This question. Can not even be placed in the Swedish City that I live in. There are about 70,000 people living here but there is not a single record store. the last one was shut down several years ago. you can find some records a large grocery store or electronics store. but there is no pure record store
Another thought to this buying idea....if you happen to know the label the band is on, go directly to their website. Often they will sell directly or can tell you where to buy, and more often than you would think, it is not sending you to Amazon.
People can shop wherever they want. Personally, I only shop locally at a used record store, which is where I get old LPs that are from before the digital age. New albums, or old albums I can't find at my local store, I buy on Amazon. I have no shame, nor should anyone else.
@@DorianPaige00 sometimes discogs is unfairly overpriced. I was trying to find 4 Your Eyez Only and could only find on there for $70+. I found it at my local store for $28 and then on Amazon they had copies for about the same.
@@Brian-yf3by For a long while, Discogs had mostly sellers who were based in Europe which means shipping isn't going to be cheap. It's like anything you buy, you have to look around and go where the deal is. I'm not into new releases as much but do notice Discogs is frequently late to the game. (ie It was harder to find the recent John Lennon collection and it's myriad of versions on Discogs. There were just few sellers!)
Teenage Wrist-Dazed vinyl would cost between £40 and £50 on discogs with shipping to the UK. Purchased a copy from Amazon UK, brand new, for £8.83! and as I wanted another CD which pushed the total to £20, I got free shipping and it arrived in 2 days. A total no-brainer!
1:02 When buying records on Amazon, one doesn't necessarily have to buy them from Amazon itself since one can buy from smaller mom and pop record stores that have a presence on Amazon. It's the same for booksellers or other physical stores that use Amazon (or eBay for that matter) to expand their sales base. Yes, I purchase from Amazon itself, but I also support independent sellers there too as much as possible and when their prices are competitive. Plus, I keep independent sellers in mind when I've had previous positive experiences with them. :)
Record collectors shop wherever THEY can to expand THEIR collection as THEY see fit. My priority is low cost along with the thrill of the hunt; so most of my record shopping is at thrifts stores. Every now and then (may once every two months or so, I'll go down to my brick-and-mortar of choice (Record High In Phoenix) and drop $80-100. I can't afford much more than that. I recently hit a remote thrift where I scored 4 LPs by The Supremes (they are either original presses or early presses) for $1.29 apiece. That's a "win" to me. Out of every twenty times I hit a thrift store, I'll find worthwhile record(s) once. That's not a great success rate, but it is what it is and I enjoy the thrill of the hunt. The last LP I bought from Amazon was WE THREE KINGS by Reverend Horton Heat. I don't do it often, but I have NO QUALMS about spending my money on records at Amazon. I may buy a new Christmas LP from Amazon in the next month or so. No place else seems to have it. I have never purchased from Discogs, so I can't speak to that. I do buy Phish LPs and CDs from their website. As far as the Record Resurgence goes, it will eventually fade out. Nothing lasts forever. Cheers, Frank!
You're echoing my point exactly! I try to fill-in my collection the same way, going to thrift stores first and record stores, and purchasing records that aren't so common on Amazon, Oldies.com, etc. Thank you!
Hi frank......Amazon are great just make sure you click ship in amazon cardboard packaging ..if I receive a damaged record. ..Amazon ship a replacement out straight away even before you return the defective one ....great customer service. ....this has.. been my personal experience. ..keep the record spinning 🤘
If the Amazon comment guy watched you every week he'd know you didn't think of yourself as anything of an authority. Sounds jealous to me Frank. If a store has a record you want at a price you're happy with it's pretty simple what people do.
perfectly said, that is why i search for the cheapest price I could get for the same record from both online and physical stores before purchasing... unfortunately, there are very few physical stores in the philippines which sell brand new VRs... conversely, there are more stores both online and physical which sell used VRs which, to me, is still good to VR enthusiasts like us...
I buy from wherever I can get a good deal, whether it's Amazon discounts or yard sale local record stores or from a friend. Amazon right now is having buy two get one free on certain albums and it was a great way for me to get division Bell for Free one that I may not go out and buy even though I kind of wanted it you know what I mean? I don't like it when people say real record do this and they don't do that. There are no rules to this game, it's kind of like somebody saying you can't be a deadhead if you listen to punk music as well. Keep up the videos friend you have never come across as a know-it-all or anything like that. Stay safe my friend
4:45 Frank, I'll never understand record collecting trolls out there that attack other real record collectors like you or others based on where they buy their records. Who cares where people buy their records and why should Amazon purchases invalidate them as record collectors? That's really petty to me (pathetic and immature as far as I'm concerned) and I have no time for mean-spirited people out there that put down other collectors for their Amazon purchase choices, stereo equipment, etc. That's not the point of record collecting when there should be some common love within the vinyl community for the music itself, the album artwork, fascinating stories about the artists, bands, or the industry, great record hunting stories, etc. All the best as always, Frank! :)
Reason why I don’t buy off Amazon is the shipping quality. I’ve gotten the record itself shipped with a stamp right on the cover to one thrown into a huge box with one air bag.
Good point. Anything I buy on Amazon, I keep that in mind. If it's something I want the outer packaging to stay nice, I look elsewhere because they skimp on the packaging details.
So send it back if it doesn't arrive in proper order, it's not that hard. Not one single time have I had an issue with Amazon even though half my cds do arrive with damaged cases.....could be the half assed way UPS etc handles things too.
If you don't like it send it back they never give you a problem because of that, not like record stores who now don't even give you a chance to return it it's you buy it you keep it total BS🤔👎
One of my favorite things to do, as well as a good way to find cheap records is to go on Facebook marketplace and find people selling off their entire record collection or large portions of their collection where every album is between $1 or $5. I’ve found a few people who grew up back in the day and are getting rid of all their records for dirt cheap, I find lots of awesome 1970s and 80s classic rock and metal albums
If I have a gift card to amazon and want to use it on a record I will use it on that record. Plus Amazon has mp3 rip which gets me access to the MP3 files too. This is great for those records that do not have a download card. Their packages for shipping have been hit or miss lately when the records have been sent, BUT at the same token I don't think less of anyone if they order via amazon. STILL support your local shops!
I think that a real record collector will buy from whomever has a good price and if that’s Amazon or Discogs then so be it. I do the same thing but I also love going into a record shop as well. I buy any records anywhere I can get them for a good price. 😊
I always try to support my local record stores, but I have also bought from Amazon, Walmart, Target, & Best Buy. It really comes down to pricing. Nothing can beat the experience of going to a brick and mortar store, but sometimes my local shops just don’t have what I’m looking for.
I actually buy on Amazon just incase the record is damaged or something I can still access it on Amazon Music. And I get the joy of the album art. Also if you buy Dio’s Magica Record Deluxe it gives you FREE Live versions of the songs on Amazon Music(since the cd version has the live) Which was an interesting surprise. I buy most of my vinyl at a physical vinyl store but, Amazon Music extras can be good for the overall experience.
Amazon is last resort , I’d rather support local brick and mortars when possible even if I have to pay a few more dollars because I’d rather help our local businesses out instead of contributing to Jeff Bezos monopoly
Well I have no record stores near me and my mom won’t take me to a record store. I do buy a lot from band camp thought they don’t have everything I want so yeah...
