I sent the following email yesturday to npgmc:

"npgmc,

Hi my name is John Donnelly Jr. Fan name:daddypop33. I have been a member for 2 years and I have a couple of questions from me and other npgmc members who also post at Prince.org.

1. Can someone give us a timeline on when we should expect "one night alone live" to start shipping?

2. as club members we were promised 4 cds this year from prince...is one night alone live one of the remaining 3 that we are suppose to get?

3. what ever happened to xenophobia?

4. Early in August the club mentioned a 7 disc set...but one night alone live is 3 discs...what is the package going to be?

5. there is a rumor going around that the club members might get a dvd of live performances of the songs...is this true?

6. I take it that the 2002 club year ends in February 2003, so should we expect the remaining 3 disc plus one night alone live before then?

I would appreciate if you can answer these questions to ease the confusion we the club members have. I know you are very busy and prince is very busy, but I think it would help us club members to sell the idea of the club much better if we weren't in the dark about all this information.

thank you in advance for your time and consideration...

John Donnelly Jr
Daddypop33"


And here was their response:

"Hello

1. Can someone give us a timeline on when we should expect "one night alone live" to start shipping?

Very soon.

2. as club members we were promised 4 cds this year from prince...is one night alone live one of the remaining 3 that we are suppose to get?

All we know is that the One Nite Alone...Live! Box is going out ASAP.

3. what ever happened to xenophobia?

As with every project, it is Prince's decision what 2 release and when. As soon as we know, we will emale the members.

4. Early in August the club mentioned a 7 disc set...but one night alone live is 3 discs...what is the package going to be?

See the answer 2 number three

5. there is a rumor going around that the club members might get a dvd of live performances of the songs...is this true?

See the answer 2 number three

6. I take it that the 2002 club year ends in February 2003, so should we expect the remaining 3 disc plus one night alone live before then?

All 2002 Memberships will end at the end of 2002. All releases will be sent out by then.

Love4oneanother,
The NPG Music Club
http://www.NPGMusicClub.com
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + "

So looks like the one nigt alone live 3 cd box set is going to be free for the club members. One night alone serves as the last three discs that Prince owes us for the 2002 music club year. And if he releases one nite alone live to the public that means the only disc that we got as club members "exclusive" is the first one night alone disc mailed in may.

Daddypop

" One night alone serves as the last three discs that Prince owes us for the 2002 music club year. "

Not Possible ! I can't imagine it.
It would mean 75 $ for one album !!!


Ceyb *

We knew all that before. It's Prince's decision on every thing we'll get. And we have to wait until the very end to see what exactly that is.

We have to understand that those people are nothing more than the connection between us and Prince. They don't know anything more than what they tell us.

Ceyb said:

does that mean if i joined the club in october my $100
yearly membership runs out at the end of december
3 months after i joined???

"See the answer 2 number three" has obviously taken the place of "hi, we have no info on that".

muirdo said:

sure looks that way, i mean no one loves the guy's music more than me but this is so badly run its untrue

daddypop said:

hmmm, how is it that we signed up for a yearly membership, and the year began in february, yet somehow it magically ends in december...

i guess this is what we should have expected from someone who doesn't believe in time...

oh well... just send me my damn "ona... live" already...

if you read the blurb before you join it does say that membership runs out at the end of 2002 - but i think it's a total cop out if the remaining three cd's are gonna be the box set ONA Live...

If he sends the three disc live set to fullfill the 'minimum four disc' membership promise I will be
sorely dissappointed. From the start I wondered how he planned to ship all this stuff all for $100 u.s.

How is this club exclusive if all we get is 'one nite alone', and a three disc live set which he plans to release to the public anyway.

We paid $167 CDN for the membership and the only item we are getting that is exclusive to us is a 30 minute album ?

I'm sure he has some really good people in his camp now who will help him see how ridiculous that is. If he plans on gaining memberships, I'm sure he plans on sending us some more stuff !

R

well, having attended the sound check and the aftershow in Dublin ( which cost 50 euro 2 the lowly masses !! ), the club could send me a cd of prince vacuuming the recording studio at the Park i wouldnt complain, ideally we would all like more new tunes, but i dont think thats gonna happen. by the way if any1 has a good quality recording of P doing dance electric, please let me know, coz mine sounds like some1 WAS vacuuming at the time !!!

My interest in any future release of this sham of a club is over. Any Prince music that is really worthwhile will be available in stores.

This is again a play on words, i.e. we have no info at this time.

