Not sure how this is ending up in humor as it seems to be a serious discussion.
I think I might have bought some CDs used that were from Columbia House. They were clearly labelled as such. It always seemed rather weird that they would get licenses to just make their own records, CDs, cassettes, or even 8-tracks. I remember when they had 8-tracks in the 80s even after they had pretty much been phased out. I think they even had a video division with VHS tapes. I think they also took advantage of special USPS rates for music and video - especially when sent in bulk.
I did get stuff from the Columbia House LaserDisc program. As far as I could tell, that operating model was of just distribution of titles from normal retail channel video, as manufacturing LaserDiscs wasn't a cheap thing to do and it wouldn't make sense for them to print their own labels or disc jackets. My initial intro offer was something like up to 5 titles at a deeply discounted price for each. They also had something where the purchase of one title allowed the purchase of another title at a reduced price. And I might get a fairly inexpensive title and then my discounted one could be something really expensive (some titles retailed for $100). But they had what was called negative option billing. There was a new title out each month that they would deliver unless it was declined, typically by mail, although I think I could call it in too. If I forgot to decline it (or just wanted it), it would be sent along with a bill. Nothing was secured with a credit card back then. I would call them up after forgetting and they would usually send me a return label (USPS merchandise return) and I didn't have to pay after sending them back. But at one point I got a pointedly written letter from them that was downright nasty and accusatory. It mentioned their costs to ship it and how they supposedly made it easy to decline the title for the month. I think it was just a form letter, but whoever wrote it must not have thought it through as it was going to result in a lot of people quitting the program, like I did. I called in my cancellation and made sure to let them know I didn't appreciate the tone of the letter. I was well past my commitment.
I certainly remember their ads, which I think were pretty common in TV Guide. Something like 8-12 titles for a penny, and some ads even had a place on the order form to just tape a penny. This one even has reel to reel:
I think I might have bought some CDs used that were from Columbia House. They were clearly labelled as such. It always seemed rather weird that they would get licenses to just make their own records, CDs, cassettes, or even 8-tracks. I remember when they had 8-tracks in the 80s even after they had pretty much been phased out. I think they even had a video division with VHS tapes. I think they also took advantage of special USPS rates for music and video - especially when sent in bulk.
I did get stuff from the Columbia House LaserDisc program. As far as I could tell, that operating model was of just distribution of titles from normal retail channel video, as manufacturing LaserDiscs wasn't a cheap thing to do and it wouldn't make sense for them to print their own labels or disc jackets. My initial intro offer was something like up to 5 titles at a deeply discounted price for each. They also had something where the purchase of one title allowed the purchase of another title at a reduced price. And I might get a fairly inexpensive title and then my discounted one could be something really expensive (some titles retailed for $100). But they had what was called negative option billing. There was a new title out each month that they would deliver unless it was declined, typically by mail, although I think I could call it in too. If I forgot to decline it (or just wanted it), it would be sent along with a bill. Nothing was secured with a credit card back then. I would call them up after forgetting and they would usually send me a return label (USPS merchandise return) and I didn't have to pay after sending them back. But at one point I got a pointedly written letter from them that was downright nasty and accusatory. It mentioned their costs to ship it and how they supposedly made it easy to decline the title for the month. I think it was just a form letter, but whoever wrote it must not have thought it through as it was going to result in a lot of people quitting the program, like I did. I called in my cancellation and made sure to let them know I didn't appreciate the tone of the letter. I was well past my commitment.
I certainly remember their ads, which I think were pretty common in TV Guide. Something like 8-12 titles for a penny, and some ads even had a place on the order form to just tape a penny. This one even has reel to reel:
