I don't think this is a scam. If it was a scam, legal action would have already taken place.
I think they just became overwhelmed and can not handle the demand.
What does confuse me is that how hard is it to just print out a label (with address on it), put the CD in a envelope and send it off in the mail?
Should not be hard. Even if you are doing it one at a time, it should not be that hard. And even if they stopped talking orders, they should have enough orders to be able to do a bulk mail and get them out.
But, again, I use to work in a place with a lot of mailing and it can be hard. I have lots of faith in this company and I just hope I get it soon, that is all.
"In the U.S.A.
You can have your say,
You can set you goals
And seize the day,
You've been given the freedom
To work your way
To the head of the line-
To the head of the line!"
---Stephen Sondheim
" I sent an e-mail last week to which you very kindly responded to. I thank you for that but I have another question: in the e-mail you stated that I would RECIEVE my album within 7-10 days and I should look out for the shipping confirmation. I believe I have not seen the shipping confirmation, I will go check my spam/trash bin, and I don't believe that I can receive a shipping confirmation and receive the actual package in my mail box all within three days, four counting today (unless the purchase price contained over-night shipping, WHICH if it did I apologize and you may disregard this e-mail). If shipping details have been changed please let me know, and in the future, if details have been changed I would like to be notified. I purchased something from you; it should not be my job to daily check the website barethealbum.com to find out what is going on. Thank you."
I'm still not willing to say its a scam. It seems they put too much into it. I doubt they would have the cast they have if it were a scam. Those people wouldn't out their names on the line if it weren't on the up and up. I know they were overwhelmed, but the way to handle that is one order at a time. With the number of pages this goes back and the anticipation for it, I'm sure some of these people ordered at 3:00:01 EST and they should have at least has theirs mailed. Its the fact that it appears none have been mailed that makes me think the CD wasn't ready at all. I think they are still waiting for the actual CD itself, otherwise at least some would have gone out. That has to be it.
The second printing should be there in the next 4-6 days. They've stopped taking orders for now so they can catch up with the previous orders (far more than anyone expected, as has been said).
There's nothing more to this "story" than a small operation of just a few people thinking they'd sell a decent number of CD's suddenly being faced with sell outs, and back orders. They are human, people.
Rest assured, the CD's are coming and everyone involved is working overtime to make sure they get out as soon as possible.
Sure there may be a little over reacting going on, but the fact it seems no one has received a CD makes you wonder what exactly they are doing? If I as a one man team can send out 700 Tony Voter letters (folding, stuffing, sealing, adhering address labels, and applying postage) in one day, you'd think a two man team could as least mail out a few dozen CDs. I think most people are just irritated by the lack of communication from the seller. They moved the release date to properly prepare themselves and promoted the shipping of the CD on the same day as ordered. They could have saved themselves a lot of grief by either quickly sending out an email or updating the webpage to inform customers of the delay instead of waiting on people to contact them and complain. I have no problem waiting for the CD but I do expect a certain standard of customer service. And while, yes, they are no Amazon.com, Amazon does not charge your credit card until they ship the item.
I've asked my credit card company to investigate. I sent them a print screen of the barealbum page when it said orders will ship same day. The last time the credit card company got involved on something I thought might be a scam I got refund on my account the next day.
So... this is just a theory I've been working on. Does anyone think that tourboi could be Damon? He always seems to know what is going on inside and tries to defend Damon & Co. If he isn't Damon he has to be connected somehow.
I don't think so. I talk to Damon periodically via e-mail and he does not seem to know what goes on here on the boards. He has told me his involvement, to a degree, with this recording.
My name is Damon Intrabartolo, and I am the owner of You Pay Now Music, Inc. - the company that produced the bare album which you have purchased.
I am also the show's composer and co-author, and it has been brought to my attention how frustrated some of you are about not having word from us about your purchase and shipment.
Here's the thing: we completely underestimated how many people wanted to buy the album. In fact, we thought we'd sell about 15-20 CDs a day if we were lucky. Needless to say, that figure was way off.
