tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post2557612322468283377..comments2024-03-28T07:27:42.810-07:00Comments on Burning Wood: The Record Store Day HangoverUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-15043132788485955252019-04-18T19:56:46.969-07:002019-04-18T19:56:46.969-07:00https://falsememoryfoam.blogspot.com/2019/04/rsd-s...https://falsememoryfoam.blogspot.com/2019/04/rsd-special.html<br /><br />Go on. Have a look.Farquhar Throckmorton IIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09434297337989414186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-66079592186455086132019-04-17T05:22:03.960-07:002019-04-17T05:22:03.960-07:00Anon,
Why not take the time to complain about some...Anon,<br />Why not take the time to complain about something? Because it will do no good? Because I could just keep quiet and not participate? It's not as if I am the only one complaining about it. Writing about it isn't a terrible idea. I see we have comments regarding both sides here.<br /><br />I'm happy that you find it all pleasant and terrific at your shop. Many retailers do indeed love the day. But it is only one day. Wouldn't solid business all year round be better? Is there no way to make that happen? Please don't insist that I don't get it. Sure, it may be a personal thing to complain about a $45 Badfinger title, but it is one example and a damn good one.<br /><br />Maybe as a retailer you've become jaded regarding the music itself. I don't know you. You are anonymous. But I still get excited over music. I will never tire of the thrill of the hunt or the physical product and it sucks the big one to have to jump through hoops and pay mightily on a day that is advertised as a GOOD THING. There are some good things about RSD, sure, but just as many horrible things. Why is that so hard to accept?<br /><br />"Have you ever been to a local record store for a new release? No early sales is always part of it."<br /><br />As I said, I'm a former retailer. So, of course. The difference here is, if I sell out of the new Bob Dylan record on street date, I'll order more, and my customers, if they are loyal and patient, will come back the next day. If not, they can go elsewhere and expect to pay pretty much the same thing. There is no fear of being shut out, or getting charged three times the price if you are shut out. RSD may be new releases, theoretically, but its no different than UMG reissuing an umpteenth version of a Who collection, and baiting the poor fans with two new tracks. Eventually, the fans WILL be soured and stop buying altogether. It already happened. Read the article linked at the end of the post.<br /><br />I find RSD and it's lame guise as a day for music fans and retailers, worth my time to complain. No one has to listen to me or comment, but I know I haven't made any of this up. If you have a heart and soul, it would be hard not being offended by the whole process, even if you came out of it with some of the records you wanted or a big day day at the cash register. But not participating seems like a crappy way out for everyone and it makes for a boring blog post. Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-49909951329879612702019-04-17T03:59:57.903-07:002019-04-17T03:59:57.903-07:00Reminds me ever so much of the advent of Presales ...Reminds me ever so much of the advent of Presales with concert ticketing. There are now a half dozen different presales -- artist presale, Amex Pressale, Chase Credit Card presale, etc, rendering the actual "onsale date" not just meaningless but insulting. What was developed as a way to get tickets to real fans has instead also been co-opted, it's clear that scalpers have scooped up much of the early going, as they immediately end up on Stubhub or Ticketmaster Resale.<br /><br />Plus (perhaps trying to prevent hoarding) the presales don't allow you to buy all tickets, just certain ones, so you end up buying early and then finding there are better seats available later? How does that make sense? <br /><br />Luckily (for the consumer) sometimes it can backfire When Jeff Tweedy's two Town Hall shows went on pre-sale, I could not even get in the queue and gave up. Months later, the night before the show, there were dozens of seats on sale at or below face value. David Handelmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05899694860294565558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-21969525047148995352019-04-16T21:17:42.436-07:002019-04-16T21:17:42.436-07:00Response to Sal Nunziato:
