Does Record Store Day Screw The Little Guy?

[paixe]

Mom and pop shops say yes, Record Store Day co-founder says no. What do you think?

http://www.ocweekly.com/2012-04-19/music/record-store-day/

[brain_spo0n]

screw? no

favor? no

[fscl]

Comment from the local record shop proprietor who had to protest for more product:

Why don't they just call it Amoeba Store Day

.....

Fred and looking for the GPTN at Sun Studios.....

[ighten]

As my dealer pointed out.. "Its just another excuse to issue more ltd editions and make high inflated prices for new vinyl seem like the norm"...

[sgibson389]

Ditto on the high prices. I buy music to listen to, not to keep sealed thinking I can make money off of it later. I bought 2 titles in support of our only new record source that's been in business since the 70's, but the high prices in general limits what I would like to buy even on a daily basis. The owner did say some of the product he had orderd wasn't shipped for RSD. John Paul White of The Civil Wars is a local guy and the store didn't get any RSD Civil Wars product.

[audiopile]

My local record store (The Exclusive co. in West bend ,Wi.) was having a good record store day when i stopped by yesterday.Had sold a lot record store day only releases by the time I got there. Was very happy that i broke one of my normal buying habits and bought a 10" package - double 10" outakes from Janis Joplin's "Pearl" sessions - really a joy ( and as always tinged with sadness -GD heroin !)wonderful performances - more relaxed and better singing/playing - probably because these were earlier (?)"practice" takes ? Best new record purchase in awhile -kudos to the engineering/cutting folks - lovely sound.
As for gouging - at least in West bend prices were very reasonable for fresh cut "new" releases - what the secondary rarity market charges for them after the fact doesn't concern me - too busy playin mine.

[fscl]

Music lover too........

As evidenced by all those fleabay listings.......

Fred

[audiopile]

Complaints about the high prices of new LP's puzzle me for a couple of reasons: 1.) I managed several record stores from the late 60's thru the late 70's - I remember being able to have "cash only" sales during that period where we filled our store with customers buying new LP's for $3.98 cash .If we allow for inflation (and we must unfortunately) -those would be approximately $20 a piece in today's money -which does seem to be the average price I saw for record day sales in West Bend . 2.) WE really aren't comparing apples with apples here - new LP's in my experience are MUCH better pressings than what i sold 40 years ago - the mix/recordings themselves may or may not be superior in terms of the recording process - but in most cases -awesomely quiet vinyl. I have clear memories of taking back dozens of identical copies of the "hot" records of the day over short periods of time as customers sought a "good" copy - not great -just not warped or incredibly noisy/crappy vinyl.The Good Old Days weren't all that great.3.) Yup - like a lot of you -in the last few years my LP purchases have probably run 50 to 1 in favor of thrift store purchases over "new" LP's.Personally -wouldn't want to be a record retailer today .And that's sad !

[sgibson389]

Audiopile has some good points about today's pricing and quality. I have just come back to buying vinyl after about 1000 cd's at $15-20 a pop and not thinking much about the price. I would like to continue to see RSD every year with specials and hopefully it all results in a future with a year round product I can hold in my hands. I was disappointed I didn't find the Buck Owens coloring book/flexi disk at our record shop.

[guitarded]

Seems like it puts asses in the aisles at my local shops...
Don't see how anyone is getting screwed by that.

[ighten]

Seems like it puts asses in the aisles at my local shops...
Don't see how anyone is getting screwed by that.

What really has annoyed me this year is the number of people who seem to have had under the counter reserved stuff that never even made it to the shelf.. Sort of negates the whole point of it.

[KentT]

Myself being physically challenged and slow getting around in huge crowds, means my regular dealer lets me know what is offered, they will keep me a copy of each title desired and let me get it later.