[Mellifluous]

I'm not too keen on emusic. I had a bad experience with them that was totally my own fault but I found their response horrific, unfriendly, unhuman, unempathetic.

I signed up for a trial last year and then some bad things happened in my family (grandparents dying, people having problems etc). My attention was drawn to them and not to financial affairs. So when everything blew over and died down, I forgot I had an emusic subscription.

8 months passed without my making a single download, and I never noticed the additional outgoing of £14.99 a month.

When I finally examined my statements in detail for the first time in ages, I had a shock, and contacted emusic explaining my situation. My hope was to have downloads that I hadn't used up to be enabled, and promised that I still wanted to continue with my emusic subscription - I wasn't just going to grab the downloads and run.

All they offered me was the previous month's subscription debited back. They never offered anything better, either a bigger refund or downloads. In a long and drawn out correspondence (their support really leaves much to be desired) I pointed out that they could examine records for themselves - in 8 months, they'd see that in my account I had not made a single download.

They sent me an email that literally just said "oh yes I see and can confirm that in 8 months you have not made any downloads". But it didn't say anything else. It was a bit exasperating to say the least.

Anyway, eventually I just accepted the previous month's refund and felt utterly downtrodden.

They've lost a genuine customer who would have stayed with them for life if they hadn't responded in such a way. Considering I'd registered for a plan that allowed more downloads than current price plans, I have my own suspicions about why they took this attitude.

So as I said, totally my own fault. I suppose I shouldn't have expected any more from them.

Contrast that with the evil Apple iTunes, from whom I bought Goldfrapp's new album recently. The album disappeared from my computer. A simple email to their support resulted in the downloads being re-enabled.

Or with 7digital and Mp3tunes, who have your mp3 downloads accessible from your account permanently. 7digital even allows you to download some albums in BOTH mp3 and AAC, should you wish. Anyway, I'm sticking to pay as you go.

[Dave C]

Originally Posted by Mellifluous

I'm not too keen on emusic. I had a bad experience with them that was totally my own fault but I found their response horrific, unfriendly, unhuman, unempathetic.

I signed up for a trial last year and then some bad things happened in my family (grandparents dying, people having problems etc). My attention was drawn to them and not to financial affairs. So when everything blew over and died down, I forgot I had an emusic subscription.

8 months passed without my making a single download, and I never noticed the additional outgoing of £14.99 a month.

When I finally examined my statements in detail for the first time in ages, I had a shock, and contacted emusic explaining my situation. My hope was to have downloads that I hadn't used up to be enabled, and promised that I still wanted to continue with my emusic subscription - I wasn't just going to grab the downloads and run.

All they offered me was the previous month's subscription debited back. They never offered anything better, either a bigger refund or downloads. In a long and drawn out correspondence (their support really leaves much to be desired) I pointed out that they could examine records for themselves - in 8 months, they'd see that in my account I had not made a single download.

They sent me an email that literally just said "oh yes I see and can confirm that in 8 months you have not made any downloads". But it didn't say anything else. It was a bit exasperating to say the least.

Anyway, eventually I just accepted the previous month's refund and felt utterly downtrodden.

They've lost a genuine customer who would have stayed with them for life if they hadn't responded in such a way. Considering I'd registered for a plan that allowed more downloads than current price plans, I have my own suspicions about why they took this attitude.

So as I said, totally my own fault. I suppose I shouldn't have expected any more from them.

Contrast that with the evil Apple iTunes, from whom I bought Goldfrapp's new album recently. The album disappeared from my computer. A simple email to their support resulted in the downloads being re-enabled.

Or with 7digital and Mp3tunes, who have your mp3 downloads accessible from your account permanently. 7digital even allows you to download some albums in BOTH mp3 and AAC, should you wish. Anyway, I'm sticking to pay as you go.

emusic is probably my favourite site at the moment, but their response to your e-mail does sound bad and very 'big business' like & 'don't give a crap about the customer'. I find the subscription fee very annoying as some months I find myself using it all up after 10 days & other months on day 30 I find myself searching around for something to download. That said, when you subscribe to the top package (which it looks like what you were on), the price is very good. I understand that they want to do the subscription thing as people will tend to go for the high price, best package one, but I can't see why they can't let you carry over unused downloads. The main gripe I have with emusic though is the fact that people in the US are paying approximately half what we have to pay in the UK. Having said that, I still think they are the best sites for the lesser known bands,
Cheers,
Dave C

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by Dave C

emusic is probably my favourite site at the moment, but their response to your e-mail does sound bad and very 'big business' like & 'don't give a crap about the customer'. I find the subscription fee very annoying as some months I find myself using it all up after 10 days & other months on day 30 I find myself searching around for something to download. That said, when you subscribe to the top package (which it looks like what you were on), the price is very good. I understand that they want to do the subscription thing as people will tend to go for the high price, best package one, but I can't see why they can't let you carry over unused downloads. The main gripe I have with emusic though is the fact that people in the US are paying approximately half what we have to pay in the UK. Having said that, I still think they are the best sites for the lesser known bands,
Cheers,
Dave C

