Vinyl Me Please (store, exclusives, swaps, etc)

i think it really is just the perfect storm of shit that doesn't happen much (all the swaps into Ramones) combined with decisions the company brought upon themselves (shorter swap windows, tracks ending, lowering pressing numbers, mediocre curation).

i don't think this is as big an issue if they properly communicated it all as it was happening. email the people who swapped into essentials and say "due to unprecedented demand, we have oversold rocket to russia so unfortunately we will have to prioritize people with essentials as their main sub. here are some special items we can offer you a swap for, or we can swap you for credit and we'll add $15 in." bing bang boom. instead they beat around the bush, emailed some people but not others, then checked out for the long weekend.
 
I didn’t have an issue getting Rocket to Russia, but I’ve yet to receive my copy of ODB. I know this same thing happened with that release, but I was never told I wasn’t getting that album until I got shipping confirmation and it wasn’t listed as shipped. I emailed them, and CS acted like they had no clue. I set up a Discord and messaged Paulie. He looked into it, and I was one of five people that they didn’t have enough copies for. He promised me a code for $85 off in the store, and he ghosted me. I had to message him back over a month later asking where my code was…
 
I didn’t have an issue getting Rocket to Russia, but I’ve yet to receive my copy of ODB. I know this same thing happened with that release, but I was never told I wasn’t getting that album until I got shipping confirmation and it wasn’t listed as shipped. I emailed them, and CS acted like they had no clue. I set up a Discord and messaged Paulie. He looked into it, and I was one of five people that they didn’t have enough copies for. He promised me a code for $85 off in the store, and he ghosted me. I had to message him back over a month later asking where my code was…
I will say, with Pauly, he sometimes gets tons of DMs and just forgets. Hope they eventually took care of you.

But the fact that this is how this kinda stuff is handled is obviously the issue. Give em a break though--they have only been around for 10 years and have 17 employees!
 
I didn’t have an issue getting Rocket to Russia, but I’ve yet to receive my copy of ODB. I know this same thing happened with that release, but I was never told I wasn’t getting that album until I got shipping confirmation and it wasn’t listed as shipped. I emailed them, and CS acted like they had no clue. I set up a Discord and messaged Paulie. He looked into it, and I was one of five people that they didn’t have enough copies for. He promised me a code for $85 off in the store, and he ghosted me. I had to message him back over a month later asking where my code was…
Yeah the new ODBs are shipping in Oct. I am also still waiting on mine.
 
I will say, with Pauly, he sometimes gets tons of DMs and just forgets. Hope they eventually took care of you.

But the fact that this is how this kinda stuff is handled is obviously the issue. Give em a break though--they have only been around for 10 years and have 17 employees!
He apologized, said he got swamped with messages. He did make everything right though!

Yeah the new ODBs are shipping in Oct. I am also still waiting on mine.
Looks like they screw you and myself over all the time. They shorted us ODB and I’d guarantee they’ll send us the most warped copies they have as an apology!
 
He apologized, said he got swamped with messages. He did make everything right though!


Looks like they screw you and myself over all the time. They shorted us ODB and I’d guarantee they’ll send us the most warped copies they have as an apology!
So there are two separate issues with ODB… the initial oversell and then the fact that original VMP copies are a bad CD rip with skips in a track! So they repressed the whole damn thing. $85 was what they gave credit to everyone who was shorted (I believe it was more than 5 people)
 
So there are two separate issues with ODB… the initial oversell and then the fact that original VMP copies are a bad CD rip with skips in a track! So they repressed the whole damn thing. $85 was what they gave credit to everyone who was shorted (I believe it was more than 5 people)
I remember reading reviews about the skipping. I was in the group that was left out due to the oversell. Hopefully the new pressing solves all the issues and they press enough for everyone who missed out.
 
NY Times reported 5 days ago
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/29/arts/music/ramones-heirs-fight.html

"Years of disputes over control of the legacy of the Ramones escalated this month when the brother of Joey Ramone sued the widow of Johnny Ramone, accusing her of trademark infringement, trademark dilution and breach of contract.

Joey Ramone’s brother, Mickey Leigh, and Johnny Ramone’s widow, Linda Cummings-Ramone, each control 50 percent of Ramones Productions, the company that holds the punk band’s intellectual property rights."

An attorney said:
"That each of the two shareholders have different views is part of the challenge that they’ve created for themselves in being 50 percent owners.”

They have been going at each other since 2018. If they can't work together, licensing will become a nightmare.
 
NY Times reported 5 days ago
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/29/arts/music/ramones-heirs-fight.html

"Years of disputes over control of the legacy of the Ramones escalated this month when the brother of Joey Ramone sued the widow of Johnny Ramone, accusing her of trademark infringement, trademark dilution and breach of contract.

Joey Ramone’s brother, Mickey Leigh, and Johnny Ramone’s widow, Linda Cummings-Ramone, each control 50 percent of Ramones Productions, the company that holds the punk band’s intellectual property rights."

An attorney said:
"That each of the two shareholders have different views is part of the challenge that they’ve created for themselves in being 50 percent owners.”

They have been going at each other since 2018. If they can't work together, licensing will become a nightmare.
I would imagine there is too much money to be made not to come to some sort of agreement.
 
I just want a non-deluxe pressing of Love Symbol. Wasn’t it supposed to be released a year ago at this point?
There was a dude that had copies of the super deluxe of both Diamonds & Pearks and Love Symbol around late spring 23. Everyone thought they were gonna double drop them last year. I’m assuming since there has not been word this year that it’s not happening this year either. I know that there has been some nonsense with half the siblings and the management firm hired by the other siblings. 🤷‍♀️

Camille has been all tied up.

Black was supposed to get a pressing before he died.

I’m fairly certain Purple Rain was not the only thing he was remastering.
 
There was a dude that had copies of the super deluxe of both Diamonds & Pearks and Love Symbol around late spring 23. Everyone thought they were gonna double drop them last year. I’m assuming since there has not been word this year that it’s not happening this year either. I know that there has been some nonsense with half the siblings and the management firm hired by the other siblings. 🤷‍♀️

Camille has been all tied up.

Black was supposed to get a pressing before he died.

I’m fairly certain Purple Rain was not the only thing he was remastering.
The Prince Estate fight is ongoing and just became more complex. You have Primary Wave (ask Hall and Oates about them) who have half the estate "votes" that were sold to them and a remaining group of family members who don't like each other on the other side. In the middle is Londell McMillian, Prince's former attorney and producer, who was helping "the remaining half" manage things as a legal group as they lacked experience. They tried to get rid of Londell, but he's legally embedded, so he sued.
Basically, until it gets down to just Primary Wave and McMillian in control, the Estate will likely be a mess while they spend thru whatever money remains.
So the problem is will or no will, when you get multiple hands involved in these estates with unclear boundaries of power, things go wrong.
 
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