Frustration across the pond ...

[Rkd]

I don't know about anyone else over here stateside, but I am beginning to feel like an unwanted orphan. I can't get a copy of Privateering to save my soul. Amazon has had my order for a long time and now reports to me that they don't know when they can deliver it. I went to someone on the Amazon site who advertised that they had it in their store and ordered it from them, only to get an email telling me of a "temporary bottleneck" in regard to delivery of the CD. I went to ITunes. Surely they must have it - it is available in ITunes in Canada which isn't that far away! No luck there either. Not only that, but when I tried to buy it through the Canadian site, it rejected me and told me to use ITunes in the U.S. I am seeing Mark on 11/7 in St. Paul. Will I not know any of the new songs by that time? Will I just be humming along like an old fridge? I don't work in marketing but even I know this is no way to run a business! 

[jennja]

Hey Rkd,

At least a week before the cd was to be released here in US I let my local cd store know I wanted it. (I wanted it from this local store). Naturally, he was ordering copies anyway, not for just me. My name was on one copy and he told me they were going fast and he wasn't sure he could get any in for awhile...that he'd been trying.

I don't know what the heck is going on...of course, I paid import price, which I wasn't so happy about but I am glad I never ordered from MK.com where it is less expensive. So...are they trying to get the domestic version so folks don't have to pay the import price?

Guy said a statement would be up about it soon. Sorry...I'd be feeling pretty dejected too if I were you.

[Rkd]

Thanks for the sympathy jennja. Very kind of you. I'd like to think that they were just caught off-guard and the demand is far exceeding sales expectations.

[Pottel]

i rather think it is a contractual issue, end of contract discussions or something..

[dmg]

A lot of people here in Europe are still awaiting their super deluxe boxes from MK.com and expect them at the end of the month! 

[Love Expresso]

Guy has an "official statement" on his page:


Statement regarding Privateering in the US
 
Privateering will not be released in the US. There is a contractual dispute between Mark and Warner Brothers which has resulted in the current situation. The record has been released in all other territories in the world as usual by Universal Music. Privateering will not be available to US fans via markknopfler.com. We are disappointed that Mark's record won't be released in the US and if the situation changes an updated statement will be issued.

Very many thanks for your continued support.

LE

[Rkd]

Oh dear, the situation is worse than I thought!

[jennja]

I'm actually stunned. These issues sometimes happen? And they are not resolved by release time?

Privateering, huh? If I were MK and all I would be very very disappointed, indeed.

I'll check on the off chance there are still copies locally. If so, I'll post or pm later.

[TJ]

So what happened to "MarkKnopfler.com will be the ONLY source to buy all four formats in the United States"?

I was fortunate to have pre-ordered from Amazon.ca and got mine on the 10th.  It appears that they are now out of stock also.

[jbaent]

So, MK is touring the US next month but his record is not on sale there...

A great marketing strategy, I guess they didnt see coming the issue with Warner Brothers on time...

Looks like mk.com planned to sell directly to the US but I bet that Warner Bros dont let them do that.

[jennja]

No...there are none locally at two stores...lots of requests they say. http://www.amarkintime.org/forum/Smileys/classic/icon_disbelief.gif

[Rkd]

Thanks for checking jennja.Very kind of you. Only one question comes to mind: where's Ed and can we place an emergency call to him?

[Love Expresso]

No...there are none locally at two stores...lots of requests they say. http://www.amarkintime.org/forum/Smileys/classic/icon_disbelief.gif

Hey, Jennaja, no need to paste and copy the smileys, I tried it that way, you obviously do. It is enough just clicking one time on them and they will appear in your text in no time!!! 

LE

[jennja]

Yay!!!

oh...sorry to put those on such a sad thread......

 


(Watch out Fienke...here I come!)

                                                                      Thanks, LE!

[dmg]

So, can anyone elaborate on this "contractual dispute?"  What does it all mean in as far as Marks future under WB in the US?  I find this an astonishing piece of unprofessional management by PCM yet again - this should not happen.  The distribution of this album has been nothing short of farcical.