lizard

No, that doesn't usually happen with an e-mail offer. Like masuerte said, it could be a cookie problem. I'd suggest closing your browser, re-opening your e-mail, and trying again.

I haven't come across an offer as good as the one you say you got. The typical "best" enrollment offers are 6 @ 49¢, three to fulfill, buy one more for $9.95 and have two to fulfill. If you check the URL in your e-mail link you should be able to find the enrollment code at the end (for example a recent "we want you back" e-mail I received ends in ...dk=AB4 so the enrollment code is AB4). I'd be interested in knowing what your enrollment code is.

awlez18

This is a really stupid question and I apologize ahead of time
-Should i buy family guy vol2 and a simpsons set (both around $30)(using as fulfillments) or get them at about $15 (from like a bestbuy)
whats the better deal at the end?

bigjim25

If you're fulfilling I'd get newer sets and use one of the codes to get an extra DVD for free.
Code 802349 is unlimited B1G1F w/free shipping & expires today! Free shipping/DVD excluded on box sets.
Lots of good 2 disc DVDs are available for free:
Live Free or Die Hard
F4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Hairspray
Wizard of Oz
Serenity
Tom & Jerry Spotlight Collections
Droopy Collection
and many more http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=515213 .

Cheato

As bigjim25 said, definitely use some sale code to get a better deal. And if you want to see what the better deal is in the end, then you can check out my recent post in the TV Club discussion thread where I showed some calculations you can do to deternine the "true" cost of a box set through CH.

Jedi Master 33

Does it sometimes take longer than 1 week to get orders? I now have two shipped orders that I have not recieved and normally I get them in about a week.

BobO'Link

Yes. Especially this time of year. I would give it 2 weeks before I began to be concerned and probably 3 before I contacted CS.

Super56K

Here's something I'm wondering about. I closed an account yesterday, and when I got home from classes today I saw that I finally received one of the director's selection emails. Since the account is closed I can't do anything on the site so I just want to make sure I'm not going to get a $20+ charge for Order of the Phoenix dvd when it's finally released if I don't take any action.

smashthesymbols

If the account is canceled you're fine. No need to worry.

aJOHNymous

Is CH.com the same as columbiahouse.com? I know they are essentially both "columbiahouse", but why the different web addresses and sites?

I'm curious because I plan on closing my columbiahouse.com account and starting a new account but I'd like to join the site with the best deals.

lizard

^ I suggest that you read the first post in this thread for answers to FAQs, such as yours:

riotinmyskull

you guys think we'll get 'eastern promises' added? it comes out 12/26 and it's a focus feature film.

lizard

I can't recall ever seeing a title listed as being from "Focus" so my guess would be that Columbia House will not carry it.

Gobear

Focus Features is just the arthouse division of Universal, like Sony Classics or Fox Searchlight. Columbia House does carry other Focus titles, like Brokeback Mountain, Brick, Talk to Me, and Hollywoodland. Because Universal titles generally only show up in the Columbia House catalog on the day of release, you'll have to wait until the 26th to order Eastern Promises, but I'm confident that it will be available.

riotinmyskull

just what i wanted to hear.

moonraker

Why is CH listing Chinatown (Special Collector's Edition) as a pre-order with a release date of 12/26/07? This latest version came out on 11/06/2007 and is showing as in-stock and available at all other retailers I've checked. Also: DDD and DVDPlanet list this as full screen, but certainly it must be widescreen, right? Can anyone who owns this version confirm the aspect ratio?

Thanks!

Manzana

I have several questions...

1. If I want to return some unopened CH DVDs I received the last few weeks, do I just send them back or do I need to do something online or call them up to let them know first?

2. How many days do I have to return these DVDs and is it counted from the original order date or the received date on each (such as preorders which may ship in future weeks/months)?

3. If I return 1 B1G1F (BOGO) DVD, what happens depending if it's the free one or the full priced one? Will they put back the full amount on my credit card, half the amount, or not give me anything back?

4. I couldn't find a Funcash FAQ. In previous years I thought Funcash disappeared on Dec. 31st or there were restrictions on when you could use it. What are the restrictions now?

The reason for these questions is after placing my first large order this year for some new releases (BOGO) and $7.95 2-disc edition with free shipping, after they arrived I found much better deals on several of them (or HD-DVD versions for the same price as the SD ones I ordered). It's enough to justify paying return shipping. Is it wise to pay extra for delivery confirmation to CH?

After a few tries and hangups to CH, I asked the above questions of a CH CSR who spoke poor English and kept changing her answers, so I figure she wasn't understanding my questions and I gave up. Sadly the real experts on CH seem to be here and not at CH.

Sweet Baby James

^

1. I would click on the Returns & Exchanges link on the site to arrange the return. Better to play it safe and who knows, they may even send you a return shipping label.

