Online vinyl retailers

Discussion in 'Music and Recordings (vinyl , 8-track, etc.)' started by JoshMorr, Jan 21, 2016.

  1. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    Looking to start a thread on the various places people buy vinyl online. Who are the retailers that people trust and have good (or less than good) experiences with?

    Amazon - Recently picked up Coltrane - Love Supreme. Packaged very well, box within a box. Crisp corners. Little to no comments on quality of record, recording, etc. Not going to find anything unique or special here.

    SoundStageDirect.com - I have a few records coming in from SoundStageDirect.com, will report on packaging, but their videos on the site about packaging look legit. Slightly more info on weight of record, recording etc.

    I have seen some "audiophile" online vinyl stores. I am weary of their $50 - $100 remasters and numbered limited editions.

    Please share your experiences, shortage of decent places to buy jazz or decent records in my area.
     
  2. cardigan

    cardigan Facebook Friend

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    It's been years since I've bought any records online. Still, if your fine with used, I'd recommend researching Dusty Groove to see if their customer service and quality descriptions are still what they used to be. I had great service in the past finding things for myself and things that my parents requested. Many genres.
     
  3. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    Discogs can be like rolling the dice, but can produce bargains. I pick up at least a few records from the same seller to save on combined shipping. People will usually work with you if you feel their desription of the condition is not accurate. I mainly hunt "mint" when searching for vinyl, unless it's really stupidly priced, then I'll gamble on "near mint."
     
  4. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    I've been buying a lot of records from Elusive Disc. They all come well packaged including oddly shaped box sets. I've spent an embarrassing amount there and I'm super happy.
     
  5. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

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    My experiences so far:

    GoHastings will occasionally have a decent coupon code. Their shipping is very reasonable for media mail. Downside is it is hit or miss the shipping quality.

    Bestbuy also has great sales for vinyl every now and then. They unfortunately have the worst mailers I have ever seen, it's basically two wimpy pieces of cardboard glued together with a cardboard inner shell protecting the record. I get free shipping due to Rewardzone status.

    Amazon (sold by amazon) has the best mailers I have yet experienced but their prices are all over the map and can change on an hourly basis.

    Amazon UK is also a good source for EU pressed vinyl and they do ship to the US for somewhat reasonable prices. Their packaging practices seem more lax than USA Amazon however.

    Elusivedisc I have nothing bad to say about them but their shipping always kills the deal.

    Amoeba offers free shipping but kinda high prices, have yet to order anything from them.
     
  6. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    The problem with Amazon is it's hard to get the right version of a specific album. Great for new music though.

    You just have to spend $100 and then it's free. This gets me every time.
     
  7. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I got the limited edition vinyl of Blackstar from Barnes and Noble, and god was their packaging awful. The sleeve came damaged but luckily the disc was fine.

    I've had mostly good experiences with discogs. It pays to do a bit of legwork and read reviews of sellers. Same with ebay, although I buy vinyl there almost never anymore.

    One thing that can often work well is to follow a few record shops on instagram. Some of them will put items up for sale through their instagram feed. I got an MFSL of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust that way.

    I've got two records coming from Bullmoose next month. I suspect they'll be packaged well.
     
  8. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    Any you'd recommend?
     
  9. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Check out @noblerecords. They're based out of Charlotte.
     
  10. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    Thanks @drfindley - Elusive Disc was one of the sites I was trying to cryptically vet. I also have read about a hundred detailed notes about albums and their pressing quality. They certainly know their music. Didn't know if the descriptions were audiophile hype or the real deal. They have some ridiculous Blue Note remasters that I haven't seen elsewhere, but at $60 a pop its a bit of a gamble. Looks like I may take the plunge.
     
  11. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    The thing to be careful with Elusive Disc is they list every positive detail, so sometimes certain things are less important than others. For example, limited numbered editions aren't necessarily from the very first pressings. Things I like for: Pressed at RTI or Pallas. Blue Note re-issues are better at 33 than 45 as they were handled at Kevin Grey's new studio. (Everything he touches is gold usually as well). But they usually have enough info to help me make a decision. I've gotten around 20+ albums that were the "good version" just because they had enough info that I cold make a solid decision.
     
  12. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    Canadian perspective:
    For mainstream stuff I always always go to amazon first as they have free shipping and prices are in $CDN which comes out way way cheaper.

    For stuff Amazon does not carry (AP, MFSL etc...) I've bought from acoustic sounds, soundstage direct, elusive disc. Good service from all three though shipping is $$$. I tend to prefer Acoustic Sounds since that's where most of the stuff is pressed anyhow.
     
  13. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

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  14. Mr.Sneis

    Mr.Sneis Friend

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    And update, all albums came in, one box with two separate cartons inside. Very nice packaging job. One disc came with a giant scratch on a side so I called for an exchange today and it seems to be a very smooth process. Big thumbs up so far and will definitely be buying more from ccmusic in the future!
     
  15. Johnman1116

    Johnman1116 New

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    I was wondering if anyone has any experience with Vinyl Me, Please.
    i feel like the limited edition, exclusive Record alone is worth it no?
     
  16. Dr. Higgs

    Dr. Higgs Boson - Member

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    I just signed up recently and got my first record. I can't speak for the whole collection, but the Big Bill Broonzy record I got was quite good.
     
  17. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    A buddy of mine is using that service. He's liking it a lot.

    The reason I wouldn't use a service like that is that I'm picky about mastering. I spend a lot of time on the Steve Hoffman forums finding what the best pressings are, and then I seek those out. It's more expensive, because usually the best pressing isn't the latest reissue, but it gives me peace of mind that I'm getting the specific mastering I want.
     
  18. Wfojas

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    I've had nothing but good service from Music Direct, so I get newer vinyl there. For best pressings, etc. asking people always helps. Merrick has the right idea, for sure. Solid light blue prism DSOTM notwithstanding, some of the differences between pressings, stampers, etc can be significant, but fun if you like that sort of thing.
     
  19. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    I've bought records recently from Soundstage Direct, Elusive Disc, and Amazon. Soundstage Direct has the best packageing, but all arrived flawlessly. As stated above I really like elusive disc's info on the pressing, where SSD just give general info if you know exactly what recording you are looking for, and Amazon is a crap shoot. Amazon did send me 2 copies of Ziggy Stardust even though I only ordered 1.
     
  20. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Is that the new Ziggy Stardust reissue? I'll buy the spare off you. I want to hear that mastering, which is the 40th anniversary AAA mastering.
     

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