Big Box Exclusive Vinyl LPs - Are they worth it?!? | Talking About Records
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
- Should you buy exclusive records at Walmart and Target? Are they good quality pressings? Will these huge companies hurt independent record stores by selling vinyl? In this video I'll break down the truth and address the most frequently asked questions about vinyl records being sold at big box exclusives.
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When I was young I had one Independent record store in my town and Kmart I bought a lot of vinyl at Kmart and I say if you like it buy it but I do support my local record store more than the big box stores.
I’m a massive supporter of my local record store, and I agree with your assessment of the Big Box stores. I’ve seen a lot more young and new customers post-lockdown and I think a lot of them have been turned on by the online ordering they were doing. One other point I think you missed which will have a huge impact on local record stores ( in a positive way) is that by purchasing all of these Big Box exclusive records, they’re essentially putting more inventory out there to be sold and resold by local shops. My guess is you’ll start seeing these coming into your store more and more. Circle of life for the record. Great video, loved the insight.
Great points! Thanks for watching
True but I think (hopeful that I am) that these people who get into the hobby might at one point given the limited selection available at those store, go to an independent record store and discover a whole new world. So in the end, it might drive traffic to independent stores as well (the whole trickle down thing ..but I hope it works better than the supposed economy one which doesn't really)
When I first started getting into music I was 12 years old. I started out looking at buying music at Walmart, target and local pharmacies sometimes. From 2005 until now the music section was getting smaller to the point that they didn’t exist in the big box stores. It’s good to see that the music section is getting bigger at big box stores again for the younger generation. They deserve activities that will get them off their phones.
Started my collection 5 yrs ago. Early on as a kid/teen growing up I wasn’t interested in any music, or I hadn’t found what I was into yet. I then got into streaming some older rock/pop and began to find an interest. After some time I began to think it would be neat to actually own music I love in a physical format. After getting my first vinyl record in 2017 I was in awe and fascinated by the format. The large artwork, and just the action of sliding the sleeves in and out and reading the front and back of the cover was cool. I now have over 20 records of stuff I love. A few of them have Autos, are exclusives, or are rare. But to be honest the ones I value the most are standard versions of very specific albums that I’ll probably cherish until the end of time.
Love to hear it! It's still magical to me even after 25+ years
Target has been putting out records for about 10 years. They did those Beatles 45s/T-shirt packages back in 2011 and did a Bob Dylan and even an Incubus 45/T-Shirt box.
My only Big Box purchase was the Greatest Hits album by The Go-Go's on a greenish, translucent vinyl. It sounded pretty good though I only played it once. It went on the wall as a piece of art as I have all their albums on vinyl. Just discovered your channel. Great stuff.
Thanks so much for watching!
I say buy what you want and if it is at the price you are willing to pay. To think you HAVE to buy from a certain vendor is closed minded. More options is nice. There may be areas of the country where Wal Mart is the closest or only retailer.
Agreed 100%. Shop local when ya can, but in some circumstances a big box makes sense.
That’s the story where I live in NE TN. We have Walmart’s Targets and one B&N and two Books-a-Million… so you do what you have to..
Great info
Thanks!
Walmart (Exclusives)
All 6 Metallica's - Sound Fantastic
Chicago IX (Sun Yellow) - Sounds PHENOMENAL
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Legend (Jamaican Tri-Color)
Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill (Clear)
Target (Exclusives)
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Chronicle (Blue) - Sounds Great
2Pac - The Best of Part 1: Thug (Opaque Gold) - Yet to Hear
2Pac - The Best of Part 2: Life (Opaque Silver) - Yet to Hear
Eminem - Curtain Call (Translucent Blue) - Quality Sound, Not the Best
Move love to my local record shop, The Wax and the Needle. Where I buy most of my records.
Right on! Some good titles there for sure. Shop local indeed.
Great point regarding the QC of records especially in regards to large pressing quantities.
I would always go to a big retailer when I want to buy a big name artist record that has millions of copies.
I had to exchange my copies several times and even once I had to return it twice to get a non faulty record.
Now, if I were to get this record at an independent record store near me, what would be the burden for them to do the exchange and everything? I don't know how it work for them here in the US but I know that in France, for example and I would say that probably apply to the rest of the EU, they have to bite the loss. The label will not take the faulty record back. (unless it's like the whole batch that is faulty), Their only resort is to discount the record heavily to try to lessen the loss.
