[archon.thelawgiver]

Is it just me or is mp3sparks getting a little lazy when it comes to releasing rock albums. On some days it appears that as little as half a dozen albums are released. I also get the feeling (or is it my imagination) that to help pad the release schedule the company is now releasing audio-books.

Now we all know about all the legal and financial trials and tribulations that allofmp3 and its offspring mp3sparks have had to endure and, for the most part, I and many others have been extremely loyal and patient. But (and it's one hell of a big but) what I won't put up with is the apparent trickle of new releases that is dribbling from the taps of mp3sparks.

Here are some recent statistics:

Aug. 29 nine rock albums

Aug. 28 eight rock albums

Aug. 27 five albums

Aug. 26 four albums

If you include some crossovers artists then you could add two extra rock releases. Is this a paltry release schedule or what?

I recently topped up my balance to over $60 and at the rate things are going I'll be lucky to spend that by the end of the year. I sure as hell hope that the owners read this post because I'm beginning to get a little impatient. I know they have to get their hands on the cds but I just get the feeling that the original owner was much attentive to the company's release schedule.

Come on guys get your act together and pull your collective fingers out! It's one thing to run a company and it's another thing altogether to keep your customers happy…and I'm not happy.

[radioshoes]

I've often wondered why it is that AllofMp3 and now Sparks continue to inspire such loyalty when you consider how poor their updates are and also how feeble their customer service is (on the few occasions I've had to contact them, their responses have been curt and grudging) - particularly in comparison with relative newcomers like Mp3Sale and Soundsbox. I know they were the first, and that they offer the 320-bit option (though how many of us use it?), but if ever a company was resting on its laurels . . . For my money, the principal value of AllofMp3 was the fact that it drew fire away from the REALLY good sites. For some reason, the Western media seems to think it's the only site worth mentioning whenever the subject of piracy comes up - and long may it continue!

[chris7]

Originally Posted by radioshoes

I've often wondered why it is that AllofMp3 and now Sparks continue to inspire such loyalty when you consider how poor their updates are and also how feeble their customer service is (on the few occasions I've had to contact them, their responses have been curt and grudging) - particularly in comparison with relative newcomers like Mp3Sale and Soundsbox. I know they were the first, and that they offer the 320-bit option (though how many of us use it?), but if ever a company was resting on its laurels . . . For my money, the principal value of AllofMp3 was the fact that it drew fire away from the REALLY good sites. For some reason, the Western media seems to think it's the only site worth mentioning whenever the subject of piracy comes up - and long may it continue!

Since finding this website I rarely use mp3sparks now, I nearly always stick to my two favourites, mp3fiesta and mp3sale.

[solaris]

Originally Posted by archon.thelawgiver

Is it just me or is mp3sparks getting a little lazy when it comes to releasing rock albums. On some days it appears that as little as half a dozen albums are released. I also get the feeling (or is it my imagination) that to help pad the release schedule the company is now releasing audio-books.

Now we all know about all the legal and financial trials and tribulations that allofmp3 and its offspring mp3sparks have had to endure and, for the most part, I and many others have been extremely loyal and patient. But (and it's one hell of a big but) what I won't put up with is the apparent trickle of new releases that is dribbling from the taps of mp3sparks.

Here are some recent statistics:

Aug. 29 nine rock albums

Aug. 28 eight rock albums

Aug. 27 five albums

Aug. 26 four albums

If you include some crossovers artists then you could add two extra rock releases. Is this a paltry release schedule or what?

I recently topped up my balance to over $60 and at the rate things are going I'll be lucky to spend that by the end of the year. I sure as hell hope that the owners read this post because I'm beginning to get a little impatient. I know they have to get their hands on the cds but I just get the feeling that the original owner was much attentive to the company's release schedule.

Come on guys get your act together and pull your collective fingers out! It's one thing to run a company and it's another thing altogether to keep your customers happy…and I'm not happy.

AllOfMP3/MP3Sparks has never been first with many albums, so nothing new there


The strength of their business model is not price either, since almost all the other Russian/Ukrainian stores are cheaper (the Lavamus network excluded - but they (Lavamus) have other qualities*).


The reason AllOfMP3/MP3Sparks is the king is (primarily) the optional bitrate/fileformat they offer (I buy approximately 25% in either 320 kbit mp3 or in FLAC).


Their catalogue is also very extensive, they do get all new albums (even if they are not the first ones to do so), their site is easy to navigate, they have the allTunes-downloader and I (for one) have never had any trouble with Assistance - not even before I became a MemphisMember


I have accounts with 16 other Russian/Ukrainian online music stores and many of them are VERY good - but AllOfMP3/MP3Sparks will always be my sweetheart


*An almost incredible amount of 12" versions or extended mixes of rare 80's dance tracks.

[Kalvin Kleenex]

Honestly, I prefer mp3sparks being later with new releases than others too much sooner. An exemple: I've downloaded two albums from mp3sale:

Sloe Gin - Joe Bonamassa
In The Search Of The Fourth Chord - Status Quo

before they've been released by Sparks (The Status Quo's album obviously, because its release is expected on september the 17th, I wonder about its legality). The question is that the Bonamassa's album is full of jumps and scratches, bad ripped, and the Status Quo's has the beginning of several songs trimmed. I've downloaded again the Bonamassa's album from Sparks, and I'll wait the Status Quo's one untill will be available.

