Napster Pre-Paid Cards

MacRumors · Oct 27, 2003, 04:04 AM

Napster will be offering prepaid cards for sale at retail stores for use with their relaunched digital music download service.

The cards will cost $14.85 and provide the purchaser with 15 downloads. The cards are targeted at teenagers without credit cards. They will become available by mid-November at retailers across the country -- including CompUSA, Best Buy, Safeway and even Rite Aid.

Napster is due to relaunch on October 29th.

Archmage · Oct 27, 2003, 04:18 AM

I would love it if Apple offered their gift certificates in physical stores.

edit: First post! Wow!

LimeLite · Oct 27, 2003, 04:21 AM

While I obviously think iTunes sets the bar, this is actually a pretty good idea.

arn · Oct 27, 2003, 04:23 AM

I'm surprised Apple hasn't done this. They have the technology in place now with gift certificates/allowances etc...

They have the retail presence, too.

arn

dricci · Oct 27, 2003, 04:24 AM

I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple start doing something like this soon. Everything is in place, software-wise.

Edit: whoa, lots of other posts before I clicked submit

Eric_Z · Oct 27, 2003, 04:25 AM

Am I the only one who dislikes this idea?

I mean running away to a recordstore just so that you can download music instead of sitting in the comfort of your home and download illegal music, I don't think so.

If you wan't people to download and buy there music legaly it HAS to be simpler or just as simple as pirating, something that Aplle eccels at and Napster is missing by a mile with this initiative.

alset · Oct 27, 2003, 04:30 AM

Dang! I had hoped Apple would be the first to do this. This will be a hot ticket for parents and grandparents who don't want to risk buying the wrong thing for a fickle teen.

Imagine this at BestBuy or available online via web. The sales would be great.

Dan

mproud · 06:37 AM

I like the idea, though I don't think people aren't accustomed to the music store business quite yet. Maybe this holiday season - we will see.

But yes, come the holidays, Apple needs to get some iTunes Cash Cards in the stores.

A $9.99 card, good for 10 songs or 1 album - easy and simple. I like that.

johnnowak · Oct 27, 2003, 04:35 AM

-SMART-

This really makes a great gift idea... if it was the ITMS that is.

manitoubalck · Oct 27, 2003, 04:36 AM

Who would have guessed it but NAPSTER lives. Though I still will be freely downloading the songs I want, and buying a CD when I want the whole album.

Goodluck to the fellas though, they've been through some tough times

LimeLite · Oct 27, 2003, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mproud
A $9.99 card, good for 10 songs or 1 album - easy and simple. I like that.

I like your plan.

As for running off to record stores...who said anything about record stores? This would be a good thing to have at say, the checkout of a grocery store. Kids could either get it just by going to the store, or by convincing their parents to pay 14.85 to shut them up.

As for Napster living...not quite. It's just the name that was bought up for the recognition.

Vonnie · Oct 27, 2003, 04:54 AM

Seeing most teenagers here are buying prepaid cards in stores for their cellphones, instead of taking a subscription, this napster-prepaid-card will probably work pretty well. I hope Apple comes out with something similar, oh and a European Music store goddamnit!

manitoubalck · Oct 27, 2003, 04:59 AM

Is there any news on how wide spread this offer will be? Only US or to Europe/Asia/Africa/Australia?

scottlee · Oct 27, 2003, 06:28 AM

Not a bad idea for those people who are still freaked out about the idea of releasing the credit card info to the internet or their children.

Jerry Spoon · Oct 27, 2003, 07:29 AM

The big thing I've ran into with some pc using friends is that they're still using an old operating system though. How frustrating for grandma to thing she's being hip by buying all her grandkids gift certificates to ITMS and then finds out they're all running Windows ME.

DeusOmnis · Oct 27, 2003, 07:47 AM

Dont call it a napster "Relaunch", it's not even napster.

They should call it fakester or something like that.

the_mole1314 · Oct 27, 2003, 08:32 AM

Think about it:

Your granny can't use, or owns a computer, and wants to give you music. She can give you an iTunes Gift Cirtificate from the Apple Store or local outlets. See, it works! I think this will help Napster a lot in market share.

Tux Kapono · Oct 27, 2003, 08:54 AM

I thought Apple was already rumored to be doing this. It was posted on one of these rumor web sites...

TMay · Oct 27, 2003, 09:20 AM

These stores that are selling them need to make some money on them. Their little piece of the action subtracts from the bottom line. Now if you believe that Apple isn't all that interested in the bottom line for iTMS, then we will see these available for sale.

