Ebay ruining the Record Buying experience?
JoeRo
32 Posts
With so many record stores going out of business, I'm just curious to see what everyone thinks of Ebay and how its affecting the "record buying experience"
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I think the answer to the "is eBay affecting the record buying experience" is flat out: Yes.
On the negative tip: Shipping is one of the number one problems. I am actually paranoid about warpage since I live in a fairly heated zone during the spring/summer/early fall months. No tactility. No smell test. No scratch inspection. Some sellers grade in the dark with a free flashlight they got from an insurance conference or something, seriously. I've gotten stuff that was graded at "Near Mint" and was closer to "VG--"
(I've also gotten stuff that was graded at VG+ and was Near Mint though).
Obviously there isn't any virtual needle dropping (well most of the time, unless you check out these hot auctions): http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsoulstrut-comQQhtZ-1
On the positive tip: More time to research, competitive buying (soon to be an olympic sport I'm sure), buying from the comfort of your home, 24/7 shopping experience. You can buy stuff on Xmas eve.
If it weren't for ebay I would probably own much of my LP/12" wantlist, all for under $20, at this point
Totally, same in Australia. Reading Wax Po often feels like giving a 3rd world child a supermarket catalog. You just don't see alot of stuff here. All distributors brought here were the chart hits, and all that got made was some surf rock steez. Theres some good jazz to be found, but its in the minority.
amen. this ship has sailed, and you can either 1) swim out to catch it or 2) stand on the shore, sobbing and waving your hanky. but, it ain't coming back just for you, or some sorry store that would have gone under because of shitty selection and outrageous pricing.
(outrageous, in this case does not mean expensive; it means overpriced.)
I'm nostalgic and a bit stuck in the past when it comes to music, that's why I dig old music--I prefer my record shopping to be the same way. So in response to your question; You can catch me with a "hanky" on the docks watching the ship sail away and loving the hunt for records on the shore.
"Ebay makes me an expert seller in EVERYTHING.....I don't have to know shit, just put it up there and if it's rare I'll get top dollar. Without ebay I'm just an idiot with a box of records that someone will screw me out of"
"As a seller this puts me in touch with every stupid person in the WORLD!!"
"I've heard that this LP goes for big bucks on ebay" (From a Flea Market seller who had admittedly never logged on to a computer in his life).
"I'm closing up the Shop and going on ebay" (Have heard this more than once and in at least two cases they found out that not having a storefront that records walk in to would make them extinct as record dealers....and it did)
Hey man...I still like to do a lot of shopping in the boatyards. Lots of deals to be had if you dig around. But, when that foghorn sounds, I'm not afraid to jump on board.
I hear this almost every weekend.
I hear what you're saying--but what about everyone else running to that foghorn--translation: global marketplace creating high prices--I prefer to find the diamond in the rough for a lot cheaper, and with the added effort. It's easy to find records on ebay...it's tough, but definately exciting to find records in the "shipyard."
Here's to the Hunt!
Where do they hear this shit??? Ebay Radio??
You've proved your "digging worthiness" bruhhhh. I wasn't questioning anyone's "digging integrity" on the board, I'm just dissapointed to see record stores fading away.
You've proved your "digging worthiness" bruhhhh. I wasn't questioning anyone's "digging integrity" on the board, I'm just dissapointed to see record stores fading away.
Everyone on here probably had that one record store that they either worked at or shopped at (or both, in my case) that changed their life and helped them get started- where they learned stuff, talked to clerks, etc. And it is always sad when those places close- and any record store might have been that place for someone.
But, without putting any sort of a fine point on it, that is life. Sad? Cause for nostalgia? Yup. But, it happens in a lot more things than record stores.
Change is not necessarily good or bad; it IS inevitable.
Thanks for makin' me a billionare brotha!
but for me personally, its all about the thrill of the chase. nothing compares to getting your fingers all dusty and nasty.
although im sure a fair percentage of the records i buy from record shops (not 2nd hand or charity store digs) are in that store because of ebay.
im just further down on the food chain.
cant stop progress.
peace
L
I can pick up 6 or 7 cheapie soul 45's from the big 'mom and pop' style sellers delivered for the price of 1 or 2 over here in the UK. but I certainly steer clear of relativley common records that are the current flavour of the month because ebay will inflate the cost of it markedley. Ebay seems to inflate the price of the middle weight records the most.
The shop I used to work in didn't go under because of eBay, if anything eBay sales prolonged the inevitable for a bit longer.