TuneChecker.com: Find the cheapest MP3 downloads Discussion

NewForest_2

I just tried to use TuneChecker https://www.tunechecker.com but it doesn't seem to be working.

I was attempting to check prices of albums and tracks by Taylor Swift, in particular the newly released album "Red" and the tracks thereon. But this is what I found:

1. Search is not working at all - an error message briefly flashes up before it diverts to the TuneChecker Home pane.

2. So I went to "New Releases" from the Home pane and attempted to find the new Taylor Swift "Red" album. It isn't there.

There's still an MSE page plugging TuneChecker here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/tunechecker-special-email and it's on the main dropdown menus under Shopping, so I presume it should work and be up to date... but it isn't.

Is this a passing glitch or an ongoing problem?

Former_MSE_Archna

Hi NewForest

It's working for us, could you try again? As that albums only just come out, we don't have it in TuneChecker yet but we'll work on getting it in asap.

If you're still having problems could you let us know what browser you're using and any error message you get. Thanks

MSE Archna

NewForest_2

Hi MSE Archna & thanks for the response.

I've now tested TuneChecker again using both IE9 and Chrome and it appears the problems are specific to Chrome.

In IE9, the search is like Google's Instant Search - the results come up or change after each character I type; I don't have to press the blue "Go" button. I presume that's how it's meant to work.

But in Chrome, Search doesn't work, as per previous post. There is no instant search style response. So I type in the box and press the blue "Go" button. But whatever I try to search for, I get this error message for about 0.5 sec:

"We're sorry, but an error occurred. Please try again."

It then diverts me back to the TuneChecker Home pane. The links there (Top 40 etc) do work. The problem is that Search doesn't.

I've tried various configurations, but to no avail. I tried turning off my Chrome Flash blocker (FlashControl) or whitelisting TuneChecker therein; I tried Chrome Incognito Mode (with all extensions off); still no luck.

Note that I have disabled Java in BOTH IE9 and Chrome, on security advice (see: http://www.howtogeek.com/122934/java-is-insecure-and-awful-its-time-to-disable-it-and-heres-how/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=290812). I did this a couple of months ago and I haven't yet found a single website that has requried me to turn it back on. It seems unlikely this is the problem (ie. that Java is required for TuneChecker - unless you know otherwise) as this would equally affect both IE9 and Chrome.

System details:
Windows Vista SP2
Google Chrome (stable release) v 22.0.1229.94
both are kept up to date

~~~~~

My other point concerned TuneChecker being out of date. If, as you imply, updating is a manual process, that's a major limitation. It means that newly released albums aren't added until sometime and so they are missing at the stage of maximum buying interest (soon after release). TuneChecker does rather fall down in this respect - most price comparison sites update at least daily. "Red" by Taylor Swift was released on 22/10/12 but hasn't yet made it onto TuneChecker; others listed it from the start or even before release. Also as others have pointed out, the "New Releases" list includes some very old titles, such as Ed Sheeran's "+" album that was released over a year ago but is still shown as a new release!

TuneChecker is an admirable concept and I can see that its objectives of total completeness might require more manual input than other comparison sites. But it is only worthwhile if it is noticeably better (ie. more accurate, complete and up to date) than the others. I like https://www.find-cd.co.uk: - it doesn't include ALL retailers but those it covers are accurate and it gives a pretty good idea of the general price level to match or beat. So which is best? "Not 100% complete" (find-cd.co.uk) or "not 100% up to date" (TuneChecker) - TuneChecker is definitely NOT a clear winner here, until it is always up to date.

bloss0m

So you advocate stealing do you

MartinSmythe wrote: »

The cheapest mp3s are at isxxxx and xxxxxx

HELLO! Why would you pay at all, when you can get everything for free!

Silly.

Tylerama1

Tunechecker.com is still down as of a few minutes ago :-(

I just get a 404 error in both IE and Chrome.

Sunnyday

I've just been using tunechecker to look for the cheapest download of Green day's new album, the cheapest is apparently Amazon at £4.99 but when i go to the website its £7.49 and the second cheapest is meant to beTunetribe where it is supposed to be £5.99 when in fact the price is £6.99.

Very disappointing :-(

SD

pcaine

It's a shame, but Tunechecker has become close to useless since prices displayed are all too often not the price you find when you click through to the site to try and purchase the item.
Price comparison site/tools are only valuable when they actually work and compare/display accurate pricing.

duncansby

I think it is maybe time that Tunechecker was put quietly to bed. It is a great idea and the work done is appreciated, however I cannot now remember a time when it has accurately found me anything. An example is the newish Madness album qui,qui, si, si etc

The itunes price comes up at 7.99 - its actually 5.99
The amazon link is broken, the price is incorrect for the cd, and the download price is missing.

In this case using the tunechecker would have lost you money as the cheapest price shown is incorrect. I would love to say that this was an isolated example, but has held true for every search I'v done over the last 12 months

More a money waster than a money saver. Sorry

halsteadk

Big shame, but I think I agree. It gives the impression of being cobbled together and once working very well, but now being rather neglected.

Unfortunately I can see the "MegaShopBot" being touted as a replacement - but for the example you mentioned this site doesn't list a price for the Amazon download (or most of the CDs), and doesn't seem to include Tunetribe at all - normally very competitive so a big omission. It's not all progress then.

duncansby

Just checked the top 10, and at least half of the prices are wrong!