Buy: Sountrack to "Fast & Furious"

Then take it outside, open it up, throw the packaging away, go back inside the store and say "it doesn't work in my Macintosh. I can't listen to it on my computer, and since my bedroom is kinda small, that's what I use as my stereo. I want a refund."

Universal has instructed all retail outlets that they'll accept returns, even opened ones, if the customer can't play it. So do just that. Or maybe wait a day.

See, "The Fast & The Furious" is a copy-protected CD. It will only play, audio-wise, in Windows computers and audio CD players (supposedly). They're trying this out as kind of a pilot project - when this is successful, they will make it happen to all of their CDs (hopefully by mid 2002, they say). So let's try real hard to make it not happen. Go buy a copy at Target. Best Buy. Wal Mart. Record & Tape Traders. Whereever you can find one. Then take them all back. Do it a couple times - once on your credit card, with cash, etc. Go in on different days at the same store and do it. My personal goal is to have "owned" and returned 5 copies of this CD, and I hope you'll do the same.

See, this copy protection may indeed be legal right now, but they're working on far more devious plots. Right now, you can't play that CD in your Macintosh. Well, that's the only computer I rip MP3's with. And MP3's are not illegal. They're not even unethical, considering probably a good 90% of the MP3's I have, I have ripped myself. But the Recording Industry Association of America wants to make that so, slowly squashing your right, under the Fair Use section of copyright law, to make personal backup copies. That's just what an MP3 is for me - a backup that I will listen to while the CD sits and gathers dust. If I accidentally delete an MP3, it's no big deal - I re-rip it. If I accidentally lose the CD, it's no big deal - I re-burn it. They want to take this right away from you.

Please, don't stand for it. Show them that you won't. Show them with your wallet. Buy this CD at as many places as you can. Open it up, take it out, take a little looksy at it and then take it back. Please do this - you're helping us keep our rights, and there's no cost to yo - it couldn't get better.

Just so you know, here's how I plan to do it:

Go buy it. No big deal.

Open it up, put it back in the case. Wait a few days. Take it back, with receipt, to the store I bought it at. Say "Yeah, I got this about a week ago and when I went home, it wouldn't play on my computer. So then I read on the internet that this CD wouldn't play on Macintosh platforms, which is what I use, and that Universal was allowing returns. So I'd like my money back." Just like that.

When they give me my money back, I'll take it and go to another store and do the same thing.

[vsp]

A noble aim, but be ready to fight hard when the Clueless Retail Salesdroid responds to your "I heard this on the Internet" rationale with a blank stare, a trickle of drool and a recitation of "Store policy says we can't accept returns of opened CDs." Never mind that the facts are on your side in this case -- facts are only useful if you're willing to yell, scream and stomp around loud enough to get the manager to accept their veracity. The only fact that the Salesdroid knows is that he's not supposed to give you your money back without management's say-so.

If you're intent on doing this, try to stick to the big chains like Tower, Sam Goody, The Artist Formerly Known As The Wall and such. Leave Repo or the Chester County Book & Record Company alone. Returns cost the retailer money, so don't knowingly screw your local music stores unless it's absolutely necessary.

Watch for stickers on the wrapper, signs in the store or such that say "Protected CD" or "Not for use with Macs" or other warnings. If you buy a CD with that on it and try to return it, what you'll get from them is "Caveat emptor" and a MUCH harder fight. And after looking at what songs are on the disc, the hell if I'M getting stuck with a coaster full of crap that I paid money for...

Fight the good fight and all that, but cover your own ass in the process.

Originally posted by dhamsaic
Universal has instructed all retail outlets that they'll accept returns, even opened ones, if the customer can't play it.

[juju]

Is there an echo in here? :)

Point is that retailers have been instructed that Universal will pay for returns on the CDs, even opened ones.

And I *am* willing to make a scene, if you hadn't noticed.

[juju]

Even though Universal accepts opened F&F returns from stores, the stores still have their own return policies and are unlikely to change them. Plus, the retail jockeys are unlikely to have read any relevant corporate e-mails.

