Record collecting for its own sake will quickly lose its appeal, unless you focus on the music. It’s not the size of your collection that matters, it’s the content and what it means to you. Otherwise you might as well collect bottle caps.
I knew a guy who owned a record store and his philosophy was he'd rather see a collection of 30 records that were all great as opposed to a collection of 2000 records and most of them are crap/filler. Quality beats quantity! All killer, no filler! lean and mean! That sorta thing.
100% ... I only collect music i listen to and makes me happy , i attempt to get the best versions i can afford in my budget I purge regularly to get rid of anything that doesnt fit that ethos.
A fellow audiophile and music enthusiast told me that the political and social climate was starting to interfere with his enjoyment of the music. Talk about outside interference!
@@williamcampbell3868Music is my escape! 😅 It'll change my mood from bad to good quickly!!! 😊 Hollywood and music people endorsing one side or the other kind of alienates your audience, but I always try my best to separate the artist from the art... I'm talking to you Roger Waters! 🤣
I just fell (back) in love with CDs- as much as I love vinyl CDs take up less space, are lower maintenance and still plentiful and cheap on the second hand market. I still find at least one or two fantastic albums at every thrift store I go to. I do feel like we're on the brink of a resurgence though so snatch them up while you can!
I miss the old days before price guides and the internet. I'm 71 years old so I can remember when I could go to garage sales and flea markets and always come home with some new and exciting finds that I never knew existed. The only people that looked for records were people that CARED about them. We didn't have a smart phone to look them up. All the knowledge was in our heads. The vendors at the flea markets didn't research records because nobody cared about them except collectors. Sadly, the young collectors of today will never experience how much fun it used to be. On the positive side, now you can pretty much find whatever you're looking for on the internet or in a knowledgeable record store. You don't have to wear out your car or spend all your money on gas. It's still a great hobby but the excitement of discovery has faded somewhat. I'm finding some enjoyment listening to a lot of the new music on platforms like Bandcamp. There's a lot of great stuff being made. It's too bad mainstream radio won't play it.
Yes to Bandcamp! Great music is just as fun to listen to in a digital form, not everything needs to be physical media. Gotta keep your portfolio diversified with all formats.
I have not bought an album in almost a year, mostly because at one point I had 35 albums that were not even played yet, not even opened, I bought so many, I didn't have time to play them. Now I enjoy what I have and eventually Ill go back to buying, but not before i sell a lot of what I have now, records I will never listen to again..great vid..
I've been collecting since 1986. I currently own 4000+ lps and 1500 CDs. In the past two years I've purged approximately 300+ duplicates, seldomly spun etc. I've begun grabbing pop records from the 70's /80's. Little River Band Hits can take you places!!!
I have been collecting records all of my life. I still have a few from my teen years back in the 70's & 80's. I don't buy nearly as many now, but I always have my eyes open for something special.
As a musician, it is a spiritual experience to put a record on. Listening to vinyl allows the artists to take you on the journey they envisioned creating the album, vs just listening to your favorite few songs of theirs. I’m also deeply connected to the history of music. I love finding an old record of a band you’ve never heard. I want to spend the rest of my life listening to things I’ve never heard. BALANCE is the key, you nailed it with that. Thanks for the conversation, it’s our responsibility to remind others of balance and what makes this hobby special. I need to do more to connect with other collectors. Bring in a rural town, Im so thankful for our local record shop 🤙🤘
I think what annoys me the most is seeing random beat up records at second hand malls for stupid money. That said, I still have good days when I come out of place with records that are treasures to me for a few bucks a piece. I need those days, those finds, to keep me going. Grateful for a couple of local spots doing their best to keep prices fair. I should say, I’m also mostly in it for the music and not for a perfect, original-only collection. I like finding used records because I just want to be able to have as much of the music I love as possible. I think keeping those expectations realistic helps too. One big positive: I am so happy that more women and kids and families are excited about vinyl. I love seeing stores with lots of diverse people enjoying the hobby and enjoying music. Was at a store the other day where a mum came in with two kids in Beatles t-shirts and they were so thrilled to leave with a record, it was just lovely to see. That accessibility is important to the future of the hobby, and to be able to enjoy it with others.
