Have A Music Monkey On Your Back? Get The Cure At Tower Records!
Written: Apr 27 '03
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When online reward programs were a dime a dozen, I was addicted to a site called First Look where you could listen to audio samples and earn points for rating them. When the site first started you could earn an unlimited number of points per day. This usually meant that I ended up with a mailbox full of Tower Records gift cards. This led to me spending more hours than I care to admit shopping at the retail store but never really finding exactly what I wanted or having to deal with burnt out stoners that wandered around the store all hours of the day and night. I decided that I’d save myself some time and aggravation and check out the website before I visited the retail store so I could get an idea of what they carried. That led to me spending even more time exploring the site and getting lost in all the CD and DVD titles that they sell.
Navigation the site is pretty straight cut but I do have a little trouble with a few of the pages loading from time to time. I have yet to encounter a pop up or any type of outside advertisement so if this is a concern of yours, you have nothing to worry about. It’s relatively easy to find what you are looking for and if you are stumped for a gift for someone, you can always opt to purchase a gift card to be sent via email or regular post [more information about that later]. There are type different types of searches that you can do, the basic one that gives you a healthy selection of returns to choose from or the advanced search that lets you trim off the fat and search according to artists name, genre, recording label or format. This was a huge help when I was trying to get information on all the Duran Duran titles that were still available. With a little bit of work I was able to track down seven releases that I didn’t have and probably wouldn’t have known about if I hadn’t searched their database.
What You’ll Find …
The Tower site sells everything from CD’s to DVD’s, toys, audio accessories and various collectibles. Since I am a toy junkie I rely on the site when I want to order something along this line that I may have seen at one of the retail stores. Most of the time when you find something interesting the box is beat up or it’s been handled by a lot of people and looks like crap. Of course this means that you won’t be able to take advantage of the special sales that they have on these types of items – but it does let you try it out at a reduced price to see if it is worth paying full price for it to be in mint condition.
The DVD section of the site is nice but the prices are a bit on the high side. It’s best to check out other stores for the popular titles but they do carry some of the more off beat, noir titles. I was a little shocked to seeLost Boys on DVD for $16.99 when Suncoast Video [retail store] had it for $12.99 and they are usually higher than most every other store. The DVD area gives you tons of information about the stars of the film and particulars of the DVD and most come with a detail section about the release. If you are a DVD junkie the site might seem a little basic and clouded with useless information but for those that aren’t familiar with certain areas of cinema – this is an excellent resource.
If accessories are your weakness you will find yourself spending a lot of time at this part of the site. They stock everything from guitar strings to CD cases. Just like most of the other products at the site, the prices are a bit rich but in the end you do get what you pay for. I tend to purchase these types of items, especially the CD cases and sleeves, at the store so I can make sure that they are what I want. Most of these products come with a brief description but I like to check them out and get a hands on feel of them before I buy them. You’ll always be able to find more stuff at the physical stores than online in regards to accessories so if you are looking for portable CD players, batteries and headphones – stick with the physical stores for these types of purchases since returning them is a lot easier and you can make sure you are getting what you really want.
The Classical music section was one that I almost had to 㥸 Step” my way out of. Since I was able to search by artist, recording company, era, language [I am a sucker for Italian operas] or style I found myself sucked into cyber wormholes on a weekly basis. If you are a fan of classical music and are having trouble finding titles or simply information about an opera or release, I highly suggest that you check out this portion of the site.
If you are a bargain shopper, be sure to stop by the sale section to see what is available. You’ll be able to check out online coupons or offers, special offers, free gifts with purchases of certain products and the chance to sign up for the Tower newsletter. This is a great way to be notified of sales and upcoming promotions and you never know what little treats will be tucked away in the emails. Sale items aren’t limited to just this section, they are available all over the site. The trick is to check the site often and see when products you are interested in get marked down. You can also create a free account at the site and build a wish list. This can help you to build up a nice list for when the holidays roll around since you can email it to people – you might finally be able to get the point across to your brother or sister than you don’t need another pair of fuzzy teddy bear slippers.
