Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iTunes, Indies and Kids

Only Need a US Credit Card?

Originally posted by Nermal
Yeah, international users can still use the service if they've got a US credit card. So the card system would avoid this problem - if you can get hold of a card.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure that's true. As soon as I log on to the ITMS, I get a message saying that it's not available here. Do you have to sign up with one-click again on a US card? (Not sure, but I THINK I can send photo albums to a Canadian address. I got 3/4 of the way through the process without a hitch.)

Squire

P.S. By the way, good petition.
 
I think the no credit card idea is great. 🙂 Not having a credit card is the reason I haven't bought anything from iTMS.

I wonder when this will be announced. 😕
 
I am on the mailing list for Bloodshot Records and received an email from them saying that "by the end of the summer (hopefully) their entire catalog would be in the iTunes Music Store"

They are a really good label if you like the alt.country scene or whatever you want to call it.

check them out at:

www.bloodshotrecords.com
 
Originally posted by bennetsaysargh
i have been suggesting the apple gift card since the iTMS first came out! i told it to the manager of one of the stores, and he said that is a great idea and i should get it heard.🙂
this would help get the international people. even though there are no apple stores outside the US and some people in the US without an apple store by them, they could sell it at most apple re-sellers.

problem solved. now to get windows and indies🙄
Click to expand...

I think this gift card idea would be very useful, if not make it look that way at least. I'm not really sure what group Metallica is under but they have to get them, I have a feeling it would be hard with Lars going psycho and such.


PS: I actually did suggest Safari to the people at Apple, through the feedback section I started talking about how much I liked the MSN Explorer and that Apple should make some sort of browser; that was like 1.5-2.5 months before they announced it.
 
Like others have said get the services round the world introduce pay as you go cards just like mobile phones ensure that each country has a unique number so you dont get lost in all the countrys. but have the ITMS grouped up into one huge database as such and everyone can get what they want when they want credit cards are ok if you have one but there of no use to people like me who dont own such bits of plastic ...


I do own a bank card though dose that count for anything and my banks owned by an american bank which is tied to an english bank thats tied to an australian bank .... see iam well conected already..


Sabenth
 
Hm - wait to get folks in?

Originally posted by Digipimp
Yeah this is something I mentioned when the store came out at the very begining. Apple should have cards that are essentially like gift cards that they sell in their stores and other stores that carry apple products such as CompUSA and if BestBuy starts to carry again. Then people can buy something like a $20 or $50 gift card and give it as a gift or something so that they can use it to buy music online. This is great for people without credit cards as well so they can go into the store and pay cash. Great all around and I hope they do it.
Click to expand...

I would add two things to this:

1. The cards must be in the Apple section - this way, you actually have to go back and see the pretty machines back there. (If the store clerks are smart, they'll put some games on those machines so the "kids" (or the parents buying stuff for them) can check it out.

2. Or, barring that, just put them in the Apple stores only, or sell them as gift certificates online. I can see myself getting a $20 Apple iTunes Store Certificate to my brother-in-law (he used to be a roadie).

But this would be a great way of spreading the service, selling more music - and most people always have an addition $0.35 - $0.75 they either don't use, or have to spend an extra dollar of "real money" anyway, so Apple can make more money.
 
Re: Only Need a US Credit Card?

It is true. You need a US registered credit card otherwise ITMS tells you were to go!

Whats the betting that these rumoured ITMS are only available in the states (thus once again ignoring the majority of the world)?

Apple should try to sell them in record stores and spread the appeal of the ITMS rather than just selling them in Apple stores, which (a) limits visibility of them being known by consumers, and (b) limits availability to just the US. (This of course, once Apple gets ITMS rolled out to the majority of the world's population)



Originally posted by Squire
I'm not sure that's true. As soon as I log on to the ITMS, I get a message saying that it's not available here. Do you have to sign up with one-click again on a US card? (Not sure, but I THINK I can send photo albums to a Canadian address. I got 3/4 of the way through the process without a hitch.)

Squire

P.S. By the way, good petition.
Click to expand...
 
Question....

Originally posted by Digipimp
Yeah this is something I mentioned when the store came out at the very begining. Apple should have cards that are essentially like gift cards that they sell in their stores and other stores that carry apple products such as CompUSA and if BestBuy starts to carry again. Then people can buy something like a $20 or $50 gift card and give it as a gift or something so that they can use it to buy music online. This is great for people without credit cards as well so they can go into the store and pay cash. Great all around and I hope they do it.
Click to expand...

Couldn't Apple work something out with "Tower Records" to sell cards like this in their stores as well. I realize that in a record store one would usually purchase a "physical" CD, but why not give that option to the consumer?
I may be way off on this, so please educate me if I'm wrong.

Otherwise, this "gift card" is a fantastic idea, I agree!
 
Do not steal!!!!

Have you thought about this: if those "gift cards" or whatever they would be called were available, kids could buy (relatively cheap) music and that way they would learn no to use p2p things.. and the record companies would be happy.

of course it's not so simple, but I think it might change attitudes a bit..
 