I really think i'm going to try to do this, though. If i'm successful i'll try to convince my friends to do it as well. I'll just have to find the right store to do it at.


P.S. -- in case anyone else is planning on doing this, here's the 'grand list' of copy-protected cds.

http://www.fatchucks.com/corruptcds/corrupt.html

I guess I'm not making it clear enough:

When Universal ships the CDs, they are telling retailers: "Look, this CD has copy protection and isn't going to work for everyone. Some people may return it. If they do, accept it - even if it is opened. We will pay for it."

They'll take it back. Be polite but firm. Ask to speak to the manager. Do not throw away your bargaining chips - be sure to mention that "I like dealing with [insert store name here], and I want to have good feelings about you. I don't want to walk out of here with bad feelings because you won't accept a return on a damaged product that you sold me." This always works - I have never not been able to get my money back, right then, when I took something back. Never. Polite, but firm. If you start swearing, you're throwing away bargaining chips. Raise your voice just a little - don't yell, but talk loud - managers don't want you to scare other customers away, and they don't want you to clue the customers in that their store sucks. You will get your money back.

[juju]

I'm just saying that there's a high likelihood that retail jokeys aren't going to have a clue as to what you're talking about. They get paid minimum wage and most are too lazy to read the appropriate memos from corporate.

So, your best bet is to either find a store that already accepts opened cds, or find a decent employee who's up on the latest Universal return policies.

I realized that you disagree with me somewhat, though. So, if i'm wrong, i'll find out in a few days when I try to buy and return F&F. :)

-------

I just called my fiancee, who's a media senior at Best Buy, and she says noone there has heard anything about it, and that they would definitely not accept an opened cd.

---------

P.S. --- according to FatChucks.com, this cd is rippable using a program called "Total Recorder", from www.highcriteria.com. So, if anyone does this, be sure to rip it and make the mp3's available on Gnutella.

[elSicomoro]

Originally posted by dhamsaic
[b]I guess I'm not making it clear enough:

When Universal ships the CDs, they are telling retailers: "Look, this CD has copy protection and isn't going to work for everyone. Some people may return it. If they do, accept it - even if it is opened. We will pay for it."

Are you certain of this though? I don't know how the record stores handle it, but if their stuff is primarily being handled through their own distributor (i.e. a store sends an order to their own distributor, then gets the mdse from said distributor), again, they may not get this information, or it will trickle down poorly.

I have to agree with juju on this one. But truth be told, if I were still a retail manager, I'd probably take it back. However dham, you're contradicting yourself. You specifically said you're willing to make a scene, but then you're talking about being firm and polite. So, are you saying that if firm and polite doesn't work, you would make a commotion over a $17 CD?

Making a scene being equal to raising your voice and people noticing it. As I stated above.

[elSicomoro]

Originally posted by dhamsaic
Making a scene being equal to raising your voice and people noticing it. As I stated above.

Sorry...I would *not* consider that a scene. And truth be told, half the people probably wouldn't know what you were talking about anyway, regarding that CD.

Whatever. If you get loud enough and you're insistent enough, people do notice, and it is "a scene" - that's why managers are very quick to de-escalate the situation and give you what you want. They're not hearing better because you're talking louder. They're giving you what you want to shut you up because you're making a scene.

[juju]

Isn't that also called being a jerk?

No. It's called "not taking it lying down by corporations that want to fuck you for your dollar."

But hey, if you're a big sissy when it comes to that shit, can you give me some of your money? I just dropped like $2300 on a new system and like $2000 on Christmas so I could use some more cash. I'll sell you some old broken shit I have, and when you want your money back, I'll say "No, I have a 'no-return' policy. Sorry." Then you can just turn around and leave because you don't want to be a jerk and make me feel bad.

[juju]

Customers who throw fits to get what they want are babies who have never bothered to grow up. You want something (milk, toys, a refund), so you whine, bitch, complain, and generally throw a bit hissy fit until someone gives you your damned milk just to shut you up.

Sure, the behavior most often works. But it's still despicable. The fact that customers brag to their friends about what assholes they can be is even more despicable to me.

(btw - I doubt we'll ever agree on this. :) )