Addicted to music Posted March 9 Posted March 9 I am so fortunate that I didn’t sell my record collection back in the late 80s and kept all while all my mates were letting them go. I remember paying around $16-18 for an album. $30 for special recordings and imports. Walked into JB today and it blew me away. I have some of these in my collections but, I see ordinary people selecting a number of these going to the checkout. 7 3
Full Range Posted March 9 Posted March 9 20 minutes ago, Addicted to music said: I am so fortunate that I didn’t sell my record collection back in the late 80s and kept all while all my mates were letting them go. I remember paying around $16-18 for an album. $30 for special recordings and imports. Walked into JB today and it blew me away. I have some of these in my collections but, I see ordinary people selecting a number of these going to the checkout. I also kept all my records that I started collecting in the early 70s In the last 10 years I have replenished the collection by filling in missing titles Now I only need to purchase titles to enhance the collection or new music that I like That said and what irks me most is - Some new pressings have been lacklustre and also damaged pressings or bad quality control, that needed a replacement or refund With refunds I send them a photo of my system so they know from the get go that If my system can’t play it nothing will 5 1
Addicted to music Posted March 9 Author Posted March 9 @Full Range thats awesome. Times of changed also, JB is the only store I know that sells records. There’s many places like chapel st and Footscray I’ve seen opened up but also charge mega prices. Some or most won’t even have the titles you want and most have to be ordered on line. Unlike the good old days where there were music outlets everywhere. Sad to hear that some of the pressings and orders are not up to scratch or gets damaged by the time it arrives. 3
Demondes Posted March 9 Posted March 9 I have reduced my record purchases, but my main quibble is that you can pay a very high price for a very ordinary pressing, and a great pressing for no more can be had elsewhere. you really need to check before purchasing and think should I just listen to this on digital rather than pay $70+ 3 1
Darryl Posted March 9 Posted March 9 Back in 83 when I first started buying albums the top 40 stuff like INXS etc was $10.99 I know this because I was anal enough to write the date and cost on the inside cover! The RBA inflation calculator says that's about $43 in today's money. Given that records were the main way of buying music back then with millions and millions manufactured and all the distribution and retail channels set up to deal with them, another 50% or so in cost today doesn't seem too bad. Having said that $80 or $100 is too much I think. The main issue I was having in recent times and what killed records for me was the poor quality control. Warped records and average sound quality really ground my gears so I stopped buying. 3
zenikoy Posted March 10 Posted March 10 Other than recent across the board inflation and price gouging, a big component of the price increases has been the tanking of the Australian dollar against most currencies. My personal vinyl revival was 2013 to 2019. In 2013 I started replacing my "acquired" mp3s of the prior decade with new vinyl purchased at Dada records Perth. The bait was that most of this was $22 to $28. I assume the stock was accumulated when the Aussie Dollar was at an all time high value. The decline in the AUD (see table below) would alone change that price range to $35 to $42. Today my vinyl purchase at limited to about 5 new records per year, main criteria being, I love the music, it's sit down and listen stuff and I can source it for less than $45 (Amazon.de as I'm based in Switzerland) 2
BLAH BLAH Posted March 10 Posted March 10 In my day...oh ho ho...how that expression youse to irk me, but now gives me a certain pleasure to say... In my day, I would walk out of Melbourne's Record shops with Albums at $5.95...and less for second-hand at Dixons. Then I discovered Archies and Jugheads I could walk out with five imported and bagged pristine Vinyl with thick cardboard covers for the total price of *cough, cough*... $50... As Steely sang...those days are gone forever, over a long time ago, oh yeah!... Price$ never drop... 1 1
Bisguittin Posted March 10 Posted March 10 (edited) 19 minutes ago, BLAH BLAH said: In my day...oh ho ho...how that expression youse to irk me, but now gives me a certain pleasure to say... In my day, I would walk out of Melbourne's Record shops with Albums at $5.95...and less for second-hand at Dixons. Then I discovered Archies and Jugheads I could walk out with five imported and bagged pristine Vinyl with thick cardboard covers for the total price of *cough, cough*... $50... As Steely sang...those days are gone forever, over a long time ago, oh yeah!... Price$ never drop... Same here in Adelaide. Mr Music, Music Mouse, Verandah Music, Andromeda Music, Umbrella Records, Muses etc all $5.95 in the early to mid 70's. Still got nearly all of them. Edited March 10 by Bisguittin
Bisguittin Posted March 10 Posted March 10 I know I always bang on about this, but I continue to be bemused by second hand vinyl records in poor condition being magically offered at the maximum transactional price on Discogs.
