I agree about price of new vinyl being too high. I would like deflation

You hit the nail on the head when it comes to the lack of quality control and the dreadful paper innersleeves.

I feel your pain on the paper sleeve penny pinch.

When I was buying LP's in the early 1980's the normal price was about $7 to $8. In 2024 dollars that would be $24.05. I am okay in that price range for a single LP. Anything over that is a bit ridiculous. For the most part I purchase used records. I purchased four used records just the other day and it was $26.30. Nothing great and probably LPs others would pass on but it was music I like and listened to back in the 70's and 80's so I am happy with it. 😁 And I agree with you on your paper sleeve frustrations! That is why I clean even new records before playing them and use the poly-lined sleeve.

Ugh, the paper sleeves....I'm grateful to whoever it was who gave me the idea early on to just buy a pack of poly sleeves for my new records.

Reckon you called that one bang on. Certainly the price of new LP's is getting ridiculous and out of my pocket a lot of the times now.

Hello, you are quite right warped records and paper inner sleeves are extremely irritating, but on the whole I find the quality of today's pressings good, often better than say 30 years ago, that is my experience. Best regards from the Netherlands

I agree with all of these points, especially the inner sleeves, I can’t stand that

Agree 100% with everything you mentioned, especially with regards to the pricing.

Seems to me that if nearly everyone is complaining about prices, it might be in the record stores own best interests to push back on the suppliers/ companies a bit more rather than rolling out the "oh its not us, its them' line. I accept you (the stores) don't control the MSRP but if grossly elevated prices kill the growth of new music, then the end result is the same - you close. Perhaps *telling* the suppliers - nope, this is too expensive, I'm not taking it - might work if the RSD groups of stores all did it together. I'd expect self-preservation's a pretty good motivator.

Back in 1989 I got back into buying records after I jumped onto the CD bandwagon in 1985. The price I paid locally for a clean used record was $3 sealed records went for $8

Thanks for the honesty ! Very refreshing

In 1968 I was buying my first records. The price was about five dollars. When adjusting for inflation that works out to 35 or 40 dollars in todays dollars.

This seemed like a pep talk at some factory. I expected him to call out specific people and commend them while telling them they will have a little something extra in this weeks paycheck.

I agree with pretty much everything you said. As far a quality control goes I haven't had any issues with warped records but I am finding more new records with scratches straight out of the jacket.

I really wanted Tesla "real 2 reel" on RSD, but when I got there it was $60! $60? WTF it's a double LP of cover songs!

Since I have a large collection I usually limit new record purchases to 20-25$ each, so 40 -50$ for a double. If it gets higher I pass. Everything is more expensive now I've been resleeving since my teens starting with the VRP sleeves then on to Mofi. No regrets but agreed it should be done by the industry. It is a glorious time for old school collectors due to the high quality of recordings. I love RSD because getting out of print recordings and new releases from vaults ex. FZ and GD.

agreed brother! I wish they would repress Robert Plant. but I'm sure that's an artist decision as of now. Enjoy the videos!

Also love the art releases; I mentioned eins.zwei.acht label before with the Friendship editions. Also recently got an art piece from objet trouvé label. -- Haven't had much warping issues. Maybe 2 out of about 5-600 in the last 2-3 years. Agree on paper sleeves, just received another 200 inner polys from vinyl storage solutions. -- Biggest pet peeve is no lyrics sheet with vocal music. If an artist bothers to put words to music, maybe it is worth writing them down for the listener. Otherwise, I have to assume that the words are meaningless. But then frequently lyrics are unintelligible, it's word salad. Classical music typically provides context about the particular piece in the booklet, which really helps. There's an idea for "pop" music. Prices: seems more or less in line with inflation over the past 40 years, IME.

My main complaint is way too many record pressed off-center. I bought a lot of records in high-school and as a young adult in the 1980s and getting a record with a side pressed off-center was foreign to me. I never had that issue until the vinyl resurgence over the last 15 years or so. Now it just seems expected.

Paper sleeves are ridiculous for new expensive vinyl. My take on RSD is that "Live" albums are very gimmicky, especially for hip hop. Half the time the soundboards aren't even good to begin with.

As much as I hate the lack of quality control on many new records, I shudder whenever I open a new record and see the sandpaper-like paper sleeves. Purchased a long out of press record with only 100 records pressed (small indie artist) a couple of years back for around $120. It was still in the original shrinkwrap and the cover looked fantastic. I opened it up and lo and behold it has scuff-marks on pretty much 25% of the record, likely from sitting in a box getting flipped through over and over again. Felt like a punch in the gut at first, but luckily the scuffs were very superficial so there is no obvious surface noise from the record. If you buy records from known labels you can usually avoid this but there is always a chance you get someone who skimped on quality.

I used to support record store day but not anymore! With many of us, they have passed their expiration date! Limited edition is great & all but when you only have an 8,000 limit for the entire country, that’s just a cash grab! Not everyone that wants to participate in RSD can get there that day! Many have to work that day! Also, claiming to have an RSD exclusive that costs $50-$60 only to have that same exact album be released in mass less than a month later of later in the year at a lower price! An example is Nat King Cole live from RSD 2024! The same exact version of that RSD album is up for pre-sale on his website at a lower price! All RSD is is a cash grab!

I don't know how often you handle the old RCA Victor and Living Stereo discs, but it always amazes me how flat they are after seventy years (and probably bad storage). But while a good turntable will track a warped disc, it can't correct pressing defects, and that's my main gripe about new pressings. I've had to return two albums recently (Heavy Weather and Wish You Were Here) due to poor sound and a skip. How is this in particular still happening? And speaking of RSD, a "vinyl debut" edition pressing from a few years ago had a full six seconds of a song cut out in the middle. For no apparent reason and with no explanation. Does anyone actually QA these things with their ears?