Why not just have a kiosk then, and get an instant download, instant gratification?

reedm007 · Oct 27, 2003, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TMay
These stores that are selling them need to make some money on them. Their little piece of the action subtracts from the bottom line. Now if you believe that Apple isn't all that interested in the bottom line for iTMS, then we will see these available for sale.

Why not just have a kiosk then, and get an instant download, instant gratification?

Exactly what I was thinking!

I was also wondering about selling at stores like Best Buy who already make a lot from music sales. Sure, the online music business is so small right now it'd hardly make a dent, but in the long run, what's in it for Best Buy to sell pre-paid cards? They can't possibly make as much money selling those as they can selling CDs, no? Because it's like we're dealing with 2 different retailers... It's a bizarre concept in a way. If Best Buy did it, it would be like:

- Best Buy sells CDs.
- Circuit City sells Best Buy music gift certificates, and their own music.

What!?!?

iEric · Oct 27, 2003, 09:51 AM

Wow thats such a good idea. I hope Apple does something like this. But then Napster might come back with a lawsuit...and here we go again

1macker1 · Oct 27, 2003, 09:54 AM

This is a great idea. When the technical inept grandmother is out shopping for gifts for her grand kids, all she has to do is throw this card in the buggy, no need to set up a gift certificate on the computer.

evilbert420 · Oct 27, 2003, 10:12 AM

Why not just buy the music when you're at the store?

I mean, really.... that's kind of ridiculous to me to go TO a brick-and-mortar store to buy a gift certificate to a virtual store. Isn't that missing the whole point of a virtual store?

I understand the 'grandma" angle... but I still think it's a dumb idea. Unless, of course, they do it at Apple stores.

xtekdiver · Oct 27, 2003, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by arn
I'm surprised Apple hasn't done this. They have the technology in place now with gift certificates/allowances etc...

They have the retail presence, too.

arn

Imagine the cool pictures they could put on the cards too. It would be a nice way to advertise and show off the elegance of their other products. I agree with other posters, this is a good idea and would dovetail nicely with Apple's gift certificates. Emails are so "virtual".

Nutzoids · Oct 27, 2003, 10:47 AM

Correct me if I'm worng but isn't Apple giving away songs...FOR FREE? 100 Million Free and legal downloads with Pepsi...If you ask me I would rather drink a 20oz Pepsi and enjoy some free music...just me...it's like a pre pay card that comes with a free Pepsi...WOW!

Oct 27, 2003, 04:04 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Napster Pre-Paid Cards Napster will be offering prepaid cards for sale at retail stores for use with their relaunched digital music download service. The cards will cost $14.85 and provide the purchaser with 15 downloads. The cards are targeted at teenagers without credit cards. They will become available by mid-November at retailers across the country -- including CompUSA, Best Buy, Safeway and even Rite Aid. Napster is due to relaunch on October 29th.

Oct 27, 2003, 04:18 AM	#2
Archmage macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Michigan, USA	I would love it if Apple offered their gift certificates in physical stores. edit: First post! Wow! __________________ ~Randy

Oct 27, 2003, 04:30 AM	#7
alset macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: East Bay, CA	Dang! I had hoped Apple would be the first to do this. This will be a hot ticket for parents and grandparents who don't want to risk buying the wrong thing for a fickle teen. Imagine this at BestBuy or available online via web. The sales would be great. Dan __________________ alsetmusic.com standing on the shoulders of giants....

Oct 27, 2003, 04:34 AM	#8
mproud macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2003	I like the idea, though I don't think people aren't accustomed to the music store business quite yet. Maybe this holiday season - we will see. But yes, come the holidays, Apple needs to get some iTunes Cash Cards in the stores. A $9.99 card, good for 10 songs or 1 album - easy and simple. I like that. Last edited by mproud : Oct 27, 2003 at 06:37 AM.

Oct 27, 2003, 04:36 AM	#10
manitoubalck Banned Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia	Who would have guessed it but NAPSTER lives. Though I still will be freely downloading the songs I want, and buying a CD when I want the whole album. Goodluck to the fellas though, they've been through some tough times Attached Images

Oct 27, 2003, 04:21 AM	#3
LimeLite macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles, Ca	While I obviously think iTunes sets the bar, this is actually a pretty good idea.