You can say whatever you want about Amazon, but they have reasonable prices, and if you don't like the product you can return it unlike some record stores who only give you store credit and almost always give you a hard time if you do it too many times but like Frank says I pay premium price I want a premium product🤔
@@frederickfranchi6408 I agree , prices are a bit better and they do have a good return policy but that being said I think the few time I have used amazon I probably received some my worst condition records
I like to shop on eBay to get the best price, the mom and pop shops around me has gotten way out of hand on their prices $35 to $50 bucks a pop for new vinyl is insane and even the used vinyl is overpriced. I have been to multiple stores and walked out empty handed in the last 6 months due to the price surge. I just can't see paying $35 for 1 album and the quality is just not there, I have original pressings from the 80's that destroy today's pressings in sound quality, surface noise and general aesthetics. I have seriously considered stop buying vinyl due to the price and the hipsters that think it's cool to plunk down that kind of cash for a record. The bottom line is being priced out, there is no longer value for your money.
I always prefer supporting local record stores but sometimes it’s not too bad to buy from Amazon...especially with new releases! I couldn’t agree with you more with quality control for records! Yeah I don’t know much about Discogs buying but the one time I ever did it was a good experience!
I buy from my local record store but sometimes there's just more choice or the price is better at Amazon. But i also prefer buying at Dodax for new records since it's pretty cheap there :)
I live in a small town in Northern Ontario. The closest record store is 4 hours away. Amazon is a life saver. I would support a local record, if we had one. When I'm in Toronto, I always visit Sonic Boom and Kopps.
I do like buying from a local record shop instead of Amazon but it is hard to do when there is a $10 or $20 difference in price. Amazon has made it way to easy. Lol. The warps on new records are getting ridiculous. Great discussion. Sometimes those negative comments are good inspiration. 🤗
I would be willing to bet that I have set foot in more brick and mortar stores, in more states in the past 12-15 years than most will their entire lives. Why in the world would that mean I CAN'T buy an album off Amazon? Are we also not allowed to buy Wal-Mart exclusives?
Collectors collect records, where they get them from shouldn't matter, should it?! I'm with you, the majority of new releases I get from Amazon but second hand is generally through Discogs or ideally at a local record shop.
I sometimes buy old records at thrift stores which is what I like. Goodwill. Salvation Army. Six for $2.00! But what you see is what you get. I shop Amazon mostly. Where else can you get "Tony's [Bennett] Greatest Hits" or "No Count* Sarah [Vaughan]" both from 1958? I, of course, wet clean my records before a stylus touches the grooves.
I buy from Amazon all the time and one of the reasons is I can return records that have issues with them and they're generally cheaper than everywhere else. Bandcamp is extremely expensive for shipping. I also shop on eBay or Amazon through Rarewaves from the UK, they have some of the most reasonable prices, whereas places like Sunrise Records don't.
Growing up, we had two types of places to buy our records. Used record stores (now renamed to independent record stores) and new record stores like Musicland, Peaches, Coconuts, Camelot and so on. Used record stores carried very little if any new releases back then. Maybe some sealed/new records that people got as gifts and didn't want and sold them to used record stores. In the early to mid 1990's, nearly all of the new record stores shuttered. Even discount stores like K-mart and Sears stopped selling new records. That shifted used record stores to now carry new vinyl records when and if they became available since they were about the only game in town. Today, the used record stores that I grew up with has about 30 to 40% of their shelves full of brand new releases and actual used records are becoming harder to come by. That being said, their prices for new records are roughly 20 to 30% higher than I can get on Amazon or other places online even when figuring in shipping costs. Every so often I do buy something new from an "independent" shop to help support them but I tend to stick to used records from them. I mostly purchase new records online.
Heck yeah I buy from Amazon. I do comparison shop with my local stores, but when you see a 50% mark up, I can’t do it. Especially when one of my local stores (here in Houston) has employees that don’t wear masks. At all. That being said, if the mark up is reasonable and if I want other used albums at a record store, I’ll make my purchase there. Liked the video. Thanks, Frank!
I live in a small town with no local stores. We had one but it lasted less than a year. It was a cool concept - open 24 hours. It was a coffee shop/record store and they did have a good selection of used records. Now that they are gone my only option locally is Walmart. EBay is hit or miss - some people just don't know how to pack vinyl. Amazon uses great packaging and usually ships in 1 or 2 days so it's fast. Discogs is good but can be expensive.
I buy from Amazon mainly for price. I have found some new vinyl for as low as half the price compared to other on-line sources. I did receive one LP from Amazon, stuck directly into a large plastic envelope that wasn't even padded. The record was trashed, the cover corners crushed and creased, the record warped. Still it was a break even, other than my time, since Amazon takes returns no questions asked. In my experience, most Amazon packaging for records is good.
Bought a blind gaurdian record off of amazon, same day delivery, and when it arrived the shipping sticker was on the cover which wasn't in plastic so if I removed it, I would ruin the cover and rip bits off. The best part about all of it was that I didn't even get the bloody records. They where missing!
I buy a lot of my records from Amazon for several reasons. There are no real local record shops apart from the overexpensive, limited offerings of HMV. I like how Amazon package the records. They keep them secure without the need for a sharp instrument to open and potentially damage the record. Autorip. Always nice bonus to get a digital copy so I can listen to music away,from my,house. Postage. This is expensive for records from most other online retailers. With a Prime membership, this is included so I don't have to factor in at least another river into the cost of the record.
I shop wherever i want Online Distros, Local Shops, Discogs and Amazon and also Thrift Stores and Yard Sales. The better the deal the more i'll shop and Amazon do have some pretty great price drops sometimes.
Yes...as a record collector, Co-vid closed down all my fav record stores for months, but I didn't run to Amazon or Discogs. I used a site which either a lot of people don't know about because it doesn't have the brand name, I've been using Musicstack for a long time, and never had issues with there services including the idea of supporting these small independent record stores that advertise/ship from their website is so important. It's all a matter of choice where you get your vinyl fix from, but it's good to look for alternatives
Thanks Frank for your comments and request for feedback. I agree with you that local record stores are ones I tend to support the most for used vinyl. Price for new vinyl is the main reason why I have shopped on Amazon occasionally. My main complaint about new records is the price as well as the occasionally poorly pressed record. Best wishes.
If Amazon could deliver CDs and LPs without damaging them, then I'd have no problem with it. I have bought some, and might again, but CDs always show up with broken cases and LPs with damaged ends\corners. The problem is they don't pack well, they just throw them in a large box floating around loosely (vinyl) or a bag (CDs) and they get damaged. I've even gone as far as sending them back just to get another replacement damaged in a similar way.
i shop amazon because its easy and right at your finger tips, now i go to record stores also,love them ,i go to see whats out i may have forgotten about,in fact yesterday i went into a store and got several records that were available in vinyl and cd. , not all record stores carry the same items,so then amazon comes in
I’ve purchased a couple of records from Amazon. I’ve a couple good experiences with Amazon shipping and one bad experience where the cover was very badly damaged from poor packaging. I only bought those items on Amazon because the price on Discogs was 3-4 times the price on Amazon.
I do. I don't have any issues with it. Of course, I'm buying to play records, not "collect". I've had a couple arrive warped, but they're always quick to replace.
I try and shop local and every now and again even ask the local shop to order something specific. But yeah, I order from amazon, eBay and discogs a lot! I shop blindly at the local shop and if it’s something specific I want, generally I look first online. It’s supposed to be fun.
record stores for me are purely for secondhand LPs, i live in Dublin Ireland, there is a heap of record stores in the city here, but they rarely have any decent METAL seconhand, so discogs is my main source of buying, friends of mine run indy metal labels and are constantly importing so that is my source of new LPs
I can"t go to a record shop as often as I would like due to the nearest one is 60 miles from where I live. Aside from that, I either buy from Amazon or directly from the record companies( whichever has the better price for the item and shipping). Used to buy from Soundstage Direct before they went under.