There is truth to that. A lot of records that would sell for 10 bucks a few years back are now 20-25, the 2nd hand market definitely sucks. Everyone goes by what Discogs tells them to, which is misleading to say the least. As for the reissues, I agree. I think no matter what you're into a lot of records you never thought would be reissued, they are now.
Your comment about nostalgia vs bills hit hard man. It’s that stream of consciousness that makes so many endeared to you because whether you realize it or not you’re starting to voice things we think or feel but don’t say. Nice video again and continue this open stream of thoughts please!
Dylan , you made the greatest vinyl record shirt ever made . "Vinyl isn't going Anywhere" . The compliments I got from the record elders.... they loved that shirt and asked where they could get one . The record collecting community is like living organism or tree/plant . Sometimes the organism will grow limbs and produce leaves/fruits . It will receive a lot attention(News Media) when it produces fruit (Big retail shoppers/Pop/ Switfies) and colorful leaves (they hang on longer but are temporary collectors who go all in ) . This life cycle will repeat like the 4 seasons (fads) it will lose some limbs and its leaves & fruit will fall and rot but the core trunk or roots (People who are dedicated and truly love vinyl) will stay healthy and keep living . But only until "we" the true dedicated record collector will be done when we are cut down or destroyed .
When I buy a record, I’m imagining myself retired sitting at home late at night with my dog and a cup of tea, I see each record as an investment in my life’s enjoyment. Reissues are fantastic at the moment, and we’re starting to get high end copies of 90s material which is my era. But with Kevin Gray, Ryan K Smith, Chris Bellman and others, paired with plants like analogue productions, blue note, vinyl me please, third man, even now craft and rhino really stepping up, really high quality is so obtainable
But there is a lot of turds too, even coming from Chris Bellman. Especially the Iron Maiden reissues from this August 2024. Some of them were complete crap pressings.
Awesome insight. I stepped away from several lifelong hobbies because it was killing me. Took up Thai cooking classes and baking 😂. Then one day got the urge to get in the car and driving 3 1/2 hours to scour for vinyl. It was a blast and I met some really good new friends ❤
There’s no doubt that it’s not as fun😢…. The thing is you still can’t beat the feeling you have when you score that record that you always want it or you got that release in whatever format you want. The physical format is still a really cool fun thing.🎉❤
Great video - my favorite part of collecting in 2024 is the fact that you are cranking out some awesome exclusives! Keep it up - discovering new music is the best! Northern New Jersey loves you :)
Visited your shop back in first of June, and your prices are fair, in-line with their current values. Really enjoyed your shop. Its all killer inventory!! Keep up the great work.
I’ve been thinking the same thing as of lately. It’s referred to as hedonic adaptation. The honeymoon phase is over and I’ll still buy on occasion, but it’s definitely on the back burner for now.
Started doing pop-up events this year after a few years of doing record swaps. It's really hard finding good records in Germany, lots of crap, but I'm so happy I stepped up.
Dillon Great video, have collected records for 50 years and still buying but agree that the market is not the same. I also collect rare books, exactly the same thing has happened to prices and makes many items unaffordable. However, I still very much enjoy the searching and there are still bargains out there, nostalgia is the reason I buy all of these items and makes me happy. Regards from the UK
Always knew the market was going to cool, but I am so happy about how many reissued albums have come out! When I started, Nevermind was $500, or Superunknown was $400. Didn't get into it for the value, I now have something to spin for the rest of my life 😁
Travelling keeps record collecting fun for me. I have found some good records in the most unexpected out of the way places in foreign countries. The adventure and effort keeps it exciting. I like having a record and looking at it and remembering the memory attached of where and when I got it. I may have times where I focus on non vinyl things but its the one interest in life I always return back to and have a newfound love for.
I travel for work and I still go to the locally owned record shops in every city I visit. I still have the bug! That said, I have almost every record I sought after when I started years ago.
