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

Yeah I mean Amazon is definitely like... THE WORST. On a global scale they are evil as evil can be. So really I'd try to avoid buying from them too, but I get it, they're cheap and quick. Unfortunately I think part of what this world needs right now is less "cheap and quick" on pretty much all fronts...
 
I mean... I called this in the thread when they were shutting down the forum. They used to control that platform and most of us -- and the lion share of our criticisms -- spent a lot of time contained in there. Now, the frustrations have spread across multiple platforms. I'm assuming you've noticed the people who weren't VMP members, but have found this forum strictly based on the word spreading to other forums that they did frequent.

There have been things that upset me and I've considered doing posts of in the VMP Reddit sub, but have thought better of. The new Damaged + Return policy, however, is something that people should be made aware of. Because of that, I simply posted the link on there without adding any viewpoints or additional statements of my own -- just the link. If it's on their site, it shouldn't be hidden and people should know about it. The responses are starting to come in and, as you might guess, they are less than enthusiastic about the changes. It's early yet, and there are only 4, so far, so... who knows? I'm sure that at least one hardcore defender with rush to their side.



I'll check back on this meltdown later today, but it will be interesting to see how this evolves, while it's being introduced to most people over there on the very same day as this month's ROTMs

Thanks, I was not aware of these updates. Honestly, if they tell me it's sold out, that's fine as long as I get my money back. I will certainly push for a true refund, but I wouldn't blow a fuse over store credit. My spending went down exponentially year over year, especially the last 6 months. I expect that trend line to continue.

I also fully expect VMP to no longer honor grandfathered pricing on renewals now that they deleted their evidence of ever saying that. If my renewal price goes up more than $10, I'm probably out.
 
I've got the Bongo version of Skull Snaps and I can confirm it sounds great, isn't warped, doesn't have the same scratch on every copy pressed, doesn't have no fill, doesn't have random pops, didn't come in damaged packaging, doesn't have random globs of vinyl all over it, has the correct sized spindle hole, wasn't paid for by me and then immediately given to the next person in line behind me to take home, isn't coming in the mail in a couple of months, isn't getting lost in the mail in a couple months, isn't being sent a second time due to the first copy being paid for and given to the person behind me in line to take home and the second copy being lost in the mail, isn't subject to threat of hurricane, doesn't have a low res scan of the CD artwork on it and is in fact a record that I paid for and took home and listened to. I recommend you get the version I got.

100% with you. I may have lost the excitement I had with announcements and exclusives in my first months with VMP but I also have lost aaaaaaaaaaaaall the frustration I had in the last year or so. On the other hand, I am more excited every time I visit my LRS, I follow more closely the labels and artists I really love and I tend to support them against Amazon&co every time I can. I feel like Superman but without all the muscles and the underwear over the pants. So thank you VMP!
 
I had to look at the swaps, since I'm technically still a member, and... not impressed. Where's all the shit I would have wanted
Yeah, a good majority of the swaps available is like old shit that has stuck around for months that no one really wants. Also, a lot them are super cheap on Discogs. However, I am left debating between swapping for UGK or Alice Coltrane, decisions, decisions.
 
I too swapped put of Classics for UGK.

By the way, the wording for Sister Rosetta that it is from original tape makes me suspicious that it might have gone through a digital transfer before coming back to the analog domain.
 
Yeah, a good majority of the swaps available is like old shit that has stuck around for months that no one really wants. Also, a lot them are super cheap on Discogs. However, I am left debating between swapping for UGK or Alice Coltrane, decisions, decisions.
I might go with UGK, just because I have more interest in it, but also because I can find good pressings of Alice for like ~$20 on Discogs as well.
 
I just want a reply to my email to figure out the refund situation. As of right now, I'm sitting on the Phoenix/OutKast as my records if this drags out. The Sister Rosetta album didn't do much for me on spotify on first listen and considering that I'm cancelling, my desire to be a Classic completist is zilch.
 
they monitored your preferences and removed them from availability

Don't mess with me. It feels real.

The Rob is gone and there's no way they're letting the good Jujus into swaps.


I might go with UGK, just because I have more interest in it, but also because I can find good pressings of Alice for like ~$20 on Discogs as well.

The Coltrane is an amazing record, but I never bothered to get the VMP pressing, because I've had a copy for years. And you're right, it didn't cost much.
 
Sorry, it is a frustrating time

Thanks, but I'm not upset. It would actually be a lot more frustrating if they were actually doing anything that would compel me to remain an extended member. I can pick up Rob at my local. It's only comparable if it's available as a swap. The Juju stuff is all coming out through Now Again, anyway. VMP has REALLY been relying heavily on Egon and Mr Bongo letting them do variants. That's not mentioned as often, but that's pretty much what's sustaining them, to be honest. Variants. Occasionally, they pull out an Outkast with the missing tracks or something, but it's just not going to be enough.

Not a great time to have a weak month, and when your Essentials pick is an album that you just sold a bunch of people from your store, that translates to a pretty weak fucking month
 
I've really soured on VMP. I just canceled both side subs. I'm subbed to essentials to the end of the year, so I'll probably ride that out. It's been combination of all the issues others have posted at length already. Pricing hike, quality control, inconsistent shipping, inventory availability, removing the forum, etc ,etc...

The curation is still what they do best. Although this month was mostly a miss for me. My collection is growing to the point where I need\can be more selective. It's made me reevaluate how often something will get time on the turntable. VMP's missteps have made this a bit easier. I just don't feel like throwing them anymore of my cash.

It's a shame to see the direction they seem to be headed.
 
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