06-09-2016, 07:14 AM
Pointing to one specific vinyl item and claiming it's a design flaw isn't really sensible because after dealing with probably 100.000 LPs in the past few years in various formats, I have come to see that the entire general build of LP covers are a design flaw. Unlike CDs, which break in about 1 out of 30.000 cases, LPs are designed to have their covers damaged in a very small but still dependable % no matter how you pack them. And this is how vinyl was approached and accepted by most before the current 'era' / rebirth.
Printing up a small amount of extra materials on every release is already a big expense. And running that extra USA shop already comes at a huge extra expense to help save people money in USA (and a bit in Canada). Manufacturing errors are one thing, but if I was to fix every single problem based on the design flaws of vinyl, covering also the full amount of postage, it would probably push certain pressings towards the negative, as running the shipping operations is so expensive.
Been collecting vinyl off and on for several decades and there has never been a time where cover damage wasn't possible in some form or another, including buying directly at record shops, from merch booths at shows. I still buy a lot and most stuff I receive comes in with corner dings, seam splits, etc. Never once myself asked for a refund or replacement, but I can empathize with most cases and still try to accommodate most people with extreme (and reasonable) disappointment. But, 'out of control' customers who scream obscenities, swear vengeance, try to break rules of the shop (that they agree to upon ordering) when a compromise is trying to be made are usually not people that are easy to help and their money is probably better spent elsewhere. Shit happens everyday, and everyone needs to make the best of it, and I think compromise is always the best way forward.
And, let's put customer service stuff to rest in here again, please. I hired someone else to deal with it for a reason (because of some customers like above who don't seem to actually be looking for a solution and more just want to attack and because of receiving some of the same questions too often (when is xx thing coming out, etc.) to be able to reply).
Printing up a small amount of extra materials on every release is already a big expense. And running that extra USA shop already comes at a huge extra expense to help save people money in USA (and a bit in Canada). Manufacturing errors are one thing, but if I was to fix every single problem based on the design flaws of vinyl, covering also the full amount of postage, it would probably push certain pressings towards the negative, as running the shipping operations is so expensive.
Been collecting vinyl off and on for several decades and there has never been a time where cover damage wasn't possible in some form or another, including buying directly at record shops, from merch booths at shows. I still buy a lot and most stuff I receive comes in with corner dings, seam splits, etc. Never once myself asked for a refund or replacement, but I can empathize with most cases and still try to accommodate most people with extreme (and reasonable) disappointment. But, 'out of control' customers who scream obscenities, swear vengeance, try to break rules of the shop (that they agree to upon ordering) when a compromise is trying to be made are usually not people that are easy to help and their money is probably better spent elsewhere. Shit happens everyday, and everyone needs to make the best of it, and I think compromise is always the best way forward.
And, let's put customer service stuff to rest in here again, please. I hired someone else to deal with it for a reason (because of some customers like above who don't seem to actually be looking for a solution and more just want to attack and because of receiving some of the same questions too often (when is xx thing coming out, etc.) to be able to reply).
Director/Founder
http://www.blood-music.com
http://www.blood-music.com