I've slowed down a little bit on the collecting side of things an am more just enjoying playing what I've got, yes it's great to find a record that you have been looking for but the most enjoyment surley is listening to your collection
One of the things I love most about vinyl is music discovery. I would not know anywhere near the amount of music I do if I were not buying records. I started to explore psych, hard rock, metal, jazz, folk, and so many more genres all because I was curious about a physical vinyl record. I collect and sell and create content all out of a love for the music!
Im building my collection again, i go through cycles of listening. I just upgraded my setup to a fluance 81+ and their bookshelf speakers to match. Im in love with everything i listen to and i think its so cool to get pieces of history from literally all over the world. Places i will likely never make it to in my life. Ive got a healthy mix of originals and reissues and im excited to add a copy from your store here soon. Cant wait till i see my diamond eyes 👌🏻
BTW I have bought six of your records. I do not flip them. They are in my collection for good. First, records for me are soundtracks of my life I am 72. I can hear a Yardbirds song and it is attacked to a memory. The music from 1964 thru 72 or so cannot be matched. Second, records are art. Just like someone collects paintings, I collect album art and the music inside. I love the colors and creativity. I listen everyday. It affects my disposition and improves my outlook on life. It’s a passion for me.
Your melancholy is based on familiarity. You are a jaded old pro so yeah I understand. I’m still extremely excited after 45 years because I look for things in categories that are new to me like things from the early 50’s.. Spoken word, etc.
Exactly. Lots of big collections will be sold off waaay cheaper in the coming years and peak the interest of another generation of collectors when economy gets back to normal
I respect your viewpoint. You've educated me more than any 4 year program. It's been fun and interesting to watch your journey in the industry while balancing family and responsibilities. I've bought a couple of your labels releases and can see that you've taken on a boatload in the last couple of years, which has obviously changed your own perspective on the industry. It's understandable. I see an inevitable downturn in vinyl collector's going into '25, but like any retail industry, you have to adapt along the way. Desiring lower prices, better quality, etc, that'll always linger to some extent, too. For the thrill of the hunt, there is a natural ebb and flow to it, like in anything. Less responsibilities mean more fun. More responsibilities mean what you have going on. Personally, I'll always collect, but my parameters may change with the dynamics of the industry and economy. I hope you continue on in all of this and find a renewed enthusiasm.
Record shopping isn’t as fun as it was before, and that is a fact. All the points discussed here are pretty valid. I’ve listened to music since I was a teenager in the 90s, but started buying LPs only by the end of the 2000s, and have passed the 1500 units, and many of these records would be really hard to get nowadays. It’s not only about the prices (which yes, they are crazy) but also because good records are very hard to find in record stores. I remember going shopping, both in the US and Europe, getting into a record store and ALWAYS finding at least a record I really wanted at a reasonable, if not a bargain, price. And in general, the selections were better. Now I might be older (44yo) and perhaps LPs are not a priority for me anymore, but I still do feel the urge to go into a record shop when I walk past it… unfortunately that excitement cools off as soon as I start flipping through stacks of very generic stuff. Perhaps in the US is different, but in Europe is getting very hard to go to a shop and leaving with a grail in your hands. I consider myself lucky to have acquired most of the stuff I wanted before their prices became prohibitive, but I can’t help feeling a bit nostalgic about those record shopping sprees. At present, I buy very few records (don’t think I ‘ve bought more than 20 since the beginning of the year) and many of the records I’d still like to get, go for crazy prices, so I just wait, eventually someone will put them at a decent price. I’m patient.
One thing I keep seeing in the comments is one way to renew interest in collecting is to cycle formats, especially cheaper formats. Whether it be CDs, 8tracks, cassettes or open reel, broaden your focus. Back before digital, when I came up short on cash to buy records or just nothing seemed interesting I'd take stock in what I had and make mixtapes. I'd bulk up on the sleeper tracks and take it outside. I think so many people see these guys online with massive collections and feel they have to keep buying to catch up. I say take a break and enjoy what you have!
