One of the worst examples of this is “Mezzanine” by Massive Attack. Like, what’s the point of making a double LP with cover art that continues on the back if you’re not going to make it a gatefold? Huge missed opportunity.
I hate that too. Unfortunately, you’re not going to stop greed, which is the reason they do this. They probably get paper sleeves for less than a penny each, since they order and use so many. I get Diskeeper sleeves from Sleeve City. Their regular inner sleeves are just like the MoFi sleeves (except sturdier), and cost about a couple dollars less per pack than the MoFi sleeves. Personally, I use their Ultimate Diskeeper sleeves which cost a little more but are worth it in my book.
When double LPs are a single pocket not a gatefold. Craft did this, Riding Easy did this, Bomp did this...come on. You're all excellent labels. Do better.
I agree with putting double albuns in single pocket album sleeves it can and does cause premature ring wear, top and bottom seem splitting. Good thick gate fold sleeves for double albums is a must!
DataDiscs packaged A THREE LP SET that way with their Sonic CD soundtrack and it pissed me off so bad they couldn't even be assed to make a trifold for something sold as a premium collector's item
The 6 month "preorders" really piss me off.... Record Label: Let's see how many people will buy this, and then we'll make that many copies and call it Limited Edition
I understand what you mean, but 6 month preorders are actually very useful to the artists. They can 1. gauge the interest on the album and know where and which venues to book so the tour is announced around the album release, 2. fund the album release itself or the tour without having to touch your "old" money.
Who cares? Would you rather them artificially limit it for no valid reason? Not to mention you’re literally asking for fewer albums to be available so your item will be more valuable based on artificial constraints. Maybe you should care more about the actual MUSIC than its value as a collectible.
My pet peeve is when an anniversary of a record I really want comes around and I finally have a chance to buy it at a price I can afford and then the label only releases it on a picture disc..... hate picture discs
Modern picture discs actually aren't that bad, the tech has improved a lot since the old days when they were noisy garbage usually reserved for gimmicks or kids albums
Or, even worse, when they don't put the artist name or album title on the label, and you just have to guess what it is based on the artwork. (Some CDs are like this too.)
Yes! That's one of my favorite mistakes, or when they print the entire track listing on one side and place a picture in the other, and they don't say "this is A, this is B". I have seen a lot of DJ's records marked with a cross made with white marker because someone that never went to a club place a black label wroted with tiniest cursive font he find. Sometimes 4 different mixes are issued on a single record, and they have the stupidity of place black labels on both sides.
When Tyler, the creator's album IGOR dropped they were selling a standard and special edition vinyl with a different cover and colored disc that was only available for a day. I bought the limited edition one and when the record finally shipped (a couple months late I might add) it never got any updates on the tracking number. So I emailed them and said "hey what's up with my record?" and they straight up said that they didn't have any in stock and that I would get my money back. Like why didn't they press enough records that doesn't make sense to me at all. I'm still really pissed of since the record now goes for twice the price on discogs. Like they literally made a pre-order that was only available for a limited time and then they didn't press enough records for everyone who brought the record. Why not just press more records?
that's my motivation...I refuse to buy the Derek and the Dominos album for the highly inflated price of a new pressing...just gimme a $10 used pressing from back in the day
Ha ha! Many people still do. This is the "collector" side of things. It's kind of like saying to a guy who build hot rods.... "remember when people just went to a car lot and buy a car?". He is talking about the "hot rod" record collectors. ...funny thing is...those lps back in day you are talking about are the ones most collectors CRAVE!!!!! lol.
Like the 40's? I think that people have been buying albums for more than the music for a long long time. I mean I was born in 75 but I know that the people in the 70s and 60s we're buying for cool album covers as well.
JuggaloSupreme That’s back when they HAD cool covers. Now the covers are mostly disgusting, which is why I bought blank album covers to replace the most offensive ones.
sometimes the store won't be able to order it, or doesn't have it in stock, so it's easier to buy it online, also with covid and stuff, i had to order the new neck deep and stand atlantic albums online to make sure i got them since the record stores by me were forced to close
My BIGGEST gripe is putting all your cool variants and/or signed vinyl up for pre-order way before the album comes out, before we can even tell if we're going to like it. I've held off before and ended up loving the record, which sucks because now I gotta pay ebay prices for the signed vinyl. AND, I've pulled the trigger and got the signed vinyl pre-order, only to not like the album at all, so I'm stuck with it.
You’re right on about autographed albums, just last week I almost pulled the trigger on something until I saw it was an autographed insert card. Why the hell would I want an insert card? I guess they think it’ll look good clipped to the fridge next to the grocery list.
I bought a signed copy of Benjamin Booker's WITNESS. Great record, but the signature was on a print exact replica of the cover inside the jacket. This I thought was a great solution. Because you can frame the print and it's exactly cover art size at 12x12, and you still have your jacket to keep the record in on the shelf.
i've received albums from Amazon that are in no packaging whatsoever. With mailing label slapped right on to the shrinkwrap. Needless to say, these albums arrived in terrible exterior condition (seam splits, torn covers, dinged corners, etc.). What's up with that!?!?!? It's like mailing out fine china wrapped in newspaper with no box. WTF!
One thing I have learned that is particularly irritating - “remastered from the original master tapes” doesn’t necessarily mean a record is analog sourced. More often than not, they will remaster from the original tapes, sure, BUT that process is done digitally, and they are then pressing the vinyl from that digitally remastered source. It’s a subtle, sleazy record label marketing thing to do, and they do it all the time
And remastered from the original tapes is not necessarily a good thing if the master tapes have degraded with age and/or they do a shitty job at remastering it.
Exactly. Its deceptive practice and should be illegal. Like how the supermarket says "No Added Hormones" to meat. But hey, theres plenty of hormone additive in there from the farmer just the supermarket didnt add hormone, i mean how the hell could they once its a steak on a plate anyways. Its bullshit
Yes, kinda misleading. Although I am constantly surprised how many people seem to be unaware that the vast majority of records (since the 90s and even 80s) are from digital masters. Might as well stop buying records if digital sources aren’t your jam 🤷🏼♂️
Gotta love when they put out an anniversary edition of an album that has sold 10's of millions on vinyl over the years, but they charge $30 or $40 dollars for it!
Yeah that’s a big one too. So many big time bands and certain labels never, EVER repress their records. Maybe once every 10 years or some shit. Insane and makes no sense. So much money to be made.
When record labels Saying you only have a week to order this and then after the week still have it available to all the people who didn’t rush to buy it.
Most of my gripes aren't necessarily the labels but the pressing companies. Crap pressings with warped 180 gram records. So tired of them. Why is it that I can pick up random records from 50 years ago and it's still perfectly flat while new wax comes with warps and imperfections 50% of the time?
The quality of recent vinyl is very concerning. They are getting away with it because quite a lot of people don't even bother unsealing the record (never mind actually playing it) and because not enough of us are complaining about it. I strongly urge anyone who buys a defective record to send it back. It's the only way labels with get the message. DON'T ACCEPT CRAP QUALITY. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR IT!!!!
Lack of quality control and proper support, together with cheaper materials. Back in the day labels cared about the product and the quality of the materials. These days - especially when not so many of a certain product is made - that seems to have gone out the window somewhat.
@@plan7a, back in which day? The 1960s perhaps. By the mid-70s oil was expensive, and LPs became very thin and wobbly. By the eighties Polygram seemed to make almost intentionally crap record pressings. The CD was a Philips copyright, so the Polydor/ Philips labels associated with it had a vested interest in making CDs seem better by comparison. I have no nostalgia for surface noise, warps, off-centre pressings, or having an LP ruined by an idiot with greasy hands getting it out. I liked sleeves for the large-scale artwork or photography, but I miss nothing else about vinyl. I'm sure that makes me a philistine, or a hypnotised sheep, or something. A>A>A is all very well, but the problem is the record itself. $30 for a few songs. They saw you coming.
Right on. I just spent the weekend writing emails to Warp and Juno. 3 Squarepusher records, beautifully presented, all dished. 4/10 jungle singles from the UK - dished and unmixable 'coz one side can't be cued. I've heard that not allowing the vinyl to cool properly after pressing, along with FUCKING SHRINK WRAPPING are a large part of the problem.
The Garth Brooks Legacy Collection did it It also came with CD versions of everything complete with replications of the original CD art instead of cheap modernized labels
I dont like when theres an album that's been re-issued and there's nothing obviously different about the labels/sleeve/etc. to distinguish it from the original pressing aside from the matrix runout.
