Thompson Twins - Into The Gap blu ray audio #29 in the SDE series

[efb18]

I do appreciate the extra content and the premium packaging. I don’t mind the higher cost for a classic (to me, anyway) album like this, as long as it doesn’t happen too often

I was shipping were cheaper, but that’s not up to them. I wish there were a way to combine orders, but that’s the reality with limited editions.

 

[perzon57]

I think the shipping could be cheaper if they wanted to, I ordered the latest XTC from Burning Shed and the shipping was £3.70. No tracking, but I don't need that. They even charged the Norwegian VAT, so saving me some money too.

 

[JulesRules]

one hit wonder (in my book)

I assume you mean "Hold Me Now", but I also still hear "Doctor! Doctor!" on the radio semi-frequently (as well as "Love On Your Side" from the previous album).

 

[sperezmore]

I assume you mean "Hold Me Now", but I also still hear "Doctor! Doctor!" on the radio semi-frequently (as well as "Love On Your Side" from the previous album).

Bingo!

The other two songs did not get too much play after that year (1984) so that's why in my book they only had the "One Hit Wonder" - "Hold Me Now", that I enjoy very much until today.

For me "Thompson Twins" are in the same level that "Information Society", they had their short lifespan and then disappear.

Kind regards,

 

[PolkSDA]

I think the shipping could be cheaper if they wanted to, I ordered the latest XTC from Burning Shed and the shipping was £3.70. No tracking, but I don't need that. They even charged the Norwegian VAT, so saving me some money too.

(emphasis added)

To be fair to SDE and other vendors, that decision isn't up to the buyer, it's the seller's prerogative. Depending on the insurance requirements of the carrier or a third party insurer, tracking may be a requirement. Beyond that, tracking is needed to thwart false claims of nonreceipt and undeserved credit card chargebacks. As someone who has sold media internationally on eBay for the last 20 years, yes this is actually a problem.

 

[perzon57]

(emphasis added)

To be fair to SDE and other vendors, that decision isn't up to the buyer, it's the seller's prerogative. Depending on the insurance requirements of the carrier or a third party insurer, tracking may be a requirement. Beyond that, tracking is needed to thwart false claims of nonreceipt and undeserved credit card chargebacks. As someone who has sold media internationally on eBay for the last 20 years, yes this is actually a problem.

Well, it's not a problem to me, BS gives me choices and I choose what I want. As I'll have to pay VAT for the shipping too, I'll choose the cheapest one.

 

[splinter7]

Just pre-ordered the title. No wonder physical media is dying, $53 USD for an album with one hit wonder (in my book) released 40 years ago delivery to my house? I'm glad I can afford to buy it but I have a prediction for SDE, if they keep up these prices, tax and shipping charges; their business will fade away fast.

Just my opinion.

Regards,

I think the price point is being overly dictated by the label on this one and SDE agreed to get the exclusive distribution.

It is stated that the format of the box is different form the other SDE releases. "The blu-ray is presented in deluxe rigid board packaging, the same as used for Richard Wright’s Wet Dream blu-ray last year, and not the usual amaray case." To me that sounds like BMG already had an idea of making a blu-ray version on their own and distributing it like the 3CD set and/or the red vinyl set. Otherwise, I would think the release would be in the SDE format.
The compromise to give SDE the exclusive is that the onus is SDE to accept any potential over-inventory.
Just a hunch. could be wrong.

As for a "one hit wonder" - Ooph that is a bit rough. Given that their preceding album went platinum, this album having sold over five million copies, and the subsequent album having sold over 750,000+ worldwide - they had a nice 3 year run in the '80's that I think was far better than a fair percentage of their contemporaries. Eight significant singles over that run & five heavy MTV videos over the period ("Hold Me Now", "Doctor Doctor!", "Lay Your Hands on Me", "Lies", "King for a Day".

And not an an excuse for the price but just a reference.
A $15 USD music CD from 1985 would cost approximately $39.29 USD in 2024 when adjusted for inflation.

 

[jamesc]

Really looking forward to this one since it's such a solid album. David Kosten did a phenomenal job on Paul Young's No Parlez album and Hold Me Now sounds great as well.

 

[DuncanS]

Well, it's not a problem to me, BS gives me choices and I choose what I want. As I'll have to pay VAT for the shipping too, I'll choose the cheapest one.

The Shed has its own storage on its premises and does its own P&P (I've been there and been shown it), from what I can gather SDE has no real premises and uses Remedy Fulfilment for storage & P&P so Remedy add to the cost and limits the options. But being stung for the VAT effectively twice is painful.

I have noticed that the cost of getting discs sent in the UK seems to be on an upward trend, everywhere seems to be charging more & more for P&P. It is cheaper to buy direct from the labels for some albums, getting the new Cure album from the recordstore (a Universal shop) was £21.99 for the CD/BD but only £2.75 P&P.

 

[4-earredwonder]

The Shed has its own storage on its premises and does its own P&P (I've been there and been shown it), from what I can gather SDE has no real premises and uses Remedy Fulfilment for storage & P&P so Remedy add to the cost and limits the options. But being stung for the VAT effectively twice is painful.

I have noticed that the cost of getting discs sent in the UK seems to be on an upward trend, everywhere seems to be charging more & more for P&P. It is cheaper to buy direct from the labels for some albums, getting the new Cure album from the recordstore (a Universal shop) was £21.99 for the CD/BD but only £2.75 P&P.

Just saw on the news that even in the US the cost of mailing a first class letter [currently 73 cents] will be going up 5x’s in the next 5 years! Everyone is getting in on the postal increases so it seems!

