Not what I said, I said they are TERRIBLE at communication and it was likely delayed because they "oversold it". Looks like I was 100% right. Better late than never I guess.
Vinyl Me Please (store, exclusives, swaps, etc)
- Thread starter Captainfog
- Start date
uvwxVinyl
Well-Known Member
I don't think companies should throw around statements either just for the sake of it if they aren't willing to get down in the trenches and do more than a #BlackLivesMatter or #ICantBreathe tweet. I get that this raises awareness as well but at the same time I can't help but feel it's just a corporation trying to profit off the back of an earnest movement and id rather they just stay out of it if they can't provide tangible actions.
Just for the record, while the most recent cases involved a black person, and most of the cases involve black people - the larger issue for me is abuse of authority and prejudice from law enforcement especially towards anyone outside the obvious social bracket. I'm a visible minority and can tell you, I shit my pants whenever I have to deal with the police and I know exactly how I'm going to be perceived, and how quickly that situation can turn badly. This is my experience from living for extending periods in 3 countries - Canada, USA and Germany. The prejudice is the same even in the more liberal countries, luckily the cops aren't as trigger happy.
I can't stand the company VMP has become but I'm ok with them not taking a stance here.
Bingo, most companies making a "statement" IMO are doing it to boost profits. Pure selfish reasons.
juiceless
Active Member
well that’s interesting. Could you back up your assertion with some of examples or proof?
And you know what? I don’t care what their motives are. We need these words on everyone’s lips. We need this signal boosted, the message needs to be ubiquitous.
uvwxVinyl
Well-Known Member
Ok maybe I'll backtrack a bit here as I should be less sceptical - im ok with companies that make a statement or try to raise awareness, but I'm also ok if there are those that don't get involved.
More concerning would be those that go the Chick-fil-A route and come out to make a statement supporting the oppression.
Tys1
Well-Known Member
You guys I’m probably in the top 5 biggest VMP haters here but there’s some people bugging out. If they don’t make a statement then it’s profit driven, when they do then it’s profit driven. Man, they went well above most companies with their statement, and even if I do have doubts about their follow through with donations after running promos without winners, or if their was a winner it was a newly created Instagram bot account, and also promising to do something about the Tommy Boy thing without ever actually doing anything. You know, I really do think what they’re saying is genuine, but if it’s not then it’s still more exposure and more narrative and more awareness... that’s not a bad thing.
Yes, just pick any of the companies making an IG/Facebook post today without actually doing anything other than make a post. VMP actually did something.
GentleSenator
Active Member
think i'll just go ahead and file a paypal claim on the stuff i ordered in april that they haven't shipped or given me a real response on. i'll donate that money, that will inevitably be returned to me, to a worthy cause.
juiceless
Active Member
Yes, VMP stepped up. That’s great.
As for the other companies you’re referring to.... saying something is better than saying nothing. Doing something is better than saying something. Whatever motivates words and actions, they are needed right now. I’m not going to shit on anyone who speaks out against racism and oppression.
jaycee
Well-Known Member
Good they are donating some cash. As long as they follow through on that (show receipts) that's awesome.
I'm more interested in how they follow through on the rest of their statement. How will black artists be a part of their process? What will VMP do to address these inequities in the vinyl business / in the music industry? Will any of the people who purchase their products hold them accountable for their actions? Will anybody care about any of this in a month?
I wonder if @Teeeee hadn't posted anything if they would've done anything? It's not important but it's hard not to be suspicious.
Yes they are a company and as Milton Friedman so eloquently stated one of the greatest cop-outs of the 20th century "the business of business is business," but isn't there an opportunity right now to do better than that cop-out... to be better than that cop-out?
I hope VMP and the rest of the music industry look at themselves in the mirror, as they state they will, and they become the allys to the art and the people who create that they claim to be.
I'm more interested in how they follow through on the rest of their statement. How will black artists be a part of their process? What will VMP do to address these inequities in the vinyl business / in the music industry? Will any of the people who purchase their products hold them accountable for their actions? Will anybody care about any of this in a month?
I wonder if @Teeeee hadn't posted anything if they would've done anything? It's not important but it's hard not to be suspicious.
Yes they are a company and as Milton Friedman so eloquently stated one of the greatest cop-outs of the 20th century "the business of business is business," but isn't there an opportunity right now to do better than that cop-out... to be better than that cop-out?
I hope VMP and the rest of the music industry look at themselves in the mirror, as they state they will, and they become the allys to the art and the people who create that they claim to be.
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What they didn't say was that the 25k is in store credit.
Tys1
Well-Known Member
Man, I REALLY hope so. The last BLM disappeared overnight in everyplace other than some groups on college campuses. Hopefully our president wisens up but since we know that’s not really a trait of a narcissist than maybe his fascism will keep the conversation going longer than if we had a brain in the White House. Systemic is now a word that my 6 year old boys know, that’s important man.... talk to your kids about this, it’s probably the most important way to make sure we do care about this in another 30 days.
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Tys1
Well-Known Member
“You have received a donation of 55 Grateful Dead box sets”
juiceless
Active Member
I mean, not really? The person who posts this traffics in alt-right conspiracy shit. Most of his videos have less than 1000 views. I’m sorry but there’s not a lot of reason to believe that much in here is accurate or true.
MikeH
Well-Known Member
VMP is donating 25k worth of anoraks.
I'm pleasantly surprised to see a straight donation instead of a percentage of proceeds from a branded item. And you guys are killing me with the store credit/Grateful Dead boxset/Anorak donation jokes. ilu
TheThinWhiteDuke
Well-Known Member
Some other charity is going to receive a box of five $25000 checks and the recipient will get an email from Paulie saying wow they made a big oops and things are busy right now but they are getting a copy of the greatest record stores book and store credit instead now. The recipient of the box of $25k checks will be given a chance to return them for a test pressing of Mr. Hands
@NathanRicaud will be given a lifetime membership to Classics for applauding the moves all around.
@NathanRicaud will be given a lifetime membership to Classics for applauding the moves all around.
imajindat
Well-Known Member
That's too generous. Itll more likely be a test pressing of Funkdafied