What is a "CD Cut Out"

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 2:59pm

On Amazon, someone is describing a Cd as a "cut out". What does this mean?

[vbplayer]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 3:05pm

No longer manufactured or distributed.

or

Cutout
Cutouts are bargain-priced CDs that may have a "cut" or hole punched through the packaging. The CDs are new, have never been played, and are covered by our standard return policy.

Updated On: 6/24/06 at 03:05 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 3:06pm

Hmmm...I wonder why they'd say that about a cd that came out 3 months ago. It's on the used marketplace at Amazon...DOes it maybe mean its a promo?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 3:09pm

Eh, not a big deal. I found it cheaper over at Half.com.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 5:29pm

Back in the days of 12 inch vinyl records, promotional copies (for radio stations, etc.) and discounted copies would have a small cut in the corner of the album cover - that way, if someone tried to return them, the record store would know that they had not paid full price.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/24/06 at 9:05pm

And it would also keep the store owner from returning it as a full-price title.

Even in the age of CDs, many cut-outs were marked by a cut in the booklet or even the jewel case. I really miss cut-outs. Usually a cut out was a new release that had been over pressed or a title that was being dropped from the catalog, which was then sold by the label to a cut out dealer who would then sell them to record stores, usually for pennies. I can remember finding LPs for a dollar, and Cds for $3.99 or $4.99. It was a great way to pick up records you were curious about but weren't willing to shell out full price. Some lables chose not to sell off their mistakes this way and instead sold LPS to be ground up and mixed into asphalt.

An old insult was to remark that a particular released "Shipped Cut-out (as opposed to a big hit that might "Ship Gold" or "Ship platinum."). Ah the olden days.