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Birmingham, AL - Craig Sawyer couldn't believe his
luck nearly three years ago when he first received a mailer
indicating he was specially selected among millions of music
fans to receive an unheard of 12 CD's for just one penny.
Not one to pass up an opportunity of a lifetime,
Sawyer spent days pouring over a catalog from the Columbia
House Music Club, which invited him to join as a special member
with exclusive privileges only accorded to a few people around
the country.
"It was really hard to choose all my selections,"
Sawyer said. "There was one part of me that wanted to
explore the 'featured artists,' whom I never heard of, but
was informed that they were really top notch, and the other
part of me who wanted to build the foundation of my CD collection
with some classic works by Billy Ray Cyrus and the Charlie
Daniels Band."
In the end, Sawyer decided on a wildly eclectic mix of the
new and the old when suddenly he was offered even better deal,
where, for just $2 more (plus shipping), he would get 2 more
CD's. Then, if he acted now, he could get the next three CD's
at half price — just $9.99 each (plus shipping). He couldn't
believe what he was reading.
"I was blown away. It was like winning the lottery,"
Sawyer says now. "I ended up with more than 18 CD's,
which was absolutely fantastic since I was making the switchover
from cassette tapes and really wanted to give my CD collection
a boost."
Sawyer admits he did have a pang of guilt at first, as he
put a shiny new penny in an envelope, knowing full well the
financial problems that have beset the music industry recently.
"I didn't want to take advantage of them but how could
I turn down such a great deal? It would be irresponsible."
Sawyer's good luck didn't end with the 18 new CD's. Suddenly
he began receiving free CD's in his mailbox every single month.
"It was like clockwork," Sawyer said. "Every
month I would go to the mailbox and there would be some CD
I never even ordered. It must be a mistake but who am I to
tell some giant company that they're sending me someone else's
CD's. I sure hope they don't figure out their mistake. Thanks
to Columbia House my CD collection will have grown to more
than 100 by the end of the summer-- and all that for just
one penny. I must be the luckiest guy alive."
Added Sawyer: "I might even send them another penny
-- you know, just as a thank you gesture."
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