Oct 27, 2003, 04:23 AM	#4
arn macrumors god Join Date: Apr 2001	I'm surprised Apple hasn't done this. They have the technology in place now with gift certificates/allowances etc... They have the retail presence, too. arn

Oct 27, 2003, 04:24 AM	#5
dricci macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2001	I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple start doing something like this soon. Everything is in place, software-wise. Edit: whoa, lots of other posts before I clicked submit

Oct 27, 2003, 04:25 AM	#6
Eric_Z macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2003	Am I the only one who dislikes this idea? I mean running away to a recordstore just so that you can download music instead of sitting in the comfort of your home and download illegal music, I don't think so. If you wan't people to download and buy there music legaly it HAS to be simpler or just as simple as pirating, something that Aplle eccels at and Napster is missing by a mile with this initiative.

Oct 27, 2003, 04:35 AM	#9
johnnowak macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: New York, New York	-SMART- This really makes a great gift idea... if it was the ITMS that is.

Oct 27, 2003, 04:54 AM	#12
Vonnie macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2003	Seeing most teenagers here are buying prepaid cards in stores for their cellphones, instead of taking a subscription, this napster-prepaid-card will probably work pretty well. I hope Apple comes out with something similar, oh and a European Music store goddamnit!

Oct 27, 2003, 04:59 AM	#13
manitoubalck Banned Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Adelaide, Australia	Is there any news on how wide spread this offer will be? Only US or to Europe/Asia/Africa/Australia?

Oct 27, 2003, 06:28 AM	#14
scottlee macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ohio	Not a bad idea for those people who are still freaked out about the idea of releasing the credit card info to the internet or their children.

Oct 27, 2003, 07:29 AM	#15
Jerry Spoon macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Historic St. Charles	The big thing I've ran into with some pc using friends is that they're still using an old operating system though. How frustrating for grandma to thing she's being hip by buying all her grandkids gift certificates to ITMS and then finds out they're all running Windows ME.

Oct 27, 2003, 07:47 AM	#16
DeusOmnis macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI	Dont call it a napster "Relaunch", it's not even napster. They should call it fakester or something like that. __________________ Dual 1 GHz MDD G4 ][ 1.5 GB DDR RAM ][ 80 GB HD ][ Sony 19" Trinitron G410R ][ GeForce 4 Ti 4600 ][ M-Audio Revolution 7.1 Sound Card ][ Klipsch 5.1 Ultra

Oct 27, 2003, 08:32 AM	#17
the_mole1314 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Dayton, OH	Think about it: Your granny can't use, or owns a computer, and wants to give you music. She can give you an iTunes Gift Cirtificate from the Apple Store or local outlets. See, it works! I think this will help Napster a lot in market share.

Oct 27, 2003, 08:54 AM	#18
Tux Kapono macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2003	I thought Apple was already rumored to be doing this. It was posted on one of these rumor web sites...

Oct 27, 2003, 09:20 AM	#19
TMay macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Carson City, NV	only problem I see These stores that are selling them need to make some money on them. Their little piece of the action subtracts from the bottom line. Now if you believe that Apple isn't all that interested in the bottom line for iTMS, then we will see these available for sale. Why not just have a kiosk then, and get an instant download, instant gratification?

Oct 27, 2003, 09:51 AM	#21
iEric macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada	Wow thats such a good idea. I hope Apple does something like this. But then Napster might come back with a lawsuit...and here we go again __________________ 20" iMac G5 2.0 Ghz, 15" MPB 2.0 Ghz, 8GB iPod nano

Oct 27, 2003, 09:54 AM	#22
1macker1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: A Higher Level	This is a great idea. When the technical inept grandmother is out shopping for gifts for her grand kids, all she has to do is throw this card in the buggy, no need to set up a gift certificate on the computer.

Oct 27, 2003, 10:12 AM	#23
evilbert420 macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2002	I don't know Why not just buy the music when you're at the store? I mean, really.... that's kind of ridiculous to me to go TO a brick-and-mortar store to buy a gift certificate to a virtual store. Isn't that missing the whole point of a virtual store? I understand the 'grandma" angle... but I still think it's a dumb idea. Unless, of course, they do it at Apple stores.

Oct 27, 2003, 10:47 AM	#25
Nutzoids macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philly	Correct me if I'm worng but isn't Apple giving away songs...FOR FREE? 100 Million Free and legal downloads with Pepsi...If you ask me I would rather drink a 20oz Pepsi and enjoy some free music...just me...it's like a pre pay card that comes with a free Pepsi...WOW! __________________ The Switcher! from PC--> to Mac... baby!

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