In order to process and ship all of the orders before us, we have stopped selling the album until EVERY order that has been placed has been sent out. I am presently restructuring distribution for new sales but my first priority is satisfying everyone who has already paid for the album. To that end, I've gone into my own resources (read: wallet) to assemble a 'staff' - God, it feels weird to say that! - to process, ship and finish the thousands of orders we have at hand.
We put a "7-10 business day" turnaround on the 'purchase' page of barethealbum.com - meaning you will have your package in 7-10 business days from the day you ordered. That means if you ordered October 30th - as over 1200 of you did - you'll have it by November 13th. We tried to figure in every possible factor - USPS (U.S. Postal Service) delivery times, running out of shipping envelopes, etc. The only thing we didn't figure on was anyone wanting to really buy it. If that sounds ignorant, you're right. It was my fault and I take complete responsibility for it --- I just didn't think anyone remembered the show or, for that matter, wanted to buy the full album of it.
So all this being said, I have stopped all work on other projects to make sure that everyone's orders arrive as promised.
I really owe everyone apologies, but this is a very, very small shop. My good friend Daniel runs customer service ... and he is the entire Customer Service fleet!!! Sadly, we are not Amazon.com, CDbaby, or iTunes. We are - at this moment - pretty much his living room and a nice mailing company on Sunset Blvd. In an effort to keep the cost of the 3 disc set as low as possible, we tried to keep S&H charges to a mom-and-pop style minimum. Clearly an error in judgement - it happens.
As stated before, you WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL WHEN YOUR ORDER SHIPS - and obviously that will be within the next few days.
For those of you that have gotten your albums and said nice things, thank you =). And to the person that didn't like ****** playing *****, too bad... we don't refund for that! (That's a sort-of joke...)
I can't imagine why so many people bought this album - or knew about it for that matter - but I thank you profusely on behalf of the artists and crew who made sacrifices over the last 6 years to make this album. I'm sure you've heard the tracks, or watched parts of the DVD, and hope that you'll find the wait worth it. I think those of you that have known us over the years know that we've waited forever to make this record just the right way, so thanks for standing by us.
Very truly yours, Damon
PS - I apologize as well for the wacky PayPal interface, especially to those of you who paid with eCheck. Paypal is stubborn to say the least. Word to the wise: if you think you might sell a lot of albums, use a different payment interface!
PSS - Thank you very, very much again. We are very humbled and overwhelmed. =)"
So obviously someone affliated with the album is reading this forum, haha. Thanks for the update, Damon .. at least our worries are assuaged!
I just found out, literally moments ago, that my father did reviece his shipping confirm. SO it looks like they really are moving along. Hopefully I will get one soon. As will we all!
I ordered my album about 2 minutes after they went on sale, so i expect that I am in the first shipment... thus - I EXPECT my shipment e-mail any moment now!
...but we all now how that'll end up.
"The nice thing about the rain is that it always stops... eventually."
I still have not received my shipping confirmation, but I have the album on my computer, thanks to a close connection.
=)
I just got it and have not listened through yet. Disappointed that "Happy Birthday Bitch" (the first song I listened to) doesn't have the part where Nadia ends the birthday song with "SHE'S A STUPID F*CKING BIIIITCH!!" like on the bootleg. I loved that part. =(
Sounds awesome, though. I am excited to get the physical CD!
edit: I'm going to have to adjust to the CD. I made the mistake that people make of when they listen to the OBC over and over and then go see the show and expect it to be just like the recording. Well, I wanted this recording to be a studio album of the bootleg. Obviously, not the case. I think the part where I most wanted it to be is on "Absolution." Michael Arden breaks my heart on that song and it is so emotional. I do not get the same feeling from the studio recording. Updated On: 11/7/07 at 12:26 AM
I got the e-mail from Damon, too. I thought it was going to say that they had been shipped....nope, just more run around. Not even any hint at when they would be shipped.