Support your local record store.

[moka]

Is it just me, or does buying records online suck? Nothing ever seems to work out 100% I like going to the record store and being able to take home the records I bought that day. I also like having a friendly crew of guys that instantly brings me all the new stuff and other things I should be paying attention to. The thing I like the most is being able to hear the actual, entire record. I need more than a horrible quality sample most of the time. Seems a lot of record stores are doing pretty poorly lately. If you feel like me show them some support!

[Section 8]

i def agree with you, i love going down to More Dusty or Satellite & listening to new releases. online sound clips do no justice for me either, nothing like listening in person.

however, the availabily of records online & the convience is why i buy most of my vinyl online. More Dusty has good distributors, but they only get a few copies of those particualr promos i'm after. plus, Christy won't hold any, so it's more like a mad dash down there to get there right when the fedex guy arrives, or all the goodies will be gone.

if More Dusty or Satellite had an online site that gave the option to buy the records online, but still pick up them in person, i'd be all for it. but until then, i've made way too many trips down to L5 for a particualr record, only to come home empty handed.


BUT, like i said, there's nothing like listening to vinyl in an actual store. plus, nobody can help you out online like Hazeus can down at Satellite. he helped me soooo much my first year spinning dnb.

[moka]

Haze is a champion. I'd walk in and he would hand me a stack of what he knew I wanted to check out. Customer service goes a long ways.

[Section 8]

exactly, i'd name a track i'd like or i'd show him on ethat i dug, & 2 seconds later he'd have a stack for me that was all full of exactly what i was looking for.

you're def right, customer service does go a long ways.;)

[Kujo]

Here's how I see this:

Pro's to buying locally:
1) Immediate Transaction
2) Customer Service (I have had some satelite employes be real dicks sometimes, not Haze of course)
3) Better listening quality than online clips,
4) YOU CAN TELL IF THE RECORD IS WARPED.

Cons to buying locally:
1) You have to travel there and back to possibly get something you want.
2) Less availability and selection
3) Your new record may be closer to used depending on how long it's been in the store and how many times it's been listened too.
4) You don't need a credit/debit card.
4) This may not apply to everyone but, I don't have time to listen to all the records on the shelf from beginning to end. Since the records are allowed to be played, I have gotten scratched records because I didn't catch the scratch in the listening booth.

Pros to buying online.
1) Much better selection. New tracks are available sooner online, backstock is better also.
2) You don't have to go anywhere. It's convienient. I order @ work and I get them sent to work.
3) Your records are brand new/never been played.
4) If you get your order FedEX (www.juno.co.uk (http://www.juno.co.uk)), you can get your tracks in as little as 2 days.
5) Electronic organization. If you're looking for a specific record, you just go down the list alphabetically. You can also sort and search as needed. You don't have to look through every dusty crate along w/ 6 other people standing behind you waiting to search the same one.
6) You can order 24 hours a day - 7 days a week.
7) IT COSTS THE SAME TO GET BRAND NEW RECORDS FEDEX'D TO YOUR DOOR FROM THE UK AS IT DOES TO GET THEM LOCALLY

Cons to buying online:
1) Audio isn't as good.
2) You can't tell if a plate is warped.
3) you may have to wait 3 weeks for your order if the site doesn't offer FedEX. (it's been 2 1/2 weeks and I'm still waiting on an order from redeye)
4) You have to have a credit or debit card.
5) If you have to get them sent to your house, you have to make sure someone is there or you'll be making a trip to the post office.


Me personally, I buy online. I still check the local places out sometimes but it just isn't practical for me to use local stores and my main source.

I do want to support the local stores (and do sometimes) but I don't feel bad when I don't because they can't support me.

[Section 8]

awesome post Kujo, you hit all angles.;)