When I hear all this I'm very glad that I don't care about reissues, splatter coloured vinyl, RSD releases, audiophile, exclusives, limited this and limited that. I guess keeping up with all that can kill the interest pretty fast. However, I can relate to that the level of enthusiasm goes up and down. When the pandemic hit, I slowed down my collecting and now I'm slowly getting back. It goes up and down. Like life. Hang in there Dillon, take care!
On one hand, today you can listen to more music than ever, everything is available, even stuff you would never imagine you would be able to even hear is is only three clicks away. That's crazy and amazing and great. On the other hand, music used to be an adventure once. You had to drive miles to see an artist, listen to a band, find rare records (just to have the option to even listen to them). Certain cities or countries used to have a specific 'sound' or character. Sometimes you couldn't find information on certain bands, it was mysterious and exciting. You had to put a lot of time and effort in order to discover, learn and actually become an 'expert' or a person with some kind of higher knowledge that was not accessible to most people. You had to work for it and 'earn' it because of your commitment and dedication. Today every 14 year old kid can learn and listen to almost every piece of music that was ever recorded. No one is appreciating anything, it changed the way people consume music or even create, write and record music today. Record collecting nowadays doesn't really mean anything. It's another consumer product with no real value. Not to mention the huge money industry that was built around it in the last few years: reissues and boxes and colour vinyl and 'record store day', the fetishizing of the image of the turntable in pop and what not. You can still enjoy music, collecting, buying and of course the sound of a great stereo but the question is really - why does it even matter in the world we live in today.
You probably have everything you want, and you do it for a living. I shut my store and I couldn't be happier. I really don't listen to LP's much anymore, but I do like me some tape.
I've been selling since about 2006-2007 (somewhere in there) and collecting my whole life. The subject of this video is why I was afraid to open a store. I take breaks from records during the week just because I do get kind of tired of it. But by Thursday - Friday the vinyl need is back and I'm all in. These people that just started buying records five seconds ago were never really interested in the hobby/record industry/ or whatever enough in the first place IMO. Please sell your collections back! (of original pressings); and you might as well throw most of the 180 gram junk away. This is just my opinion I apologize in advance if this hurts anyone's feelings. Thank-you - The Brit-Pop Snob.
Love your channel I always make time to watch your updates and order your exclusives. Love that you’re keeping the record collecting community going by doing what you do and so very well at it! One day I will make a trip to NC to shop your store. Records are forever!!!
The best way I know to sum it up: Too many people who are making a profit from records don’t actually collect or enjoy records. You are selling records you don’t need to other collectors to enjoy. People who are buying something they don’t enjoy just to make money off it dramatically increases the price for real collectors. When it comes to buying in store I’m not a fan of the one we have here and I’ve gone to others a little farther away. There’s a reason I drove 9.5 hours to your store last year and plan on doing it again this year, you have an amazing shop and treat everyone so well. Keep doing what you’re doing
@@OwenManuela Utterly disagree. Best way to profit is by selling records that have no meaning for you, to buy those that do. That way you don't feel pressured to part with anything you actually like! Buying up bulk copies of strictly limited editions to flip is a different consideration, but these often level out over time ... e.g. 'limited editions' that rapidly sell out on RSD often end up being listed for asking price (or less) days or weeks later.
I love that there are so many reissues available. Give me a new sealed record I'm a happy guy. I may lose interest from time to time but after over 50 years it balances out like you said. I am trying to get up the nerve to do a purge. Gotta make room for the newbies!
As a collector of almost 45 years, I agree with everything you said. It's a love/hate relationship with vinyl sometimes. But I'm proud of the empire I've built, and will continue to grow it.
great video man. It's funny you mention the Vhs tape thing, I've actually been doing the exact same thing. I'm also a father and these past couple Fridays me and my son have watched a classic movie from my childhood on the VCR, and the latest one was Flipper! I'm not even joking. Blank Check and Free Willy also. Raising 'em right. Amen to that simpler times comment, that's exactly it.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Fraction is one of my favorite records of all time. So glad I got through Noble and the shipping quality to the UK was amazing.
