Amazon MP3 Downloads: Good and Bad
I like the way Amazon has unveiled their (beta) MP3 download service, and I especially like the amount of classical music available (in many cases very cheap). I’ve already bought a dozen albums, and I was planning to write a story about how it works. However, for the second time, I bought an album and did not get my downloads. The .amz file that is supposed to download (you have to install a special program, and these files are the “key” to accessing your music) simply didn’t come. After the first time, I had to e-mail Amazon twice to get my music. This time, I’ve just e-mailed them again, and assume it will take two days (as the first time did) to get a reply. To be totally fair to Amazon, they fixed things so I could download the missing album, but compared to the ease-of-use of iTunes, Amazon has a way to go.
When I check my “digital library” on Amazon, it shows that I have downloaded the last album that didn’t work. This demonstrates that their server is in no way verifying that downloads occur, unlike the way iTunes works. (With iTunes, if you have a problem, you can check for undownloaded files, and you’ll get them. Here, you’re stuck contacting customer service.)
Whether this is a Mac-specific problem or not remains to be seen. I will say, though, that I won’t be buying any more music from Amazon until they can prove that it will work flawlessly.
Follow-up: Amazon refunded me for the second problem. I guess they don’t want to bother with resolving the issue, but rather feel that a refund and a good-bye is best. But I still want that music. So do I take the risk to try and buy it again?
Posted: 10/1/2007 by kirk | Filed under: Music | 5 Comments »
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Since you live in France, how do you buy in the US Store? I ask because I live in Argentina.
I have a US address and credit card.
Kirk
I’m also Mac user & just wanted to report that I was able to purchase a single song easily & successfully without installing their download app. I realize that you have to use it to get a whole album, though. My experience is here.
I think it’s lame that they simply refunded your money for the 2nd album instead of making the download work. That’s “beta” for you. But I do like that they have some good classical albums, that there is no DRM & that the MP3s are encoded at a higher rate than those from iTunes.
I just experienced the same thing today. How long did it take for them to refund you and how did you let them know that you didn’t get your music?
Thanks.
-Sol
I went through their help pages and sent an email. They replied pretty quickly;
less than 24 hours. FWIW, I’ve always found Amazon to be rapid and fair in their
resolution of problems.
Kirk