CD, DVD prices etc - in today's Indo.

Sleipnir

at last, maybe now people will stop buying from the HMV's of RipOffIreland. Since when is CdWow new?!?!?



"CONSUMERS have been urged to shop around for CDs as a startling random survey of prices has again revealed that the cost of albums can almost double between music stores.

The Consumers Association of Ireland accuses record shops of unfair practices and says that they are making massive profits on music CDs.

Prices varied widely andsporadically from store to store - with some music chains charging less for one CD than a competitor . . . while at the same time being more expensive for another choice of album.

Albums are bought in by the large record stores at just over €4 each, depending on artist, and shops are able, in some cases, to quadruple this figure in calculating the retail price, thus making a handsome profit.

Association chief executive Dermot Jewell warned that while many people believe there is a 'recommended' price for CDs and that if you buy the album in one shop, it is the same elsewhere, it's simply not true.

"It's one of the most blatant examples where it really pays to examine prices from shop to shop," he added.

"Music shops make massive profits on CDs. There's no doubt they could be sold cheaper - but with no pressure on the industry to cut prices, record shops know they can get away with charging what they want."

A random price check among some of Dublin's most popular music stores showed the current release by new Irish artist Gemma Hayes, 'Night on my Side', costs just €9.99 at Tower Records on Wicklow Street but just around the corner at HMV on Grafton Street the same album soars in price to €21.99 - a massive jump of €12.

At Golden Discs on Grafton Street the price of the artist Sade's greatest hits album 'The Best of Sade' was €15.99.

The same album at Tower Records was a staggering €23.99 - an €8 difference.

'Melody AM' by Nordic popsters Royksopp cost €13.99 at HMV. At Golden Discs, however, it was €21.95 - and not much different in Tower, at €21.99.

Now, however, a new Irish music website, www.cdwow.ie, is offering CDs at competitive prices - €13.95 per CD - including free delivery.

The company, which is an off-shoot of a British firm, claims to be 'without doubt the least expensive supplier' and credits its low prices to the fact that its products are sourced from major record companies worldwide.

Mr Jewell, meanwhile, issued a warning that unless the record industry cuts its prices the problem of 'bootleg' CDs will grow massively, since music fans have tired of having to splash out on expensive albums.

The music industry here is losing at least €5m a year to pirate sales, according to the Irish Recorded Music Association. "

sceptre

That article is remarkably similar to one in yesterdays Ireland On Sunday, which also recommended cdwow and called it a "new Irish" site (as opposed to an excellent discounter working out of Hong Kong). Are the Indo too lazy to do their own research again?

Paddy20

Totally baffles me why anyone pays real money to buy a rag like the *Un-Indepenent, Irish Independent, any more?...

P.