Any experience with this online music site?

Desdichado

Hero

• Dec 11, 2005

• #1

http://www.halcyonsoft.com/

Anyone ever used these guys before? Are they a good outfit? It looks like they have mp3 albums that I can't get many other places, is why I ask. But I don't want my credit card number ganked by some russian hacker or something like that.

Or how about this one?: http://musicmp3.ru/

 

log in or register to remove this ad

Queen_Dopplepopolis

First Post

• Dec 11, 2005

• #2

I've never used either of these sites, but - I hope someone can vouch for them because I'm definately in the market for a new place to get my MP3s.

 

T

trancejeremy

Adventurer

• Dec 11, 2005

• #3

Clicking on the terms of use for that Halcyon site sounds like it's just links to songs on 3rd party sites...

 

S

ssampier

First Post

• Dec 11, 2005

• #4

Try a different one

Nope, try this one:

http://www.allofmp3.com

This a Russian site, so it's grey market. They do have great selection, great prices (.02 a megabyte), and ability to download high-quality (up to 320 kbps) DRM free songs.

I have recommended to all my friends and no one has come back disappointed.

 

Desdichado

Hero

• Dec 11, 2005

• #5

Yeah, I saw that one too, but there are some albums I want on the one site but not the allofmp3.com (specifically by the band Mesh.) How exactly does Russian "gray market" mp3 download sites work, anyway?

 

S

ssampier

First Post

• Dec 11, 2005

• #6

Basically it's perfectly legal to buy and use in Russia. With the RIAA influence in America, that makes it somewhat less than perfectly legal.

As for the actual buying process, you charge a credit card for US dollars, UK pounds, etc. You download any combinations of songs or albums, you pay for them with your "purse" money.

 

Last edited: Dec 11, 2005

T

trancejeremy

Adventurer

• Dec 11, 2005

• #7

Here's an article on the place

http://www.slate.com/id/2115868

http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/internet/0,39044246,39220696,00.htm

It seems gray market is right - legal in Russia, probably not legal elsewhere. But it seems legit from the customer's point of view.

 

S

ssampier

First Post

• Dec 12, 2005

• #8

Also, consider that all online gambling sites are grey market for US citizens, but yet, online gambling is a billion dollar industry (a good portion from US players). So I wouldn't be too worried. It'd be far more likely for the sites to shut-down than you get you legally hosed.

 

johnsemlak

First Post

• Dec 12, 2005

• #9

I don't thing it's so much that thses sites are legal in Russia, they may very well be illegal; however they haven't been shut down via prosecution for whatever reason (reasons possibly being stalling tactics, corruption, or just simply the prosecution not getting around to it).

In Russia most poeple would be able to buy cheap MP3 music on a physical disk from street venders (definitely illegal but extremely common), so few would use an online vendor.

 

Desdichado

Hero

• Dec 12, 2005

• #10

Oh, I think the target market is clearly outside of Russia.