Hi Frank! I buy from Amazon, Discogs and my local shops. Damn, I even bought a couple at Target! What really makes a “true” record collector? In another discussion on a group I belong on Facebook, similar questions have been asked and I think at the end of the day isn’t it about the music? I don’t collect just to collect and I know a lot of people just starting out buy to accumulate. I buy records because I like listening to the music I like on vinyl. It’s that simple. The point is: buy music you like no matter where I comes from. Btw, I did buy a record from Russia off of Discogs. I was so paranoid because it took so long and arrived as described, sealed with no creases in the cover. The seller had an awesome score and it worked out. Luckily.
There is only 1 Recordstore near my Village and this Store is only selling used Records. If I want to get new releases, I have to drive nearly an hour to find a shop that sells them. So I tend to by new records from Amazon, Discogs, Bandcamp or directly from the Recordlabel. So I have no problem with buying Records online.
I agree with you Frank. I love going to my local Record Stores and buying stuff. But that doesn’t mean we can’t buy stuff online from Amazon, eBay, Discogs, etc if the price is right. If I can get an album locally (same price) I would 100% of the time but unfortunately that’s not always the case.
Frank, I make record purchases from local stores, Discogs and yes, Amazon. It the past year the majority of the 100 plus I purchased came from Discogs & local shops. I have my whole collection inventoried on Discogs. It is great for keeping track of the record and cover rating. I also note the last time it was played.
I will support my local store within reason. If their price is completely out of line with a deal I can get on Amazon then I buy from Amazon. One thing about local shops is if I get a new record with a slight defect such as surface noise I’m hesitant to return it because I don’t want to affect their profits. I will return anything warranted to Amazon with no regrets and they never give me any problems.
One benefit to buying through Amazon is after purchase I can skip over to Amazon Music & then download an MP3 of my vinyl purchase at no extra charge. Can't do that anywhere else that I know of. That said, I purchase my vinyl wherever I can find it.
I agree with you, Frank. I grew up in the 80s and most of my music purchases were made from places like Walmart because that’s where I got the best price. The same applies today. I shop local record stores for used vinyl but I buy new from Amazon.
In my country there are not "mom and pop record stores", and the only options we have are the over priced department store with only 10 titles or buying old dusty records from a moldy cardboard box at the flea market.
Even though Amazon is the least expensive, sometimes their packaging leaves a lot to be desired, and your albums come with banged up corners, especially when you buy single LPs. "Music Direct" has bulletproof packaging, although their shipping is a little slower. That being said, Amazon is still the best place to buy big box sets. Those usually have lots of cardboard packaging already on the product from the manufacturer.
I dont really mind buying new vinyl from Amazon but I have found my local independent record store to be within 5-6 dollars cheaper per record and its easier to do an exchange if I get a bad pressing, which has happened to me a few times (Sunrise Records Exclusives seem to be the most common for quality problems in my experience...)
i like to check out the amazon warehouse for returned LPs. most of them are new/played once but the sleeves are damaged (some worse than others, i got a copy of Mezzanine who's sleeve appears to have been water damaged, still plays great tho). also remember: record stores make more money off used records than new ones, so buying a new album off amazon isn't as big of a deal as long as you go dig the crates at your fav local place.
I generally buy from the local HMV and have never bought any vinyl from Amazon at all. I have read comments on the SuperDeluxe Website and on Amazon that sometimes the packaging is not always great and that sleeves can get damaged. I would use local smaller stores and there are none near me. There are two near to the HMV, but they only have small stock.
I do occasionally purchase from Amazon - if something is priced at £15 or less! It also arrives the next day, which is also pleasant. Discogs is my usual outlet, though delivery times can leave me impatient.
First of there are no record stores near where I live that sell vinyl.I have bought off Amazon and Ebay but mostly buy from Discogs because the sellers there give more information on pressings.I also have quite a few sites saved in my browser.Sometimes I buy from the artists shops on their sites.
For me, I always prefer to buy from bricks and mortar shops..But, being retired and on a pension, it all comes down to price...If amazon is cheaper, I gotta go with them...
I use Amazon all the time also Discogs and my local record shop it shouldn’t matter where you buy Vinyl the whole point is buying it keeps the hobby alive 🎵🎵🎵🎵
I own a small indie record store and I usually try to avoid ordering the titles that Amazon have super cheap. But overall, Amazon really does hurt shops like ours. I don't fault people who shop there though. We just can't compete with their buying power. However, the new release thing irritates me beause they are not always cheaper and as a store, we usually price lower than the MSRP anyway. So the difference may be only a buck or two. It all adds up and every sale we lose to Amazon, or if people make it a habit to only shop there, shops like ours will eventually close
I finally broke down this year and bought records on Amazon. I love crate digging but there are specific albums that may be hard to find in stores. So I turn to the internet for stuff a cant find easy. I've had to return a record because the wrong one was shipped and I have had. A couple of torn packages and one where the corner of the jacket was badly bent and crushed in transit, but for the most part it has been a positive experience. I get the albums I want delivered at a fair price. And you actually can support record stores by buying vinyl from Amazon if you buy used and dont always go for the new Prime listings. I even got a couple of handwritten thank you notes from sellers. So there is nothing wrong with buying online.
Japan is having a tough time shipping out. Some sellers who sell in bulk use DHL and perhaps ship all of their orders to an associate in the buyer's home country who then sends them out in the buyer's home country.
You’ve got to do what’s right for you. There will always be negativity & people who want to put you down / troll you. Keeping doing what you’re doing. Best wishes
I have one record store that is less than an hour from me. It is not even actually a record store per se, but an antique store with a dedicated room for albums - there are hundreds of albums so not just a couple of crates. They do not sell or order any new stuff. Any other trips to record stores I have to venture far from my two stop light town. Amazon delivers it to me so for new stuff I definitely use Amazon. I love shopping ebay for the old stuff. Yes we do (Wife and I as she loves vinyl too), venture down the mountain as there are some great record stores from an hour to two hours away. But Amazon and other services that deliver to my secluded spot are quite appreciated!
A buy mostly wide release records on Amazon because to many new releases have manufacturing defects. I've had to get too many replacements and Amazon has a good replacement policy and unfortunately, this does sometimes detracts me from buying it from my locals especially when they only have one copy.
I dont typically shop for record on Amazon. I have had new records come damaged or warped. I think this is because their stuff is stored in warehouses and they have not packed well. However sometimes I will find a deal too good to be true. I found Pulse by Pink Floyd new for $72. Never saw it so cheap. I still see it for $75 sometimes.
I try to buy local as much as I can even if I have to pay more. Prime example of when I don’t is I typically buy box sets on Amazon because I know they will get them and they are a good price. My local store rarely stocks the box sets. The recent 9LP Tom Petty Wildflowers is an exemption though. In this case I actually pre ordered it from another independent store as this was an indie and artist website exclusive. I went to my local store as I always do on new release Friday and they actually had it in stock. I hadn’t received a confirmation that my online order had shipped so I went and canceled that one and bought it locally even though it was more money.
Thank You! I totally agree with your comments about poor quality control in much new vinyl. I expect a high quality product for the prices being charged for new vinyl and all too often it is lacking. I buy new vinyl from Amazon because I know that if there is any quality issue I can get a replacement or refund without hassle. On numerous occasions I have been made to feel I was the one with unreasonable expectations when complaining about defects or quality problems with new vinyl bought from independant record sellers, either stores or internet-based.
Haven't bought new vinyl on Amazon US for a while, after a few needed to be returned and a succession of deluxe releases that were not available to Australian customers. Local dealers now will get special releases in for you. Bit more expensive but worth it for the service and peace of mind. Bandcamp is good, CD quality downloads and often you can buy the physical media from them as well. Obviously not many mainstream artists.
