# Where does Amazon.com get their samples?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-amazon-com-get-their-samples/149750>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 20, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-amazon-com-get-their-samples/149750 "2003-01-20T05:16:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-amazon-com-get-their-samples/149750/1 "2003-01-20T05:16:16Z")

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I’ve noticed that for every CD in the pop music section (obscure CDs not included), and nearly all Classical CDs, Amazon will have samples for the first four or so songs. They aren’t usually longer than :30. I was wondering where they get all of these samples. I wouldn’t be suprised if there are samples for 20,000 CDs (and many more individual songs). Do they open up one copy of each CD for sampling purposes? If so, do they sell it as new? Is that illegal? If not, wouldn’t that cost a hella lot of money? It also seems like an absurd amount of man hours.

Or is there something else to it. Kazaa? Some huge music renting warehouse?

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-amazon-com-get-their-samples/149750/2 "2003-01-20T05:20:01Z")

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I wouldn’t be surprised if song samples are supplied by the music pubisher.

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**Author:** ![d12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71c47a/32.png) [@d12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d12)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-amazon-com-get-their-samples/149750/3 "2003-01-20T05:23:18Z")

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My WAG is the same as Fear’s. I think the publishers will give them the demo with the hopes that people will listen and buy it.

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**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-amazon-com-get-their-samples/149750/4 "2003-01-20T07:46:06Z")

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Also, I’m pretty sure that the policy on most music sites is to provide samples for the tracks from 1:00-1:30. It’s rarely arbitrary. That makes it more frustrating for us fans of music that doesn’t kick in until about minute 2 or 3, because we only hear a portion of the intro.

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**Author:** ![Marconi\_Schmeese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Marconi\_Schmeese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_Schmeese)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-amazon-com-get-their-samples/149750/5 "2003-01-20T16:47:57Z")

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As a retailer - yes, we get samples of most everything we purchase. CD and Video companies will almost always send you a sample CD (just like the ones for resale) or VHS so you can play the item in your store. For non-media items, you almost always can get a sample, you just have to ask for it.