I have ranted about poor packaging of records so many times I've lost count. I'm so glad you included that in your list. It's so upsetting when I receive a record from what I thought was a reputable record outlet and it comes with corner dings, creases or seam splits due to flimsy or poor packaging. I realize some ebay and discogs private sellers are not as experienced with record packaging so in that case, I try to use ones that have a track record of good quality packaging either from previous direct experience with them or significant positive feedback noting they packaged vinyl well; however, when a big record outlet sends me a record poorly packaged and and has significant dings as a result, it just sends me over the edge. I won't name names but the worst offender, in my experience, is named after a day of the week.
Biggest annoyance? No new releases of back catalogs from certain artists. The masters are out there, but no one is reissuing the stuff. So I have to find a 1st pressing on Discogs (if I’m lucky) and pay hundreds of dollars for it.
My biggest gripes not covered is when labels put 2 discs in a single sleeve not a gatefold...that annoys the shit out of me. Next is when labels, mostly the majors, market the album as “anniversary” or something and charge like $40 and there’s literally nothing special about it but maybe a colored vinyl...I’m looking at you Incubus’s label. Honestly record collecting isn’t even as fun as it used to be for me anymore, it seems bloated af. I still enjoy reading the inners and vinyl is still my go to way to listen, but I’ll steer clear of most of the excess and just buy black vinyl to play. It’s sad.
I've noticed that music from the 90s that was not initially mastered for vinyl sounds like crap when they finally release a vinyl version 20 years later. Some of these are from major labels. They have the money for a proper vinyl master and should not short the fans.
I'm not even a vinyl person, but lately there have been many video game labels only releasing music in vinyl, and the music isn't even altered in any way: it's the ORIGINAL MUSIC from 8-bit or 16-bit games!
Totally agree with everything you said on this video. Spot on. Record companies are taking the mickey out of their customers with their ridiculous pricing and not limited "limited" editions.
One of my biggest pet peeves is lack of a hype sticker indicating what color variant of vinyl you have, especially if you bought multiple copies of different variants at once. Also, having nothing else that indicates that you have a certain variant, like a different barcode or other identifying mark.
I know everyone is disappointed with some record labels I just want to praise one record label and that is Blue Note Tone poet series every album I have bought from them has been an excellent jacket, packaging the vinyl is superb sound quality is outstanding and you can't beat the pricing and when they retire a record they do it. Bernie Grundman does fantastic on the mastering of these Jazz record long out of print.
One thing that pissed me of for some rap songs by earl sweatshirt. Paid however much from his official website the day it was available for preorder. Later it’s available off of amazon for cheaper and amazon customers got it in their hands earlier.
I pre-ordered a limited color variant of a new album on Turntablelab about a year ago. It must have been months before the album actually came out, but the listing had pictures of what the disc looked like. I pre-ordered it and didn't think about it for a while. Later, still before the album released, I saw the artist saying that variant was about to be sold out on their official website. I saw that and felt relieved that I had pre-ordered it so far in advance. Time passes, and the album comes out, but I haven't gotten any word about my record getting shipped. I decide to check through my email to see if I missed the shipping notification, and it turns out about a week before the album released, Turntablelab sent me an email saying that the variant I was going to receive was a completely different color than the one they had advertised. I managed to get my money back, but since the variant I ORDERED had sold out everywhere, I had to wait and buy it off a scalper for about $30 more than I spent initially. I don't know how they managed to advertise a completely different color record than the one they actually had in stock. It's not like they accidentally wrote a different color, they had detailed pictures showing the exact record I was supposed to receive. Something similar happened a year before that where I ordered a record and a few days later they emailed me saying that they actually didn't have that in stock. How do you let me buy something that you don't have? Another order I made from Turntablelab arrived at my house completely smashed like someone had taken the package and slammed it over their knee. I'm willing to bet it was the carrier's fault for the damage, but I expect Turntablelab to provide packaging that can protect the product at the very least. And the process for getting my refund on that order was very tedious. Aside from those instances, they have shipped me maybe 3 or 4 records that played fine, but the top of the record jacket was busted like the record was too big to fit inside. This wasn't a one-time occurrence, these were separate orders. I don't order from them very often, so its amazing how many of my orders they manage to severely mess up.
For the past year or two, I've bought so many "limited edition" records, but the label never tells me how many were pressed... And then I see the same pressing pop up on Urban Outfitters or something. I contacted a label one time about a "limited edition" cassette and asked how many copies were made. They said they don't know. What?? As a collector, it irks me. Also, the point about panic marketing and releasing more pressings later on makes me blood boil. I pre-ordered an album earlier this year assuming it was the coolest/rarest pressing they made, but then literally TWO days after the album released, they started dropping all these "limited" picture discs and tapes after I had been under the impression I already got the best thing. I posted a tweet about my frustration on Twitter and was met with a barrage of teenage fans saying that I shouldn't be complaining. Sorry I'm not using Daddy's credit card like you!
I preordered a blue note record from their website in February, which was scheduled for April. Now with the lockdown it now scheduled for August. Now I forgot if the charge my debit card back in February or will it be debit in august?
Yeah, it really grinds my gears when a company sells out quickly on a limited pressing only to "repress" it again a year later.. it just lowers the value of your score. Especially when the only release is a black vinyl and then all of a sudden a year later you have these really cool color variants.
I never thought I would see the day when $20 to $30 and even up to $50 is considered normal pricing. Having been born in the early 1970's, this blows my mind. Maybe if records were just competitively priced with CD's, that would be good enough. Also, for what some records cost, we should at least get MoFi sleeves, not cheap paper.
Sony likes to advertise the Prince reissues by saying they are limited edition purple vinyl pressings yet they still press them two years after release of the first wave. Not really limited edition are they.
When they don't put the records inside the outer sleeve, so you have to be careful when unpacking. And then find out that the inner sleeves don't fit the outer sleeve that well.
Nice video! #5... totally agree. Why is it so hard to bubble wrap or secure something with cardboard!? Also, I've noticed vaporwave labels are guilty of many of these.
The media mail thing drives me nuts!! I try to buy from the artist as much as possible, but shipping is a huge deterrent. For example, I preordered the Van Weezer album (which was delayed much to my chagrin). The record was 25 bucks, which was not a problem. However, they only offer Priority Mail, and it was $13 to ship. I have had it happen a few times now. It is so annoying. Also, packaging is often ridiculous. I bought a four albums from a band based on our England; therefore, I expected that shipping would take some time and they would pack them well since they were heading overseas. Nope! I received the records four weeks later in a flimsy cardboard mailer and a packing bag. The records were busted in half. After emailing the record label and waiting another month, I received replacements. For the price of overseas shipping, this kind of thing should never happen.
What I think is really annoying is that there are records which are released the first time at the RSD and a year later the label released the same record for everyone to buy for less the price. For example the Elvis Presley The King in the Ring.
Don't order vinyl from Target.com i ordered the double exclusive Beastie Boys on colored vinyl. Came to my house in a big box, no pad or bubble wrap. Luckily the vinyl was ok, had a small bend on one corner but whoever packed it knew nothing.
Too right. That's why I'm tryna scoop up the few albums I like that actually sound best on cassette before the cassette revival goes too far. (Also hoping I get minted when my 200 CDs inevitably come back in fashion too, although I might not have the heart to part with any...)
With mailing, Amazon has gone down hill with their packaging especially coming from my area on the east coast. I haven't had a record show up in a mailer since February, they have come in a box with no packaging just sliding around causing all sorts of damage, to the best one, in a bag (like how you ship a t shirt). Have also seen on FB, a shipping label on the jacket cover. With Amazon going into music in the 90's after books, you think they would have pride but I have resorted to Target and record labels but the pricing is totally stupid sometimes.
I buy vinyl, mostly if it’s something I REALLY like or it’s a vinyl only release, but goddamn this video and most of the comments just reinforce what a shit show it’s become. That’s fine. While you guys all fight each other, I’ve been picking up stacks of CDs for between $1 - $5 each as well as new releases for $10 -$15, ripping them losslessly to FLAC and ALAC, and enjoying my music while you argue about limited editions and worrying about digital intermediates on a format that has an insanely high noise floor in comparison. These are usually the same people who argue that a Pro-Ject Debut is expensive. Vinyl is fun and has certain strengths. Keep those in mind and start caring more about the music rather than losing sleep over your vinyl library’s collectible status. Just because vinyl forces you to slow down and engage deliberately with your music doesn’t mean you can’t do the same with CDs or *gasp* lossless streaming, probably for much cheaper, with the money saved going towards getting a system that can actually take advantage of the quality you can pull out of those formats.