I buy most of my ALBUMS, CDS, MUSIC DVDS, MUSIC VHS , CASS.TAPES. On AMAZON or EBay, I buy where I get the best deal. And if that rubs people the wrong way I could care less. Take care be safe
I am just getting back into the hobby. So I am all about price when I look for a record. The biggest issue I face at the moment is there are no local indie/mom & pop shops without a bit of a drive. I can pick something up at Walmart or FYE, but with their prices, its cheaper for me to buy from Amazon. I’ve been checking out discogs, but haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet, due diligence and all that. In short, I’ll buy from the place that gives me the best deal and experience in combination.
I recently picked up several Acoustic Sounds audiophile releases like Coltrane's A Love Supreme and Ballads, These are not going to be available at most record stores, so Amazon is perfectly fine for this. And with their recent buy two get one free sale, makes my dollar stretch out further. The record stores near me deal with used records which is great for hard to find (and OOP) recordings.
I live in a small, conservative Midwestern town. The hayseeds up here don't really collect vinyl, and there isn't a record store within 40 miles. So, I am quite thankful for Discogs, Amazon, eBay, Acoustic Sounds, etc. Driving 40 miles one way to buy a record from a mom and pop shop just isn't my cup of tea.
As far as Amazon, I do the same Frank for the same reason. Also, since some vinyl can be defective, Amazon has a great return policy. Local stores will take it back, but they can't return them and they get hurt because they have to give you credit but then are stuck with the bad vinyl
Amazon Prime day was this past week. The week prior to that I bought a Van Halen poster on the day after Eddie passed away. It was a "small business" so, Amazon gave $10 coupon to be used ONLY on Amazon Prime days. My VH poster was around $10 so essentially, I got it for free. The $10 was taken off my prime day purchases one of which was 180g vinyl of Tales of Topographic Oceans. I've wanted to get a new clean copy for a long time but didn't want to pay $28. They also gave extra Amazon prime credits when using RUSH rewards to be used for movies or music. So, I will have this in my Amazon prime music and then able to purchase a movie I want for probably free. I have bought "hard to find" vinyl's off Amazon private sellers. Latest was Bob Welch album. Also, it is hard for me (for different reasons than the normal person) to get to a record store. Believe me, we have a dozen within 15 to 10 miles of my home so I would love to go a lot but my circumstances prevent it. However, it is such a blast to go to a record store. Last time found records for .50-$2.00 which were in semi-good shape. $2.00 albums were VG & VG+. Bananas Records in St. Pete, FL.
I like to support local stores when ever I can ,not just records but any business .Like the previous comments I buy from whom ever has what I want. Also don't forget a lot of independent sellers trade on Amazon. Also its a lot quicker to in the name of the record you want in a search engine and see what pops up .
I rarely buy records from Amazon, prefer the local brick-and-mortar stores, but since the pandemic I’ve ordered thousands of records from eBay. Much better selection and prices, and there are some excellent sellers out there whom I trust and keep coming back to.
I’m more of a thrift store kind of buyer. Mainly because I’m on a self imposed budget. I have purchased from discogs and my experience has been great so far. My rules are :1 but only in the US 2 seller must have a perfect reference or close to it 3 shipping has to be reasonable I make sure I read all the seller notes before buying including asking questions. My children shop Amazon for albums for me for those special occasions it’s easier for them. You touched base on all the things I’ve mentioned. Lover channel. Peace love and rock and roll ✌️
Recently I was in my local record store that has both used and new records. There were two Bill Withers records I wanted, new. The record store had these records but combined they were a total of $20.00 more than they would cost me to buy on Amazon. So I ordered them from Amazon. If combined they were only say 5 dollars more I'd probably have purchased them from the store but $20.00 CAN is too much. Lesson: I go in with a list of what I'm looking for and I've done my research on the sell price at Amazon. I buy where I get the best price.
Amazon always under packages or over packages.Another problem is that i frequently get records with a 1" tear on top edge of the jacket.That is probably a manufacturers issue.Never had these issues in the 1970s
My only issue with buying albums on Amazon is their handling. I bought some brand new albums that were delivered pretty warped. Living in Arizona is a crap shoot with albums, being that any way they're delivered between May-October it's too darn hot outside and I'm always weary of getting warped albums.
Discogs is great, but in my experience most sellers generally grade the vinyl & sleeve to be about a grade above what is actually is. M is usually closer to NM. NM closer to VG+, etc...I always go for the best copy I can find at a reasonable cost and just assume it's going to show up a little worse that what the seller listed it as. If you are very picky about condition or it's a really high priced item, I would definitely ask for pictures.
I live in South Africa. Decent vinyl community this side of the pond, however, very few brick and mortar stores, so I frequent Amazon, or any store that stocks my taste at a decent price. However, in 2021 I think there's an added threat to the resurgence, and that is price. LPs are becoming ridiculously expensive. Essentially records I bought a year ago now sell for 4x the price new. On average, converted to USD, we pay around $60-100 per album now.
I'm not going to apologize for saving $$$. One of my favorite things in life is walking into a record store and flipping through the used vinyl. But if the store has their used Krokus or Y&T albums marked at $20, I'm simply not paying it. Similarly, if I can get a new copy of an album for $22 on Amazon, vs $40 at the record store, that's the record store's fault, not mine. I love my vinyl, but I also love groceries and electricity. Love the show! Thanks.
Many people may not be aware that Amazon supports many small businesses on the Amazon Marketplace. Many of these businesses were displaced by the Big Box stores over the past 20 years. So, if you enjoy the convenience of shopping on Amazon (who doesn't) , next time scroll down the item page. Look for the "New and Used" from link. There you can look at all the sellers on Amazon selling the same product. You can review their feedback rating as well. Also, many sellers offer Free Prime Shipping as well. So, you can still buy on Amazon and support the little guy!
I end up sending half of Amazon records back due to poor shipping/handling. Constantly sending records in oversized boxes/bags or even just with a label slapped on it. I have sent back 8 records back this year and I'm getting tired of it not to mention people do get banned if you send to many items back. I'd rather spend more money and get what I want from my local record stores in the condition I expect.
Real Record Collectors Shop EVERYWHERE!!!!!!
True
Personally I buy from wherever I can get the record I want. Weather it's local or on the internet, I don't discriminate.
I 2nd that thought !
the argument is to think of the small record store. so that they do not go bankrupt and disappear
This question. Can not even be placed in the Swedish City that I live in. There are about 70,000 people living here but there is not a single record store. the last one was shut down several years ago. you can find some records a large grocery store or electronics store. but there is no pure record store
Amen to that. Several times I've wanted to buy from local shops but can't find the titles I'm looking for so turned to Amazon.
Another thought to this buying idea....if you happen to know the label the band is on, go directly to their website. Often they will sell directly or can tell you where to buy, and more often than you would think, it is not sending you to Amazon.
People can shop wherever they want. Personally, I only shop locally at a used record store, which is where I get old LPs that are from before the digital age. New albums, or old albums I can't find at my local store, I buy on Amazon. I have no shame, nor should anyone else.
Try Discogs!
Sshhhhh!
@@DorianPaige00 sometimes discogs is unfairly overpriced. I was trying to find 4 Your Eyez Only and could only find on there for $70+. I found it at my local store for $28 and then on Amazon they had copies for about the same.
@@Brian-yf3by For a long while, Discogs had mostly sellers who were based in Europe which means shipping isn't going to be cheap. It's like anything you buy, you have to look around and go where the deal is. I'm not into new releases as much but do notice Discogs is frequently late to the game. (ie It was harder to find the recent John Lennon collection and it's myriad of versions on Discogs. There were just few sellers!)
Teenage Wrist-Dazed vinyl would cost between £40 and £50 on discogs with shipping to the UK. Purchased a copy from Amazon UK, brand new, for £8.83! and as I wanted another CD which pushed the total to £20, I got free shipping and it arrived in 2 days. A total no-brainer!