So, to me, I think it adds to the burden of these small shops so I prefer to buy these big releases at big stores or Amazon because they can bite the loss without flinching.
For smaller releases, indie and the like, well, if it's faulty then the whole pressing is faulty and that's rarely the case as you mentioned, small batches get better QC. So it has yet to happen to me.
When I was a teen, for me there was K Mart and Rhino Records which became Mad Platter. The Stores in the mall like Music Land or Sam Goody were over priced.These days the nearest record store from me is about 60 miles away. So for the most part I will buy from Amazon, Wal Mart or online directly from the artist's website or the label's. Sound quality wise with box stores like Wal Mart, to me its no different than any other store. Like it was said it depends on who pressed it and the source. In other words it depends on what the record companies approved.
Great commentary. I rarely shop at Target & Walmart because the in store selection sucks (IMO). They stock a bunch of Taylor Swift etc and want me to order from the site
Yeah I think a lot of people that have other options locally treat the big-boxes like an in between stop. It’s convenient when you’re already there. But doesn’t ever really detail the normal trips to a real shop.
A GREAT entry point for people to discover the hobby!
Amazon doesn’t know how to pack a record for shipping. Walmart and Target have their exclusives but I don’t necessarily care that much for fancy colors as far I’m concerned it’s the sound quality. I’ve had couple that seemed compressed but for the most part they have good sound. Where the local store stands out is by having a much bigger selection. Plus having a section filled with used records.
Agreed across the board. Thanks for watching Daniel!
In The Netherlands we have big stores, but nowhere near the giant stores as in the US. I don't think that is really a thing here, maybe some sell some cd/blurays. We do have Amazon aswell ofcourse. For myself, I am a starting vinyl enthusiast. It wll become a collection of sorts in time, but it is not the main goal. I am certainly not a completist. I generally want to seek the best possible version according to the people that would know and search for that (within my means). Often times that means I have to go online. Straight to the source (Acoustic Sounds for example or online distributors), because that is the only way I can get it. If that means Amazon, then I go to Amazon.
Whenever possible I go local. But I don't think people should (be morally forced) to go local, just because they are local. These shops should, just like every business, do their upmost to provide value for the customer. With vinyl being a hobby for most, there is a community factor, plus the nostalgia for searching in bins and such. So the added value is quickly found. But also try and make the AS titles available here. In Europe we have to pay all kinds of import taxes and such if we buy from the US. There is a chance there for retailers to even add more value to their local buyers.
Well said!
Sometimes it just makes sense to get certain records at target or Walmart. My local record store was selling the same records for almost double. Why wouldn’t I pay half the price for unique colors?
It's understandable. Basically impossible for indie stores (like mine) to compete on price. We can only combat it with curation, service, and a personal touch. But many times those still don't compare when the discount is deep.
The people that buy exclusive or limited edition vinyls and then immediately re sell them for an arm and a leg are rediculous. It honestly wrecks it a bit for the rest of us who actually care and want one especially if it’s of our favourite artist. To have 10 versions of the same album seems nuts to me. The regular black plus 1 colour variant should be enough
I don't disagree at all. That said, a secondary market will always exist when anything becomes even remotely "collectible" - it's just the age we live in
I say if you want to buy lps from artists in the last 30 yrs, go anywhere and get them. Any lps before that, go to a local record shop or online and find vg+ or NM/M first presses. Even second presses. Alot of the new pressings are digital masters and not even analog. Kinda defeats the purpose of vinyl anyway. Just my 2 cents.
I haven't heard ANYONE giving any of the artists 💩 for making these deals for exclusives with Walmart or Target. Why is that? They are the ones making these deals.
Metallica had 6 Walmart exclusive reissues. Taylor Swift has Target exclusive variants on multiple albums. Just two examples.
I see your point. But the reality is the artists have less to do with decisions like these than you think. Their record labels are making these moves on their own in most cases. And there’s nothing wrong with that. The music deserves to be heard, and exposing it to new listeners/collectors is not a bad thing. The consumer just needs to be smart with their dollars and not give them all to big corporations when they have a choice.