Capitol Albums Vol. 2 - Erroneous EU Copies

Hello everyone

I bought this last week and a quick listen to the mono I'm Looking Through You confirms that it has the wrong mixes (the mono Please Please Me is also folded-down, incidentally...). Does anyone know if there's an exchange/return scheme operating in the EU or am I going to have to try and explain the whole thing back at the record store in an attempt to get either my money back or a replacement? How are the corrected boxsets distinguishable from the others? Is it worth hanging on to the boxset in case it eventually becomes collectable? Any help would be appreciated...

Hi Paolo

Originally Posted by Paolo Meccano

Hello everyone
Does anyone know if there's an exchange/return scheme operating in the EU or am I going to have to try and explain the whole thing back at the record store in an attempt to get either my money back or a replacement?

I asked the same question months ago, but never got an answer. I am afraid that the return scheme is just set up for the U.S. fans, leaving the European ones in the cold. That's another reason I haven't bought the set yet.

How are the corrected boxsets distinguishable from the others?

There is a way, but I forgot how, maybe someone else can tell. In the meanwhile I'l search for the info.

Is it worth hanging on to the boxset in case it eventually becomes collectable?

No way. I would thought that by now you would be able to buy the corrected version in the store. Just the fact that you bought the set recently and still got the wrong version, is prove that there are milions of wrong box sets out there. The correct version might be even more rare. I was thinking of buying it now, but since you ended up with a wrong version I might wait another year. Who knows by then the right versions are out there.

Originally Posted by Paolo Meccano

Does anyone know if there's an exchange/return scheme operating in the EU or am I going to have to try and explain the whole thing back at the record store in an attempt to get either my money back or a replacement?

I'm not sure I can help you here, but I can tell you how it worked for me in the US. I called 1-800-468-2362 and got an answering machine that asked me to leave my name and address. About 5 days later I received a stamped, addressed mailer in the mail to return the 2 erroneous CDs without covers. Exactly 10 days after I mailed them, I received the correct CDs in the mail.

There was also an address to write EMI to request the mailer. You could try that just to see what they say about a European address (although I would not send the CDs unless you hear back). I probably wouldn't try the phone number because you can't get a person, only an answering machine. The address is:
EMI Music Distribution
Customer Fulfillment Operations
1 Capitol Way
Jacksonville, IL 62650-1095
Attn: Director of Quality Assurance

How are the corrected boxsets distinguishable from the others?

In the US at least, an addition of SK-1 to the end of the stock number was made on the red sticker on the outside of the packaging.

Is it worth hanging on to the boxset in case it eventually becomes collectable? Any help would be appreciated...

I have yet to see a package with SK-1 in a store around me. They all seem to have only the erroneous versions. And since EMI is not pulling these to fix them, a lot of erroneous versions should be out there-thus, probably not collectable.

I will not buy it. I have some Capitol Albums as bootlegs and I'll stick to them untill all erroneous boxes have been disappeared.

Originally Posted by Paolo Meccano

Hello everyone

(the mono Please Please Me is also folded-down, incidentally...).

That actually isn't an error but the way it was back then.

Originally Posted by digdad

I'm not sure I can help you here, but I can tell you how it worked for me in the US. I called 1-800-468-2362 and got an answering machine that asked me to leave my name and address. About 5 days later I received a stamped, addressed mailer in the mail to return the 2 erroneous CDs without covers. Exactly 10 days after I mailed them, I received the correct CDs in the mail.

There was also an address to write EMI to request the mailer. You could try that just to see what they say about a European address (although I would not send the CDs unless you hear back). I probably wouldn't try the phone number because you can't get a person, only an answering machine. The address is:
EMI Music Distribution
Customer Fulfillment Operations
1 Capitol Way
Jacksonville, IL 62650-1095
Attn: Director of Quality Assurance

Thanks for that, but my set was actually manufactured in the EU, so I don't think they'd be able to help even if they wanted to.

In the US at least, an addition of SK-1 to the end of the stock number was made on the red sticker on the outside of the packaging.

Ah, well, mine had a yellow sticker...

I suppose I'll try and get my money back (the store has a 30-day policy so it shouldn't be too much hassle) and buy it online from the US (it'd probably work out cheaper...)

Thanks for your help, everyone

Ofcourse you still can get an error copy. I would wait another year. Nothing really important about this volume of the Capitol albums, unless you badly want to hear the instrumental film music from Help! But you can always watch the actual film for that.