Read carefully, it doesn't say yes or no. It just says that the box set is going out ASAP.


For members that didn't get a full year (12 months) I can't see how they can do that. As before, the membership started in Feb and should end in Feb.

I think they got their message screwed up.

Until you actually see something in your mail box or posted to the web-site all were're going to get is gibberish from the NPGMC.

I really don't expect to get anything until Prince finishes his european concerts. Since they seem to be back to back from now until December then I'd expect this as a Xmas present from the NPG.

And, since he's getting good reviews (for a change) it's possible that the may include some live cuts from the European tour to the ONA live.

But hey that's my

Otherwise, "I have no info at this time"

Well let's see...a 30 minute cd that we payed for & got half of in year one- a promise of a 3 set cd(really 2 cd's plus FREE BONUS cd) -promise of choice tickets to concerts(soundchecks & aftershows-if lucky)if he performed in a place close to where you live & at outrageous prices!A chance to attend Xenophobia celebration -if you have a few more thousands to throw around(i don't know about you,but us family people have things such as kids & bills).Oh! & don't let me forget the privilege to buy exclusive NPGMC junk-such as candles & more overpriced t-shirts & such! So let me tell you how i feel-USED!!! $100 for the 1/2 of a cd & supposed 3 cd live set(wasn't 1 of them to be FREE!) -so this counts as my 4 exclusive brand new cd's?!(1 + 2 + 1FREE=3cd's-not 4!!!)-to continue NO concerts in my area(so no soundchecks or aftershows.ect.)I have a family to support & provide for,so no celebration.Now on top of all that NPGMC now says a year only last from Feb. to Dec. WTF!!! well thanks for letting me vent & to all "the Prince Sheep"- flag on- it just proves to everyone who the real "Sheep" people on this site are!

Miko:

I really don't think is fair to call people sheep because they're optimistic.

Myself, I like to play devils advocate, until this this is over.

I really think NPG got the message screwed up. Last year they extended membership for those that got in on it late, so I don't see why they'd start something new this year.

Unless, Prince has forgotten that there are 365 days and 52 weeks in a year, because of his time age thing he has going on.

Anyways, as always it's a wait and see situation.

Don't 4get the Live Days of Wild CD. Did club members get that ? or just the people who went to Xenophobia ?
Does that count as one of the CDs ? One song ?

well, i dont usually comment ... but i feel compelled to ... even if it is to offer a differing opinion...

i joined the club ... with some reluctance... after seeing him in washington, DC... i will admit ... i kinda "took advantage" of someone else's membership (went with them to the show) ... and afterward felt some guilt (plus i always buy whatever prince puts out ... so i didnt feel it was wasting money)...

in short - i am not disappointed.

yes, i will admit - the "one night alone" cd was and is somewhat of a disapointment to me ... (i rarely listen to it ) ... but to those of u who always wanted a "piano music" cd ... u asked for it ... and prince gave u it ...

yes- i wish that he would do some things different for the club members (like the day of wild cd shoulda been sent ... - but then everyone would complain that for "one " of the cds ... it was just a song - that everyone already owns!!!) ... bitch bitch bitch

to summarize- and to get off my lecture - most of u who are in sales know this - he sold us on some ideas ... i agree he was somewhat vaque about some of his plans ... but he sold us ... now sit back and see what happens ... like it or not ... prince always does what he wants to do ... thats kinda what adheres me to him - he is still the most entertaining man ... in my book ...

now - lets see this LIVE stuff - bring it !!!

What the fuck.

John C:

Brought up something I had totally forgotten. Since a lot of people are concerned about getting the DOW CD that went to those at the Celebration (which was different than the one sold at NPGMC):

What about all the CDs that were passed at the Hit N Run Tours.

I didn't get any of those. I'm not complaining, I'm just saying that it was a special circumstance surrounding the "freebies."

If you all remember, Prince's Dad passed away during the Hit N Run tours and the rest of the tours were cancelled for that year. So some of us didn't get a chance to go to the concerts at all. (Don't get me wrong, Prince did the right thing on this matter)

Really, what do you want?

However, I think Prince has been very accommodating this year.

1. People complained about downloads, wanted CDs instead.
You got exactly what you asked for.

2. People wanted a 7 night celebration with Prince and they got that.

3. People asked for seating at the Celebration and got that.

4. People asked for a piano Cd and got that.

5. People asked for priority seating. You got it.

6. When ticketmaster messed it up, Prince changed it.


Need I go on. Hey you asked for it.