Kalvin

P.S.: Solaris, you're right, MP3Sparks is the king

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by Kalvin Kleenex

Honestly, I prefer mp3sparks being later with new releases than others too much sooner. An exemple: I've downloaded two albums from mp3sale:

Sloe Gin - Joe Bonamassa
In The Search Of The Fourth Chord - Status Quo

before they've been released by Sparks (The Status Quo's album obviously, because its release is expected on september the 17th, I wonder about its legality). The question is that the Bonamassa's album is full of jumps and scratches, bad ripped, and the Status Quo's has the beginning of several songs trimmed. I've downloaded again the Bonamassa's album from Sparks, and I'll wait the Status Quo's one untill will be available.

Kalvin

P.S.: Solaris, you're right, MP3Sparks is the king

I have to say as far as quality I'd rather wait for Mp3sparks
to have something I really want, and yes no one beats them there.. but for my personal tastes their new arrivals have been slow and boring
lately and once you are very familiar with a sites back catalog I guess
it's human nature to yearn for something new...
But one thing I love about Mp3sparks now..I can actually get in there
..where some other sites well...it's.. we love you but......

Edit: Kalvin..was bored and down loaded Sloe Gin - Joe Bonamassa ..guy plays
a really good guitar..Thanks

[shadman]

hello and good day,

i understand some of the points that archon.thelawgiver has stated in his above post. i to get tired of some of there new released material. it does seem that they have always been slow upon updating. i really got tired of waiting for there "coming soon albums". for example, i waited over two weeks for them to release the garbage album that was on the "coming soon list". now im waiting for the new dave matthews and tim reynolds cd. other than that though i have not complaints. i have visited other music stores and i really have a hard time navigating through there search engines for albums. i have found this problem with the sites that i have visited latley. maybe im just not smart enough to figure it out....i have never seemed to have any of these issues with sparks or aomp3. this feature of easy navigation is really important to me.

everyone always talks about having the option to choose bite-rate and how important that is. that option is sweet im sure! i have never downloading anything over 192 kbs. im afraid to do this because i have downloaded so much music at this bite rate(192) and im happy with how it sounds. i know if i go to 320kps i will be thrilled and will want to re download everything at that bite rate. so at this point i have to stay at 192kps!

my main reasons that i stay with sparks is,

1. im a creature of habit(first site i downloaded from)

2. easy navigation through the site

3. really like there search engine

4. friendly user face

5. very large catalog

6. i seem to be in good with assistance at this point

7. had great customer service with tech support.

8. and finally this forum seems to bond us all together as students of the game with sparks

thanks and sorry for rambling on.

chad

[archon.thelawgiver]

Perhaps some of the posters have misunderstood the main thrust of my complaint. I don't mind waiting longer for a release on mp3sparks what I am saying is that the actual release of rock album release is drying up. I agree that there are many pluses to using the site (the variable bit rate/type and ease of use being the main ones).

The recent release statistics I gave showed that what was once a healthy flow is beginning to look like a drought-affected creek. I mean, come on, when the release of daily rock albums is in single figures then I think people should start speaking up.

Is the rock industry so moribund that there are so few release? I don't think so. This is an mp3sparks problem and they need to address the issue. I hope this clarifies what I was actually complaining about. It's not their existing catalogue that's the problem, nor is the actual timing of their releases, it's the number of releases that's the issue.

[shadman]

Originally Posted by archon.thelawgiver

Perhaps some of the posters have misunderstood the main thrust of my complaint. I don't mind waiting longer for a release on mp3sparks what I am saying is that the actual release of rock album release is drying up. I agree that there are many pluses to using the site (the variable bit rate/type and ease of use being the main ones).

The recent release statistics I gave showed that what was once a healthy flow is beginning to look like a drought-affected creek. I mean, come on, when the release of daily rock albums is in single figures then I think people should start speaking up.

Is the rock industry so moribund that there are so few release? I don't think so. This is an mp3sparks problem and they need to address the issue. I hope this clarifies what I was actually complaining about. It's not their existing catalogue that's the problem, nor is the actual timing of their releases, it's the number of releases that's the issue.

hello,

again i understand your compliant with what sparks releases. im a meat and potatoes kind of guy when it comes to music. i like basic stuff like rock and roll and country (im from montana). for the most part sparks gets the stuff i want in time and if not i request it. if you have some stuff that you are dying to get let me know and i might be able to speed up the request process with assistance.

the way i see it is that sparks has a huge target market. if they had me a cowboy from montana that would be to easy. all's they would have to do is post some johnny cash and metallica and we in montana would be happy. the way i see it though is they have the entire plant to try and caiter to. so i guess that means they have to try and make everyone happy!!!!!!!!

so thanks for the post and like i said i can try and help you out with any request of music that your after.

thanks,
chad

[Kalvin Kleenex]

Originally Posted by Nightfly

Edit: Kalvin..was bored and down loaded Sloe Gin - Joe Bonamassa ..guy plays
a really good guitar..Thanks

Hi Nightfly. Glad you like him! Lately I've been downloading the whole collections of Bonamassa & Steve Earle. I think I'm in a guitar moment. BTW, thanks for Earle recommendation!

Kalvin