High Infidelity
I’m unapologetically old school. I own rather than lease my car and not because I think it drives better that way. I own my music and not because I think it sounds better than streaming. I’m puzzled as to why it’s cheaper to buy a CD, have it shipped home and rip it rather than downloading it from a popular digital audio store. I’m disappointed that artists who bypass the CD process seem to only offer MP3 downloads. But I digress…
I recently purchased music for download on Qobuz. The website identified the download as CD quality 16 bits, 44.1 kHz. The downloaded files turned out to have varying bitrates between 756 & 938 Kbps rather than 1,411 Kbps. I contacted Qobuz through their help messaging. They thanked me for bringing this to their attention and stated they would request a corrected copy from the record label. They unfortunately could not give me a timeframe as this would be up to the record label.
I requested a refund on the basis that I purchased CD quality tracks for immediate download per their website description and the prospect of potentially getting them at an undermined time in the future was not acceptable. I was told that Qobuz does not provide any refunds on purchased music in any circumstance. There are no exceptions to this rule. I asked to speak to a supervisor but my request was denied.
I’d like to get feedback on:
- whether others have encountered downloads that weren’t as advertised or if this was truly an exception
- what you think of their refund policy
- any possible recourse
Thanks
The OP @rpmpam already stated that he download AIFF files - those are full lossless 16/44.1 resolution. He got what he paid for and hopefully understands that now. This thread should really be closed to prevent perpetuating this claim against Qobuz. |
Wow, it's a tough crowd here. I still buy music. I bought the new Stones LP because I have all of their other studio LPs. I'm a fan. I think the LP sounds better than the download (which I also bought) and better than the stream that's included with my Qobuz subscription. Maybe it's all in my head. I'm a big fan of a young Australian band called the Seven Ups. I buy their stuff on Bandcamp as a show of support, and I've bought a few of their LPs, too. Similarly, when I hear local live music, I'll almost always buy the artist's CDs if they're offered. I have a few friends that are working musicians. I buy their CDs when they're available. I stream. I play downloads and LPs. I still have cassette and reel decks, too. There's never been a better time to be an audiophile. |
