John Tapscott

Blame the customer?? Sorry. I don't think it's our fault. We didn't ask for the sales or reduced shipping. Mosaic started it.Sets are expensive enough and so any little break is helpful. Don't know how many Canadian customers they have - more than a few that I know of - but that's a factor for us north of the border, too. Sets are now effectively 30% more expensive for us than they were just a few years ago.

Disc 1

Same with that site on the west coast, based in Ca, Novato, Ca, as I recall; the name of the firm escapes me at the moment. I ordered quite a lot from them over the years. They were great. But I think they gave about a months' notice. Worlds' Records- that's what it was.

Well, because I'm in Canada, it was kind of messy with the exchange and all that, to reimburse me for the shipping. I think it was around $25 and I can't remember for sure, but I don't think they reimbursed that. But they let me choose any set I wanted for my trouble and I chose the 8 CD Basie Verve set. But I agree that they should move shipping back in house.

They've had shipping problems ever since they moved the shipping out-of-house and sublet it to a business that supposedly specializes in that kind of thing. Seems to me it's probably cost them more. I had an issue a few years back when I received a large order of boxes (some duplicates even) that had been ordered by a European concern (and presumably the Europeans received my much more modest order). By the time it was all sorted out, Mosaic wound up giving me a free set of my choice for all my trouble and expense of sending it back to them.

I have no problem with Mosaic's prices insofar as they're obviously not making boatloads of money and they're obviously not ripping people off. Production costs are barely covered, it would seem, from by what they charge per CD. So in that sense I have no problem. It's just that when you get into the bigger sets, the total price for a set becomes quite eye-popping and heart-stopping. I must admit to taking a big gulp of air whenever I push the Mosaic "purchase" button. Generally I'll take the sirloin steak at Western Sizzler over the filet mignon at Ruth's Chris and put the difference towards a Mosaic set.

One of my favorite Ellington discs.

Do you eat occasionally? You know, like food.... I think the Mosaic prices are definitely a deterrent, especially with the very large box sets...but they must know what they need per CD to stay viable...

I am going to buy a big set in the near future, but if and when the end comes I hope they'll give us at least enough notice so we can get our very last orders in. Hope we don't log in some morning and find it's all gone overnight. Guess it will depend on what the creditors want to do.

Discs 5, 6 & 7

Now please, don't get bent out of shape anyone. Just checking it out on Spotify. Not like I've bought it or anything like that. (edited to say - it's pretty good).