2. 45 days from the shipment invoice date.

3. This, I don't have an answer. CH is so goofy that they might give you a full refund and let you keep the other title.

4. FunCash redemption is still scheduled to end on December 31. CH has been known to extend this period, but I would use it up, just in case.

Cheato

If you ordered extra DVDs that weren't used as fulfillments, then chances are that you paid too much, because you could have just closed your account and opened another one--unless you're impatient and can't wait for things to become enrollment titles, or don't have other enrollment titles that you'd want.

If you did get them as fulfillments, then I seriously doubt that you found better deals on them anywhere else (especially HD-DVD versions), because you essentially got them for about $5 each, when you factor in your savings on your enrollment titles.

I'm only writing this to make sure that you're thinking about the costs in the right way. You didn't pay 19.95 + 7.95 + 19.95 + 7.95 for 6 titles. You paid 19.95 + 7.95 + 19.95 + 7.95 + 12.89 for 13 titles. (Or something like that--I don't know your exact details.) Personally, I wouldn't use the $7.95 option because that just increases the average cost; be patient and use a B1G1 with free shipping on any purchase code.

lizard

If Columbia House adds a title to their catalog after its release date they will sometimes set it up as a pre-order on their system. The available for enrollment date is usually based on the "real" release date, not the CH pre-order date.

FWIW, Amazon shows it as widescreen, as expected.

lizard

Manzana, I'd strongly suggest that you just sell or give away the DVDs that you no longer want. Trying to hassle with a partial return of an order is way more trouble than it is worth IMO.

BobO'Link

^ Very much agree! Plus as Cheato mentioned you must absolutely take into account EVERYTHING purchased on the account (enrollments, fulfillments, anything else purchased) and, at a minimum, average that cost to get your true cost-per-selection of that membership. It can get a bit more complicated if you've purchased "box sets", but Cheato and others have posted on more than one occasion various formulas to help guide you in the actual "true" costs for selections.

lizard

You could try calling 888-467-7404 during normal business hours (not on weekends).

You could try e-mailing them at [email protected] and asking them to remove your card card and change your account to "bill me". Be sure to include your name, address, and account number.

This may sound like a really dumb question, but are you sure you are logging in to the correct account? Many of us have several accounts. Are the unwanted Director's Selections being sent out on the correct account number? It is possible that Columbia House has mixed up accounts.


Your experience is why I really, really dislike debit cards. With credit cards one has protection against erroneous charges (in the near future I'll be disputing an incorrect charge, which CH refuses to correct, with my credit card company). With debit cards one's entire bank account is at risk.

Dane Marvin

Lizard, I have a debit card and the same thing that happened to Mike happened to me. I have two CH accounts and always decline my Directors Selections via the web. They sent me for EACH account, the Spiderman 2-pack as an "automatic" order. Each of these was $35, equating to $70 in unwanted charges. I am really pissed at CH for doing this and am considering leaving the club now. It would be hard to walk away with all the great deals, but I am getting very close to accruing all the back catalog titles I want in my collection, which is primarily what I've been using CH for. I could always keep my CH.com membership and get the occasional deal from them there.

Otherwise, is there any way to remove your card info from you account and only have it in there when you actually order something? I really dont want to have my card on file there anymore.

Gobear

Have you fulfilled your accounts? You can call up Columbia House and ask to be switched to a plan where they don't send you any automatic Director' Selection, so long as you order something within 5 months.

lizard

Dane Marvin, Yes. You can get a CSR to change your account to "Bill Me". While I have had this done via the phone, I assume that one can also have it done via e-mail, but have never done so myself.

The other thing you can do is close an account once it is fulfilled. No more Director's Selections to fuss with.

Columbia House is actually quite good about accepting returns and crediting the mistaken charge back to your card. But that doesn't help if you are using a debit card and skating close to your account minimum, because the overdraft damage is already done. The best you can do then is to throw yourself on the mercy of your bank and ask them to waive the overdraft fee(s).

Again, when I recommend using "credit cards" as being the most convenient way to handle accounts, I definitely DO NOT mean debit cards. Columbia House mistakes aside, if your debit card gets stolen and your bank account drained, the bank fees will eat you alive — they are a major profit center for banks. Credit cards have losses limited to $50 (and nearly all card companies will waive that) if the loss is reported promptly. [I am assuming, of course, that one does not revolve balances from month-to-month — paying interest is poor financial management — and that one doesn't get near one's credit limit.]

I'll get off my soapbox and stop preaching. I realize that people can do as they wish and it is none of my business. But I speak as a credit card arbitrageur: I make money by using the card companies' teaser rates and investing the money to earn the "spread". This is a risky game and requires me to be meticulous in managing my card portfolio. One late payment and the scheme collapses. I have been doing this for more than a decade now with no slip-ups.