Coltrane on Impulse CD

[monkboughtlunch]

Below is an e-mail I sent to Verve's customer service.

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Verve:

I am disappointed and concerned with the defective Verve packaging I am experiencing as a consumer of your music product.

I have recently purchased new copies of John Coltrane's "Ballads: Deluxe Edition," (314 589 548-2).

This product's packaging is defective. When I opened the new, factory sealed product, the CDs fell out, as the plastic spindles that hold them were broken. As the tray card containing the spindles is glued to the digipack packaging, this product cannot be repaired like a standard jewel case can. As my CDs are not held in place by the broken spindles, they are subject to falling out and getting scratched and damaged.

I am surprised that Verve would exercise such sloppy packaging for a prestige artist like Coltrane who's masters are owned by a corporate entity with deep pockets, and who sets premium suggested retail prices for reissues. I purchased Coltrane's Ballads: Deluxe Edition from 2 different retailers. Each new package had broken spindles.

Therefore, I am requesting a replacement non-defective digipack (without the CDs) of Coltrane's "Ballads: Deluxe Edition" (2002 Rudy Van Gelder) be shipped to me at no cost.

Please respond to my email to indicate how you will proceed.

Thank you,

Edited March 26, 2005 by monkboughtlunch

[mike s.]

I unfortunately have 3 digipak cd's with the same problem - broken spindles. While one of the three is a Verve product, I can't really put the blame on them. The fact of the matter is that all three were purchased used on-line and the spindles were somehow broken while in transit by the Post Office. I can only assume that the spindles are the weakest point (I am glad that they broke rather than the cd itself).

I guess that what I am most interested in is repairing them. I realize that it would have to be done with some care - particularly when removing the broken digipak tray. As it would likely tear the cardboard base somewhat, using a black digipak tray as a replacement would likely be a better (or only?) choice.

Does anybody out there have an experience or advice on this type of operation? And does anybody know where one can buy a few unmounted digipak trays?

[GregK]

I really like the design of the Coltrane Impulse! CDs, but the digipaks get destroyed quickly. I try to take care of them, I have them isolated in a shelf by themselves away from regular CDs, and yet they still get scratched, scuffed, faded and worn no matter how careful I am. Very frustrating

[mikeweil]

This really is the one great disadvatage of digipacks. Now there are glues that would allow removal/exchange of the plastic tray part without tearing the paper/cardboard, but retailers hate these just like removable price labels ...