I hate it when labels release a limited edition, and it sells out within seconds. A lot of the blame goes toward the flippers for buying tons of copies, but the labels are directly at fault for allowing it to happen by not imposing a limit on how many a single person can buy.
So frustrating when an album is released in a bespoked version only. Like when they do a very limited version with fine artwork etc, but not an ordinary version. Worst example I can think of is Grace Jones - Hurricane. The only vinyl copy You can buy now on Discogs is a promo with no cover and plaine sleeves for 350£!!! That’s just silly.
I got one of those digital to vinyl records OMG it was shocking quality and you really notice it at the end of the track when you hear the "quiet bit" cut out before the next song.... You would understand what I mean there if you have ever heard a digital to vinyl copy... SECOND THING is I HATE how they cant put a plastic covering over the record like the old days, cover, inner sleeve then plastic cover.... I know vinyl records are made with different material in 2020 but seriously how much would it cost to do this little thing.... Finally I am ok with the cost especially as you get a download code with records now... I never use the download codes as I hate MP3 but it does add that additional value to the cost
Most records today use digital masters. Hell most records pressed twenty years ago did. The engineer just didn’t do a good job on the particular record you’re talking about.
I hate when a gatefold is only half open, like I don’t mind 1 vinyl but they could at least include some booklet, I also hate when they just don’t repress heavily demanded albums
The price for new albums is what really bothered me. Would rather spend money at a used record store. I found some sweet deals and albums with original bonus features such as 3 D glasses . Posters. Etc. One album I bought actually had a ticket stub in it from a concert that the original buyer had gone to. Which I thought was pretty cool .
My biggest irritation are labels that charge ridiculous amounts for colored wax, deluxe packaging, etc., and then give the record a cheap paper sleeve. I've owned so many records that arrived scuffed and dusty from the paper sleeve rubbing and shedding into the record.
that's for you the difference between music lovers and collectors in a nutshell. If by now you still haven't figured out that signed, still sealed, limited colored run etc are BS marketing premiums, that's on you my friend, that's on you. Collectors are what makes the vinyl record nich a potentially bursting bubble, people buying multiple editions of the same record. Sure it's an extra cashcow for the labels, but the industry would be so much healthier without all this BS. In the case of ATobin, he bankrolls his own label, htat is making zero money from the vinyls. He has busniess people who do all the marketing for him, almost outsourced. He's basically making money selling T-shirts, which is depressing AF. Getting a record you own signed is a thing, finding a signed one another. but buying a randomly signed new release for inflated price, wherever the signature is, I'm sorry to say, but you should have known better and spent your money on other records. Other than that, quite a few good points.
Shoutout to Elusive Sound for having the best record mailers in the game. They're basically tanks and should be the industry standard. Also, there's really no reason at all for garbage paper inner sleeves to even be a thing. Every record should come in an poly lined sleeve. I can't imagine that they're so much more expensive.
I wanted to weigh in with my own record label irritant, but I kind of just have to quote the debate scene from Old School. "Um, (I) have no response... That was perfect..."
Charli XCX just did that with her yellow variant of "how im feeling now". They put out 1000 copies and as they sold out so quickly they announced 2000 more.
This is getting to be a problem with bigger labels, but when they offer "test pressings" for sale and they press like, 200 test pressings? That's not a test pressing, that's a variant. Call it a white label variant. *cough cough* Hayley Williams *cough* Even worse when they charge some exorbitant price for it. That Bernie Grundman Bandana test press on Rappcats should not be $100, and they should not be able to keep restocking it.
Yeah, the idea of a test pressing has completely been destroyed. Why would you want to own a white label black variant that there are 200 copies of, for a huge premium? It's insane.
I did 100 white labels on a run many years ago but never called it a "test pressing". I forgot the term now but it was aimed for the club DJs in the pre-laptop days. I shipped them to record pools.
I hate when major labels license great albums by great bands ( sparklehorse, cranberries, etc) to crap reissue groups like Plain or SRC without giving them the proper masters and not regulating how good the pressings are. Plain jist doesn't give a flip. Usually they do it without artist approval ( not illegal..just poor taste). I would also like the option of buying a mofi sleeve or two with my rare limited edition pressing..they could charge $1.00 each and you can pay or not. Also not a fan of 2LP and 3LP in non- gatefold sleeves..charge $2 extra if you have to.
Two things: 1 seam splits. You know the Owel record with the piano in it? Mine was so poorly packed it had a seam split and it was so 8n demand, they couldn’t send me a replacement sleeve! They offered 10% off a future purchase! The other thing that irks me, I use download codes so I can listen on my long bike rides or at the gym. Bought a $35 record with $11-82 as cheapest shipping and the downloads were 128 kbps mp3s! Make it 320kbps AAC or better, it’s no skin off your back! I emailed to complain and they gave me this rubbish of how a student did a study of what the human ear could hear and over 192, they could tell no difference. Give me a break!
Hi Matt! Great video. O think the same as you about the signed vinyl offer. Really not happy when the jacked is not signed (front cover). But we have to think that shipping 200 vinyls to an artist/band’s house is maybe a load of weight to ship, that’s why sending a single box with 200 inserts is easy to sign at their house and send back to label or web site/business. And now with all the Covid situation even worst for someone to move and do onsite at the record label etc. There’s always marketing strategies to get our money as quick as possible. As a record shop owner I think they are taking advantage with the vinyl uprise, over charging etc. Let’s see how they continue with this. Keep it up.
I always must know the source of the record(s) im buying these days. Most of the records ive purchased over the past three years have been released by audiophile labels. Sadly some audiophile labels cheap out on packaging i.e. single pocket lp sleeve for double lp album this just erks me. Another thing some do is housing expensive records in paper sleeves that is a big no no to audiophile pressing collectors. While i think having limited numbered audiophile records is neat, once the albums are sold out the price sky rockets and that happens very fast. Packing records the right way is a must especially for those that have spent a small fortune on an order. I have been burned a few times with split seems but the records played fine and luckily didn't cost too much. Great video.
Pre-ordered 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters' directly from FAs site as I expected it to not be a massive vinyl release. Of course in the weeks that followed like 7 different color variations got released. Lesson learned.
It’s all digital unless it specifically says analog and it’s priced high. Very few records and mastering facilities forgo digital processing of some kind and there are very few musicians recording to tape in the last 20 years. Just get pressings done before the mid-80s and you’ll be safe 🤣
When a big label purchases a small label and buries that label’s catalog jacking up the price and never ever repressing them. This has happened to a lot of Hardcore punk, emo, and Post rock bands that thrive on small labels over the years such as Every Time I Die, Glassjaw, At the Drive In and even Tool.
You just spoke out of my mind. Thank you for spreading our thoughts to a wider range than normal vinyl buyers can do. Lne thing that annoys me is that 30 years ago, there were printed innersleeves with antistatic polyinnersleeves. Can some labels just bring these back? I have a copy of phil collins that has a printed antistatic poly innersleeve and its one of the coolest things i have ever seen. At least it should be a standard to you a blank black or white poly anti static innersleeve. Just to not damage the records. Great video thanks matt greetings from switzerland
Agree with this. Been going through my dad’s and my grandparents records when I have the time. It’s surprising how many old records come with paper/poly inner sleeves. Yet with modern technology all we get is nasty dirts cheap paper sleeves. Yet we’re paying way more. Even with inflation taken into account.
About #5. I have received gatefold records where they put the inner sleeves and the records (in paper sleeves) on the inside (loose) of the gatefold. I took it out of the mailer and PLOP, the records slid out of the inside of the gatefold right on the floor!
Leaving tracks off the vinyl version, even though there is clearly LOTS of space left! Two examples QOTSA - Songs for the deaf reissue (adding 1 bonus, even though there were others on other releases & Neil Young - Roxy: Tonight's the night Live ( a stupid etching on side 4, instead of adding the other tracks taped from that concert). Reissuing some albums from an artists essential back catalogue and ignoring others.....Van Morrison comes to mind! Why have they skipped Saint Dominic's Preview (1972), Hard Nose The Highway (1973) & Veedon Fleece (1974)? All are excellent.
