My final comment: every label that Mike sells and advocates and every pressing plant that manufactures them, whether QRP, RTI, Record Industry, Optimal or Pallas distributes or manufactures defective records. Many arrive at my home with split seams or other defects in manufacturing or packing and that includes Mo-Fi One Steps. No pressing plant or record manufacturer achieves perfection. Mike could make that same nasty video he made about ERC about Mo-Fi, Analogue Productions, Sam Records, Chasing The Dragon, Music Matters, Blue Note Tone Poet etc. or any specialty label that he sells but he chose to single out ERC. Why? If you, his acolytes think it’s ok to trash a company trying to do good work and mostly succeeding, that’s your call. And if you wish to call me names and impugn my integrity for pointing it out to your little circle of friends, be my guest. I did my job.

I’ve been casually following Michael Fremer for 30 years. I’ve read his articles and watched many of his videos. I’ve been watching Mike In Groove’s videos for one year. I’ve now purchased several hundred dollars worth of records from his website. And guess what- I trust Mike more than Michael. Mike tells it like it is. He’s got no axe to grind. He’s going to sell records with me or without me. Fremer gives off the sense that he survives and thrives off of free “review merch.” Plus he has an attitude. Listen, I’m grateful that Fremer has kept up the fight for decades. I really am. But when it comes to spending my hard-earned $$$, I’m going to trust Mike In Groove every time.

During your live stream yesterday, a customer asked about a record on your back wall. You told him, "you don't want that" then you explained that a newer / better pressing was coming soon. Then you instructed an employee to take it off the wall. I'm too lazy to go back through that video and find it but I witnessed it live. That's Integrity man! Keep on doing what you do Mike. There's really no need to explain your position to trolls since you already make it clear in most every video. 👍

This man has integrity.

I am a recording artist and get acetates all the time of my own records. Everything you say about acetates is 100% correct. They are for authorising the sound only, they are not durable, or proposed for long term play. Unbelievable that you are being challenged on that.

At least Fremer doesn't post videos of his political stance disguised as record reviews as Maslov did recently. Revolting. I could not unsubscribe to his channel fast enough and will never view a video of his again. People that depend on fans of their work to survive should keep their personal political views to themselves. Just ask Hollywoke how that's going.

A $50 record should be damn near perfect. A $575 record should be absolutely perfect in every single way. Anything less is unacceptable.

I trust Mike’s integrity and know he is not afraid to say what needs to be said. Quality control should be much tighter from a company that charges more than ten times the average Mofi or Analogue Productions etc. Fremer is not spending his hard earned money on these expensive records so he is a little out of touch with the average collector who not getting free records. Fremer cannot be impartial if he excepts free records whether it is conscious or not. He is deluding himself. He won’t risk losing out on free stuff.

A beef of this magnitude hasn't happened since Biggie and Tupac

Defending erc for their defects is LAUGHABLE

It's unfortunate that Michael chose to respond in the fashion he did. This could have been such a great conversation about something that is on the surface super interesting for both his and your viewers. While i don't agree with his method, I imagine when he gets intimate entry into these companies, personal visits, interviews, and the free records on top, that they all add to create a level of allegiance.. so when you comment in a way that has the potential of impacting the livelihood of someone he may have a close relationship with, he naturally is in defensive mode.. in the same way his comments must haves felt as an attack on your livelihood. Its clearly time for detante. No need to split you two into good and bad camp. You are both valuable in my book.

Again, thank you Mike for looking out for US, the CONSUMER! It's very much appreciated buddy, and I'll continue to shop online with your store! Very satisfied with your business!

I’ve been reading Michael Fremer since he wrote for The Absolute Sound.

I'm a local in Phoenix and love seeing Mike and the gang. I even take my 9 year old son and am getting him into vinyl now. I always try and ask Mike about one copy versus another and he always gives a great and informative response. Recently I saw an album from my youth (the Cars Heartbeat City). They had a version for $10 and another for $40. I asked him what the difference was and he said the $40 was unopened and if I planned on listening to it I should get the $10 version. Knowing how Mike cleans all his used records (some of the best items I have purchased from him were used $5 classical albums!), I knew it would sound great. And it does. No BS from him. Keep up the amazing work Mike! And yes, if I ever buy a $500+ NEW record, that sucker better be pristine!

Mike, in my opinion, you are a honest and genuine good guy. That is why I buy my new records from your online site. Keep on spinning.

Mike is clearly a no-bullshit, straight to the point, kind of guy and I love it. He tells it like it is and I trust what he says more than anyone else on KZfaq when it comes to jazz records. Gonna go happily buy some records from him right now.

What a wonderfully even-tempered, methodically laid-out response. As a KZfaqr myself, who sometimes gets erroneous and occasionally nasty comments, this was a clinic on how to defend yourself without resorting to vitriol. Keep up the good work, Mike. You’re a trusted voice in the vinyl community.

Great response Mike, I was once in the audio industry (importer and distributor) and there are many bully boy characters in the industry so it certainly comes as no surprise we see it in the record industry too. It can be like something out of a mafia/gang war movie sometimes.

We're with you, Mike.

I can only speak to my experience with my first (and sadly last) purchase from ERC. I bought the stereo pressing of Everybody Digs Bill Evans. The packaging, jacket, and inner were all very well done; beautiful in fact. Unfortunately, the LP was extremely noisy, even after 2 cleanings. After I contacted them, they quickly responded and replaced the record and apologised, but the replacement, while better, was still noisy. Not what I would expect from a £350 record. I haven’t tried my luck with ERC again, which is a shame because I really like the concept of a small bespoke audiophile label hand printing their jackets and using an all valve system.