Rupert Jones in today’s Guardian has a note about Music Magpie, a site where you can sell old CDs, games, and now DVDs. The site calls itself an “online CD recycling service.” I like CDs, so I took a look.
The service is a commercial operation and as far as I can tell isn’t any different in principle from any other online secondhand retailer – I guess they all ought to get some green cred by calling themselves recycling services.
So how does Music Magpie compare to others like, say, Amazon or eBay? Let’s look at it first as a buyer. I love the Cowboy Junkies, so I did a search. I can get their great CD The Trinity Session for £3.99. Amazon has this new from £5.98, or used from £3.91. What about postage costs? At Amazon it is currently £1.21. I can’t so far discover what Music Magpie charges, or whether it is included. The terms and conditions say:
9.2. These prices include VAT but exclude delivery costs, which are detailed on the website.
However I can’t find them detailed anywhere. Maybe it is included after all, but you would have thought this would be flagged as a selling point. So it could be more than Amazon, or less, depending on this point; it appears to be in the same ball park. However, Amazon has a vastly greater stock available and nice features like customer reviews.
OK, how about as the seller? If I decide to sell my Cowboy Junkies CD, Music Magpie will currently offer me 98p (the price varies according to the CD, and can be as low as 25p). There’s no postage cost to the seller; the company sends out a freepost envelope.
There are some alarming terms and conditions. If Music Magpie decides one of your CDs needs refurbishment (polishing), it deducts up to 50p. If it decides it is unacceptable, it neither buys nor returns it. There is no appeal.
Now Amazon. If I sell Trinity Session for the current lowest price of £3.91, Amazon will grab £1.82 in fees (including VAT) but contribute £1.21 for postage. That means I get £3.30. If the postage actually costs that much (it could well work out less), I still get £2.09 net, more than double what Music Magpie offers.
Listing an item on Amazon is not much more difficult than selling to Music Magpie – just type in the barcode and go. The big difference is that with Amazon you have to sit back and wait for a buyer. With Music Magpie I get the money instantly. Another difference is that with Music Magpie I can parcel a bunch of CDs once and send them off. With Amazon, you have to deal with each customer individually.
My immediate impression is that Music Magpie scores well on convenience, but if you need the money and have a little patience you would be much better off with Amazon.
Now, here’s an interesting remark on the Music Magpie site:
We originally launched musicmagpie as an easy way for everyone to turn their old CDs into cash so that they did not have to be thrown away if they had decided to go digital. This proved to be a massive success with thousands of people using musicmagpie as a fast and efficient way to turn CDs into money.
Well, CDs are digital; but I’m guessing that Music Magpie is referring to people who have ripped their CDs to a computer for streaming, or for an iPod, or another MP3 player. Here’s a can of worms though. I’ve heard it argued that even ripping your own CDs is illegal, though it seems a reasonable thing to do. Ripping your CDs and then selling them though – intuitively that seems wrong. Arguably, Music Magpie by its own admission is dealing in stolen music.
Still, I do see the other side of this too. You’ve ripped all your CDs, you no longer need them, you are short of space: isn’t it better to move them on?
When people moved from vinyl to CD they had no choice but to purchase again. In the case of CD to music files though, you can migrate without re-buying. That’s a headache for the music industry.
Personally I hang on to them anyway, as a kind of license and physical backup, and just in case I might want to read the sleeve notes again one day.
Note: Comments to this post are now closed.
Hi Jamie
Thanks for checking. If the damage to the disks and cases is relatively minor, you should be fine. We do cover ourselves for if someone sends us a box full of completely damaged product, but it is only there to stop people taking the michael and in reality we don’t deduct for minor stuff. We do test all disks in a special machine thing which tests the playing condition of each but again as long as the results are predominantly positive, you should be fine. If there does turn out to be an issue with your order, please get in touch with Customer Services and they will be happy to help…
Cheers
I’m going to give them a go. Any business can suffer teething problems, and it sounds like they’re a bit overwhelmed at the moment!
Since Blue Boy seems well-intentioned, and I’m in no great rush for the cash, I think it’s worth a punt (the cd’s have been stuck in storage for the last 2 years, so I’ve got nothing to lose.)
I’ve just entered 275 cd’s on the site (my right-hand is cramping from entering all the damn bar-codes!) and they’ve offered me £152.46.
Oddly, the site asked me if I wanted a free courier (I was expecting this) but when I said ‘yes’ and clicked ‘Confirm Trade’, it told me that my Freepost labels will be sent shortly. I can only assume that some boxes will be delivered.
If this one goes ok, I’ve got 500 DVD’s I’m looking to get rid of too, so they’ll follow on. If not…well, summer and car-boot sales are coming up!