No, see, you don't ...Response to Sal Nunziato:<br /><br />No, see, you don't get it. If our shop decided one year that we didn't want to carry RSD releases, we simply wouldn't do it. What would we do? Put out a great new selection of used titles, or have a bunch of great local bands play in the store, or put a discount on all titles in the shop. Or all of the above. In fact, we do that every year in addition to carrying RSD titles, so anyone who thinks "Record Store Day is BS" don't have to buy that stuff. No one says that as a record store you have to carry RSD releases and open early.<br /><br />"Shop owners have to sign off, don't they? No early sales. No online sales. No price jacking."<br /><br />Have you ever been to a local record store for a new release? No early sales is always part of it. Price jacking would instantly mean no one would come to your store for new releases. Online sales? No small locally owned shop relies on online sales for a new release - we leave that to the big online giants. Everything you are complaining about is just stuff that pertains to new releases, which is what RSD titles are; all I know is my shop doesn't pre-sell titles on eBay at high prices. The RSD folks are actually pretty on top of penalizing those stores that they catch; one shop in our town was banned from carrying RSD releases for life for doing that. Most of the people doing that are the people waiting first in line at Ameoba. If you think your local store does that, don't go there.<br /><br />Also - no one is making you buy a Badfinger LP that you already own on CD. That sounds like a personal issue. If you want both, buy both. If you are fine with the CD, then you're set. If not, good for you because that album is selling for below MSRP on every resale site.<br /><br />Anyways, it sounds like a lot of people have been jaded by bad experiences at their local record stores. All I can say is go to your favorite shop, voice your complaints, and if they don't care, screw 'em. If you find a shop that does it right, support them. Either way, I don't get people bashing RSD as though they're forced to participate. It really does keep local record stores alive. I hate Black Friday, and thus you will never see me at Target at 2 AM. But I'm not gonna take the time to complain about it, either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-4872012604782095352019-04-16T13:25:21.136-07:002019-04-16T13:25:21.136-07:00Just to add fuel to the conflagration, I'm a f...Just to add fuel to the conflagration, I'm a former record store clerk, so former that we didn't have RSD, and I have tried to get to a new record store on each RSD of late, partly out of a sense of occasion, partly because I live in the sticks where there is no record store at all, and this is a good occasion to pile the family in the car and drive. I recognize all the reservations listed above, but as the record store owner a few posts above me pointed out, people have fun. And it is fun. We hit Cactus Records in Houston last week, and it was great. True, I only got one of the RSD releases that I had earmarked--no Lightnin' Hopkins, no Robert Johnson--but we trawled through the regular stock, and I got an armload of nice, reasonably priced used records -- Rockin' Sidney, Doug Sahm, Jimmy Yancey. I got a t-shirt, for Pete's sake. My wife got the Doors' 10", and my kid got stickers and a dinosaur pin. I can see why the purists would object to the gouging and duplicity, but in a good store with good people, you can still have a good time and talk to strangers and walk away with a bag of records and a nice little vibe, like the ghost of Doug Sahm just passed through you. I'll take that.birtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-11698449175311671382019-04-16T12:39:28.138-07:002019-04-16T12:39:28.138-07:00To Anon,
(b) no one is telling the shop owners any...To Anon,<br />(b) no one is telling the shop owners any specific way that they have to operate on this day,<br /><br />That's part of the problem, isn't it? Shop owners have to sign off, don't they? No early sales. No online sales. No price jacking. It's a free for all, which is why it isn't fun for everyone. And no one from the RSD camp does anything about it. <br /><br />If on RSD eve, the RSD powers that be, did a sweep of eBay and penalized the shops owners tripling the price on a day the records shouldn't be for sale anyhow, wouldn't that be a start? If labels took returns, wouldn't that encourage store owners to keep the prices where they should be, instead of trying to recoup before they actually see a loss? If labels released affordable product once a month, wouldn't that potentially bring customers back a regular basis? <br /><br />500 RSD releases in one day, times two RSDs. That's 1000 releases. How about 40 a month? How about allowing online sales and ONLY online can you charge a fixed, agreed upon premium? That'll get people to the stores to save money and help out those without participating stores. There are ways to help fans and store owners. But instead, crazed Badfinger fans get excited over two WB reissues, on CD ONLY...or so they think...they shell out money, only to see vinyl releases two months later on RSD for twice the price! I'm not convinced. I believe you and I'm happy you had a fun day. I'm sure many share your feelings. But to me, it's all very shady and unpleasant.Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-87865161712835707872019-04-16T12:21:44.289-07:002019-04-16T12:21:44.289-07:00It's all about how the shop handles it. I own ...It's all about how the shop handles it. I own a record store and hear people (customers and other shop owners alike) bashing RSD for a lot of the same reasons. I don't really get it, because: (a) no one is forcing these stores to participate or carry the exclusive releases, (b) no one is telling the shop owners any specific way that they have to operate on this day, and (c) customers don't have to go to stores if they don't like the way they do it.<br /><br />My shop is small, but every year RSD is consistently the best day of sales, and helps us keep the lights on throughout the slower summer months. Yes, we order the RSD releases, but only the ones we think are worthwhile. We pass on hundreds of titles, and simply let our customers know beforehand what type of stuff we have coming in. It's also the most fun day of every year, because we get some live music in the shop, get to thank our customers for another year, give out free coffee/pastrys and chat with people in line, and introduce new people to our shop.<br /><br />I understand there are always going to be the shoppers with a Black Friday elbow-throwing mindset. Those people suck. But for everyone one customer we get like that on RSD, we get about 100 who are nice, music loving people who just want to come in and show us their support.<br /><br />Anyways, my main point is to say that yes, RSD can be a miserable experience at some stores. Most stores, maybe. But it wasn't at our store, and the day really does help keep our doors open. We discourage rude shoppers, encourage people to shop the non-RSD titles by putting out a new collection of used LPs every year, and yes - we allow browsing by putting all the RSD titles out in the bins for you to see, hold, read, etc. The best feedback was people telling us that they had fun, and if they were lucky, found everything on their "list." It sounds like you need to find a new store that does it right!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-9810279922231539442019-04-16T10:01:04.598-07:002019-04-16T10:01:04.598-07:00No browsing = no fun. Might as well shop online. G...No browsing = no fun. Might as well shop online. Good piece.M_Sharpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-65683734210620301902019-04-16T09:54:02.480-07:002019-04-16T09:54:02.480-07:00Same problem in the UK.
Queue for hours to get in...Same problem in the UK. <br />Queue for hours to get in the store to find they've already sold their one copy of the LP you want. To an ebay seller.<br />Want more people in record stores? Release interesting stuff every week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-37598744805927192332019-04-16T07:57:58.001-07:002019-04-16T07:57:58.001-07:00As someone who hasn't been in a record (or CD)...As someone who hasn't been in a record (or CD) store in years, (whenever NYCD closed) my reaction was: "Wait, a record store with no browsing?! So what is the point?" <br /><br />And some of this reminds me of collecting comic books which was a passion of mine until the speculators—some of them preteens bankrolled by Dad—started buying everything up as an investment. Yeah, my collection is worth more now but it killed the hobby for me...Ken Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-66655965878099453472019-04-15T20:02:56.677-07:002019-04-15T20:02:56.677-07:00Read the NY times article linked to your post. Iro...Read the NY times article linked to your post. Ironic that now, twelve years later, Best Buy no longer carries CDs in their stores after being catered to by the record companies with special tracks, etc. Shaking my head so much I get dizzy. I always enjoy your posts, Sal, you usually nail it.bing stillshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08495644978796223875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-46278150659225973782019-04-15T14:40:35.323-07:002019-04-15T14:40:35.323-07:00A good sharp article, Mr N, and some of the reader...A good sharp article, Mr N, and some of the reader comments very readable too. We don't have a RSD here - or a record store anymore - so I'm experiencing the experiences vicariously. It's good you guys can be peed off but still retain a sense of humour in there somewhere. Cheers!dogbreathnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-22545283009357138522019-04-15T13:31:46.427-07:002019-04-15T13:31:46.427-07:00Nice to hear from you Ray G. - I've bought som...Nice to hear from you Ray G. - I've bought some great powerpop from you over the years at Kool Kat.<br /><br />Sal, after all these years, this post was absolutely my favorite and I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, as history dictates, once an event gets popular and the big business suits and ties get involved, it fucks it up for everyone. <br /><br />RandyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-75567343254198007602019-04-15T12:19:14.849-07:002019-04-15T12:19:14.849-07:00The store I go to is actually very well organized....The store I go to is actually very well organized. When they open they let in the first 10 people and as people come out they let more people in in a very orderly manner. All the records are out front in 10 separate bins. They’re alphabetized and there’s usually plenty of stock. The only thing I didn’t find this year was the Todd box and the Robert Plant album but there seemed to be enough stock by the time I got in to keep most people happy.