Best places to buy CDs online?

May 8, 2006 11:02 AM

I'm looking for good online CD shops.

Here's my criteria:

Good shipping rates to Canada / Fast shipping / Accepts PayPal / Excellent selection of electronic/ambient releases (labels like Touch/Fax/Warp)

posted by davebush to Shopping (9 answers total)

Try Ear/Rational. They are the North American distributor for FAX stuff.

A lot of their catalog is not in stock and you'll have to wait for it while they order, but they'll eventually come through with most everything (if the label's slow, they'll be slow). They're also very good in terms of customer relations (I recently had a package lost in the postal system and the first response was "If they don't find it let me know and I'll resend them all").
posted by aubilenon at 11:18 AM on May 8, 2006

(oh, just to clarify: I said "hold off, they're still looking for it" and USPS eventually fond the package)
posted by aubilenon at 11:19 AM on May 8, 2006

For stuff that's a little more "out" than Warp you could try Mimaroglu Music Sales

In freaking credible selection of crazy, out-there music of the experimental/electronic styles. Run by a really nice guy too. Though your "fast shipping" requirement might take this out of the race - he's not always around to ship orders as he's an active, touring musician.
posted by soplerfo at 12:20 PM on May 8, 2006

You might like CDBaby, even though it doesn't meet your "labels" requirement strictly -- they sell CDs direct from musicians. I don't know ambient very well but here's their current selection. Shipping to Canada is reasonable and quick and they accept PayPal.
posted by mendel at 12:43 PM on May 8, 2006

Aquarius Records.

"Aquarius Records specializes in many genres... indierock, punk, metal (black, doom, sludge and all things in between), reggae, sixties psych, seventies proto-metal, international music, experimental electronic music, hip hop, field recordings, found sounds, country and bluegrass and avant garde music of all types. Don't forget to read about our unanimous hands-down favorite records from the past 10 years or so, and here's a handy link to the biweekly column we used to write for the San Francisco Bay Guardian. More pictures of the staff can be found on the staff page. Staff favorites lists for 2004 are here."
posted by atom128 at 1:22 PM on May 8, 2006

Deep Discount CD. LOVE it. They also have a site for DVDs.
posted by OhPuhLeez at 2:15 PM on May 8, 2006

For general CD ordering, I've always been a fan of CD Connection. (I haven't ordered from them in several years, though, and I'm not sure how their Canadian shipping rates compare.)
posted by neckro23 at 4:21 PM on May 8, 2006

Well, the PayPal requirement seems to be the killer. But if you can get beyond that, Dusty Groove has a great selection, carries Warp records and ships to Canada via US Post Office air mail. And Djangos might be worth exploring, too; they sell new and used CDs, with lots of electronica, including Warp stuff, and what might be reasonable shipping to Canada.
posted by mediareport at 7:43 PM on May 8, 2006

I haven't ordered from cheap-cds for a few years but they were always quick and good at showing what they have in stock. You might have some issues with the Paypal requirement if you're going for most major online sales places, though.
posted by mikeh at 8:29 AM on May 9, 2006