Music disappeared, and Lossless Ques.

Question

I have only just downloaded my first album from Itunes. I decided to use Itunes because I noticed I could get my music in Apple Lossless format... I'm against anyone selling albums at below studio format as mp3, aac etc.
So I bought and successfully downloaded the album. Then I clicked 'Create Apple Lossless Version'. However, instead of downloading the files again, in full Lossless format, it simply converted the 256kb/s AAC files into FAKE Apple Lossless! I think that STINKS!
Anyway I deleted the original files and left the lossless ones... then I realised they were mixed up, (some lossless and some not) so I had to delete them all from the library and re-download them.
However when I go to the purchase bar... there is nothing there! I am very, very displeased... I used up my nectar points which cost me hundreds of pounds in shopping to get some Itunes cash for this... and now they disappear? My TV program is still there... which I have downloaded previously multiple times... so why not my music!
Just to note there is a further worry with my TV show... I am new to Itunes and decided it would be good to try out the new series of Flashforward as an Itunes download. It is stated as 5.1 and even has a 5.1 sound option bubble but when you click the sound goes. I spent much of my own time working out why my computer wasn't working properly but after a while I found many, many comments on the web about Itunes NOT being able to process 5.1 sound properly since version 6! How can they possibly sell knowing this, and clearly not caring to fix it. It is immoral in my opinion... look at the amount of people who have bought new equipment or sent their PC's to a repair shop to sort this problem when it is Apple being completely ignorant of the consumer's real needs.
Frankly I would like my money back for both accounts... I would rather buy a studio quality CD and wait for the TV series to come out on Blueray... it's no wonder people pirate because by **** THEY actually WORK!
Message was edited by: unstableiser

Answer 1

Selling as Lossy only? That is absolutely disgusting, this is below-par stuff.
That's normal with download stores carrying major-label content. Only one I know of, Music Giants, carries tracks in a lossless format from multiple record labels and Music Giants has more restrictions on how the content can be used (for instance, it's not possible to burn their content to an audio CD for playback on other devices). The major record companies (with the exception of Deutsche Grammophone which sells content in lossless format from their own web site) have generally been unwilling to allow download stores to sell high-quality content, probably because the labels fear the loss of CD sales.
AFAIK Itunes is the only program (or Apple is the only company) that has been so restrictive of it's customer's data. I see no reason why that should be the case.
That's not correct. I don't know of any download store with major-label content that allows multiple downloads from one purchase unless the service is a subscription, where the content becomes unplayable if you stop paying the subscription fee. This includes Amazon and, I believe, Zune which both only allow a single download per purchase.
How do I get my money back, on the TV show at least?
You will not be able to get your money back for the tracks which you yourself deleted. If the TV show was advertised as being 5.1 but is not, you can contact iTunes Store Customer Service and ask for assistance. If they can't help resolve the problem, they may be willing to issue a credit or refund.