BLAH BLAH Posted March 10 Posted March 10 1 minute ago, Bisguittin said: I know I always bang on about this, but I continue to be bemused by second hand vinyl records in poor condition being magically offered at the maximum transactional price on Discogs. Please do not stop banging on... Chocolate smarties that ask for premium price$ on Discogs that sort of dishonesty needs to be severely banged on... I hate the feeling of excitement, anticipation, wide-eyed joy, physical trembling even...for a long awaited rare LP...being totally smashed by vinyl playing...heavily disguised as bacon sizzling away in a frying pan... Cue Peanuts cartoon of Snoopy yelling ARGHHhhhh... 1 1
rantan Posted March 10 Posted March 10 12 minutes ago, Bisguittin said: I continue to be bemused by second hand vinyl records in poor condition being magically offered at the maximum transactional price on Discogs. I agree, but the there is a solution of sorts, which is to only buy from a list of your trusted sellers. I have become familiar with a number of sellers who not only grade and price properly, but also they will often let me know if something interesting comes up. As a reliable and repeat buyer they are almost always happy to provide that facility to me. 7
Bisguittin Posted March 10 Posted March 10 41 minutes ago, rantan said: I agree, but the there is a solution of sorts, which is to only buy from a list of your trusted sellers. I have become familiar with a number of sellers who not only grade and price properly, but also they will often let me know if something interesting comes up. As a reliable and repeat buyer they are almost always happy to provide that facility to me. I thoroughly agree. As a corollary, to trusted sellers, I also look to purchase from ethical sellers. I boycott unscrupulous operators who exhibit predatory acquisitional behaviour towards recently widowed members of the community. 1
Craigandkim Posted March 10 Posted March 10 20 hours ago, Addicted to music said: Walked into JB today and it blew me away. I posted this the other day - same deal These days are long gone - checking my LPs ! 1 1
audiofeline Posted March 10 Posted March 10 Op Shops provide much better value for records, however, the titles and conditions vary.
rantan Posted March 10 Posted March 10 18 minutes ago, audiofeline said: Op Shops provide much better value for records, however, the titles and conditions vary. That depends on whether you like Burl Ives sings Christmas or Mantovani's greatest hits. In regard to condition is ranges from "used for a Frisbee' up to just ok. YMMV. 1 6
zog Posted March 10 Posted March 10 (edited) 25 minutes ago, audiofeline said: Op Shops provide much better value for records, however, the titles and conditions vary. Especially if you are into mid 70s German Schlager and Polka records!! (from a quick sampling of my local op shop vinyl section) edit: I did purchase the MOOG PLAYS THE BEATLES record.. how could I resist for $2!! .. it was apparently made by someone who despised both synthesizers and the beatles .. though I confess the version of "Michelle" has grown on me Edited March 10 by zog comment on beatles 1
Silver Audiophile Posted March 10 Posted March 10 Holy crap, over $100 for one LP I have thousands of albums in my favourites list on Tidal. All the Gold in Fort Knox is not enough to buy all those as LPs at those prices! 3
Ooogh Posted March 10 Posted March 10 $100 records, $100,000 Utes , $50,000 motorcycles! Has the world lost its collective marbles? Just say NO! 8
Silver Audiophile Posted March 10 Posted March 10 (edited) Used CDs in bulk couldn't be given away fast enough! Imagine someone in the 80s could have been teleported to 2025? Who would have imagined? I like to be a bit of a contrarian.. given used CDs go for nearly free, and LPs go for up to $100 each, is it time to switch back to CDs again? The better question is, given these unbalanced pricing is it worth investing the saving into a higher grade DAC and CD transport or just reverting to streaming? Edited March 10 by Silver Audiophile 5
audiofeline Posted March 10 Posted March 10 I don't trust streaming to have what I want to listen to or for it to be available in the future, and I don't trust it to always have good masterings. I want physical media (record/CD) so I know I will always have it (ignoring the low-risk of CD-rot), and I can have control/knowledge of the mastering used. 3
Silver Audiophile Posted March 10 Posted March 10 (edited) 8 minutes ago, audiofeline said: I don't trust streaming to have what I want to listen to or for it to be available in the future, and I don't trust it to always have good masterings. I want physical media (record/CD) so I know I will always have it (ignoring the low-risk of CD-rot), and I can have control/knowledge of the mastering used. Tidal High Res streaming is now reduced to only $13/month. 100 million plus tracts and multiple different versions of the same songs. Qobuz has a similar offering with the added option to purchase songs. Then there's online third party sellers of music too in various formats. Used CDs as mentioned, can't be given away for free. Again, just raising the question given the $100 per album delema of LPs? Edited March 10 by Silver Audiophile
Craigandkim Posted March 10 Posted March 10 9 hours ago, Silver Audiophile said: Tidal High Res streaming is now reduced to only $13/month $13 p/m + what is your internet cost per month? Just saying....NO internet, NO streaming 2
rantan Posted March 10 Posted March 10 10 hours ago, Silver Audiophile said: The better question is, given these unbalanced pricing is it worth investing the saving into a higher grade DAC and CD transport or just reverting to streaming? Definitely, emphatically the former. 1
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