I'm not saying that the NPGMC is a well run machine, on the contrary, they have a long way to got in the customer satisfaction area, but they are also dealing with Prince. Do you think they like all the negative comments and email when it's not their fault?

I said it once and I'll say it again. I truly believe this is one of the reasons why they didn't have one of those "How's the Club doing" discussions at the Celebration this year. Why they haven't had any online chats, etc.

The one thing Prince needs most is someone to tell him "the Truth." And teach him how to give reasonable and understandable responses to his club member.

All I can say is...glad I didn't join this year!!!

It was made very clear before 2002 membership was launched and when people joined that Membership is for 2002. Membership this year (i.e. 2002) was not for 12 months starting in February. Therefore, irrespective of when you pay your subscription, February or December, as soon as you join you will be entitled to the things on offer during the remainder of 2002. I've never understood why people have suggested that this year is a 12 month membership deal because that is never what people signed up to.

if he gives us the 3 cd box ona live .then its ok with me.ok its not exclusive this year as propmised .but ok its ben a very busy year 4 him.but if he doesn't come up with our promised c.d's lets go on strike next year.don't join untill we got wat we paid 4. oh maybe he's going 2 give us something extra at the end off the year. we don't know why this is happening all.maybe he's having some troubles or maybe he's having bad luck .lets wait untill the year is over.if eye have the chance 2 say something 2 him at the antwerp soundcheck .eye will ask about it.

orlatron said:

Why? ONA plus ONA...Live = 4 CDs. That was the promise, that is what is being delivered.

Promised = at least 4 CDs during NPGMC 2002

What we will get = 4 CDs

They will have delivered what they have promised.


Because the club started in Feb 01 the first 12 months was up in Feb 02.

Then they decided, because it is a lot easier for us and them, that they want everyone on the same cycle. (yearly membership Jan-Dec).

NPGMC will be Jan-Dec 2003 - then every1 will b on the same cycle and won't have 2 complain.(hope springs eternal)

With this email, I'm officialy pscyhed I didn't waste my money on this year's club. Four CDs. Half of one last year's members already had. First dibs at waaay overpriced concert tickets. Wow, welcome to the dawn. Unless he majorly surprises members with a nice end-of the-year mailing, someone should call the Better Business office.

1. They never said the memberships were for 12 months, they said 2002 memberships would end at the end of 2002. No mystery here.

2. Why would the people answering the club emails have a detailed plan on what Prince's releases are going to be? He doesn't even tell the musicians who recorded on them. No one knows when a CD or DVD will be released until Prince says so. Stop asking them impossible questions. They said we will get 4 CDs in 2002, that is what they have been saying from Day one. And I'm sure we will, but only Prince knows what and when. That has always been his standard operationg procedure. Why change now?

3. Considering just about every email they respond to gets posted on prince.org, WHY WOULD THEY TELL YOU ANYTHING? If people want some real info, they need to stop posting all their correspondence online. No doubt some paisley staffer has seen all this and told them to "shut their trap"

4. When CDs are released in the Club, they are exclusive. If something gets released later in stores, that doesn't take away from you got it first b4 anyone else could. Why would he record a whole album only to give to a handful of ungrateful fans? They should get it before the rest of the world, but it just makes sense to release it later on down the road to retail.

As many people have asked me, the Better Business Bureau can definately handle this kind of consumer complaint at:

[b] Better Business Bureau [b/]
2706 Gannon Road
Saint Paul, MN 55116 -2600

Phone: (651)699-111
Fax: (651)699-7665

Email:[b] ask@mnd.bbb.org [b/]

http://www.mnd.bbb.org

If you are fed up or feel you should be treated better or felt you were misled by NPGMC. I agree that the best next step after contacting the BBB is to forward your well written concerns to the consumer editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune at opinion@startribune.com. They are wonderful people. And don't be afraid to contact NPGMC and tell them that you're not satisfied with the information that they are giving you.

http://www.startribune.co...03227.html

Letters should be brief, up to 250 words. Commentary articles should be kept to 750 words. Please don't send submissions as attachments and you're giving them permission to publish it by submitting the letter. You may want to make the letter directed to Chris Riemenschneider who wrote an article from a mistreated NPGMC customer at

http://www.startribune.co...24793.html

This is the way service is greatly improved.

btw.. isn't anyone miffed by the fact that most of the 1st ONA "dinner music" CD is music that we already had in year one ??

Savannah said:

People should definately wait until the end of the year to take these measures. Who knows what Prince has in store?

People should definitely get a life