<br /><br />The bad thing about RSD is the speculation that goes on. Seeing a lot of the RSD items on Discogs at double the price is disheartening. I know the store I go to limits a single album per person but not sure if that’s an RSD or store rule.cmealhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03201121023050701074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-51273438550004674462019-04-15T10:00:46.028-07:002019-04-15T10:00:46.028-07:00Well put. I thought RSD was a good idea at first.....Well put. I thought RSD was a good idea at first....until the flippers took over by selling the stuff immediately on the bay. Never been to a store on RSD (usually working)...but I don;t like crowds & fighting for stuff. Some of the releases are cool...eventually I shall come across them somewhere.MusicHoarder77https://www.blogger.com/profile/00857727794021047719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-46225071339403464562019-04-15T09:49:59.849-07:002019-04-15T09:49:59.849-07:00Havi8ng seen it from both sides, I could probably ...Havi8ng seen it from both sides, I could probably write a book on RSD, but I'll, try to be as brief as possible: RSD is a great idea in theory - but very poorly executed in my opinion. As someone with an online presence as well as a "mobile" store that does corporate fund-raising events (I buy new releases and/or key catalog titles - mostly CDs - every week from the largest One Stop in the USA), I was able to get RSD releases for the first couple of years (I only ordered for myself - I've been collecting for over 50 years - and a few loyal customers - never got them to "flip" online or even advertised the titles to my customer list because I knew I wouldn't get what I ordered - thus disappointing more people than the number I would please. I had a conversation with a RSD honcho one time who was so impressed with himself that everything was cool and limited. My response to him was that I was in the business of pleasing people, not disappointing them. My ability to get RSD titles vanished when I was asked to provide photos of my "brick and mortar" location. When I explained the "mobile-ness" of my business, I was immediately removed from their mailing list to receive any further communications from them. Yet there are stores who participate who are primarily sellers of used product who order from a one stop a few times a year just so they can qualify to get RSD titles - hardly seems fair to me. I have a very simple solution: Let the stores order as many copies as they want of every RSD title by a hard cut-off date, and the record companies agree to produce that many. If a store wants to order 50, then so be it - the product in non-returnable, the record companies make more money, the real record buyers have a much better chance of getting what they want, and the "flippers" go away (or at least think twice before they buy anything they think they'll make big money on)...it's the way the record companies treat their new releases every week (though other than vinyl, they are returnable). And yes, I still go and buy RSD releases for myself (at retail prices) when I can...and I won't even get into the constant re-hashing of previously released titles. Thank God I won't be around for the 75th Anniversary Editions….Ray Gianchettihttp://www.koolkatmusik.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-1131502375516747812019-04-15T08:54:41.985-07:002019-04-15T08:54:41.985-07:00Troy,
Let me be clear--I'd love RSD if it was ...Troy,<br />Let me be clear--I'd love RSD if it was what it was originally intended to be. But it hasn't been that, possibly ever. If there are record store owners out there who do indeed love it and do make money, that's great news. Those that I know, work through the night before, and deal with insanity all day and have few nice things to say.<br /><br />As for the music itself---I thought this year had some great pieces. The Elvis Costello in particular, is amazing. Four newly recorded songs, all co-written: Johnny Cash, Dylan, McCartney and Bacharach. $15. Amazing. But when this EP gets a commercial release down the road, it will sour the whole mess and THAT is one of the many issues.Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-39887608905888669992019-04-15T08:46:58.978-07:002019-04-15T08:46:58.978-07:00I have a love/hate relationship with RSD, but it r...I have a love/hate relationship with RSD, but it really extends to the whole vinyl resurgence in general. I’m glad vinyl has made a bit of a comeback, but I hate that everything now is pressed on 180 gram, you only get 2-3 songs per side, most of the vinyl you see in stores consists of old radio broadcasts or other live/demo versions (seriously, if you’re going for the high quality platter, why fill it with inferior sounding source material??), and it costs an arm and a leg. Also, so many stores jack up their prices on used vinyl - - as if their VG+ copy of The Joshua Tree is worth $20-25 or more. U2 only sold like 20 million copies of that record in the late 80s, it’s not like it is a rarity or anything. I see that all the time and it drives me nuts. With all that, I seriously limit the amount of purchases I make now.