And before anyone asks, no I’m not associated with the company at all. I only found this blog when I searched for ‘Music Magpie ripoff con’, in Google to check them out, as the terms and conditions were rather off-putting.
Anyway, I’ll keep you posted as to how I get on!
That is interesting feedback that Neil about the feedback labels being sent – I will look into that one as it sounds confusing. Hope the trade does go well – for the sake of all of us! Also interesting what you say about the T&C’s – there to try and put jokers off who think they can try and rip us off (some irony there I know) by sending all sorts of nonsense in but I do understand they can look a little weighty…
Anyway, let us know how you get on please Neil.
An absolute joke! Was looking to sell a few items-one of them being the special edition 2 dvd ‘Independence Day.’ It listed I could only get 30p for the item! On Amazon and ebay I could get anywhere from £4-£7!
Just not worth it.
Sorry Babboy but I have just checked and the current cheapest selling price of the DVD you mention is 11p so not sure where you saw the £4 to £7?
Update 1
Had an email from Magpie with instructions for arranging the Courier pick-up.
CD’s are now in 2 boxes waiting to be collected on either Tues/Weds/Thurs next week.
intresting to see magpie are sooooo ashamed of there companies bad rep that they have to beg and plead with site to take bad reveiws off there sites,just watch and see how long these comments last if thats not the actions of a company with something to hid what is? MUSIC MAGPIE ARE A RIP OFF
Toby – I’m not sure whether you are the same Toby as the one who entered the rather more articulate posts slightly higher up – I am presuming not. Just to be clear, what I have tried to do is offer a constructive response to any sensible and constructive points that have been made about Magpie from the likes of Aaron and Neil.
I give you my word that neither myself nor anyone else at Magpie is asking this board’s host to remove any posts that are left on this discussion page. For a start there is no clear way of communicating to anyone at the Guardian about it (and they have not been in touch after my invite above to speak to us if they so wish) and thirdly frankly I wouldn’t waste my energy doing so as I cannot think for a moment that anyone with a jot of sense would give it a scrap of credence, given its lack of constructive content.
We perhaps shouldn’t be surprised or disappointed that presumably someone at the Guardian is choosing to remove your posts as if I were to simply post a comment that read “Don’t listen to Toby, he smells of wee” then frankly I think I would expect it to be removed…
I av been using m.m for 10 mths an av never once had a problem with them.I think alot of u who leave negative remarks r the 1s who expect too much from them.Cds r fast declining,so when it cums to selling on either carboots or ebay etc ppl r not interested in buying so end up in charity shops.Even then they r hard to shift so in turn end up at auctions selling up2 80 has i known to go for £4 for the lot.Yet when m.m offer btween 0.30p to £3.00 u complain of their bad service.Yes they can take up2 3 wks to send cheque out but so what!If u do not like there service move on!Tell me how many companies do u know who will offer free p&p for ur cds.Yes i know up2 a certain weight,easy way round it,send off in smaller quantities!To all u who spend all ur time ripping this company down,u need to live in the real world an b more patient!
Music Magpie is an absolute rip off.. I have wasted hours of my time inputting barcodes from over 100 CDs, Most of which were valued by them at 0.50p, and cross referencing them with identical items on ebay & Amazon. It turns out that some of the CDs that music Magpie offered 0.50p for are actually quite rare and valuable. In a couple of cases, these Cds were selling on Amazon for over £20.. so there have been two lessons learnt from this.. it pays to shop around (even when selling) and a Magpie will always try to STEAL your shiny valuables…
Following on from post 114, two perfect examples.. 4007192609215 magpie offered 0.50p on Amazon they are selling for between £18 & £30 and 5099747376726 magpie offered £2.09 again selling on Amazon for between £18 & £28. I guess I’ll be selling through Amazon.. Ok its more time consuming, and f course there are their selling fees to take into account… but all in all, I will end up with far more £££ in my pocket.
Thanks for the stern defence Trudy! Paul – appreciate the constructive feedback and undeniably you MAY earn a bit more elsewhere on SOME titles but we sell ourselves as a very simple and convenient way of turning CDs DVDs and Games into a fixed amount of cash reasonably quickly so you don’t need to mess about with setting up accounts, sending individual parcels, waiting for a sale, not knowing how much you will get and getting all paranoid about feedback (not that Magpie does that even though it seems that everyone in the world is after us and trying to kill us…I jest) And for the record Paul I did try the two barcodes you gave and unfortunately the first one didnt bring up a product and the second is being sold for about £6 currently, with as you say fees and postage to come off that when and if you did sell it, so £2.09 is an offer that seems to reasonably sensibly reflect an instant cash offer price on this occasion.