As much as I love eMusic I do not like their customer service either.
I had a similar thing happen to me two years back..I was very sick and in the hospital and forgot about my subscription for 4 months..They too only gave me a month despite my story, but on technical things they are some what better.They are lacking the human element, and use a lot of cut and paste replies with unmatching responses to your question...sound like anybody we know...
But I enjoy the site and it's music so much ..I compensate by being overly careful of the date my DL's are up.I am willing to put up with it until they get some competition that I can go to with the same grand catalogue.

I have written letters of complaints but I know that I am getting nowhere.
I guess I do it to make myself feel better

[markstan]

Originally Posted by Nightfly

As much as I love eMusic I do not like their customer service either.
I had a similar thing happen to me two years back..I was very sick and in the hospital and forgot about my subscription for 4 months..They too only gave me a month despite my story, but on technical things they are some what better.They are lacking the human element, and use a lot of cut and paste replies with unmatching responses to your question...sound like anybody we know...
But I enjoy the site and it's music so much ..I compensate by being overly careful of the date my DL's are up.I am willing to put up with it until they get some competition that I can go to with the same grand catalogue.

I have written letters of complaints but I know that I am getting nowhere.
I guess I do it to make myself feel better

Exactly what happened to me a couple of times. The main problem for me is that the expiration date for the current download number changes. It is never the same day every month and you really need to check the "account" section to see then it expires.
If my recollection is correct, the situation really took a turn after they were sold to the current owners a few years ago. Some of us will remember that 10 bucks got you unlimited downloads. The selection was not anywhere near what it is now though. Back then you didn't have to worry about anything expiring!
I like Emusic a lot, but the non rollover policy is one of the drawbacks.

Mark

[zzdocsd]

At the top of this thread there was a comment about "Independent" music, sorry this is a dumbass question but what's the criteria for that?

Also, is there a way to search the catalog before signing up?

At this moment I'm looking for Bill Heid, album "Asian Persuasion", it is jazz.

But in another thread someone recommended emusic for various harder to find stuff like jazz and Brasilian and Hawaiian music, I think.

So anyway it'd be nice to browse the catalog first, right?

Thanks!


edit haha i just googled and found it i think!

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by zzdocsd

At the top of this thread there was a comment about "Independent" music, sorry this is a dumbass question but what's the criteria for that?

Also, is there a way to search the catalog before signing up?

At this moment I'm looking for Bill Heid, album "Asian Persuasion", it is jazz.

But in another thread someone recommended emusic for various harder to find stuff like jazz and Brasilian and Hawaiian music, I think.

So anyway it'd be nice to browse the catalog first, right?

Thanks!


edit haha i just googled and found it i think!

Mostly That they record on Indepent small labels that have nothing to do with
the big recording labels.And thats where all of the non-mainstream music is
at eMusic.

Yes you can certainly search the site out first and check it out.

And all the music you mentioned is there in abundance.

Good luck......

[zzdocsd]

OK it sounds like the emusic program has changed over time.

Could someone briefly summarize what the deal is now? I found something on there my mom would like, but I am wary about "fine print" in the agreements.

It sounds from the discussion above that you pay a flat fee per month, and get a set number of DL's per month? But then if you don't DL that many you lose the unused ones from that month?

OK I realize this may be rehashing old info but I thought it might also be helpful to others to get an updated thing.

Right now the homepage says "50 free" downloads, no obligation, cancel any time. Got to be a catch somewhere though?

Thanks!

[Nightfly]

Originally Posted by zzdocsd

OK it sounds like the emusic program has changed over time.

Could someone briefly summarize what the deal is now? I found something on there my mom would like, but I am wary about "fine print" in the agreements.

It sounds from the discussion above that you pay a flat fee per month, and get a set number of DL's per month? But then if you don't DL that many you lose the unused ones from that month?

OK I realize this may be rehashing old info but I thought it might also be helpful to others to get an updated thing.

Right now the homepage says "50 free" downloads, no obligation, cancel any time. Got to be a catch somewhere though?

Thanks!

That's about right,you get 50 free downloads and you can cancel before the
month is over and owe nothing.No catch.

If you decide you like it,You get 75 dl's a month (or as many as the subscription you pick) BUT you must use your dl's before the end of the
month or you will loose them.One of their drawbacks,but if you dig the site
you will find you will use them quickly and this is not even a issue.I have been a member for many years and have not found this to be a problem.
eMusic is The best site for Independent music.

[zzdocsd]

Thanks Nightfly, I am going to rifle through their catalog and figure out if I can DL that much per month.