Originally Posted by digdad

I'm not sure I can help you here, but I can tell you how it worked for me in the US. I called 1-800-468-2362 and got an answering machine that asked me to leave my name and address. About 5 days later I received a stamped, addressed mailer in the mail to return the 2 erroneous CDs without covers. Exactly 10 days after I mailed them, I received the correct CDs in the mail.

digdad, I did exactly as you outline above - called, got the message, gave my info...

... and I never received the return package! Oh, well. I'm keeping my errors at this point. Maybe someday, they'll be moderately collectible. I'll ask for the corrected version for Christmas - hopefully the "brick" version will still be around at that time. I know Volume 1 is near impossible to find in the small box version these days.

Originally Posted by BadLittleKid

I will not buy it. I have some Capitol Albums as bootlegs and I'll stick to them untill all erroneous boxes have been disappeared.

I see only the "SK1" stickers in stores these days. Don't buy online yet, though!!! Internet sellers are still unloading their error copies.

Originally Posted by 62hofner

digdad, I did exactly as you outline above - called, got the message, gave my info...

... and I never received the return package! Oh, well. I'm keeping my errors at this point. Maybe someday, they'll be moderately collectible. I'll ask for the corrected version for Christmas - hopefully the "brick" version will still be around at that time. I know Volume 1 is near impossible to find in the small box version these days.

You may want to leave the message again. I was surprised at how quickly they got both the mailer and then the corrected CDs to me. I was expecting the full 60 days like they said it might take.

Originally Posted by digdad

You may want to leave the message again. I was surprised at how quickly they got both the mailer and then the corrected CDs to me. I was expecting the full 60 days like they said it might take.

Maybe I will. But, I thought the time had passed to qualify for the replacement CDs.

I looked up the EMI letter again, and there is a time limit - 60 days from the purchase date (on the original store receipt you send in along with the CDs). That's what the 60 days was.

Aha! Browsing another forum, it seems that there is a replacement scheme for UK fans who've bought the faulty box-set: -

Beatles fan in the UK David Smith has received this letter from Capitol/EMI in the UK regarding his inquiry about returning copies of the Capitol Albums Vol. 2 set with the incorrect mono mixes:

Dear Mr Smith,

The Beatles' box set 'The Capitol Albums Vol. 2' (0946 3 57497 2 4 / 0946 3 57716 2 6)

Thank you for your email regarding the above.

It has been brought to our attention that two of the discs in the original manufacturing run of The Beatles' box set "The Capitol Albums Vol. 2" (0946 3 57497 2 4 / 0946 3 57716 2 6), namely "Rubber Soul" and "Beatles VI", contain mono recordings which were not the original mixes of the mono masters intended to be included in this historic release. If you do purchase or have purchased one of these box sets and are dissatisfied, Capitol/EMI will replace the two discs. To obtain a replacement copy directly, you should do one of the following:

1. Return the product to the point of purchase

Or

2. Request a replacement copy by writing to:

Customer Services
EMI Distribution
Hermes Close, Tachbrook Park
Warwickshire
CV34 6RP

Please note: Whichever option you choose, your name / full postal address and the two existing CDs in their accompanying jacket must be included as part of the return. When sending by post, please be aware that we cannot accept responsibility for any item not delivered, so you may wish to use a secure mail service.

If you have any questions, please contact Customer Services at EMI Distribution on: +44 (0)1926 888888.

petebest.com/forum/

Stupid stupid Capitol people. I will not be buying the boxed set until... I don't know... eleven years or so... I believe the few copies that ever made it here are the wrong ones, and I wouldn't even try to explain to the guys at the record store why are they "wrong"... I think I would look like Comic Book Guy, or so.

I've spoken to EMI Distribution and it appears that they have a replacement scheme which is pretty much the same as that in the USA: if you contact them, they'll ask for your details and send you a package in which you can return either the whole box-set or just the faulty discs (in their sleeves) - you'll then receive a brand new box-set, which hopefully will be the correct version

I asked if the scheme covered the whole of Europe and they said that they couldn't really see any reason why not so if you have a faulty box-set, I suggest contacting them with either the address or phone number I posted previously to make sure that they can help you. I wouldn't hold your breath about buying a 'correct' version in the stores, though - it's probably cheaper for EMI to replace box-sets for those who ask rather than recalling and replacing all that have gone on sale...

What KIND of errors? I didn't buy it, Because I really HAVE all of those songs.
(I wanted it only because the U.S. HELP! was on it)