Columbia House Is Closing and Yes, It Was Still Around

Have you ever subscribed to something you wish you hadn't, only to realize later the cancellation process is exceedingly difficult? I almost added "if not impossible," but the merry-go-round I'm talking about was not an impossible situation to get out of. It just felt like it.

Columbia House Is Shutting Down After More Than 70 Years

Yesterday, I heard the news that the Columbia House music subscription service is finally shutting down after more than 70 years. When I saw the CNN headline, I had to laugh; it literally includes a phrase I said out loud when I got the word..."it still exists." Only mine was more like "It still EXISTS?!?" And the answer is "yes," but not for very long.

The cable news giant received confirmation of the closure after a statement appeared on the Columbia House website and then was taken down. But the date for the shuttering is set for September 15th, and, perhaps, not a moment too soon. The site is currently advertising only 12 DVD titles with nothing to see if you click the "upcoming releases" button.

The digital age didn't merely catch up with Columbia House; it blew right past it.

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The Irresistible Columbia House Deal

In its heyday, however, Columbia House, which launched in 1955 as the Columbia Record Club, was a giant in the music service industry, and I was a customer. Like everyone else, I was mesmerized by the "wall" of titles in its advertisements. So yes, I joined and got a ton of music up front, and for just one penny, including shipping and handling. That's how Columbia House reeled me in. It was like a slot machine. When you hear all those coins plinking into your cup, your head spins, and you just keep playing.

The Catch With Those Columbia House Music Deals

Of course, this was a classic "What's the catch?" setup. And the catch was that you had to then purchase several more albums at regular club prices, and they weren't cheap. You see, you'd get a card in the mail showcasing the pick of the month. If you didn't want it, you had to mail back the card. If you forgot and didn't mail it back by a strict deadline, you'd get that album.

Of course, you couldn't just collect your introductory haul and immediately cancel. The membership agreement required customers to purchase a certain number of additional albums at regular club prices. What's more, those shipping and handling fees weren't cheap either.

Getting out of those subscriptions was easier said than done. And yes, I was stuck with music and videos that I didn't want. Obviously, Columbia House can't absorb ALL the blame for my experience, but they didn't make it an enjoyable one, either.