Xmix...wow...but not in a good way

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TJS

GetSomeJuJu
Nov 8, 2018
350
372
58
Ankeny, IA
www.jujulab.rocks
I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with Xmix but i thought I'd post for those who aren't. Joined Xmix dj pool about a month or so ago. They seemed like they would have some really good remixes (and they do) but, wow what a horrible experience. What attracted me was the Short Cutz (quick hits) and the Mega Mixes (nice curated 10-20 min mixes of several songs that could be used in a pinch or to help when ya need to step away quickly from the controller). The remixes seemed to be done well too.

First, they make you go through a bunch of hoops at the beginning like print out and sign a written agreement with a copy of your driver's license etc. I've never had a dj pool go to that length. Seemed a bit over the top and not convenient for the customer. In the past, I've just had them verify you're a working dj. The sign up process was pretty cumbersome. I thought, "okay, I'll work with it. Sounds like they have some good products". Once I got signed up ($49 discounted rate instead of $59) they don't give you full access to songs. You have access to one year back and that's it. Of course, they only put out so many Short Cutz and Mega Mixes in a year so not a tremendous selection for those . Songs beyond that are locked. You earn one credit per day. You can then use these credits to unlock the songs (one credit per song). At first, it was ok but then it just got plain annoying to find songs you wanted to download but couldn't because you had to wait a few days for credits to build up. It was as if they put all of their energy trying to keep their customers from downloading songs in bulk (thinking that customers would abuse that) versus focusing on providing a quality product that customers will want to return for month after month. They had great mixes so it made it frustrating to be limited in getting to them.

So I decided to cancel. Of course, they approach this from a negative mentality as well. If you change your mind, they'll bill you a whole year's worth (okay, not a big deal. Other Dj pools do that). They want 30 days notice AND you have to call in. No emails are accepted to cancel. You have to talk to someone (who then argues with you and berates you for not keeping their product and makes it about you. The dude actually laughed in my face over the phone and accused me of intentionally signing up for only a month and then cancelling, which of course wasn't the case. I was impressed with the mix quality of the songs. I wanted to continue but the constant limited access was annoying. He wanted to hear none of that ). The cancellation policy gets worse. Since you've given a 30 day notice, they're going to charge you for those 30 days...but at the non-discounted rate (annoying but okay fine...it's an added $10) BUT...you lose ALL of your features of earning credits. So, after you're being charged the final month, you have no ability to get older mixes at all. SO after charging you MORE, you get less in those last 30 days because they want to punish you for stepping away from them and their product. This, of course, only serves to end things on an additional bitter note. So all in all, the business model seems to be from a negative angle of limiting the customer from good songs and then punishing the customer in various ways if they want to cancel due to that limitation. There was absolutely no positive customer service interaction on that phone call. He was argumentative (as if that will retain a customer) and there was no listening to customer feedback regarding why they were cancelling which could serve them in retaining future customers.

So...One Dj pool punted...for good.
 
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Used to love xmix....built my early career on their mixes...

The problem nowadays is that they...along with promo only are one of the few services truly doing everything legit and by the book.... they brag about it and put down other record pools for cutting certain corners... So im sure they live in constant frustration at these other pools taking all their business.... which they used to monopolize for so many years...

Its a shame their customer service is that bad.... hard to maintain customers that way for sure...

cc
 
I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with Xmix but i thought I'd post for those who aren't. Joined Xmix dj pool about a month or so ago. They seemed like they would have some really good remixes (and they do) but, wow what a horrible experience. What attracted me was the Short Cutz (quick hits) and the Mega Mixes (nice curated 10-20 min mixes of several songs that could be used in a pinch or to help when ya need to step away quickly from the controller). The remixes seemed to be done well too.

First, they make you go through a bunch of hoops at the beginning like print out and sign a written agreement with a copy of your driver's license etc. I've never had a dj pool go to that length. Seemed a bit over the top and not convenient for the customer. In the past, I've just had them verify you're a working dj. The sign up process was pretty cumbersome. I thought, "okay, I'll work with it. Sounds like they have some good products". Once I got signed up ($49 discounted rate instead of $59) they don't give you full access to songs. You have access to one year back and that's it. Of course, they only put out so many Short Cutz and Mega Mixes in a year so not a tremendous selection for those . Songs beyond that are locked. You earn one credit per day. You can then use these credits to unlock the songs (one credit per song). At first, it was ok but then it just got plain annoying to find songs you wanted to download but couldn't because you had to wait a few days for credits to build up. It was as if they put all of their energy trying to keep their customers from downloading songs in bulk (thinking that customers would abuse that) versus focusing on providing a quality product that customers will want to return for month after month. They had great mixes so it made it frustrating to be limited in getting to them.