Not to mention the cost of food at the local supermarket. But one must realize that the cost of transporting goods has likewise increased. Imagine how much it would cost to mail the equivalent of a gallon of milk?????? It just doesn’t appear ‘magically’ on the grocery shelf.

Being an Amazon PRIME member is looking better and better every day. That yearly fee which includes PRIME streaming channels is IMO a bargain in today’s market.

And don’t get me started on the cost of dry cleaning a shirt or suit. Momma Mia!

 

[Orgillian197]

Having had several conversations with the good folks at Burning Shed, they are being made uncompetitive shipping wise to the US and elsewhere vs their peers by the Royal Mail. DGM opened a now closed US branch for that very reason.

 

[Whit]

I think the price point is being overly dictated by the label on this one and SDE agreed to get the exclusive distribution.

It is stated that the format of the box is different form the other SDE releases. "The blu-ray is presented in deluxe rigid board packaging, the same as used for Richard Wright’s Wet Dream blu-ray last year, and not the usual amaray case." To me that sounds like BMG already had an idea of making a blu-ray version on their own and distributing it like the 3CD set and/or the red vinyl set. Otherwise, I would think the release would be in the SDE format.
The compromise to give SDE the exclusive is that the onus is SDE to accept any potential over-inventory.
Just a hunch. could be wrong.

As for a "one hit wonder" - Ooph that is a bit rough. Given that their preceding album went platinum, this album having sold over five million copies, and the subsequent album having sold over 750,000+ worldwide - they had a nice 3 year run in the '80's that I think was far better than a fair percentage of their contemporaries. Eight significant singles over that run & five heavy MTV videos over the period ("Hold Me Now", "Doctor Doctor!", "Lay Your Hands on Me", "Lies", "King for a Day".

And not an an excuse for the price but just a reference.
A $15 USD music CD from 1985 would cost approximately $39.29 USD in 2024 when adjusted for inflation.

Flaming Lips Bluray Prices on 28Sep2024
SDE - $37.44
Prime - $22.49
I’m not happy with SDE at the moment.

 

[Orgillian197]

Flaming Lips Bluray Prices on 28Sep2024
SDE - $37.44
Prime - $22.49
I’m not happy with SDE at the moment.

Comparing the buying power of a multi $ billion corporation with SDE (not to mention that to get the Prime price there, you must purchase a membership), is a bit short sighted.

More significantly, your price quoted for SDE is not what is currently listed there - £20.00 GBP is 26.74 USD, not $37.44.

And yes, shipping from the UK to the US will be more than a free Amazon Prime delivery will be (mostly due to Royal Mail's exorbitant prices), but again, one is a multi $ billion corporation and the other isn't..

 

[Whit]

Comparing the buying power of a multi $ billion corporation with SDE (not to mention that to get the Prime price there, you must purchase a membership), is a bit short sighted.

More significantly, your price quoted for SDE is not what is currently listed there - £20.00 GBP is 26.74 USD, not $37.44.

And yes, shipping from the UK to the US will be more than a free Amazon Prime delivery will be (mostly due to Royal Mail's exorbitant prices), but again, one is a multi $ billion corporation and the other

Comparing the buying power of a multi $ billion corporation with SDE (not to mention that to get the Prime price there, you must purchase a membership), is a bit short sighted.

More significantly, your price quoted for SDE is not what is currently listed there - £20.00 GBP is 26.74 USD, not $37.44.

And yes, shipping from the UK to the US will be more than a free Amazon Prime delivery will be (mostly due to Royal Mail's exorbitant prices), but again, one is a multi $ billion corporation and the other isn't..

Plus shipping $37.44
Just saying. If you have prime look there first.
The total price for buying TT bluray would be almost $51. A shame its an SDE exclusive.

 

[hi-res_edition]

Yoshimi
SDE Shop <> 26.74
Prime = $22.49
Import CDs = $20.43

For USA buyers, clearly the SDE Shop is not favorable. This holds true for other non-exclusive titles. Like others, I am also skipping the Thompson Twins due to its high price and the form factor differences.

 

[PolkSDA]

For USA buyers, clearly the SDE Shop is not favorable. This holds true for other non-exclusive titles.

The only reason to buy a non-exclusive title from SDE is if the incremental shipping savings by bundling is enough to offset the price difference... which typically is not the case, in my experience.

 

[Whit]

Yoshimi
SDE Shop <> 26.74
Prime = $22.49
Import CDs = $20.43

For USA buyers, clearly the SDE Shop is not favorable. This holds true for other non-exclusive titles. Like others, I am also skipping the Thompson Twins due to its high price and the form factor differences.

I love Import CDs!
I’m sure Paul won’t commit to an artist or label at this price point for a single disc again. I love what Paul is doing at SDE. I’m receiving Thin Lizzy “double album” Bluray today!

 

[srbjab]

Primarily due to the ridiculous shipping costs to the US I no longer buy anything from Burning Shed or SDE unless there is absolutely no other option. Burning Shed in particular used to be a preferred source, but those days are completely gone now. A real shame.

 

[Whit]

I love Import CDs!
I’m sure Paul won’t commit to an artist or label at this price point for a single disc again. I love what Paul is doing at SDE. I’m receiving Thin Lizzy “double album” Bluray today!

Agree. I am very happy that we have the options where to buy because surround and Atmos have become more popular. I am enjoying listening to titles I grew up with in the latest formats. Good taking to you. Take care

 

[atlantasteve]

Hold Me Now on AM sounds great. When I went back and listened to the whole album again I did not have the same affection for it that I had in the 80’s. I will wait to buy until a used copy comes along.