<br /><br />And as for RSD, you are right that it is mostly a bunch of repackaged stuff, sold at horribly overpriced levels by greedy music corporations. I saw someone on Saturday with a “new” 7 inch of The Stones’ “She’s a Rainbow”. Really? Who asked for that? You know that no one from the label ran it by Mick and Keith first, it’s just stupid product. As for most of this year’s RSD releases, I wouldn’t cross the road for them, let alone shell out a bunch of my hard earned money.<br /><br />But there are parts of RSD that I do love: there is a pretty cool record store in our area, and I have become friends with the owners. They have been open for a couple of years now and are really making a go of it. They have a good to very good selection, and supplement their business by selling, renting, and refurbishing classic jukeboxes. Always gives the store a really cool vibe. I support them throughout the year, including RSD. This year, they had a live band, brought out a bunch of friends in the community, worked with the local liquor store to offer a beer tasting event showcasing a local brewer, and generally made it a daylong fest. They worked their butts off, and everyone had a good time. Sure, they didn’t get all of the titles they tried to order, and some sold out almost immediately. So some people were not able to get what they wanted. As for me, I kept the list short and simple - - I got an EP from Tedeschi Trucks Band featuring 3 alternative versions of tunes from ‘Signs’, backed with a live version of “Shame” from a show that I saw at the Chicago Theater. It was $15, which I don’t consider to be overly expensive. And it sounds abso-frickin-lutely fantastic. <br /><br />I try to limit my expectations of RSD and simply go to hang out a bit. If I pick up something cool, that’s a bonus. For instance, I would have also been interested in the Grateful Dead acoustic live show release this year, as I really enjoy ‘Reckoning’. But it wasn’t to be, so no big deal. I’ll likely find some used vinyl treasure next time I’m in. Troyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863565099476649907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-68300806088963220972019-04-15T08:45:46.981-07:002019-04-15T08:45:46.981-07:00I didn't go this year. I would like to see les...I didn't go this year. I would like to see less product but more rare, unreleased, etc. Not repackaged or gimmicky. I worked at a Record Store for over 10 years back in the 70's and 80's so i got to experience back in the golden years.Moehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996421289774823843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-45615927174471976252019-04-15T07:32:34.529-07:002019-04-15T07:32:34.529-07:00Good piece, Sal. Tell it like it is. It has not ...Good piece, Sal. Tell it like it is. It has not gotten better through the years, like they wanted it to, or like they cared at all? It's gotten worse, and how do those scalpers not only Get the items early but Get Away with it? Thanks.Charlie Messinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17378301036143943175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-45867777933570923962019-04-15T07:10:49.327-07:002019-04-15T07:10:49.327-07:00But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the mus...But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the music?<br /><br /><br />Great rant, Sal. One of your best. :-)Shrinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12908213967283171538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-35561109810709472582019-04-15T07:08:13.138-07:002019-04-15T07:08:13.138-07:00I'd made a vow to be positive and had a word w...I'd made a vow to be positive and had a word with myself that cynicism is easy, positive is not. But............<br /><br />I agree with every word you say about RSD, wholeheartedly. My local shop does exactly as you say, all behind the counter, unpriced and way above what the expected price was. <br /><br />What started as a fine idea has been taken over by the Majors. Likewise Vinyl releases. Deadlines have got longer and longer, because the major labels have hijacked all the plants. What started as great with Indy labels reviving Vinyl for both reissues and primarily stuff that's never been on the format has turned into the ridiculous Super Deluxe Edition cash cow.<br /><br />I didn't support RSD for the first time this year and to be honest, I feel much cleaner for it.Anything Should Happenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05593722184088140203noreply@blogger.com