My pet peeve is when you order a record from a label or a store - and it arrives just wrapped in cardboard and 3 rolls of sticky tape that you cannot get in to instead of a proper sturdy mailer. Also, when you order a limited edition of, say 500 copies - and your copy comes with a scratch, split spine/creased sleeve or some other defect. How is one supposed to obtain a perfert replacement?
I’ve recently purchased an album that said it was recorded at 45 RPM on the jacket but it was actually a 33 1/3. Not good. I know the company did offer it at recorded at both speeds. How about printing a jacket for both???
More vids like this! Really informative! Great Vid! Maybe even expound on the topics you talked about on this video. I'm new to Vinyl, it's fun but yeah it certainly is a new world.
I've heard people complain in the rock and metal scene of record labels pressing an album that took up a whole CD and quietly squeezing it onto 1 LP instead of double vinyl. Or taking off like a third of the disc so you either really miss some tracks or it makes the CD look padded out by comparison
I bought a laserdisc for $14. The seller shipped through media mail and did not overcharge me for shipping. That’s really dumb that record labels are overcharging for shipping.
The worst to me is when a label does 10 different colored pressings for a record because there are variant collectors who want to collect everything. it feels like theyre taking advantage of those people. cough* Nuclear Blast cough*
Guess the only thing that bothers me most in buying vinyls or any other music products is....no feedback via official email adress or even half refund from a record i payed for but never recived in life....
I like DataDiscs method with Limited Editions They always do a special version in a certain kind of colored vinyl that's only available during pre-orders and made to order. Once those pre-orders are filled that's it and they won't press anymore copies in that color. Any further runs will be in the standard color options
Thank you for this video. It's all true and all frustrating. Give em hell Matt! Let me throw out one that pissed me off. I bought supposedly a limited record store day Jeff Tweedy solo record. I stood in line hours to get it. It was an RSD exclusive. Only to then be screwed a few month later because that album got put in a boxset. So there was a nicer box variant that came out and all I got was the single LP. Which didn't even have a lyrics sheet for fucks sake. It was the most bare bones package that I scrambled to get because it was 'RSD exclusive'.
I find the cost of some records (CDs, DVDs etc also) can be far too expensive these days and the prices don't seem to change as much as they used to - sales etc. Having such a limited run of some items is fine, but not when so many different versions are brought out. Standard, expanded, super deluxe; all terms which are used too much - and often including only one or two extra tracks, for what is most certainly not worth the extra money sometimes. Compilations of previous material which cost so much more than they ought, when they are simply represses also are a bug-bear of mine. Live versions and remixes that are not always showing the original copyrights/labels (or the original performance/release dates).
I did recently see the owner of a label I like say on social media that he stopped doing media mail because the number of emails he had to deal with complaining about how long the records were taking arrive was too big of a hassle. He also stopped doing it before tracking was available with media mail and he stopped hearing complaints that the album was never delivered. I would much rather have mm, but if it does mean the label has fewer problems with customers I can understand why they wouldn't want to deal with it.
I hate it when the songs are cramped in on one LP instead of two, and in order to do so they cut down the bass and the recording level. Many record label did this.
Great topic! I would add also the expiration date on download codes, which I seriously never understood. It is seriously cheap to store files on the cloud nowadays, so why to expire them? Regarding the signed records, although I have plenty of records signed on the cover, I do prefer signatures on inner sleeves, inserts, or even on the back. Especially in concerts the artists are usually busy, they don't take care of the signatures, so they end up destroying the cover. There have been many cases though where the artist was kind enough to take their time speaking to the people, and when it comes to signing, they asked where to sign, even how big I want the signature. That's not that often though, so I prefer not to risk it. The cover is a piece of art as well, and I really care about having it clean (or with a proper signature) when displaying it. Another reason is that when I replace a record (eg a reissue with a first release) I tend to keep the signed inner sleeve. But I do get your point about that specific record though, I would also expect the cover signed in that case. I don't think I've seen a pre-order of a signed record with an inner sleeve signature actually.
Too Many Records they wouldn’t release certain jackets for a box set we were doing and we couldn’t take the records home until it was..it probably was protocol but still BS.. there are more too I’ll think of them and get back to ya!
pressing the cd master to vinyl is a real middle-finger to the public. You can hear the massive limiting and clipping they used for the cd and its a care factor of ZERO. Just look at the last Ed Sheerhan Divide album its distorted to hell all over it and flat as a pancake sonically. Whats the point.
Amazing one Matt! I have another point to add, which I know is a bit unfair but: those labels that do not change anything on their represses. Owning a 1st pressing becomes just pointless (collecting wise) because all the presses are the same... I know it's totally legit, they never advert a ltd.ed of sorts but.. it'a pity. Take care, cheers from Italy, Boris
I totally agree with number 7. Once a soundtrack that i loved came out on cd and i scooped it up without thinking much of it cause it is a band i collect. Then a few weeks later, they release a special edition version of that same soundtrack, but with a ton of extras and a bigger package. The worst part is, there is a "normal" version in the special edition, so if they had just published the special edition first then everything would be fine, but they just had to wait till everyones albums had already arived to then release the special edition for an extra cash grab
#5 improper package is the worst. Universal seems to do this. They're always damaged and even unsealed from all the sliding around in non-LP mailers. Everyone else seems to figure it out...yeah, I paid premium for a new record to arrive from the source damaged and unsealed. And no, not just once...every single time.
Once a band i like put a limited edition sling bag on their band camp and it said limited to 10 but when you looked at their taiwanese website the bag was limited to 1000 and costed a lot less
The multiple variants at a later time is so annoying. I can deal with an indie or exclusive pressing to another vendor but when it's on the artists site, I just can't understand it.
Every record company should watch this video. I hate when you buy a double album and they don't make it a gatefold sleeve.
I agree..
Probably my biggest pet peeve. I can’t stand it. So. So cheap.
One of the worst examples of this is “Mezzanine” by Massive Attack. Like, what’s the point of making a double LP with cover art that continues on the back if you’re not going to make it a gatefold? Huge missed opportunity.
Californication is a double LP with a single sleeve :/
non gatefold double lps exist???
I hate when they put those garbage paper sleeves for records.
I bought a Michael Jackson double LP a few days ago and it didn’t even come with sleeves
I hate that too. Unfortunately, you’re not going to stop greed, which is the reason they do this. They probably get paper sleeves for less than a penny each, since they order and use so many.
I get Diskeeper sleeves from Sleeve City. Their regular inner sleeves are just like the MoFi sleeves (except sturdier), and cost about a couple dollars less per pack than the MoFi sleeves. Personally, I use their Ultimate Diskeeper sleeves which cost a little more but are worth it in my book.
GiggityGoo205 The epitome of cheap!!! What’s next-no outer sleeve???
GiggityGoo205 which album? The Bad and Dangerous albums have their own special sleeves
couldn't agree more and its brand new but you take the record out and get all them hair marks all over the lp from the paper makes me so mad.
When double LPs are a single pocket not a gatefold. Craft did this, Riding Easy did this, Bomp did this...come on. You're all excellent labels. Do better.
I agree with putting double albuns in single pocket album sleeves it can and does cause premature ring wear, top and bottom seem splitting. Good thick gate fold sleeves for double albums is a must!
YES!! I friggin hate this. Just cheapens the entire experience. HUGE pet peeve of mine.
DataDiscs packaged A THREE LP SET that way with their Sonic CD soundtrack and it pissed me off so bad they couldn't even be assed to make a trifold for something sold as a premium collector's item
yea the Anderson Paak Malibu vinyl was 2x discs in 1x sleeve. Cheap
D: to dxxxxxxxx.
The 6 month "preorders" really piss me off....
Record Label: Let's see how many people will buy this, and then we'll make that many copies and call it Limited Edition
Pricks..
I understand what you mean, but 6 month preorders are actually very useful to the artists. They can 1. gauge the interest on the album and know where and which venues to book so the tour is announced around the album release, 2. fund the album release itself or the tour without having to touch your "old" money.
Who cares? Would you rather them artificially limit it for no valid reason? Not to mention you’re literally asking for fewer albums to be available so your item will be more valuable based on artificial constraints. Maybe you should care more about the actual MUSIC than its value as a collectible.
Pre orders are so beneficial for the industry that they cannot get rid of them
You guys defending this should learn the difference between a General Release in black wax and a LIMITED EDITION
My pet peeve is when an anniversary of a record I really want comes around and I finally have a chance to buy it at a price I can afford and then the label only releases it on a picture disc..... hate picture discs
Modern picture discs actually aren't that bad, the tech has improved a lot since the old days when they were noisy garbage usually reserved for gimmicks or kids albums
When bands/labels/whoever don’t clearly state A+B sides on the centre labels. Or when an LP is pressed at 45rpm and it’s not indicated.
