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Considering the cost to produce each cd, an ideal price would be around $6
Are CD prices too high? Does pricing constrict the amount of music you purchase and listen to? After reading the responses to last week's question, it seems appropriate to ask if you would buy more regular CDs if the price dropped substantially---let's say to around $8 US per disc at retail.
CDs should cost $7.50 The same price going to the movies. A lot of us know that it only costs about $.50 to print a cd. I try to buy my cds where they sell them at cost to attract customers. i.e. Some Circuit Cities and Fry's (CA Bay Area)
Between buying from BMMG and used, I think the average price I've been paying is about $7. Unfortunately, a lot of the more interesting and obscure classical CDs can't be gotten this way. If many of these CDs were cheaper, I would definitely be buying more of them. It makes me wonder if many of the presently $15-17 classical issues were half as much, would sales be higher? Would the record companies sell more records for just as much (or little) profit? I don't know; I would be interested in hearing the opinion of someone who does.
Right now I purchase most of my CDs at stores specializing in used CDs, so I AM paying around $8 per CD. In fact, I just purchased the Mobile Fidelity Ultradisc version of "Dark Side of the Moon" for $7! If new CDs were so cheap, I would buy more new.
Artist's and producers are big losers.. they are asked to put out more music and work..for the same or less money..remember a CD is 74min and DVD..?? Quality would probably drop and we would get a cheesy shrunken version of a Ted Nudget album... Sales would increase at $8.00 a pop though..tradeoff?
Hell yes, I'd buy TONS more. Actually, likely twice as much. Don't have a strict budget, but I do buy a pile of 'em. I count on mail-order to keep prices reasonable, and cringe when I have to get that odd title at a retail outlet.
I would definitely be more willing to experiment more with artists or types of music than I am now since blowing $15 - $20 is a lot of money for something I may never listen to again(and trade ins usually only get you $4 or $5.)
Absolutely, music costs too much, especially in light [of the fact] that prices never did fall from the original retail of $14.99 when CDs were introduced. I still remember the empty promises of the record companies back in the mid-'80s: "Prices will drop as soon as we start selling more."
I buy many used CDs priced at $6 to $10. Now that manufacturers have tooled up and debugged CD production, high retail costs translate to high profits. Several years ago, when a recording company spokesman was asked to justify the high costs of CDs, his response was the public perceives it as a better value. See, it was our fault all along.
I wanted to check the "$8 is still too much" box, but the truth is that I often shop the used-CD rack for $7-$8, and clearly purchase more CDs there---about three times more. If another reader could provide the average music-industry cost data, we could do a quick calculation to see if that industry would reap more profit at 3x$8, or 1x$16.
Here in Calgary (Canada), retail chains sell current releases for the equivalent of US$8-10 now, and the mail-order clubs' usual deal is 3 CDs for about US$12-15 (US$6-7 each including shipping), so we are already enjoying your price scenario in the Great White North!
I would buy more to be used in the car and inexpensive systems. What we are lacking is a good variety of high-quality CD's for which I don't mind paying more (such as XRCD). They do make a gratifying difference in my reference system.
I currently purchase used CDs at $7-8 a copy, and it is very rare for me to buy new. By being patient and watchful, I can usually satisfy my desires at several very good used-CD stores in my neighborhood. Screw those high prices!