My local record store needs to chill with their prices first. They have a $10 markup sometimes. It’s a joke
Only 10 bucks for a mark up? lol
A imported 40$ record in my local shop in Tampa is around 76$. They are killing their own business
@@rafaelmmartinez9170 sounds like daddy kool lol.
That's why I buy my records from the thrift store.
Yup, it's crazy that some stores are still trying to price cds at almost 20 bucks a pop.
1:02 When buying records on Amazon, one doesn't necessarily have to buy them from Amazon itself since one can buy from smaller mom and pop record stores that have a presence on Amazon. It's the same for booksellers or other physical stores that use Amazon (or eBay for that matter) to expand their sales base.
Yes, I purchase from Amazon itself, but I also support independent sellers there too as much as possible and when their prices are competitive. Plus, I keep independent sellers in mind when I've had previous positive experiences with them. :)
Indeed there are plenty of third party sellers on Amazon so you can use Amazon while helping the little guy.
yes... theres alot of stuff i cant get at my local shops that amazon has in stock.. also some places have limited local places to get local
I feel you
Well said Agreed 100% rising prices and poor quality or poor representation (saying sound of the Vinyls are better than actual)
@@JoseMauro26 WTF are Vinyls?
@@jimb032 😂
A lot is two words. Sheesh
Record collectors shop wherever THEY can to expand THEIR collection as THEY see fit.
My priority is low cost along with the thrill of the hunt; so most of my record shopping is at thrifts stores. Every now and then (may once every two months or so, I'll go down to my brick-and-mortar of choice (Record High In Phoenix) and drop $80-100. I can't afford much more than that. I recently hit a remote thrift where I scored 4 LPs by The Supremes (they are either original presses or early presses) for $1.29 apiece. That's a "win" to me. Out of every twenty times I hit a thrift store, I'll find worthwhile record(s) once. That's not a great success rate, but it is what it is and I enjoy the thrill of the hunt.
The last LP I bought from Amazon was WE THREE KINGS by Reverend Horton Heat. I don't do it often, but I have NO QUALMS about spending my money on records at Amazon. I may buy a new Christmas LP from Amazon in the next month or so. No place else seems to have it.
I have never purchased from Discogs, so I can't speak to that.
I do buy Phish LPs and CDs from their website.
As far as the Record Resurgence goes, it will eventually fade out. Nothing lasts forever.
Cheers, Frank!
Ever go to the "Ingroove" on the Phoenix/Scottsdale border.
You're echoing my point exactly! I try to fill-in my collection the same way, going to thrift stores first and record stores, and purchasing records that aren't so common on Amazon, Oldies.com, etc. Thank you!
Hi frank......Amazon are great just make sure you click ship in amazon cardboard packaging ..if I receive a damaged record. ..Amazon ship a replacement out straight away even before you return the defective one ....great customer service. ....this has.. been my personal experience. ..keep the record spinning 🤘
If the Amazon comment guy watched you every week he'd know you didn't think of yourself as anything of an authority. Sounds jealous to me Frank. If a store has a record you want at a price you're happy with it's pretty simple what people do.
It's classic projection, pure and simple.
perfectly said, that is why i search for the cheapest price I could get for the same record from both online and physical stores before purchasing...
unfortunately, there are very few physical stores in the philippines which sell brand new VRs... conversely, there are more stores both online and physical which sell used VRs which, to me, is still good to VR enthusiasts like us...
Amazon for new releases, record stores for used LPs or spontaneous purchases.
Have a fantastic week Frank & all fellow record collectors.
Ditto
I buy from wherever I can get a good deal, whether it's Amazon discounts or yard sale local record stores or from a friend. Amazon right now is having buy two get one free on certain albums and it was a great way for me to get division Bell for Free one that I may not go out and buy even though I kind of wanted it you know what I mean? I don't like it when people say real record do this and they don't do that. There are no rules to this game, it's kind of like somebody saying you can't be a deadhead if you listen to punk music as well. Keep up the videos friend you have never come across as a know-it-all or anything like that. Stay safe my friend
4:45 Frank, I'll never understand record collecting trolls out there that attack other real record collectors like you or others based on where they buy their records. Who cares where people buy their records and why should Amazon purchases invalidate them as record collectors? That's really petty to me (pathetic and immature as far as I'm concerned) and I have no time for mean-spirited people out there that put down other collectors for their Amazon purchase choices, stereo equipment, etc. That's not the point of record collecting when there should be some common love within the vinyl community for the music itself, the album artwork, fascinating stories about the artists, bands, or the industry, great record hunting stories, etc.
All the best as always, Frank! :)
The only record store around me that gets new LPS not just old ones resold is FYE. And FYE overcharges like crazy
OMG...FYE new vinyl prices are BEYOND insane. They are consistently 20-30% higher than ANY other place.
@@mrhoffame They have mall rent to pay which is insane as well.
FYE=Fast Yankin' Enema (for your wallet).
FYE is terrible and their shipping for online is horrendous. Way overpriced
Reason why I don’t buy off Amazon is the shipping quality. I’ve gotten the record itself shipped with a stamp right on the cover to one thrown into a huge box with one air bag.
Good point. Anything I buy on Amazon, I keep that in mind. If it's something I want the outer packaging to stay nice, I look elsewhere because they skimp on the packaging details.
So send it back if it doesn't arrive in proper order, it's not that hard. Not one single time have I had an issue with Amazon even though half my cds do arrive with damaged cases.....could be the half assed way UPS etc handles things too.
If you don't like it send it back they never give you a problem because of that, not like record stores who now don't even give you a chance to return it it's you buy it you keep it total BS🤔👎
One of my favorite things to do, as well as a good way to find cheap records is to go on Facebook marketplace and find people selling off their entire record collection or large portions of their collection where every album is between $1 or $5. I’ve found a few people who grew up back in the day and are getting rid of all their records for dirt cheap, I find lots of awesome 1970s and 80s classic rock and metal albums
If I have a gift card to amazon and want to use it on a record I will use it on that record. Plus Amazon has mp3 rip which gets me access to the MP3 files too. This is great for those records that do not have a download card. Their packages for shipping have been hit or miss lately when the records have been sent, BUT at the same token I don't think less of anyone if they order via amazon. STILL support your local shops!
Real record collector will buy a particular record that he's been looking for regardless of whether it's from a store or online selling websites.
I think that a real record collector will buy from whomever has a good price and if that’s Amazon or Discogs then so be it. I do the same thing but I also love going into a record shop as well. I buy any records anywhere I can get them for a good price. 😊
I always try to support my local record stores, but I have also bought from Amazon, Walmart, Target, & Best Buy. It really comes down to pricing. Nothing can beat the experience of going to a brick and mortar store, but sometimes my local shops just don’t have what I’m looking for.
I actually buy on Amazon just incase the record is damaged or something I can still access it on Amazon Music. And I get the joy of the album art. Also if you buy Dio’s Magica Record Deluxe it gives you FREE Live versions of the songs on Amazon Music(since the cd version has the live) Which was an interesting surprise. I buy most of my vinyl at a physical vinyl store but, Amazon Music extras can be good for the overall experience.
Amazon Have great prices on imports & in these times , the less you leave home , the safer you are. Hate to say it , but it's true.
Amazon is last resort , I’d rather support local brick and mortars when possible even if I have to pay a few more dollars because I’d rather help our local businesses out instead of contributing to Jeff Bezos monopoly
Well I have no record stores near me and my mom won’t take me to a record store. I do buy a lot from band camp thought they don’t have everything I want so yeah...