2 things

1) i understand that its VERY IMPORTANT for Apple to go international with the iTMS, but consider Apple's point of view. Ok so for you outer states guys "most of the world" is you, right? Well sure, but for Apple 2 countries (US/Canada) is about half their market. And most of the music on the iTMS is American-based so perhaps that also impacts sales. And consider that for the iTMS to work out of the states/canada they have to set it up for dozens of countries, thats a lot of work.

2) If the iTMS GIft Cards are only sold in Apple stores i can definately see a LOT of them going up on eBay for over seas customers :-D
 
I think a lot of people, even minors, can get debit cards (spend it anywhere the card provider is offered, but it deducts funds directly from your checking account) from their local bank or a major credit card company. I plan on getting a debit card before college, and will use it on the iTMS.

Alex
 
Originally posted by Nawlins
I think a lot of people, even minors, can get debit cards (spend it anywhere the card provider is offered, but it deducts funds directly from your checking account) from their local bank or a major credit card company. I plan on getting a debit card before college, and will use it on the iTMS.

Alex
Click to expand...

but then you need a checking account.
i want to be able to use Apple Store Gift Cards.
 
Originally posted by C14ru5
The way I see it, "indie" is equivalent to "underground". Indie labels are small labels on small budgets signing small artists, thus they must emphasize subliminal value instead of commercial value.

...but of course that makes no sense. Indie labels are just as interested in making money as the rest of the business 😛
Click to expand...


Tell that to dischord (minor threat, fugazi etc). They dont even sign their bands. They are fully non profit. Back in the 90s when they where making a ton of money, they took the extra cash and got all the bands health insurance.

Some people are actually about the art, and dont care about the money.
 
I use my PayPal debit card for my iTunes purchases and get back 1% on each purchase. Thus my .99 cent downloads really only cost .98! WOW!

haha.. a big penny.😛
 
Originally posted by C14ru5
The way I see it, "indie" is equivalent to "underground". Indie labels are small labels on small budgets signing small artists, thus they must emphasize subliminal value instead of commercial value.

...but of course that makes no sense. Indie labels are just as interested in making money as the rest of the business 😛
Click to expand...

There are plenty of indie bands, groups, or artists that are widely known. For instance, dashboard confessional is considered indie but is in no way considered underground since so many people know about him. Indie money usually stems from touring and t-shirt sales since their records aren't as easily accesible.
 
Originally posted by sethwerkheiser
I use my PayPal debit card for my iTunes purchases and get back 1% on each purchase. Thus my .99 cent downloads really only cost .98! WOW!

haha.. a big penny.😛
Click to expand...

or buy 99 get 1 free!
lol😛
 
Another benefit of the stored value gift-type cards would be that people would give them as gifts and perhaps people won't figure out how to use them and Apple keeps the bucks.

You could sell the certificates online, at the Apple stores and other places. If you wanted to get fancy you could give ones that only allow "clean" lyrics, so parents could let the kid go wild in the store.

One other thought would be for Apple to build CD vending machines based on iTMS. You could sign up for an account on the kiosk and buy songs that would be available on any of your "authorized computers" via download and get a CD copy right there for only an extra $0.99 or $0.49. That way when you're out at the airport and want to listen to something on your flight, you just sign in, use your card or your iTMS stored information on apple.com. Also, it would be a great place to sell the stored-value cards.
 
Originally posted by Stella
Apple will do this and that blah blah blah, all very nice but ... Apple must focus on bringing ITS to the rest of the world.

But it is good that Apple is trying to make it more appealing and thus getting more ahead of the competition.
Click to expand...

Thats true. Get iTMS music store out to everybody first, then worry about smaller details later. I'd love to buy music online, but I guess I'm stuck with P2P for now.
 
Re: Question....

Tower Records is practically going out of business. Best for Apple to stay away from Tower Records all together.

Best to work with larger distributors liek Target or Wal-Mart where people are more likely to buy CD's. ALso, Apple's got their retail store infrastructure. Might as well leverage that.



Originally posted by Sonofhaig
Couldn't Apple work something out with "Tower Records" to sell cards like this in their stores as well. I realize that in a record store one would usually purchase a "physical" CD, but why not give that option to the consumer?
I may be way off on this, so please educate me if I'm wrong.

Otherwise, this "gift card" is a fantastic idea, I agree!
Click to expand...
😎
 
Re: Re: Question....

Originally posted by mgescuro
Tower Records is practically going out of business. Best for Apple to stay away from Tower Records all together.

Best to work with larger distributors liek Target or Wal-Mart where people are more likely to buy CD's. ALso, Apple's got their retail store infrastructure. Might as well leverage that.



😎
Click to expand...

FYI, it is Wherehouse that is going out of business. I have to say that I don't mind them going away. Most of their rock music was upwards of $20. Sorry, but I'm not giving $20 for Sticky Fingers.

Tower is doing well from what I can tell. I used to buy music from them until the iTMS came out.😎

Also, I am graphic designer for a few independent artists and I would love to see the indies get onto the iTMS. If Apple can do that, they will be recognized big time in the indepedent music scene.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back