not scientific or random, but the results
earned the company a spot on my bookmark list.

Shoppers do not need to check the site’s bargain bins and clearance
center sections to save money, but may pleasantly surprised by doing so.
The lists can be sorted by artist or album name or release date. At this
writing in November 2002, Blink 182′s release last year was selling for
$8. Other less than two year old releases at the same price were available
from artists as diverse as Eric
Clapton, India Arie, Madonna, Shaggy and
Weezer. Spending $50 plus reasonable shipping would thus give you a decent
sampling of recent releases by well-established and still relevant artists.

Quicker, Quickets, Just Tell Me When

I went to MyMusic in search of a specific CD due to be released that week.
I found the CD on the site’s front page, along with the other major new
releases that could be pre-ordered that week. There are also sections there
for critic’s choices (which the cynic in me swears must be designed to push
slow selling product) and featured titles. The difference between the two
sections is not as strange as one might think. The featured titles are hot
releases selling at low prices while the critic’s choices might be more
expensive, and again, slower sellers.

I placed my order on November 21, picking the middle range of shipping
options. Picking a shipping method may be one of the site’s most difficult
tasks. Three options (Economy, Quicker, Quickest) are available. The cost
for each varies based on the number of items ordered. Quickest, also known
as FedEx, costs $14.99 for up to 7 discs and is available only in the
US. Quicker turned out to be first class mail from an address in New York
and starts at $3.99 for a single disc. I have no idea about the level
of service Economy provides — pack mule, perhaps, but the cost starts
at $2.99 and delivery takes 4-14 business days. At only a dollar extra,
Quicker seems to be the bargain.

An unusual but fast growing payment option is also available at MyMusic,
BillMeLater. This service performs just as it sounds. Place an order and
you won’t be required to enter a credit card online. Within two weeks,
the company claims a consolidated bill will be sent to you, which you
can then pay by check. There is no additional fee for this service, and
one wonders if shoppers at public terminals in libraries and Internet
cafes will make this program a hit. Relatively young, the service has
all the buzz associated with lightning fast startups like PayPal.

Within minutes of ordering (and using a credit card), a brightly colored
shipping receipt/invoice appeared in email. Included with the invoice
was a long order number that allows shoppers to track their order status
at the site. Nearly a day later, a second, plain text order confirmation
appeared in email. This email contained a number of helpful links, but
did not indicate whether the item had shipped.

The CD arrived six days later, packaged in a sturdy box with a film
of bubblewrap around the CD. Also included was yet another copy of the
shipping receipt and, for some strange reason, two pieces of bubble gum.
That makes MyMusic the second online merchant to include piece candy with
my order this month. Either a worldwide candy glut has driven prices down
or this is the hot new trend in consumer fulfillment.

The Bottom Line, Clicks and All

This is my new favorite site for bargain music hunting — especially for
current titles. If you can spare a few extra days for your order to arrive,
you’ll find prices consistently lower than that of Amazon, Tower or CDNow.

Five Things To Remember From This Review

1. Prices are the lowest I have seen for current releases, but product may
be remaindered or cut-out.

2. Three shipping options, including USPS and FedEx,
are available.

3. Shoppers can opt for the “bill me later” service and pay by mail at a
later date.

4. The site is in Canada, but US orders are shipped from New York.

5. The focus is on music, but DVDs are also available.

–G. Bounacos