Inside The National Treasures Box

[2004567]

My Motown Junk was shoved next to the box without it's only protection being the thin cardboard.

[2004567]

Originally Posted by Industrial Symphony No.1

As a collector I have to say this is fucking abysmal. I concur with everything that everyone else has already said plus the artwork on the individual CD sleeves looks like it's just been copied on a photocopier that's running low on toner. Cheap tat. I would say it should have been called 'The Complete CD1s' considering the amount of b-sides that are missing but it doesn't even have the Heavenly You Love Us disc which means it is incomplete. Really quite appallingly bad for that much money, tantamount to a scam you'd expect from an eBay con-artist.

Pretty much sums it up.

[meganslastwords]

It is quite a shambles. Even just branding the mirror and lipstick would have been nice. It's disgraceful that they didnt even protect it properly. I'd send it back or send an angry email if I'd paid that much and it was broken, it's bloody ridiculous

[Europa Kid]

Actually whilst i'm on one, there are a number of other things that have niggled me about this. Firstly the poster. One side depicts the 'original' CDs and the other the covers. However, they couldn't be arsed to source the original versions of the generation terrorists singles except (slash n' burn) and have photographed the reissues from 1997. Lazy.

Secondly, there is no consistency in the track names on the back of the CD's. On some they have mentioned a track is a cover version and sometimes not. If they had consulted someone who actually gives a shit about the band you might have got something that doesn't look as though it has been typed out in a lunch break.

Thirdly, and as mentioned by others, the front covers are no more than scans. The Design for Life cover includes a 'scratch' and those with stickers on them look awful. Surely the original artwork exists, doesn't it? Some of the original CD 1s included videos thus photocopying the original covers with stickers advertising the video content looks cheap.

And need I say more about the mirror and lipstick. I'd rather they'd spent the money on bubble wrap to protect it during shipping.

[Dancing Kirby]

I'd read enough to cancel my preorder a while ago now but fresh bad news keeps on coming!

The warning signs were there.

They were making it up as they went along and at one point you could have ended up with a box with no b-sides. It was a long time before any info or images were put up. There was no love or thought put into this and it was obviously rushed.

As it turns out, I wouldn't even want it for free. The lack of pride and care is just another thing to sour your memory of the band. The thought of others being scammed is enough on its own to be disgusted. It was mentioned that the lipstick and mirror were like something you'd get out of a Christmas cracker. The whole thing comes across as that and the production value doesn't appear to be any better than that of this budget album box set they shat out to reside in store bargain sections.

Scam is the word. Still a better reward from the band for all your devotion than having Underdogs written for you, though.

[Industrial Symphony No.1]

They have ruined what would otherwise be a perfectly good box to store a collection of 7" singles in.

[Heart2Heart]

Originally Posted by Dancing Kirby

The whole thing comes across as that and the production value doesn't appear to be any better than that of this budget album box set they shat out to reside in store.

LOL that's the copy I own. I didn't realize it was available elsewhere, I thought it was something Sony BMG came up with to compete with music pirates in Asia, lol. It even looks like a set of pirate CDs, haha.

Tbh I don't think the band has much say in the budget album, but they might have with the NT box set? (at least the band's management?)

[Takk]

It doesn't seem like the band or the management care very much about the fans. That might not be the case, but there is no evidence that they do. The box set is a huge rip off in terms of price, and now seems to be packaged with out the slightest care in the world. I don't really get it either...if wire is such a collector and loves listing things, why didn't he take a hand and make this something worth the price?

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by Takk

It doesn't seem like the band or the management care very much about the fans. That might not be the case, but there is no evidence that they do. The box set is a huge rip off in terms of price, and now seems to be packaged with out the slightest care in the world.

the band can't control how items are packaged. They might not have a lot of say how these things are compiled and released either. Radiohead had no control over the warner box set of their albums.

[Takk]

Originally Posted by hummingbird

the band can't control how items are packaged. They might not have a lot of say how these things are compiled and released either. Radiohead had no control over the warner box set of their albums.

perhaps not...but i don't really believe sony could put out a boxset without the band or management's involvement....and it has their name on it, they should care what it looks like.

[hummingbird]

i've just seen the promo video for the box on the official website

[starstruck]

Originally Posted by hummingbird

i've just seen the promo video for the box on the official website

you mean the "unboxing one" they made themselves, put up as an unlisted video and even then only uploaded once those myplaydirect clowns had put a "sold out" sign up for it?

[hummingbird]

Originally Posted by starstruck

you mean the "unboxing one" they made themselves, put up as an unlisted video and even then only uploaded once those myplaydirect clowns had put a "sold out" sign up for it?

the very same. I especially like that they blur up the close-ups and there's text all over the screen so you can't really have a good look. Also love the *ta-daaaaa* hand dance once everything's laid out.

[wireobsessed]

Originally Posted by Industrial Symphony No.1

As a collector I have to say this is fucking abysmal. I concur with everything that everyone else has already said plus the artwork on the individual CD sleeves looks like it's just been copied on a photocopier that's running low on toner. Cheap tat. I would say it should have been called 'The Complete CD1s' considering the amount of b-sides that are missing but it doesn't even have the Heavenly You Love Us disc which means it is incomplete. Really quite appallingly bad for that much money, tantamount to a scam you'd expect from an eBay con-artist.

I feel SO sorry for you all. I haven't bought this as I'm skint and decided that even my collecting had to stop at this. I maybe thought that I could get it later this year if my finances picked up a bit but after this I wouldn't even think of it.

I can't believe it has been so shoddily put together, sent and packaged. I also think every person who has had a shit product should email the band personally and see if anything can be done. I know they can't be 100% involved in these things BUT Nicky always says he loved the whole preparation and art work role for the band and that image is key. So take him at his word and write to him directly.

This isn't a cheap item so you should stick at trying to get a new, perfect product and an appology.

[Finn]

Originally Posted by Takk

It doesn't seem like the band or the management care very much about the fans. That might not be the case, but there is no evidence that they do. The box set is a huge rip off in terms of price, and now seems to be packaged with out the slightest care in the world. I don't really get it either...if wire is such a collector and loves listing things, why didn't he take a hand and make this something worth the price?

I couldn't agree more - it's not as if collector's editions are difficult or unusual, so why such a poor job? Hard to believe anyone involved in this cared about anything more than the price.