What’s your take on digital vs analog? Not that I know a ton but are a lot of 2024 presses just digital cuts? And with the reissue 90s there is that gray area of is this original a digital record in the first place? I’m looking forward to the new Atlantic 75 STP Purple release, haven’t heard Core yet

Love the shirt, where can I get one?

Biggest thing for me is probably the price of new records. My main want from RSD 2024 was Tesla’s Real to Reel covers album. I got a copy, but I was not prepared for the $58 price tag!! It’s a double album, but still… That’s nearly $30 per disc, and this is music that was originally recorded in, like, 2007! No new content on here; it’s just the first time it was pressed on wax. I think $40 would’ve felt much more appropriate.

Interesting you focused on warped. I've been into records for 4 or 5 years and haven't had that issue once. I have had multiple records with manufacturer defect scratches to the point of being more like gouges. Usually a zig zag sort of pattern. And of course virtually every record is filthy with tiny debris.

I think performers like Lana Del Rey and Taylor Swift need to limit 1 album per customer for special variants. Alice in Chains did it with 'Jar of Fly" release on their website for special variants. This should go for RSD at each store. There should be a max of 5 albums per customer, nothing more until the following day. This will allow more people to be able to purchase specialty albums and really make the industry grow. I understand why they do it but I also feel that the person who went into the store to purchase that one album and was told it is sold out, leaves empty handed and possibly a lost customer to the vinyl community.

I understand that you being a record store owner you have more skin in the game as far as pricing goes but pricing is out of control for new stuff. If the record store all banded together and talked to the labels maybe it would change a little ? The pricing is what is driving more people to online places like Amazon where you can save some significant money

How evident has it become from the store owner perspective if there are certain pressing plants that are doing a much worse job on quality control vs. others?

Agree on the quality control and warpage issues of current vs 80’s quality. I have owned record stores since 1976. I thought the quality of domestic vinyl dropped steadily throughout the 70’s and 80’s. A big portion of returns were warped. Another defect problem was from the increased amount of music being squeezed into each side. My understanding is that was done by making the grooves smaller and tighter. That caused a lot of skating issues to many vinyl customers with lower quality equipment or slightly worn needles. Currently, my defective returns are much lower for a few reasons, IMO. One is the movement towards double disc sets vs cramming too much onto one disc. Second is the heavier vinyl used on a lot of today’s pressings. Third, the use of more protective shipping cartons. Which begs the question, why not spend the extra nickel on premium quality inner sleeves? Note: a much higher percentage of vinyl I am selling is now pressed in Europe. European pressing in the 70’s and 80’s were generally better quality than domestic pressings. So, it’s should be no surprise that the current European pressings are better quality than our domestic pressings of the past.

I agree completely about paper sleeves; chaps my ass for the same reason it chaps yours and everyone else's. But the biggest complaint I have, and have had for a few years, is putting 10-12 songs on two pieces of vinyl and charging me, the consumer, an extra 10-15 bucks for extra wax and cardboard which isn't necessary. I'm afraid the days are long gone where we get a new album with 10 songs on it; 5 songs per side. And recording at 45 RPM over 33 1/3, half-mastered this, and remastered that...just make a fucking normal album!

Lots of things going for sure. What I don't like is "older" records, I mean those released in the past few years, still new that get the price bump just because that the new price of vinyl right now. Dude, those records were in stock way before the price hike. Ah, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news... those new prices are here to stay. as for everything, once it's gone up, it seldomly goes down. The other thing I noticed is some releases especially special/limited etc that come in both records and CDs, you don't get the same number of tracks between the 2 mediums. I'm sorry I'm here for the music most importantly so if you're going to release 48 tracks on CDs and only 12-20 on records, then I'll get the CDs (and probably save a bit of money as well) It bothers me even more than when they do bonus track for this or that (Japanese releases or iTunes or Spotify or for a specific retailer etc). Not everyone can shop at those outlets so even if you're a fan of the artist there's no way to get it, plus sometimes the bonus are different so that would mean you would have to buy multiple copies... nope Fortunately it's not common. I don't mind if they do a specific color variant of a record for a specific outlet. As long as it's the same music. I have to say, RSD this year was not bad. I have been skipping it entirely the past few years but this year seems a step in the right direction. Yes, still a bunch on unnecessary releases, picture discs and gimmicks but it was much better I thought. I actually had a good time at my local store. It was not crowded, busy but a constant flow in and out so everything was pretty smooth. It's been several time G.I. you mentioned your label, care to do a presentation video about it? I'm sure the audience would be interested. Just a suggestion. Cheers.

I think the reason used vynl is coming down is because of the quality of the reissues.

As long as a product sells, Any company in any industry will always creep up prices, because they can because people keep buying

Still waiting for some reissues of classic albums because the artist / labels can’t figure things out is annoying! I will say we have seen some good ones in the past 2-3 years which is promising.

you're lucky if you can find new vinyl for less than 40 bux in canada.

Wouldn’t spend 300-500 bucks on a record but would buy thousands of dollars worth of records. …….wink😊

Heya! In the 1960's, mono records cost $4.00 at the store and stereo ones cost $5.00. Taking over 50 years of inflation into account, is $25 or $30 really that outrageous? People get paid a whole lot more today than they did in the 1960's; that's how it works!

About 80% of the new records I buy are warped, playable, but visibly warped and it's super annoying, like get your shit together!

I prefer tp buy a good clean second hand copy over an over-priced 180g vinyl re-issue... prices are still damn stupid! I know the material is expensive but it does not excuse for price gouging