I feel this. my least favorite thing is trying to remember the a side based solely on my memory of the image on the label
some of the MTV unplugged do this randomly pressed at 45rpm and not indicated anywhere!
Or, even worse, when they don't put the artist name or album title on the label, and you just have to guess what it is based on the artwork. (Some CDs are like this too.)
You can usually tell by the matrix if you look closely but I agree, it is irritating.
Yes! That's one of my favorite mistakes, or when they print the entire track listing on one side and place a picture in the other, and they don't say "this is A, this is B".
I have seen a lot of DJ's records marked with a cross made with white marker because someone that never went to a club place a black label wroted with tiniest cursive font he find. Sometimes 4 different mixes are issued on a single record, and they have the stupidity of place black labels on both sides.
Whoa spitting fire and calling people out. Thanks for sticking up for the collectors Matt!
Not by name, but I want to have people keep their eyes open!
Did you call out the weekend? What do you mean not by name?
When Tyler, the creator's album IGOR dropped they were selling a standard and special edition vinyl with a different cover and colored disc that was only available for a day. I bought the limited edition one and when the record finally shipped (a couple months late I might add) it never got any updates on the tracking number. So I emailed them and said "hey what's up with my record?" and they straight up said that they didn't have any in stock and that I would get my money back. Like why didn't they press enough records that doesn't make sense to me at all. I'm still really pissed of since the record now goes for twice the price on discogs. Like they literally made a pre-order that was only available for a limited time and then they didn't press enough records for everyone who brought the record. Why not just press more records?
Remember when people went to record stores to buy records just for the music?
that's my motivation...I refuse to buy the Derek and the Dominos album for the highly inflated price of a new pressing...just gimme a $10 used pressing from back in the day
Ha ha! Many people still do. This is the "collector" side of things. It's kind of like saying to a guy who build hot rods.... "remember when people just went to a car lot and buy a car?". He is talking about the "hot rod" record collectors.
...funny thing is...those lps back in day you are talking about are the ones most collectors CRAVE!!!!! lol.
Like the 40's? I think that people have been buying albums for more than the music for a long long time. I mean I was born in 75 but I know that the people in the 70s and 60s we're buying for cool album covers as well.
JuggaloSupreme That’s back when they HAD cool covers. Now the covers are mostly disgusting, which is why I bought blank album covers to replace the most offensive ones.
sometimes the store won't be able to order it, or doesn't have it in stock, so it's easier to buy it online, also with covid and stuff, i had to order the new neck deep and stand atlantic albums online to make sure i got them since the record stores by me were forced to close
My BIGGEST gripe is putting all your cool variants and/or signed vinyl up for pre-order way before the album comes out, before we can even tell if we're going to like it. I've held off before and ended up loving the record, which sucks because now I gotta pay ebay prices for the signed vinyl. AND, I've pulled the trigger and got the signed vinyl pre-order, only to not like the album at all, so I'm stuck with it.
You’re right on about autographed albums, just last week I almost pulled the trigger on something until I saw it was an autographed insert card. Why the hell would I want an insert card? I guess they think it’ll look good clipped to the fridge next to the grocery list.
lmao
I bought a signed copy of Benjamin Booker's WITNESS. Great record, but the signature was on a print exact replica of the cover inside the jacket. This I thought was a great solution. Because you can frame the print and it's exactly cover art size at 12x12, and you still have your jacket to keep the record in on the shelf.
i've received albums from Amazon that are in no packaging whatsoever. With mailing label slapped right on to the shrinkwrap. Needless to say, these albums arrived in terrible exterior condition (seam splits, torn covers, dinged corners, etc.). What's up with that!?!?!? It's like mailing out fine china wrapped in newspaper with no box. WTF!
Un f-ing believable! That sucks. I'm guessing it was a 3rd party seller?
One thing I have learned that is particularly irritating - “remastered from the original master tapes” doesn’t necessarily mean a record is analog sourced. More often than not, they will remaster from the original tapes, sure, BUT that process is done digitally, and they are then pressing the vinyl from that digitally remastered source. It’s a subtle, sleazy record label marketing thing to do, and they do it all the time
Exactly.
And remastered from the original tapes is not necessarily a good thing if the master tapes have degraded with age and/or they do a shitty job at remastering it.
Exactly. Its deceptive practice and should be illegal. Like how the supermarket says "No Added Hormones" to meat. But hey, theres plenty of hormone additive in there from the farmer just the supermarket didnt add hormone, i mean how the hell could they once its a steak on a plate anyways. Its bullshit
Yes, kinda misleading. Although I am constantly surprised how many people seem to be unaware that the vast majority of records (since the 90s and even 80s) are from digital masters. Might as well stop buying records if digital sources aren’t your jam 🤷🏼♂️
selling a record as “signed edition” which ends up just being a signed postcard thrown inside.
Gotta love when they put out an anniversary edition of an album that has sold 10's of millions on vinyl over the years, but they charge $30 or $40 dollars for it!
when the innersleeves are too big for the jacket
Yeah that is a nightmare of itself
When the VINYL is too big for the jacket, Tip on jackets are great but not when you need the strength of Thor to jam the vinyl into it.
When record labels just don’t repress their past catalogue, I guess patience is virtue.
It boggles my mind how much money they're leaving on the table. Especially majors.
That's why daupe is lowkey highkey trash
@@henryaltman3900 lol Daupe's 2016 releases & earlier are going for used car prices now
Yeah that’s a big one too. So many big time bands and certain labels never, EVER repress their records. Maybe once every 10 years or some shit. Insane and makes no sense. So much money to be made.
Still waiting on Tool to release Lateralus on plain vinyl instead of that horrible picture disc the sounds like it was pressed on concrete
When record labels Saying you only have a week to order this and then after the week still have it available to all the people who didn’t rush to buy it.
Panic marketing. It's the worst.
Most of my gripes aren't necessarily the labels but the pressing companies. Crap pressings with warped 180 gram records. So tired of them. Why is it that I can pick up random records from 50 years ago and it's still perfectly flat while new wax comes with warps and imperfections 50% of the time?
“Wax” how unique and profound. Gag
The quality of recent vinyl is very concerning. They are getting away with it because quite a lot of people don't even bother unsealing the record (never mind actually playing it) and because not enough of us are complaining about it. I strongly urge anyone who buys a defective record to send it back. It's the only way labels with get the message. DON'T ACCEPT CRAP QUALITY. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR IT!!!!
Lack of quality control and proper support, together with cheaper materials. Back in the day labels cared about the product and the quality of the materials. These days - especially when not so many of a certain product is made - that seems to have gone out the window somewhat.
@@plan7a, back in which day? The 1960s perhaps. By the mid-70s oil was expensive, and LPs became very thin and wobbly. By the eighties Polygram seemed to make almost intentionally crap record pressings. The CD was a Philips copyright, so the Polydor/ Philips labels associated with it had a vested interest in making CDs seem better by comparison.
I have no nostalgia for surface noise, warps, off-centre pressings, or having an LP ruined by an idiot with greasy hands getting it out. I liked sleeves for the large-scale artwork or photography, but I miss nothing else about vinyl. I'm sure that makes me a philistine, or a hypnotised sheep, or something. A>A>A is all very well, but the problem is the record itself.
$30 for a few songs. They saw you coming.
Right on. I just spent the weekend writing emails to Warp and Juno. 3 Squarepusher records, beautifully presented, all dished. 4/10 jungle singles from the UK - dished and unmixable 'coz one side can't be cued. I've heard that not allowing the vinyl to cool properly after pressing, along with FUCKING SHRINK WRAPPING are a large part of the problem.
at one time when buy a vinyl record they included the CD copy in the jacket as well, I thought that was a great idea but I have not seen that recently
True, I haven't seen that for ages. Lots of new releases were doing this a few years ago.
The Garth Brooks Legacy Collection did it
It also came with CD versions of everything complete with replications of the original CD art instead of cheap modernized labels
@@bananagumboot87 - "A few years" = "Ages"?
I bought a new copy of Band on the Run by Wings in 2019 and it came with a download code
I dont like when theres an album that's been re-issued and there's nothing obviously different about the labels/sleeve/etc. to distinguish it from the original pressing aside from the matrix runout.
