PAUL WELLER takes a stand against RSD flippers

given2fly23

A Message From Paul To His Fans About Record Store Day

This is a message to all the fans who couldn't get the new vinyl single on Record Store Day and/or paid a lot of money for a copy on eBay.

I agree with all of you who have sent messages expressing your anger and disappointment at the exploitation of these "limited editions" by touts.

Apart from making the record, the rest has very little to do with me but I am disheartened by the whole thing and unfortunately I won't be taking part in Record Store Day again.

It's such a shame because as you know I am a big supporter of independent record stores but the greedy touts making a fast buck off genuine fans is disgusting and goes against the whole philosophy of RSD.

There were copies of my single on eBay the day before Record Store Day and I've heard stories of people queuing outside their local record shop only to be told there were none left at opening time!

It only takes a few to spoil a wonderful concept for everyone else. Shame on those touts.

Don't support their trade and don't let them use Record Store Day to ruin the very thing it's designed to support.

Onwards. PW

PS. I'd like to say thank you for all the positive, supportive comments on our privacy case recently. Bless ya.

MayDay10

touts?

texasistheSTEVEN

English for flipper

jm257212

Amen

WhatYouTaughtMe

=D>

willbarclay

:-bd

given2fly23

nice to see someone is paying attention (not a shot against PJ or any other artist).

whofeelslikeadrank

given2fly23 said:

nice to see someone is paying attention.

+1

PJ_Soul

whofeelslikeadrank said:

given2fly23 said:

nice to see someone is paying attention.

+1

I guess, but it's not like its really doing people any good. He says he's just not going to participate in RSD anymore. That doesn't help anyone either.

jervin007

PJ_Soul said:

whofeelslikeadrank said:

given2fly23 said:

nice to see someone is paying attention.

+1

I guess, but it's not like its really doing people any good. He says he's just not going to participate in RSD anymore. That doesn't help anyone either.

Agreed. It's impossible to prevent items from hitting the secondary market. I usually get most of the titles I want. If I miss a few, to flippers or other fans, so be it.

given2fly23

I'd rather an artist at least speak up on the issue than just say "eh, there's nothing I can do."

PJ_Soul

given2fly23 said:

I'd rather an artist at least speak up on the issue than just say "eh, there's nothing I can do."

I'd rather an artist speak up about it too. This guy did that. However, he also bailed out of the whole thing, which is pretty much the worst reaction to the situation I can think of, and in fact is the epitome of saying "eh, there's nothing I can do." Just tag on, "Fuck it, I'm out!" and you've got this dude's reaction to it.

given2fly23

What else can they do? The only thing I can think of is delayed delivery.

Fan club only doesnt work, as we have seen here.
In-store only doesn't work.
Order limits don't work.

I guess they could make more, but then the risk lies with the artist (having leftover inventory).

...or imprint each record with the buyer's name, which would be sweet!

PABLINHO

I think it would have been wiser if he made 5000 instead of 500 tbh and not quitting the RSD

PJ-Cubs

PJ_Soul said:

given2fly23 said:

I'd rather an artist at least speak up on the issue than just say "eh, there's nothing I can do."

I'd rather an artist speak up about it too. This guy did that. However, he also bailed out of the whole thing, which is pretty much the worst reaction to the situation I can think of, and in fact is the epitome of saying "eh, there's nothing I can do." Just tag on, "Fuck it, I'm out!" and you've got this dude's reaction to it.

If enough artists backed out of RSD, it would make retailers re-think the tactics that they use to sell the limited items. I have seen stores sell the rare items at ebay prices in their store on RSD.

jm257212

Imo. The only way to stop it is for consumers to not by it..to be patient. Do u really need in immediately?
Maybe up the print numbers a bit too.
I hope next year will be better.

given2fly23

jm257212 said:

Imo. The only way to stop it is for consumers to not by it..to be patient. Do u really need in immediately?

That's a big part of it. The poster/vinyl craze has gotten out of hand, adults behaving like children at christmas. It reminds me of how resellers ruined baseball cards when I was young.

PJ_Soul

PABLINHO said:

I think it would have been wiser if he made 5000 instead of 500 tbh and not quitting the RSD

BINGO.

boyo79

given2fly23 said:

jm257212 said:

Imo. The only way to stop it is for consumers to not by it..to be patient. Do u really need in immediately?

That's a big part of it. The poster/vinyl craze has gotten out of hand, adults behaving like children at christmas. It reminds me of how resellers ruined baseball cards when I was young.

Yep. And we see it happen alot just here on this website!!! Record companies can either stop the limited runs or people should just avoid paying over the odds on the secondary market. But we know this won't happen.

Amongst the Ani

If you sell something for less than its true worth flipping will happen. Its called arbitrage and is a normal business practice. The whole american stock market is predicated on this concept. Buy under-priced stocks, sell when they price rises to its true value.

I'm not a fan of flipping but there is nothing that can be done except sell it at a higher price which hurts those that want it for the actual music or print more copies to lower the initial value. If he wants to make a stand he should try and find out how copies hit ebay before RSD even happened and no longer distribute his music to those stores that sold early or online, if thats something he could even do. But bailing out of it doesn't help the situation.

jervin007

More bands should do what Dave Matthews does and release rsd items on black vinyl as well. Gives more fans an opportunity to get a copy of the pressing, while still keeps the colored/limited items collectible