A: Fulfillment is the process of taking customer orders, shipping and handling of your products. Let's face it. Going to the post office to mail a single CD can be a real hassle. You probably are not going to set up a phone system or credit card processing to take orders from your home either. That's were we step in. We take orders from your customers, we process their payments, we ship your CDs and we send your checks to you.
Have a question of comment not listed here? Let us know. Email us at info@stretchtheskies.com
Q: How is this different from other online retailers?
A: For the most part, it works the same as many online systems you may already be familiar with. However, the major difference is that it allows you to sell from YOUR SITE, keeping your sales promotion pointed back to you as an artist. Your site is where all of the information about YOU, and you alone, is located. You don't get that at any online retailer.
Q: I've always sold my CD's off my site, what makes this different?
A: Until now, artists typically sold their products from their site by check or PayPal ® and sent them in the mail themselves. It is costly to set up your own secure credit card processing and not possible to report your own sales to SoundScan ®. So artists started looking to online retailers to fulfill their orders as a more complete and cost effective solution. Through The Music Button, artists may now bring these services to their websites in the same cost effective manner.
Q: If I get The Music Button, should I stop selling at other online stores?
A: NO! We created this system so you could promote and sell from the most important location, your site. But exposure and availability anywhere you can sell your music is still vital to your career. We didn't create this system to compete with other online mechanisms, but to maximize artists' retail ability and promotional efficiency.
Q: Am I required to have my CDs duplicated through The Music Button in order to sell here?
A: NO! You certainly may have us duplicate or replicate your product to make use of short run and one-off capability, but many artists already have existing product that they send to us for stock. Like most other online retailers, we simply fulfill the order to the customer when placed from your site. Transversely, you may have us duplicate your product and send it back to you for retail placement in other stores.
Q: Why might I use your duplication services?
A: We offer short runs, and even One-off's of CD and DVD duplication for those artists that are not yet ready for replication. One example would be budget constraints. Another example is that many artists know they won't sell 1000 pieces of a particular audio recording or DVD right away, and choose to make a couple hundred pieces to start. This allows for test marketing before going to Replication, and requires less of a financial commitment to get started with a product.
Q: Do you offer Replication as well?
A: Yes, call for quote:
Q: What is the difference between Duplication and Replication?
A: Replication is a larger process for larger orders (typically 500 and up) where CD's are generally screen printed and replicated off a glass master. Duplication is a simpler operation where CD's are printed in printers and tracks are duplicated from a regular CD.
Q: Is Duplication more expensive than replication?
A: Typically, yes, because the number of pieces created is not enough to offset cost. But it has its advantages, especially for smaller or simpler products including: promo cds, demos, live discs, special limited releases, smaller first attempts or smaller investments.
Q: Can I still get a regular product in a full jewel case with insert and tray card or DVD case?
A: Yes. We do up to 4 panel inserts and double-sided tray cards. All printing may be up to full color.
Q: If manufacturing fewer pieces causes the cost per piece to be higher, why would I be interested in one-off fulfillment?
A: It is simply another way for artists to reduce risk and streamline the process. Though an artist would see less money per piece sold, they could actually never bother creating an inventory or putting any money up front. We wouldn't manufacture the first piece until it had already sold from their site through their Music Button, and the product had already been sold and paid for by the consumer.
Q: Is my button only good for my website?
A: NO! Though your website is the most important place you can put your button, you may apply the code that creates the button to any site you have permission and access to. You could use it on a friends site or another music site, or anywhere, so long as you are able to make HTML code changes and have the site owner's permission.