I have ranted about poor packaging of records so many times I've lost count. I'm so glad you included that in your list. It's so upsetting when I receive a record from what I thought was a reputable record outlet and it comes with corner dings, creases or seam splits due to flimsy or poor packaging. I realize some ebay and discogs private sellers are not as experienced with record packaging so in that case, I try to use ones that have a track record of good quality packaging either from previous direct experience with them or significant positive feedback noting they packaged vinyl well; however, when a big record outlet sends me a record poorly packaged and and has significant dings as a result, it just sends me over the edge. I won't name names but the worst offender, in my experience, is named after a day of the week.
Biggest annoyance?
No new releases of back catalogs from certain artists. The masters are out there, but no one is reissuing the stuff. So I have to find a 1st pressing on Discogs (if I’m lucky) and pay hundreds of dollars for it.
Many major labels put out way to many versions of an album. They are forcing fans to shell out extra money for purposes of profit , not art.
No one is "forcing" anyone to buy anything.
My biggest gripes not covered is when labels put 2 discs in a single sleeve not a gatefold...that annoys the shit out of me. Next is when labels, mostly the majors, market the album as “anniversary” or something and charge like $40 and there’s literally nothing special about it but maybe a colored vinyl...I’m looking at you Incubus’s label.
Honestly record collecting isn’t even as fun as it used to be for me anymore, it seems bloated af. I still enjoy reading the inners and vinyl is still my go to way to listen, but I’ll steer clear of most of the excess and just buy black vinyl to play. It’s sad.
I've noticed that music from the 90s that was not initially mastered for vinyl sounds like crap when they finally release a vinyl version 20 years later. Some of these are from major labels. They have the money for a proper vinyl master and should not short the fans.
I'm not even a vinyl person, but lately there have been many video game labels only releasing music in vinyl, and the music isn't even altered in any way: it's the ORIGINAL MUSIC from 8-bit or 16-bit games!
Totally agree with everything you said on this video. Spot on. Record companies are taking the mickey out of their customers with their ridiculous pricing and not limited "limited" editions.
One of my biggest pet peeves is lack of a hype sticker indicating what color variant of vinyl you have, especially if you bought multiple copies of different variants at once. Also, having nothing else that indicates that you have a certain variant, like a different barcode or other identifying mark.
I know everyone is disappointed with some record labels I just want to praise one record label and that is Blue Note Tone poet series every album I have bought from them has been an excellent jacket, packaging the vinyl is superb sound quality is outstanding and you can't beat the pricing and when they retire a record they do it. Bernie Grundman does fantastic on the mastering of these Jazz record long out of print.
Totally agree 👍
Jazz and Vinyl go together like Peanut Butter and Chocolate!
The limited amount of copies really sucks. Frustrating you can't get The Crow Soundtrack for a fair price.
I had it in my hand at RSD and put it back. It was the only record I got that year that jumped up in price that much lol
One thing that pissed me of for some rap songs by earl sweatshirt. Paid however much from his official website the day it was available for preorder. Later it’s available off of amazon for cheaper and amazon customers got it in their hands earlier.
This happen with hip hop albums a lot I've noticed.
I pre-ordered a limited color variant of a new album on Turntablelab about a year ago. It must have been months before the album actually came out, but the listing had pictures of what the disc looked like. I pre-ordered it and didn't think about it for a while. Later, still before the album released, I saw the artist saying that variant was about to be sold out on their official website. I saw that and felt relieved that I had pre-ordered it so far in advance. Time passes, and the album comes out, but I haven't gotten any word about my record getting shipped. I decide to check through my email to see if I missed the shipping notification, and it turns out about a week before the album released, Turntablelab sent me an email saying that the variant I was going to receive was a completely different color than the one they had advertised. I managed to get my money back, but since the variant I ORDERED had sold out everywhere, I had to wait and buy it off a scalper for about $30 more than I spent initially.
I don't know how they managed to advertise a completely different color record than the one they actually had in stock. It's not like they accidentally wrote a different color, they had detailed pictures showing the exact record I was supposed to receive.
Something similar happened a year before that where I ordered a record and a few days later they emailed me saying that they actually didn't have that in stock. How do you let me buy something that you don't have?
Another order I made from Turntablelab arrived at my house completely smashed like someone had taken the package and slammed it over their knee. I'm willing to bet it was the carrier's fault for the damage, but I expect Turntablelab to provide packaging that can protect the product at the very least. And the process for getting my refund on that order was very tedious.
Aside from those instances, they have shipped me maybe 3 or 4 records that played fine, but the top of the record jacket was busted like the record was too big to fit inside. This wasn't a one-time occurrence, these were separate orders.
I don't order from them very often, so its amazing how many of my orders they manage to severely mess up.
Seeing a better variant release after I've already purchased one is by far the most frustrating thing here. Totally devalues the one I got
For the past year or two, I've bought so many "limited edition" records, but the label never tells me how many were pressed... And then I see the same pressing pop up on Urban Outfitters or something. I contacted a label one time about a "limited edition" cassette and asked how many copies were made. They said they don't know. What?? As a collector, it irks me.
Also, the point about panic marketing and releasing more pressings later on makes me blood boil. I pre-ordered an album earlier this year assuming it was the coolest/rarest pressing they made, but then literally TWO days after the album released, they started dropping all these "limited" picture discs and tapes after I had been under the impression I already got the best thing. I posted a tweet about my frustration on Twitter and was met with a barrage of teenage fans saying that I shouldn't be complaining. Sorry I'm not using Daddy's credit card like you!
I preordered a blue note record from their website in February, which was scheduled for April. Now with the lockdown it now scheduled for August. Now I forgot if the charge my debit card back in February or will it be debit in august?
Nothing worse than having a good mastering job wasted by having it pressed at a crappy pressing plant.
Yeah, it really grinds my gears when a company sells out quickly on a limited pressing only to "repress" it again a year later.. it just lowers the value of your score. Especially when the only release is a black vinyl and then all of a sudden a year later you have these really cool color variants.
I never thought I would see the day when $20 to $30 and even up to $50 is considered normal pricing. Having been born in the early 1970's, this blows my mind. Maybe if records were just competitively priced with CD's, that would be good enough. Also, for what some records cost, we should at least get MoFi sleeves, not cheap paper.
I Hate that Music records our always sold out immediately. I also hate when buying new record it Is warped or sounds like crap
Sony likes to advertise the Prince reissues by saying they are limited edition purple vinyl pressings yet they still press them two years after release of the first wave. Not really limited edition are they.
they're limited...to 10k copies...
Byt hey, it is a limited edition, they just haven't stopped pressing it yet... 🙄
When they don't put the records inside the outer sleeve, so you have to be careful when unpacking. And then find out that the inner sleeves don't fit the outer sleeve that well.
Nice video! #5... totally agree. Why is it so hard to bubble wrap or secure something with cardboard!?
Also, I've noticed vaporwave labels are guilty of many of these.
The media mail thing drives me nuts!! I try to buy from the artist as much as possible, but shipping is a huge deterrent. For example, I preordered the Van Weezer album (which was delayed much to my chagrin). The record was 25 bucks, which was not a problem. However, they only offer Priority Mail, and it was $13 to ship. I have had it happen a few times now. It is so annoying.
Also, packaging is often ridiculous. I bought a four albums from a band based on our England; therefore, I expected that shipping would take some time and they would pack them well since they were heading overseas. Nope! I received the records four weeks later in a flimsy cardboard mailer and a packing bag. The records were busted in half. After emailing the record label and waiting another month, I received replacements. For the price of overseas shipping, this kind of thing should never happen.
What I think is really annoying is that there are records which are released the first time at the RSD and a year later the label released the same record for everyone to buy for less the price. For example the Elvis Presley The King in the Ring.
Don't order vinyl from Target.com i ordered the double exclusive Beastie Boys on colored vinyl. Came to my house in a big box, no pad or bubble wrap. Luckily the vinyl was ok, had a small bend on one corner but whoever packed it knew nothing.
1. overcharging .. hipsters make everything expensive
Too right. That's why I'm tryna scoop up the few albums I like that actually sound best on cassette before the cassette revival goes too far. (Also hoping I get minted when my 200 CDs inevitably come back in fashion too, although I might not have the heart to part with any...)
Number 8 : using thin paper sleeves instead of adequate polylined inner sleeves.