@@jacobjb understandably, it doesn’t work for everyone
You can say whatever you want about Amazon, but they have reasonable prices, and if you don't like the product you can return it unlike some record stores who only give you store credit and almost always give you a hard time if you do it too many times but like Frank says I pay premium price I want a premium product🤔
I'm with you, I'll buy off Discogs all day but I'm not giving Lex Luther Bezos any of my money
@@frederickfranchi6408 I agree , prices are a bit better and they do have a good return policy but that being said I think the few time I have used amazon I probably received some my worst condition records
I like to shop on eBay to get the best price, the mom and pop shops around me has gotten way out of hand on their prices $35 to $50 bucks a pop for new vinyl is insane and even the used vinyl is overpriced. I have been to multiple stores and walked out empty handed in the last 6 months due to the price surge. I just can't see paying $35 for 1 album and the quality is just not there, I have original pressings from the 80's that destroy today's pressings in sound quality, surface noise and general aesthetics. I have seriously considered stop buying vinyl due to the price and the hipsters that think it's cool to plunk down that kind of cash for a record. The bottom line is being priced out, there is no longer value for your money.
I always prefer supporting local record stores but sometimes it’s not too bad to buy from Amazon...especially with new releases! I couldn’t agree with you more with quality control for records! Yeah I don’t know much about Discogs buying but the one time I ever did it was a good experience!
I buy from my local record store but sometimes there's just more choice or the price is better at Amazon. But i also prefer buying at Dodax for new records since it's pretty cheap there :)
I live in a small town in Northern Ontario. The closest record store is 4 hours away.
Amazon is a life saver.
I would support a local record, if we had one.
When I'm in Toronto, I always visit Sonic Boom and Kopps.
I do like buying from a local record shop instead of Amazon but it is hard to do when there is a $10 or $20 difference in price. Amazon has made it way to easy. Lol. The warps on new records are getting ridiculous. Great discussion. Sometimes those negative comments are good inspiration. 🤗
I would be willing to bet that I have set foot in more brick and mortar stores, in more states in the past 12-15 years than most will their entire lives. Why in the world would that mean I CAN'T buy an album off Amazon? Are we also not allowed to buy Wal-Mart exclusives?
Great to hear from you, Brandon! You are so right! Off the subject, I have some VCLT to send to you, asap!
Bennie DJ!
bennied2015@gmail.com
PS. I hope you're move to the new place was great, here's my e-mail...Bennie DJ
Collectors collect records, where they get them from shouldn't matter, should it?! I'm with you, the majority of new releases I get from Amazon but second hand is generally through Discogs or ideally at a local record shop.
I sometimes buy old records at thrift stores which is what I like. Goodwill. Salvation Army. Six for $2.00! But what you see is what you get. I shop Amazon mostly. Where else can you get "Tony's [Bennett] Greatest Hits" or "No Count* Sarah [Vaughan]" both from 1958? I, of course, wet clean my records before a stylus touches the grooves.
I buy from Amazon all the time and one of the reasons is I can return records that have issues with them and they're generally cheaper than everywhere else. Bandcamp is extremely expensive for shipping. I also shop on eBay or Amazon through Rarewaves from the UK, they have some of the most reasonable prices, whereas places like Sunrise Records don't.
While records keep increasing in price I'm afraid more people will get more and more from Amazon. It's sad but a true fact now
Growing up, we had two types of places to buy our records. Used record stores (now renamed to independent record stores) and new record stores like Musicland, Peaches, Coconuts, Camelot and so on. Used record stores carried very little if any new releases back then. Maybe some sealed/new records that people got as gifts and didn't want and sold them to used record stores. In the early to mid 1990's, nearly all of the new record stores shuttered. Even discount stores like K-mart and Sears stopped selling new records. That shifted used record stores to now carry new vinyl records when and if they became available since they were about the only game in town. Today, the used record stores that I grew up with has about 30 to 40% of their shelves full of brand new releases and actual used records are becoming harder to come by. That being said, their prices for new records are roughly 20 to 30% higher than I can get on Amazon or other places online even when figuring in shipping costs. Every so often I do buy something new from an "independent" shop to help support them but I tend to stick to used records from them. I mostly purchase new records online.
Heck yeah I buy from Amazon. I do comparison shop with my local stores, but when you see a 50% mark up, I can’t do it. Especially when one of my local stores (here in Houston) has employees that don’t wear masks. At all. That being said, if the mark up is reasonable and if I want other used albums at a record store, I’ll make my purchase there. Liked the video. Thanks, Frank!
@HALF MT amen brother
It isn't alright to the vinyl snobs but depending on location Amazon is your only option. And Bandcamp charges you more for shipping than the vinyl
I live in a small town with no local stores. We had one but it lasted less than a year. It was a cool concept - open 24 hours. It was a coffee shop/record store and they did have a good selection of used records. Now that they are gone my only option locally is Walmart. EBay is hit or miss - some people just don't know how to pack vinyl. Amazon uses great packaging and usually ships in 1 or 2 days so it's fast. Discogs is good but can be expensive.
I buy from Amazon mainly for price. I have found some new vinyl for as low as half the price compared to other on-line sources. I did receive one LP from Amazon, stuck directly into a large plastic envelope that wasn't even padded. The record was trashed, the cover corners crushed and creased, the record warped. Still it was a break even, other than my time, since Amazon takes returns no questions asked. In my experience, most Amazon packaging for records is good.
Bought a blind gaurdian record off of amazon, same day delivery, and when it arrived the shipping sticker was on the cover which wasn't in plastic so if I removed it, I would ruin the cover and rip bits off. The best part about all of it was that I didn't even get the bloody records. They where missing!
I usually buy on amazon or bands sites, but mostly amazon. In my city there arent record stores so... :)
I buy a lot of my records from Amazon for several reasons.
There are no real local record shops apart from the overexpensive, limited offerings of HMV.
I like how Amazon package the records. They keep them secure without the need for a sharp instrument to open and potentially damage the record.
Autorip. Always nice bonus to get a digital copy so I can listen to music away,from my,house.
Postage. This is expensive for records from most other online retailers. With a Prime membership, this is included so I don't have to factor in at least another river into the cost of the record.
I shop wherever i want Online Distros, Local Shops, Discogs and Amazon and also Thrift Stores and Yard Sales. The better the deal the more i'll shop and Amazon do have some pretty great price drops sometimes.
Yes...as a record collector, Co-vid closed down all my fav record stores for months, but I didn't run to Amazon or Discogs. I used a site which either a lot of people don't know about because it doesn't have the brand name, I've been using Musicstack for a long time, and never had issues with there services including the idea of supporting these small independent record stores that advertise/ship from their website is so important. It's all a matter of choice where you get your vinyl fix from, but it's good to look for alternatives
Thanks Frank for your comments and request for feedback. I agree with you that local record stores are ones I tend to support the most for used vinyl. Price for new vinyl is the main reason why I have shopped on Amazon occasionally. My main complaint about new records is the price as well as the occasionally poorly pressed record. Best wishes.
If Amazon could deliver CDs and LPs without damaging them, then I'd have no problem with it. I have bought some, and might again, but CDs always show up with broken cases and LPs with damaged ends\corners. The problem is they don't pack well, they just throw them in a large box floating around loosely (vinyl) or a bag (CDs) and they get damaged. I've even gone as far as sending them back just to get another replacement damaged in a similar way.
i shop amazon because its easy and right at your finger tips, now i go to record stores also,love them ,i go to see whats out i may have forgotten about,in fact yesterday i went into a store and got several records that were available in vinyl and cd. , not all record stores carry the same items,so then amazon comes in
You have reasonable opinions that you're doing a great job. Thanks for helping our hobby. You are appreciated!
I’ve purchased a couple of records from Amazon. I’ve a couple good experiences with Amazon shipping and one bad experience where the cover was very badly damaged from poor packaging. I only bought those items on Amazon because the price on Discogs was 3-4 times the price on Amazon.