Oh and I also notice most of Toby 2’s nonsense has been removed again – cue more badly spelt shouting and insulting from him. Perhaps he doesn’t realise that constantly posting the phrase he does is actually quite helpful as it is now more likely to bring potential customers who have searched that phrase to a site that is at worst balanced and at best reasonably positive about selling to Magpie taking the majority of the last years or so comments?
i’ve just got a quote from MM, selling 10 nintendo ds/wii games, for £40.
thought that was pretty good, seeing as some of these are quite old and are selling for nothing on ebay.
from what i can see on this site, people are just being impatient, i’ve used music magpie before, and got paid within a few weeks. Just be patient, it’ll come eventually. 🙂
Thought I’d take a look at the company info for this site – they apparently have paid out milllions to satisfied customers yet their accounts are classified as ‘Total Exemption Small’ which means their balance sheet does not reflect the millions they are claiming they are turning over. Not saying it’s a scam but they seem to be over egging the pudding somewhat.
Wow!- DING dING- Round27 MM vs Cex- sounds like a JAPANESE Monster Movie- Look out Godzilla!!!
Im going to try MM as better offers on CD’s I dont want- is there anything perfect in the world ? Uh No Every business has problems and disgruntled customers- Hmmm I wonder why they have a Customer Services Dept.? ANyone? Anyone – yes thats right in the back — To handle customers queries and complaints etc… UH dUH!!!
Blue Boy – have ya ever thought about Law? You seem a good point maker- and your very Objective and Honest- OOOPS honest – that rules ya out for being a Lawyer( joke for those who read this who are Lawyers)
Im Looking forward to dealing with MM
CAN YOU GUYS NOW debate – Capital Punishment or Not?
AMAZON- ???? EXPLAIN HOW THEY WILL BUY YOUR CD’s
Hi Chris – the total exemption small covers companies with upto millions of pounds of turnover and is a very standard procedure from accountants and auditors, I might be wrong but I think it is £5.6m and it was for our last financial year which is now many, many months ago so please don’t be concerned about that.
PS Eric – as we both know the thing a lawyer uses as contraception is his personality so I shall pass on that profession if I may! Thanks for trying us out – if you have any problems at all please let our guys in Customer Services know and they will do all they can to help but you should be fine – literally thousands of people a week are now running very smoothly! 🙂
Hmm been alot going on since i was on last!!
2 points i noticed early on that toby (not sure if it’s the one i know) wrote on here about magpie beeining a rip off and to watch and see his review be deleted because magpie have something to hid and i see that has happened not sure what to make of that,and 2nd have decided to use magpie one more time to test the service so i can make a up to date comment on the service
sorry mean’t hide not hid before blueboy tells me off 🙂
@aaron @toby posts will be deleted if they do not contribute to the discussion; this is nothing to do with Music Magpie but the policy of the site.
Tim
Just feel i need to defend myself here i do not want to be banded along side toby,i just saw a post on here on my way to uni where he said music magpie are a rip off and that employees bump the good comments up and that it will be deleted and it was,BUT i in no way accuse ANY employee of any company for getting comments deleted i just thought it was odd,I have never claimed to like the service magpie offer and will always be here to put objective points across (till proved wrong) but i have also said some of there ideas (barcode thingy) are good,therefore i wish my name to be removed from alongside toby’s as his views and comments are not mine
Hi just wanted to say i’ve used magpie about 6 weeks ago,it did take from start to finish about a month to get my money this includes them sending me details to me sending stuff off to getting my money,this is really too long to wait for what a couple of people on here is saying is a fast service,i note that most of the comments are bad ones but wanted to make my own mind up and can now say yes they are slow and yes there are much better places to sell to but in the end people will make their own minds up and if they got the service i got will not use them again
Would also like to now address few points from other comments 1,louise comment 114 if you think £40 for 10 ds and wii games is good your wrong that is very low! GAME,GAMESTATION OR CEX will all offer way more then that, £40 for 10 games is less then £5 each and thats just way too low.Eric 116-117you sound way too much like another couple of people who stuck up for magpie which does add fuel to the fire (not saying it’s true) to the views of some people that magpie are writing good comments on here as only good comments have been posted on here since blueboy started commenting,which as i say i do not claim this view to be right or wrong,And trudy 110 way too many spelling and grammar mistakes which makes me wonder why blueboy did’t pick up on these like he did me see comment 89.As for the remarks that we should’t slag magpie off if you took time to read comments by myself and others your see they are objective but based on facts and as this is a forum and not a magpie supporters club you have to respect both good and bad comments
Update 2 – Parcelforce collected my CD’s this afternoon.
Will let you know what happens next!