So I decided to cancel. Of course, they approach this from a negative mentality as well. If you change your mind, they'll bill you a whole year's worth (okay, not a big deal. Other Dj pools do that). They want 30 days notice AND you have to call in. No emails are accepted to cancel. You have to talk to someone (who then argues with you and berates you for not keeping their product and makes it about you. The dude actually laughed in my face over the phone and accused me of intentionally signing up for only a month and then cancelling, which of course wasn't the case. I was impressed with the mix quality of the songs. I wanted to continue but the constant limited access was annoying. He wanted to hear none of that ). The cancellation policy gets worse. Since you've given a 30 day notice, they're going to charge you for those 30 days...but at the non-discounted rate (annoying but okay fine...it's an added $10) BUT...you lose ALL of your features of earning credits. So, after you're being charged the final month, you have no ability to get older mixes at all. SO after charging you MORE, you get less in those last 30 days because they want to punish you for stepping away from them and their product. This, of course, only serves to end things on an additional bitter note. So all in all, the business model seems to be from a negative angle of limiting the customer from good songs and then punishing the customer in various ways if they want to cancel due to that limitation. There was absolutely no positive customer service interaction on that phone call. He was argumentative (as if that will retain a customer) and there was no listening to customer feedback regarding why they were cancelling which could serve them in retaining future customers.

So...One Dj pool punted...for good.
I think after that experience I would be calling my card company and making sure they don't get paid for the last 30 days
 
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It's really too bad because I had some high hopes for the pool. IMO, their frustration is really brought on by their own business model and the fact that they refuse to even consider modifying how they do things. This guy was rudely adamant it wasn't going to change which loudly advertised that there's an unwillingness to even listen to what your customer is saying as to the reason for cancelling. They have well curated mixes to the point where I would have stayed with them, looking forward to what the next month would bring had it not been for locking you out of all of the previous stuff. Instead they piece-meal those to you a little at a time like a crack-head in a dark alley :-/:laugh:
-Tom
 
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I like idjpool.com, but BPM Supreme was also pretty good, has music videos and curated sets in their premium plan ($30/mo) .. Record pool for DJs | BPM Supreme - (https://www.bpmsupreme.com/compare-plans)

Yeah, Steve, you were the one that motivated me to try out Idjpool. I like it. I had come from bpm supreme (and still think they're okay but they seem limited compared to idjpool). I think what threw me off about xmix was that I had experienced Direct Music Service, Promo Only, Idjpool and Bpm Supreme and none of them seemed to piece meal their past mixes like Xmix does. With the others it's You pay...You play. Simple
 
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One thing I liked about Xmix's MegaMix versus BPM's curated mix ( tried those out when I had the subscription) is that the MegaMixes were a true mix and blend of several songs with hooks etc. It seemed like BPM's curated mixes were just several songs put together but not one continuous mix with one song blending into the other. That's what caught my eye on the Mega Mixes. I could drop them in when my attention had to be elsewhere other than mixing (or in the event of troubleshooting something else)
 
One thing I liked about Xmix's MegaMix versus BPM's curated mix ( tried those out when I had the subscription) is that the MegaMixes were a true mix and blend of several songs with hooks etc. It seemed like BPM's curated mixes were just several songs put together but not one continuous mix with one song blending into the other. That's what caught my eye on the Mega Mixes. I could drop them in when my attention had to be elsewhere other than mixing (or in the event of troubleshooting something else)

I make my own... eliminates the circumstance where they slide in songs i dont want or would never play...

cc
 
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I make my own... eliminates the circumstance where they slide in songs i dont want or would never play...

cc

True. I've run into that as well in trying to decide on which ones I'd use. I want to do more of that (make my own). I've only done the one but I actually really enjoy it. I remember you saying you have lots of those that could be used at any point. Makes total sense plus you can show people an example of how you mix and use it as a selling tool.
 
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True. I've run into that as well in trying to decide on which ones I'd use. I want to do more of that (make my own). I've only done the one but I actually really enjoy it. I remember you saying you have lots of those that could be used at any point. Makes total sense plus you can show people an example of how you mix and use it as a selling tool.

yes!! and by using timeless/relevant music you can keep them around for years... always nice to know you have them in your back pocket.

I sometimes pre produce "mash ups" as well... things i might never think to do in a live mix... Just grab the instrumental of a very popular song you play a lot...and throw an acapella of a different...possibly less popular song over it....allows you to transition from a beloved song into a song you want people to like... they dont even realize whats happening exactly...lol...

cc
 
Promo Only is convenient, but I barely EVER get to play any of the songs because new music generally sucks!

I like Spotify :)


...I also like to walk through the 12 foot long section of Compact Discs in Wal Mart like 3 times a year just to browse. I don't actually buy any hard music media any more, but it is nostalgic to pick up a wrapped CD, and look at the back of it to read the tracks from time to time...

I also enjoy picking up whatever the new NOW album releases are, looking at the tracks and then saying "Yeah, I know I'm not going to play any of these songs at my events..."
 
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I also like to walk through the 12 foot long section of compact discs in Walmart like 3 times a year just to browse. I don't actually buy any hard music media any more, but it is nostalgic to pick up a wrapped CD, and look at the back of it to read the tracks from time to time...

Yeah...I do the same thing as the wife is off getting stuff. Look at them now 'cause in a short time, they ain't gonna be there...only on Amazon...:sqfrown:
 
With Streaming/Serato Studio/Traktor's Remix Decks, you don't need to be a genius to see where this is going - Production. Chris is right - make your own remixes (if you can).
The real issue for you guys banging out weddings every weekend is Time.
 
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with X mix. The customer service is hit-and-miss it just depends who you get on the phone. I've been a platinum subscriber since 2006 and I have been really happy with the service. Yeah I can probably find a service that's cheaper but the content I've received from X mix over the years has been great. I still get the DVD sent to me monthly and I have full access to the digital library is well with the membership.