What is going on with records. RSD is coming

bootlegger10

Total hipster trend.  Not even close. 

scurtis

Dude I’m almost in the same boat, I was around the same time too, I don’t anymore, or rarely.  Too expensive.  Even used records are a joke, I will wait for the fad to wear off.

tempo_n_groove

Tim Simmons said:

Last year I lined up at 4:30 for a 7am opening and I was 4th in line. It was fun, but the weather was nicer. If its even a touch cold, I'd rather pay up for stuff on ebay and stay in a warm bed and sleep in. 

Go when they open.

Nothing is so limited anymore that it can't be found later or for around cost.

kramer73

bootlegger10 said:

Total hipster trend.  Not even close. 

Maybe for some, but thanks for generalizing.

Tim Simmons

tempo_n_groove said:

Tim Simmons said:

Last year I lined up at 4:30 for a 7am opening and I was 4th in line. It was fun, but the weather was nicer. If its even a touch cold, I'd rather pay up for stuff on ebay and stay in a warm bed and sleep in. 

Go when they open.

Nothing is so limited anymore that it can't be found later or for around cost.

Oh, I know. I'm just saying how much I'd value a warm bed instead of sitting in a fold out chair in line for a couple of hours on a cool morning with a persistent lake breeze. 

PJ_Soul

drummerboy_73 said:

PJ_Soul said:

I get where you're coming from Brian - flippers suck and it stinks when you can't get an album you want. But I think of RSD as really being for the benefit of the store owners, not the consumers. The hype created by the limited quantities is beneficial to physical record store sales, because people flock to the shops rather than just wait to buy more widely available records on Amazon or wherever.  And that leads to people kind of falling in love with going to a record store in general, helping all record store owners in the long run, at least in theory. I believe that is the whole point.

Spot on! My record buying has decreased dramatically over the last few years due to this reason. I've bought some RSD releases here and there, as I do enjoy the "collecting" end somewhat, but primarily for titles I didn't have or just for the fun of certain releases and meeting people at shops, but I don't sell or buy at "flipper" prices ever. Most of what I buy now is used, original analog releases or the occasional oddball I can score from discount bins. But yeah...anyone who thinks the hype is more for actual audio quality than the trendiness of it is kidding themselves. If the opposite were true, Crosley would not exist! 😂

Most of my bricks and mortar record store activity is about bringing in albums that I've discovered I never spin, and trading them in for records that I will spin. I love it. But yes, sound quality matters to me, and it bums me out that those making records now usually don't care about that enough (some still do though). I think it's a BIG mistake for their own industry - it's not the way to make sure vinyl is an ongoing, secure revenue stream at all for artists. Why are people so stupid that way??

But anyway, vinyl is here to stay in my life - it's not a fad at all for me, that's for sure. And I buy tons of used records for good prices. I'm not sure how people are saying that isn't affordable anymore.

crookedcross

I'm kinda new to the game. Since 2015, I've found used records to be much cheaper at thrift stores than actual record stores.. by a lot. Not as big of a selection, but I've found many great ones for less than $5. Some needed cleaning but I'd rather do some work than pay > $10 for used records. I will say that in only three years, the amount of good finds at thrift stores has decreased dramatically.  I blame fb marketplace and many other apps. People just don't drop their good shit off at thrift stores anymore. 

halv

I've decided to skip lining up for RSD this year. I find I rarely listen to any of the RSD releases anyway. I'll swing by Red Cat in Vancouver later in the day to take advantage of the 20% off sale, but that's about it. It's getting harder and harder to justify vinyl prices. 

FR181798

My local gets a lot of different RSD titles in, trouble is you think to yourself who the heck is buying that. No PJ, Modest Mouse or REM. One copy of the Ramones LP, the most I've seen on their list is 5 copies of Blood on the Tracks alternate. Good chance if I'm not in the first 20, I'm going to have to buy stuff just purely to flip so I can buy the stuff I want. Plus I have family stuff on Saturday morning that I'd rather not miss.

rhpot1991

I went to my store once, never again.  I tried talking to the guy ahead of time to figure out if they would even have any of the stuff I was interested in and he stonewalled me.  When I showed up that day there wasn't anything I wanted.  I asked and they didn't get in any copies of the released I wanted.

Now I resort to online overstocks or waiting for non colored releases for the time being.

FR181798

Bought a copy of the R.E.M RSD album on ebay. Paid probably what my local would have been charging £32 but had to pay just over £10 postage as it's coming from Europe and I'm in the UK. Usually 1 release a year that I'm fine with paying a little extra for. Only 1500 copies in the UK so unlikely that stores here will have extras. 

PJ_Soul

I bought the 2018 Michael Kiwanuka RSD release from my record store in March 2019 for $8CAD! I think the person who originally got it on RSD 2018 came back and traded it in later, so it was sold at a used price. RSD is more than just reason to complain after all!

ND260106

Anyone know if Pearl Jam release is making its way to Australia? Can't find it on RSD AU website anywhere. 

Zod

PJ_Soul said:

I bought the 2018 Michael Kiwanuka RSD release from my record store in March 2019 for $8CAD! I think the person who originally got it on RSD 2018 came back and traded it in later, so it was sold at a used price. RSD is more than just reason to complain after all!

I overheard one record shop owner talking to the owner of the shop I was in.  They were discussing how difficult they find it to order for RSD.    People tend to buy a lot more vinyl on RSD than your average day.  They thumb through them all and buy stuff they might not ordinarily buy.   On the other hand if the order stuff and it doesn't sell on RSD, it sits on the shelf forever.  Its easy to move stuff for bigger 90s bands, but trying to stock some of the lesser known names is a bit of roulette for them.  They don't want to get stuck with the inventory :(

As usual I'm both looking forward to and dreading RSD.  I love all the special releases that come out.  There's a number of them I want to buy.  I dread having to wait around for hours to get them.    I love going to my record store, wandering in and shopping at my own pace.  If you could make RSD like any other day without the lineups and craziness, but with all the special releases.  I'd really enjoy it.

PJ_Soul

Zod said:

PJ_Soul said:

I bought the 2018 Michael Kiwanuka RSD release from my record store in March 2019 for $8CAD! I think the person who originally got it on RSD 2018 came back and traded it in later, so it was sold at a used price. RSD is more than just reason to complain after all!

I overheard one record shop owner talking to the owner of the shop I was in.  They were discussing how difficult they find it to order for RSD.    People tend to buy a lot more vinyl on RSD than your average day.  They thumb through them all and buy stuff they might not ordinarily buy.   On the other hand if the order stuff and it doesn't sell on RSD, it sits on the shelf forever.  Its easy to move stuff for bigger 90s bands, but trying to stock some of the lesser known names is a bit of roulette for them.  They don't want to get stuck with the inventory :(

As usual I'm both looking forward to and dreading RSD.  I love all the special releases that come out.  There's a number of them I want to buy.  I dread having to wait around for hours to get them.    I love going to my record store, wandering in and shopping at my own pace.  If you could make RSD like any other day without the lineups and craziness, but with all the special releases.  I'd really enjoy it.

I honestly never even participate - My bday is April 20th, so there is always something going on for me on or around RSD - I'm always too busy to make it to the record store for it (or too hungover/tired because someone took me out to party the night before, lol!). I guess once or twice I've grabbed something online on RSD, but that really defies the point.

demetrios

ND260106 said:

Anyone know if Pearl Jam release is making its way to Australia? Can't find it on RSD AU website anywhere. 

Here's one. Discrepancy Records in Australia will be selling copies in store & online. https://www.discrepancy-records.com.au/pearl-jam-live-at-easy-street-lp-gatefold-first-ti