I do. I don't have any issues with it. Of course, I'm buying to play records, not "collect". I've had a couple arrive warped, but they're always quick to replace.
I try and shop local and every now and again even ask the local shop to order something specific. But yeah, I order from amazon, eBay and discogs a lot! I shop blindly at the local shop and if it’s something specific I want, generally I look first online. It’s supposed to be fun.
I got to travel 100 miles to go to a record store and 30 to go to a thrift store.So for me Ebay and Discogs is where I buy my Vintage vinyl
record stores for me are purely for secondhand LPs, i live in Dublin Ireland, there is a heap of record stores in the city here, but they rarely have any decent METAL seconhand, so discogs is my main source of buying, friends of mine run indy metal labels and are constantly importing so that is my source of new LPs
I can"t go to a record shop as often as I would like due to the nearest one is 60 miles from where I live. Aside from that, I either buy from Amazon or directly from the record companies( whichever has the better price for the item and shipping). Used to buy from Soundstage Direct before they went under.
Hi Frank! I buy from Amazon, Discogs and my local shops. Damn, I even bought a couple at Target! What really makes a “true” record collector? In another discussion on a group I belong on Facebook, similar questions have been asked and I think at the end of the day isn’t it about the music? I don’t collect just to collect and I know a lot of people just starting out buy to accumulate. I buy records because I like listening to the music I like on vinyl. It’s that simple. The point is: buy music you like no matter where I comes from. Btw, I did buy a record from Russia off of Discogs. I was so paranoid because it took so long and arrived as described, sealed with no creases in the cover. The seller had an awesome score and it worked out. Luckily.
There is only 1 Recordstore near my Village and this Store is only selling used Records. If I want to get new releases, I have to drive nearly an hour to find a shop that sells them. So I tend to by new records from Amazon, Discogs, Bandcamp or directly from the Recordlabel. So I have no problem with buying Records online.
I agree with your take on this topic. Amazon is one of many resources for the vinyl collector. Use it strategically!
I agree with you Frank. I love going to my local Record Stores and buying stuff. But that doesn’t mean we can’t buy stuff online from Amazon, eBay, Discogs, etc if the price is right. If I can get an album locally (same price) I would 100% of the time but unfortunately that’s not always the case.
Frank, I make record purchases from local stores, Discogs and yes, Amazon. It the past year the majority of the 100 plus I purchased came from Discogs & local shops. I have my whole collection inventoried on Discogs. It is great for keeping track of the record and cover rating. I also note the last time it was played.
I will support my local store within reason. If their price is completely out of line with a deal I can get on Amazon then I buy from Amazon. One thing about local shops is if I get a new record with a slight defect such as surface noise I’m hesitant to return it because I don’t want to affect their profits. I will return anything warranted to Amazon with no regrets and they never give me any problems.
One benefit to buying through Amazon is after purchase I can skip over to Amazon Music & then download an MP3 of my vinyl purchase at no extra charge. Can't do that anywhere else that I know of. That said, I purchase my vinyl wherever I can find it.
I agree with you, Frank. I grew up in the 80s and most of my music purchases were made from places like Walmart because that’s where I got the best price. The same applies today. I shop local record stores for used vinyl but I buy new from Amazon.
In my country there are not "mom and pop record stores", and the only options we have are the over priced department store with only 10 titles or buying old dusty records from a moldy cardboard box at the flea market.
Even though Amazon is the least expensive, sometimes their packaging leaves a lot to be desired, and your albums come with banged up corners, especially when you buy single LPs.
"Music Direct" has bulletproof packaging, although their shipping is a little slower. That being said, Amazon is still the best place to buy big box sets. Those usually have lots of cardboard packaging already on the product from the manufacturer.
I dont really mind buying new vinyl from Amazon but I have found my local independent record store to be within 5-6 dollars cheaper per record and its easier to do an exchange if I get a bad pressing, which has happened to me a few times (Sunrise Records Exclusives seem to be the most common for quality problems in my experience...)
i like to check out the amazon warehouse for returned LPs. most of them are new/played once but the sleeves are damaged (some worse than others, i got a copy of Mezzanine who's sleeve appears to have been water damaged, still plays great tho). also remember: record stores make more money off used records than new ones, so buying a new album off amazon isn't as big of a deal as long as you go dig the crates at your fav local place.
I generally buy from the local HMV and have never bought any vinyl from Amazon at all. I have read comments on the SuperDeluxe Website and on Amazon that sometimes the packaging is not always great and that sleeves can get damaged. I would use local smaller stores and there are none near me. There are two near to the HMV, but they only have small stock.
I do occasionally purchase from Amazon - if something is priced at £15 or less! It also arrives the next day, which is also pleasant. Discogs is my usual outlet, though delivery times can leave me impatient.
I shop on Amazon. Because they're cheaper for newer records. But I shop for used records at the mom and pop shop.
First of there are no record stores near where I live that sell vinyl.I have bought off Amazon and Ebay but mostly buy from Discogs because the sellers there give more information on pressings.I also have quite a few sites saved in my browser.Sometimes I buy from the artists shops on their sites.
For me, I always prefer to buy from bricks and mortar shops..But, being retired and on a pension, it all comes down to price...If amazon is cheaper, I gotta go with them...
I use Amazon all the time also Discogs and my local record shop it shouldn’t matter where you buy Vinyl the whole point is buying it keeps the hobby alive 🎵🎵🎵🎵
I own a small indie record store and I usually try to avoid ordering the titles that Amazon have super cheap. But overall, Amazon really does hurt shops like ours. I don't fault people who shop there though. We just can't compete with their buying power. However, the new release thing irritates me beause they are not always cheaper and as a store, we usually price lower than the MSRP anyway. So the difference may be only a buck or two. It all adds up and every sale we lose to Amazon, or if people make it a habit to only shop there, shops like ours will eventually close
I finally broke down this year and bought records on Amazon. I love crate digging but there are specific albums that may be hard to find in stores. So I turn to the internet for stuff a cant find easy. I've had to return a record because the wrong one was shipped and I have had. A couple of torn packages and one where the corner of the jacket was badly bent and crushed in transit, but for the most part it has been a positive experience. I get the albums I want delivered at a fair price. And you actually can support record stores by buying vinyl from Amazon if you buy used and dont always go for the new Prime listings. I even got a couple of handwritten thank you notes from sellers. So there is nothing wrong with buying online.
Japan is having a tough time shipping out. Some sellers who sell in bulk use DHL and perhaps ship all of their orders to an associate in the buyer's home country who then sends them out in the buyer's home country.
And we have to remember everyone don’t have local record store close to them.
mr. Finglish (Bäd English Recs)
Very good point.
You’ve got to do what’s right for you. There will always be negativity & people who want to put you down / troll you. Keeping doing what you’re doing. Best wishes
I have one record store that is less than an hour from me. It is not even actually a record store per se, but an antique store with a dedicated room for albums - there are hundreds of albums so not just a couple of crates. They do not sell or order any new stuff.
Any other trips to record stores I have to venture far from my two stop light town. Amazon delivers it to me so for new stuff I definitely use Amazon. I love shopping ebay for the old stuff. Yes we do (Wife and I as she loves vinyl too), venture down the mountain as there are some great record stores from an hour to two hours away. But Amazon and other services that deliver to my secluded spot are quite appreciated!
Frank, those Kiss comics on your wall, makes me think that I should frame mine as well.
A buy mostly wide release records on Amazon because to many new releases have manufacturing defects. I've had to get too many replacements and Amazon has a good replacement policy and unfortunately, this does sometimes detracts me from buying it from my locals especially when they only have one copy.
