"Better" starting to gain MAJOR steam.

[ppbebe]

Isn't best buy small compared to walmart? Could be the recession hit them hard and tightened their budget.

[freedom78]

Isn't best buy small compared to walmart? Could be the recession hit them hard and tightened their budget.

They're certainly smaller, but I see Best Buy ads all the time, not to mention that if you have one of their RewardZone cards they email you and send you coupons.  AC/DC's promotion was pretty large...surprisingly so, really...so I'm not surprised it wasn't up to that level, but they could have tacked a five second blurb on the end of any ad saying "Guns N' Roses.  Chinese Democracy.  Out Now and only at Best Buy." 

[Buddha_Master]

Right on the front sliding doors at all 4 of my local BB there is a sticker promoting CD. Anyway, I don't blame BB either. If it wasn't for them and the bidding war between them and Walmart we might still be without CD. Like Axl said, the album that we have is a miracle. It is a miracle that it was even released. Now, I am an agnostic but I appreciate that emphasis. If BB even had a small part in getting this album out, then I think the only thing to say is "Thank you."

[jarmo]

I'm extremely pleased that the album did come out.

I just don't agree with the "it's Axl's fault" mentality of some fans.



/jarmo

[ppbebe]

They're certainly smaller, but I see Best Buy ads all the time, not to mention that if you have one of their RewardZone cards they email you and send you coupons.  AC/DC's promotion was pretty large...surprisingly so, really...so I'm not surprised it wasn't up to that level, but they could have tacked a five second blurb on the end of any ad saying "Guns N' Roses.  Chinese Democracy.  Out Now and only at Best Buy." 

hmm   had they done a music exclusive before this? if so how did they execute it?

do you think walmart would have been a better choice?

I remember when the exclusive rumour was in the air many here hated walmart and preferred bestbuy.

[Shaggins13]

Is it a definite that the BB Exclusive period is ending this month and then it will open up to everywhere?  Or, is it just rumor? 

[ppbebe]

definitely not. rumour has it that's not this month.

edit* Or is there another rumour?

[Buddha_Master]

This month? I thought it was a 6 month exclusive.

[younggunner]

I just don't agree with the "it's Axl's fault" mentality of some fans.

Its certainly not all his fault but he definitely shares some of the blame.

Axl, Robin, and Best Buy all share responsibility for the horrendous promotion and lack luster sales.

[D]

yeah Jarmo, u have to admit, I figured a RS cover,  interview, at least a video or something.

Axl hasn't given one interview outside of the message board thing.


So he released the album, but he sure hasn't done anything to help either.

[Uber-Tech]

So he released the album, but he sure hasn't done anything to help either.

No, he hasn't.  But to be fair, if Axl feels he's been screwed over in the Best Buy deal, then he isn't going to do any publicity / promotion that would effectively send people there to spend money.

[jarmo]

So he released the album, but he sure hasn't done anything to help either.

With our team we were able to negotiate thru a mountain of issues to be able to release the album. Within' those negotiations I believed I had secured agreements, commitments and assurances that would have allowed a promotional strategy to be implemented that obviously I've had a fair amount of time to consider. Unfortunately those things never happened and once the record was closer to release the biz went about things in their standard business as usual mode.




/jarmo

[D]

Still, that doesn't stop some interviews etc.

[Uber-Tech]

Axl knew the fans wanted to hear from him following the release of CD.

I believe this may have been one of the reasons he came to the forums.  By coming here, he could give some answers and information to his fans without going through the mainstream media.

Doing an interview at this stage would not just be promoting the album, it would be promoting Best Buy as well.

[younggunner]

Axl knew the fans wanted to hear from him following the release of CD.

I believe this may have been one of the reasons he came to the forums.  By coming here, he could give some answers and information to his fans without going through the mainstream media.

Doing an interview at this stage would not just be promoting the album, it would be promoting Best Buy as well.

Which is why the whole message board thing was really cool and nice of Axl. He gets it in regards to that.

The thing I disagree with you on is the whole helping Best Buy thing by doing promotion.

This isnt just another GNR album. This is an album that will shape Axls legacy because of all the circumstances. You would think Axl would have came out fighting for this album and the decision to make it without the old band, etc.

Like I said earlier, for me, I think there are 3 main people to blame for what has happened up to this point.

But luckily for us we have the album and Axl was cool enough to talk with his true fans. We just are greedy because we want to see GNR take off in the mainstream...which is why we care about this kind of stuff....

[dash]

So he released the album, but he sure hasn't done anything to help either.

With our team we were able to negotiate thru a mountain of issues to be able to release the album. Within' those negotiations I believed I had secured agreements, commitments and assurances that would have allowed a promotional strategy to be implemented that obviously I've had a fair amount of time to consider. Unfortunately those things never happened and once the record was closer to release the biz went about things in their standard business as usual mode.




/jarmo

Even if Axl has all the reasons to feel fooled by his label is that a valid reason to give up of 14 years work and let it fade away?
Some times we have to swalow some frogs so that we can endure.

[Classic Case]

OK...SO...NOW WHAT GNR CAN DO TO IMPROVE SALES?....TOUR?...INTERVIEWS?...VIDEO?............THEY DONT SAY ANYTHIGN ABOUT A TOUR TO SUPPORT THE ALBUM AND THE BETTER VIDEO ONLY GOD KNOWS WHEN WE GONNA SEE IT. GNR WORLD IS SO WIERD  

[crow316]

With our team we were able to negotiate thru a mountain of issues to be able to release the album. Within' those negotiations I believed I had secured agreements, commitments and assurances that would have allowed a promotional strategy to be implemented that obviously I've had a fair amount of time to consider. Unfortunately those things never happened and once the record was closer to release the biz went about things in their standard business as usual mode.

This keeps being quoted as some sort of reason for lack of promo. Its not. I feel this is more of an acknowledgment of a lack of promo. It still says NOTHING of what was planned or why there is still a lack of promo.  Axl is saying that the ball was dropped, but he doesnt say why he himself wont pick it up. And honestly, I dont really know what else Best Buy was supposed to do. They did adverts, commercials, and are selling the album.  They are a store. They sell CDs.

[sandman]

What else can they do when the artist himself doesn't do anything? No interviews, promotion or videos... 

So that's the reason why CD was featured in the Best Buy circular like 3-4 times? And that the TV spot was aired the same amount of times?

Is there a formula for that?

If Axl interview == true then TV spot > 4





I'm glad you're all happy with Best Buy so far.




/jarmo

so now you're just making shit up. i haven't seen anyone say they are happy with Best Buy. i also haven't seen anyone say it's entirely Axl's fault.

but at least Best Buy did something. and that was my original point. best buy clearly did not expect axl to do everything.

it's funny how the tables have turned....people were slamming the Best Buy deal and they were called "haters." turns out all those haters were right!

[jarmo]

it's funny how the tables have turned....people were slamming the Best Buy deal and they were called "haters." turns out all those haters were right!

Maybe those "haters" like to slam everything GN'R does? Maybe that's why they're called haters in the first place...


Best Buy did something, that's true. They put the album in the circular a few times and put a cardboard display in their stores.

They do this "something" to many other releases that aren't exclusives to that chain. My point has been all along that, I personally as a GN'R fan, was expecting more from them.



But without Axl putting that record out, they wouldn't even have done that.

So by saying Axl did nothing, maybe he did the impossible by actually getting it to Best Buy in the first place. 





/jarmo