The BMG and Columbia House music services can be cheaper than purchases at a store as long as you don’t order music at the full price from the monthly catalogs. Instead look for special prices offered throughout the year such as music offered at 1/3 the normal price (and even less), plus the shipping and handling. If a CD normally costs $16, then the reduced price will be $5.33 plus probably about $2.50 for the shipping and handling, resulting in a CD costing about $7.83 which is much lower than the price offered in a store. Be sure to purchase the discount music when the purchase can be applied towards the service’s minimum purchase requirement.

     The greatest discount is the music received when requesting a new subscription to the service. The purchase is free, but you only have to pay s/h. The services make their money from the s/h, not the sales of the music. In any case, where else can you purchase a CD for less than $3?

     The services also make their money when people do not respond to the monthly catalog mailings offering a special feature album. The services are expecting people not to respond. Once the album is received, the services then expect people to pay for the album they do not want instead of returning it. The cost of continually responding to the monthly mailings adds up, but the cost is eliminated if you respond via the service's Internet web site.

     Consider purchasing used CD's from a local music store. CD's are sturdy and should not scratch, unless handled very poorly. Sample the CD at the store before purchasing. Consider purchasing music on the Internet via http://www.ebay.com or http://www.half.com. You will be amazed at the reduced price offered, even for newly released items.


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