I dont typically shop for record on Amazon. I have had new records come damaged or warped. I think this is because their stuff is stored in warehouses and they have not packed well. However sometimes I will find a deal too good to be true. I found Pulse by Pink Floyd new for $72. Never saw it so cheap. I still see it for $75 sometimes.
I try to buy local as much as I can even if I have to pay more. Prime example of when I don’t is I typically buy box sets on Amazon because I know they will get them and they are a good price. My local store rarely stocks the box sets. The recent 9LP Tom Petty Wildflowers is an exemption though. In this case I actually pre ordered it from another independent store as this was an indie and artist website exclusive. I went to my local store as I always do on new release Friday and they actually had it in stock. I hadn’t received a confirmation that my online order had shipped so I went and canceled that one and bought it locally even though it was more money.
Thank You! I totally agree with your comments about poor quality control in much new vinyl. I expect a high quality product for the prices being charged for new vinyl and all too often it is lacking. I buy new vinyl from Amazon because I know that if there is any quality issue I can get a replacement or refund without hassle. On numerous occasions I have been made to feel I was the one with unreasonable expectations when complaining about defects or quality problems with new vinyl bought from independant record sellers, either stores or internet-based.
Haven't bought new vinyl on Amazon US for a while, after a few needed to be returned and a succession of deluxe releases that were not available to Australian customers.
Local dealers now will get special releases in for you. Bit more expensive but worth it for the service and peace of mind.
Bandcamp is good, CD quality downloads and often you can buy the physical media from them as well. Obviously not many mainstream artists.
I buy most of my ALBUMS, CDS, MUSIC DVDS, MUSIC VHS , CASS.TAPES. On AMAZON or EBay, I buy where I get the best deal. And if that rubs people the wrong way I could care less. Take care be safe
I am just getting back into the hobby. So I am all about price when I look for a record. The biggest issue I face at the moment is there are no local indie/mom & pop shops without a bit of a drive. I can pick something up at Walmart or FYE, but with their prices, its cheaper for me to buy from Amazon. I’ve been checking out discogs, but haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet, due diligence and all that. In short, I’ll buy from the place that gives me the best deal and experience in combination.
I recently picked up several Acoustic Sounds audiophile releases like Coltrane's A Love Supreme and Ballads, These are not going to be available at most record stores, so Amazon is perfectly fine for this. And with their recent buy two get one free sale, makes my dollar stretch out further.
The record stores near me deal with used records which is great for hard to find (and OOP) recordings.
I live in a small, conservative Midwestern town. The hayseeds up here don't really collect vinyl, and there isn't a record store within 40 miles.
So, I am quite thankful for Discogs, Amazon, eBay, Acoustic Sounds, etc.
Driving 40 miles one way to buy a record from a mom and pop shop just isn't my cup of tea.
As far as Amazon, I do the same Frank for the same reason. Also, since some vinyl can be defective, Amazon has a great return policy. Local stores will take it back, but they can't return them and they get hurt because they have to give you credit but then are stuck with the bad vinyl
Amazon Prime day was this past week. The week prior to that I bought a Van Halen poster on the day after Eddie passed away. It was a "small business" so, Amazon gave $10 coupon to be used ONLY on Amazon Prime days. My VH poster was around $10 so essentially, I got it for free. The $10 was taken off my prime day purchases one of which was 180g vinyl of Tales of Topographic Oceans. I've wanted to get a new clean copy for a long time but didn't want to pay $28. They also gave extra Amazon prime credits when using RUSH rewards to be used for movies or music. So, I will have this in my Amazon prime music and then able to purchase a movie I want for probably free. I have bought "hard to find" vinyl's off Amazon private sellers. Latest was Bob Welch album. Also, it is hard for me (for different reasons than the normal person) to get to a record store. Believe me, we have a dozen within 15 to 10 miles of my home so I would love to go a lot but my circumstances prevent it. However, it is such a blast to go to a record store. Last time found records for .50-$2.00 which were in semi-good shape. $2.00 albums were VG & VG+. Bananas Records in St. Pete, FL.
I like to support local stores when ever I can ,not just records but any business .Like the previous comments I buy from whom ever has what I want. Also don't forget a lot of independent sellers trade on Amazon. Also its a lot quicker to in the name of the record you want in a search engine and see what pops up .
I rarely buy records from Amazon, prefer the local brick-and-mortar stores, but since the pandemic I’ve ordered thousands of records from eBay. Much better selection and prices, and there are some excellent sellers out there whom I trust and keep coming back to.
When I started collecting records I used to buy from Amazon a lot. However many came warped so I don’t anymore.
I’m more of a thrift store kind of buyer. Mainly because I’m on a self imposed budget. I have purchased from discogs and my experience has been great so far. My rules are :1 but only in the US 2 seller must have a perfect reference or close to it 3 shipping has to be reasonable I make sure I read all the seller notes before buying including asking questions. My children shop Amazon for albums for me for those special occasions it’s easier for them. You touched base on all the things I’ve mentioned. Lover channel. Peace love and rock and roll ✌️
Recently I was in my local record store that has both used and new records. There were two Bill Withers records I wanted, new. The record store had these records but combined they were a total of $20.00 more than they would cost me to buy on Amazon. So I ordered them from Amazon. If combined they were only say 5 dollars more I'd probably have purchased them from the store but $20.00 CAN is too much. Lesson: I go in with a list of what I'm looking for and I've done my research on the sell price at Amazon. I buy where I get the best price.
Amazon always under packages or over packages.Another problem is that i frequently get records with a 1" tear on top edge of the jacket.That is probably a manufacturers issue.Never had these issues in the 1970s
My only issue with buying albums on Amazon is their handling. I bought some brand new albums that were delivered pretty warped. Living in Arizona is a crap shoot with albums, being that any way they're delivered between May-October it's too darn hot outside and I'm always weary of getting warped albums.
Discogs is great, but in my experience most sellers generally grade the vinyl & sleeve to be about a grade above what is actually is. M is usually closer to NM. NM closer to VG+, etc...I always go for the best copy I can find at a reasonable cost and just assume it's going to show up a little worse that what the seller listed it as. If you are very picky about condition or it's a really high priced item, I would definitely ask for pictures.
I live in South Africa. Decent vinyl community this side of the pond, however, very few brick and mortar stores, so I frequent Amazon, or any store that stocks my taste at a decent price.
However, in 2021 I think there's an added threat to the resurgence, and that is price. LPs are becoming ridiculously expensive. Essentially records I bought a year ago now sell for 4x the price new. On average, converted to USD, we pay around $60-100 per album now.
I'm not going to apologize for saving $$$. One of my favorite things in life is walking into a record store and flipping through the used vinyl. But if the store has their used Krokus or Y&T albums marked at $20, I'm simply not paying it. Similarly, if I can get a new copy of an album for $22 on Amazon, vs $40 at the record store, that's the record store's fault, not mine. I love my vinyl, but I also love groceries and electricity.
Love the show! Thanks.
Many people may not be aware that Amazon supports many small businesses on the Amazon Marketplace. Many of these businesses were displaced by the Big Box stores over the past 20 years. So, if you enjoy the convenience of shopping on Amazon (who doesn't) , next time scroll down the item page. Look for the "New and Used" from link. There you can look at all the sellers on Amazon selling the same product. You can review their feedback rating as well. Also, many sellers offer Free Prime Shipping as well. So, you can still buy on Amazon and support the little guy!
I end up sending half of Amazon records back due to poor shipping/handling. Constantly sending records in oversized boxes/bags or even just with a label slapped on it. I have sent back 8 records back this year and I'm getting tired of it not to mention people do get banned if you send to many items back. I'd rather spend more money and get what I want from my local record stores in the condition I expect.