With mailing, Amazon has gone down hill with their packaging especially coming from my area on the east coast. I haven't had a record show up in a mailer since February, they have come in a box with no packaging just sliding around causing all sorts of damage, to the best one, in a bag (like how you ship a t shirt). Have also seen on FB, a shipping label on the jacket cover. With Amazon going into music in the 90's after books, you think they would have pride but I have resorted to Target and record labels but the pricing is totally stupid sometimes.
I buy vinyl, mostly if it’s something I REALLY like or it’s a vinyl only release, but goddamn this video and most of the comments just reinforce what a shit show it’s become. That’s fine. While you guys all fight each other, I’ve been picking up stacks of CDs for between $1 - $5 each as well as new releases for $10 -$15, ripping them losslessly to FLAC and ALAC, and enjoying my music while you argue about limited editions and worrying about digital intermediates on a format that has an insanely high noise floor in comparison. These are usually the same people who argue that a Pro-Ject Debut is expensive.
Vinyl is fun and has certain strengths. Keep those in mind and start caring more about the music rather than losing sleep over your vinyl library’s collectible status. Just because vinyl forces you to slow down and engage deliberately with your music doesn’t mean you can’t do the same with CDs or *gasp* lossless streaming, probably for much cheaper, with the money saved going towards getting a system that can actually take advantage of the quality you can pull out of those formats.
I hate it when labels release a limited edition, and it sells out within seconds. A lot of the blame goes toward the flippers for buying tons of copies, but the labels are directly at fault for allowing it to happen by not imposing a limit on how many a single person can buy.
Yeah, that will solve the problem, because having sock accounts isn’t a thing scalpers already aren’t already aware of or ready for.
@@abstractheory1 Would using a captcha solve that problem?
#4 SO TRUE! shipping costs are such a skim job
So frustrating when an album is released in a bespoked version only. Like when they do a very limited version with fine artwork etc, but not an ordinary version. Worst example I can think of is Grace Jones - Hurricane. The only vinyl copy You can buy now on Discogs is a promo with no cover and plaine sleeves for 350£!!! That’s just silly.
I got one of those digital to vinyl records OMG it was shocking quality and you really notice it at the end of the track when you hear the "quiet bit" cut out before the next song.... You would understand what I mean there if you have ever heard a digital to vinyl copy... SECOND THING is I HATE how they cant put a plastic covering over the record like the old days, cover, inner sleeve then plastic cover.... I know vinyl records are made with different material in 2020 but seriously how much would it cost to do this little thing.... Finally I am ok with the cost especially as you get a download code with records now... I never use the download codes as I hate MP3 but it does add that additional value to the cost
MP3 sucks, I don't use the codes either, if I want to transfer the record, it's tape
Most records today use digital masters. Hell most records pressed twenty years ago did. The engineer just didn’t do a good job on the particular record you’re talking about.
I hate when a gatefold is only half open, like I don’t mind 1 vinyl but they could at least include some booklet, I also hate when they just don’t repress heavily demanded albums
lol "limited edition" is always 1500 pressings? (label needs to make a new stamper after that)
It varies
I've seen 2500, 1000, and I have at least one that was only 500 (An Attack on Titan Soundtrack on Green Vinyl)
There are some that don't need to be replaced until after 50,000 pressings.
nah they run stampers wayyy past that. Yes its "meant" to be swapped around then but the cost-cutting shifty bastards run up to 10k and past
The price for new albums is what really bothered me. Would rather spend money at a used record store. I found some sweet deals and albums with original bonus features such as 3 D glasses . Posters. Etc. One album I bought actually had a ticket stub in it from a concert that the original buyer had gone to. Which I thought was pretty cool .
Also, Matador Records is awesome. They will ship a sealed record outside the jacket if you ask them to upon checkout.
My biggest irritation are labels that charge ridiculous amounts for colored wax, deluxe packaging, etc., and then give the record a cheap paper sleeve. I've owned so many records that arrived scuffed and dusty from the paper sleeve rubbing and shedding into the record.
that's for you the difference between music lovers and collectors in a nutshell. If by now you still haven't figured out that signed, still sealed, limited colored run etc are BS marketing premiums, that's on you my friend, that's on you.
Collectors are what makes the vinyl record nich a potentially bursting bubble, people buying multiple editions of the same record. Sure it's an extra cashcow for the labels, but the industry would be so much healthier without all this BS. In the case of ATobin, he bankrolls his own label, htat is making zero money from the vinyls. He has busniess people who do all the marketing for him, almost outsourced. He's basically making money selling T-shirts, which is depressing AF.
Getting a record you own signed is a thing, finding a signed one another. but buying a randomly signed new release for inflated price, wherever the signature is, I'm sorry to say, but you should have known better and spent your money on other records.
Other than that, quite a few good points.
Can’t upvote this enough. When collectors start dictating a market it quickly turns to shit.
Shoutout to Elusive Sound for having the best record mailers in the game. They're basically tanks and should be the industry standard. Also, there's really no reason at all for garbage paper inner sleeves to even be a thing. Every record should come in an poly lined sleeve. I can't imagine that they're so much more expensive.
I love those Frankensteined mofos.
I wanted to weigh in with my own record label irritant, but I kind of just have to quote the debate scene from Old School. "Um, (I) have no response... That was perfect..."
hahahahaha
Charli XCX just did that with her yellow variant of "how im feeling now". They put out 1000 copies and as they sold out so quickly they announced 2000 more.
This is getting to be a problem with bigger labels, but when they offer "test pressings" for sale and they press like, 200 test pressings? That's not a test pressing, that's a variant. Call it a white label variant. *cough cough* Hayley Williams *cough* Even worse when they charge some exorbitant price for it. That Bernie Grundman Bandana test press on Rappcats should not be $100, and they should not be able to keep restocking it.
Yeah, the idea of a test pressing has completely been destroyed. Why would you want to own a white label black variant that there are 200 copies of, for a huge premium? It's insane.
I did 100 white labels on a run many years ago but never called it a "test pressing". I forgot the term now but it was aimed for the club DJs in the pre-laptop days. I shipped them to record pools.
I hate when major labels license great albums by great bands ( sparklehorse, cranberries, etc) to crap reissue groups like Plain or SRC without giving them the proper masters and not regulating how good the pressings are. Plain jist doesn't give a flip. Usually they do it without artist approval ( not illegal..just poor taste). I would also like the option of buying a mofi sleeve or two with my rare limited edition pressing..they could charge $1.00 each and you can pay or not. Also not a fan of 2LP and 3LP in non- gatefold sleeves..charge $2 extra if you have to.
Two things: 1 seam splits. You know the Owel record with the piano in it? Mine was so poorly packed it had a seam split and it was so 8n demand, they couldn’t send me a replacement sleeve! They offered 10% off a future purchase! The other thing that irks me, I use download codes so I can listen on my long bike rides or at the gym. Bought a $35 record with $11-82 as cheapest shipping and the downloads were 128 kbps mp3s! Make it 320kbps AAC or better, it’s no skin off your back! I emailed to complain and they gave me this rubbish of how a student did a study of what the human ear could hear and over 192, they could tell no difference. Give me a break!
Hi Matt! Great video.
O think the same as you about the signed vinyl offer. Really not happy when the jacked is not signed (front cover).
But we have to think that shipping 200 vinyls to an artist/band’s house is maybe a load of weight to ship, that’s why sending a single box with 200 inserts is easy to sign at their house and send back to label or web site/business.
And now with all the Covid situation even worst for someone to move and do onsite at the record label etc.
There’s always marketing strategies to get our money as quick as possible.
As a record shop owner I think they are taking advantage with the vinyl uprise, over charging etc.
Let’s see how they continue with this.
Keep it up.
I always must know the source of the record(s) im buying these days. Most of the records ive purchased over the past three years have been released by audiophile labels. Sadly some audiophile labels cheap out on packaging i.e. single pocket lp sleeve for double lp album this just erks me. Another thing some do is housing expensive records in paper sleeves that is a big no no to audiophile pressing collectors. While i think having limited numbered audiophile records is neat, once the albums are sold out the price sky rockets and that happens very fast. Packing records the right way is a must especially for those that have spent a small fortune on an order. I have been burned a few times with split seems but the records played fine and luckily didn't cost too much. Great video.
Pre-ordered 'Fetch the Bolt Cutters' directly from FAs site as I expected it to not be a massive vinyl release. Of course in the weeks that followed like 7 different color variations got released. Lesson learned.
Preach it brotha. The vague and oftentimes intentionally misleading claims about mastering are the worst. I wanna know what I’m feeding my ears!