Purchases
I’ve picked up a few DVD titles, a handful of CD and a ton of toys from the site. So far I’m pretty impressed with the shipping time, method of packaging and accuracy of the orders. I did get one CD that was damaged and it was promptly replaced with the same title in perfect condition. I was a little concerned with ordering some of the collectible toys online since I wasn’t able to check the boxes to make sure that they were still sealed and in good shape but all of the ones that I have received have been in mint to excellent condition. The ones packaged with plastic windows may be dented when you receive them but if you know the tricks of the trade, this is easily fixed.
Shipping
Shipping is calculated according to the number of items you purchase unless you purchase four or more items, then you qualify for a $4.95 flat rate shipping fee. There are several levels of shipping available such as Second Day and free upgrades for orders over $100.00. You have the option to change your shipping plan at any time and you can review it before you place your order. If you have any questions or concerns or require special shipping instructions, please call the toll free customer service number for help. Overall I think that the shipping fees are great if you are ordering a lot of items and there is no limit to the number of items that they will ship under the “four item or more” offer.
Return Policy
You have two options available to you if you want to make a return of an item. You can return it to Tower Records within 45 days if it is defective, you were sent the wrong item or you simply wish to return it for any other reason. If it is defective or you were sent the wrong item the shipping fees may be applied to a credit however I suggest that you call the customer service center to arrange a return to ensure that you receive the correct replacement. If you have a Tower Records in your area you can return the item to a retail store within 15 days but you have to take a copy of your email conformation and shipping materials with you. Your best bet is to read over this section of the site to make sure that you know your rights as a consumer and customer. I have only had to return one item that was damaged during shipping and I got the replacement CD quicker than I got the original. Customer service was exceptional and handled the transaction quickly and apologized several times for the damaged CD.
Gift Certificates
Since I mentioned it at the beginning of the review, I wanted to go into a little detail about the gift cards that are available at the site. There are essentially two types, one that can be redeemed both online as well as at physical locations and one that can only be redeemed online. The first is an actual plastic card that is sent via postal mail. This can be redeemed online or at a Tower store and makes a great gift for those that are junkies of the site or store. Most carry a one year redemption / expiration date however this varies from state to state. The eGift card is sent via email and can only be redeemed online. While I am sure that there is a way that they could enter the code at the store, I am also sure that this would result in a lot of fraudulent purchases. If you are interested in purchasing either of these cards you should call the toll free customer service number first to get all the details and limitations. If you are part of a company or corporation you may qualify for a bulk purchase of the cards at a discount. I am sure that when First Look started out, this is how they purchased the cards they offered through their program.
Customer Service
Tower Records
2500 Del Monte Street
West Sacramento, CA 95691
[800] 275-8693
[916] 373-3050
[916] 373-2500
reply@towerrecords.com - For order help, changes or cancellations
orders@towerrecords.com - To check your order status or shipping information
feedback@towerrecords.com - General question, title request, feedback
www.towerrecords.com
Payment Options
You can pay for your order with MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover Card. Debit cards may also be used as a form of payment providing that they carry the MasterCard or Visa logo and funds are available in the account. If you want to pay by check or money order, you have to contact the customer service department for payment instructions. I have used both my MasterCard and Visa at the site and never had any trouble with processing, verification, amount drawn or over charges. Orders shipped to California will be subject to sales tax so this amount will be added to the total product order, not the total amount of the order.
The Bottom Line
If you are a toy freak or classical music fan, the site offers you a lot to check out. The special orders can’t be beat and the customer service has always been friendly and efficient. One of the best resources of the site is the ability too look up the retail locations in your area. You not only get the address but in most cases a detailed map, hours, phone number and information about what the store carries. If you want to check out the store that I visit most often – check out this URL www.towerrecords.com/stores/store.asp?storeID=t17824. I’ve yet to be burned by Tower Records, online or a physical store, and so far all my purchases have been great. If you are looking for a site that will serve you well, won’t bombard you with pop ups and backs up the sales with a good guarantee of your personal satisfaction – then Tower Records online is the place for you.
As always, thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
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