100
It’s all digital unless it specifically says analog and it’s priced high. Very few records and mastering facilities forgo digital processing of some kind and there are very few musicians recording to tape in the last 20 years. Just get pressings done before the mid-80s and you’ll be safe 🤣
When a big label purchases a small label and buries that label’s catalog jacking up the price and never ever repressing them. This has happened to a lot of Hardcore punk, emo, and Post rock bands that thrive on small labels over the years such as Every Time I Die, Glassjaw, At the Drive In and even Tool.
You just spoke out of my mind. Thank you for spreading our thoughts to a wider range than normal vinyl buyers can do. Lne thing that annoys me is that 30 years ago, there were printed innersleeves with antistatic polyinnersleeves. Can some labels just bring these back? I have a copy of phil collins that has a printed antistatic poly innersleeve and its one of the coolest things i have ever seen. At least it should be a standard to you a blank black or white poly anti static innersleeve. Just to not damage the records. Great video thanks matt greetings from switzerland
That was my goal :)
Agree with this. Been going through my dad’s and my grandparents records when I have the time. It’s surprising how many old records come with paper/poly inner sleeves. Yet with modern technology all we get is nasty dirts cheap paper sleeves. Yet we’re paying way more. Even with inflation taken into account.
About #5. I have received gatefold records where they put the inner sleeves and the records (in paper sleeves) on the inside (loose) of the gatefold. I took it out of the mailer and PLOP, the records slid out of the inside of the gatefold right on the floor!
When labels change album covers or plaster "remaster" or something stupid directly on the cover
Leaving tracks off the vinyl version, even though there is clearly LOTS of space left! Two examples QOTSA - Songs for the deaf reissue (adding 1 bonus, even though there were others on other releases & Neil Young - Roxy: Tonight's the night Live ( a stupid etching on side 4, instead of adding the other tracks taped from that concert).
Reissuing some albums from an artists essential back catalogue and ignoring others.....Van Morrison comes to mind! Why have they skipped Saint Dominic's Preview (1972), Hard Nose The Highway (1973) & Veedon Fleece (1974)? All are excellent.
My pet peeve is when you order a record from a label or a store - and it arrives just wrapped in cardboard and 3 rolls of sticky tape that you cannot get in to instead of a proper sturdy mailer.
Also, when you order a limited edition of, say 500 copies - and your copy comes with a scratch, split spine/creased sleeve or some other defect. How is one supposed to obtain a perfert replacement?
I’ve recently purchased an album that said it was recorded at 45 RPM on the jacket but it was actually a 33 1/3. Not good. I know the company did offer it at recorded at both speeds. How about printing a jacket for both???
More vids like this! Really informative! Great Vid! Maybe even expound on the topics you talked about on this video. I'm new to Vinyl, it's fun but yeah it certainly is a new world.
I've heard people complain in the rock and metal scene of record labels pressing an album that took up a whole CD and quietly squeezing it onto 1 LP instead of double vinyl. Or taking off like a third of the disc so you either really miss some tracks or it makes the CD look padded out by comparison
I hate when you buy a record from a umg store and its in stores like Barnes and noble before you get it
I bought a laserdisc for $14. The seller shipped through media mail and did not overcharge me for shipping. That’s really dumb that record labels are overcharging for shipping.
The worst to me is when a label does 10 different colored pressings for a record because there are variant collectors who want to collect everything. it feels like theyre taking advantage of those people. cough* Nuclear Blast cough*
Guess the only thing that bothers me most in buying vinyls or any other music products is....no feedback via official email adress or even half refund from a record i payed for but never recived in life....
I like DataDiscs method with Limited Editions
They always do a special version in a certain kind of colored vinyl that's only available during pre-orders and made to order. Once those pre-orders are filled that's it and they won't press anymore copies in that color.
Any further runs will be in the standard color options
Thank you for this video. It's all true and all frustrating. Give em hell Matt!
Let me throw out one that pissed me off. I bought supposedly a limited record store day Jeff Tweedy solo record. I stood in line hours to get it. It was an RSD exclusive. Only to then be screwed a few month later because that album got put in a boxset. So there was a nicer box variant that came out and all I got was the single LP. Which didn't even have a lyrics sheet for fucks sake. It was the most bare bones package that I scrambled to get because it was 'RSD exclusive'.
That's just not cool and I don't see how a label can't realize that.
I hate RSD. It's ruined a few of my collections (living in the sticks) Can't pre-order but then on ebay within an hour at extortionate prices.
I find the cost of some records (CDs, DVDs etc also) can be far too expensive these days and the prices don't seem to change as much as they used to - sales etc. Having such a limited run of some items is fine, but not when so many different versions are brought out. Standard, expanded, super deluxe; all terms which are used too much - and often including only one or two extra tracks, for what is most certainly not worth the extra money sometimes. Compilations of previous material which cost so much more than they ought, when they are simply represses also are a bug-bear of mine. Live versions and remixes that are not always showing the original copyrights/labels (or the original performance/release dates).
I did recently see the owner of a label I like say on social media that he stopped doing media mail because the number of emails he had to deal with complaining about how long the records were taking arrive was too big of a hassle. He also stopped doing it before tracking was available with media mail and he stopped hearing complaints that the album was never delivered. I would much rather have mm, but if it does mean the label has fewer problems with customers I can understand why they wouldn't want to deal with it.
I'd rather have more sales than less fussy customers, but that's just me.
I hate it when the songs are cramped in on one LP instead of two, and in order to do so they cut down the bass and the recording level.
Many record label did this.
Great topic! I would add also the expiration date on download codes, which I seriously never understood. It is seriously cheap to store files on the cloud nowadays, so why to expire them?
Regarding the signed records, although I have plenty of records signed on the cover, I do prefer signatures on inner sleeves, inserts, or even on the back. Especially in concerts the artists are usually busy, they don't take care of the signatures, so they end up destroying the cover. There have been many cases though where the artist was kind enough to take their time speaking to the people, and when it comes to signing, they asked where to sign, even how big I want the signature. That's not that often though, so I prefer not to risk it. The cover is a piece of art as well, and I really care about having it clean (or with a proper signature) when displaying it. Another reason is that when I replace a record (eg a reissue with a first release) I tend to keep the signed inner sleeve. But I do get your point about that specific record though, I would also expect the cover signed in that case. I don't think I've seen a pre-order of a signed record with an inner sleeve signature actually.
Yep I am with you on this all the way
Great video again! Yeah I always hear stories at the pressing plant I worked at..
Share some! hahaha
Too Many Records they wouldn’t release certain jackets for a box set we were doing and we couldn’t take the records home until it was..it probably was protocol but still BS.. there are more too I’ll think of them and get back to ya!
When mp3 is pressed to vinyl! Like the new strokes album!
pressing the cd master to vinyl is a real middle-finger to the public. You can hear the massive limiting and clipping they used for the cd and its a care factor of ZERO. Just look at the last Ed Sheerhan Divide album its distorted to hell all over it and flat as a pancake sonically. Whats the point.
Amazing one Matt! I have another point to add, which I know is a bit unfair but: those labels that do not change anything on their represses. Owning a 1st pressing becomes just pointless (collecting wise) because all the presses are the same... I know it's totally legit, they never advert a ltd.ed of sorts but.. it'a pity. Take care, cheers from Italy, Boris
I totally agree with number 7.
Once a soundtrack that i loved came out on cd and i scooped it up without thinking much of it cause it is a band i collect.
Then a few weeks later, they release a special edition version of that same soundtrack, but with a ton of extras and a bigger package.
The worst part is, there is a "normal" version in the special edition, so if they had just published the special edition first then everything would be fine, but they just had to wait till everyones albums had already arived to then release the special edition for an extra cash grab
#5 improper package is the worst. Universal seems to do this. They're always damaged and even unsealed from all the sliding around in non-LP mailers. Everyone else seems to figure it out...yeah, I paid premium for a new record to arrive from the source damaged and unsealed. And no, not just once...every single time.
Love your channel, my friend. Keep it up.
As a new vinyl collector, you're dropping some science for me. Many thanks!
#6 and #7 are the worst things labels do! Thank you for saying something cause it is not ok and needs to end
Three bearded men has terrible sound quality with their records
I concur.
Once a band i like put a limited edition sling bag on their band camp and it said limited to 10 but when you looked at their taiwanese website the bag was limited to 1000 and costed a lot less
The multiple variants at a later time is so annoying. I can deal with an indie or exclusive pressing to another vendor but when it's on the artists site, I just can't understand it.