I am thankful that I bought majority of my 3,000 records in the 90's when I could bring home a giant stack for next to nothing compared to now days. Haven't been to a record store in months, not many record stores close to me so the stores really raise the prices compared to online I'm not paying $100 for one record. One time I went to the best record store in my area found one I wanted but was insanely over priced so I pulled out my phone found it on discogs for half the price bought it from discogs while in the store and walked out.
Great video. To me, and as you mentioned, one of the big upsides is getting pristine album reissues of records you will not find anywhere or that are so rare they cost a fortune. Cheers.
Aloha Dylan, I too started getting burnt-out collecting records in late October of 2023, So I bought myself some 8-track tapes & learned how to restore them ( changing pressure pad, aluminum splicing tape) & it's so much fun ... & the prices for 8-track tapes anywhere from. 50 cents & up, of course resellers ask a premium for theirs but there's a lot still out there. The great thing is I feel like buying & hunting again... I'll still buy record albums but now I got something else that makes me Happy here in Honolulu Hawaii. Mahalo ed
Great insight as always. Keep the reissues coming, I have several of them, you are doing us all a great service by releasing affordable (and VERY well done) versions of records, that, as you said, would be unavailable otherwise.
Ahhh you said it ... nostsalgia! For sure😊 I remember buying VHS tapes for the kids when they were little from Goodwill for 20c, some were still sealed. All before streaming services were available. Now those prices are crazy for wax, cassettes and even cds lately
Great video Dillon! You hit the spot..I think we collect for ´nostalgic reasons´, for ex..when I play my Pyromania (Def Leppard) album I get the feeling when I was in middle school..and.that feeling a record can only give you..
I've been collecting since the 70s and loved the vinyl resurgence and the fact that releasing new records became a thing again - then the greed set in. I don't buy new records now. I content myself with getting secondhand records and giving them a new home and happy to support my local record shops.
Thank you, Dylan! I really enjoyed this undervalued discussion which needs to be had more often! I was really feeling you during the Goodwill section… brought back the same memories, my friend
Great video Dillon, it was really interesting that you mentioned about being tired and then talked about the buzz of finding that retro TV and VHS player, back when you started collecting you probably had 100's if not 1.000's of grails to find, which I guess watching your vids you have now found most if not all of them Anyway I love what you are doing, if I lived in the states and not the UK, I'd be buying a few of your exclusives and reissues, keep the great work up and keep finding that balance
Your example of Buckingham Nicks near the beginning really jumped out because we have a very small record store (nothing online) and we’ve bought two copies of that in the last two months. And no one had ever brought one in before that. We don’t usually talk to people about why they’re selling their records, but getting out of collecting if it was just a Covid thing makes sense.
Great video. Enjoyed your comments about the love of nostalgia being a motivating force - I have the same love, being a collector all my life. At one point, you mentioned it being an "escape," which it is... a healthy escape among so many unhealthy ones people choose. Hope you visit your shop next week while I'm on vacation since I don't live in NC. Visited last year and bought a few records.
I've cut back on buying, I visit your shop once or twice a year for a few albums and maybe order 2 or 3 new releases, and that's all I do anymore. It all started when I realized I wasn't listening enough to keep up with all of what I was buying.
I've bought a lot of records, new and used, over the past 3/4 years. I've bought most of what I've wanted and have more to buy, but it's not as high a priority as it has been. I've definitely slowed down and I'm fine with that.
I'm currently out of the game. Lost my job, life is expensive, trying to find a new job which isn't easy; I don't live in my native country and exist here in my third language, and it's an uphill battle at all times. So I'm not buying stuff, and it's allowed me to take a step back, and I realized I wasn't having so much fun in the last year or so. Prices are out of control, competition is fierce, and it's become about trophy hunting more than the music for the older, rarer stuff, and new stuff sells out immediately due to flippers. I've got about 6000 LPs crammed into my tiny, expensive apartment, and I have been digging deeply into my own collection, and enjoying what I have. We'll see what the future brings. Some days I think of selling all my records and living in a van.
Sell your records. You're the second person I have seen today complain about being on the verge of homelessness while admitting they are sitting on a very valuable record collection
I have been finding loads of great records here in the UK. It's a great time for digging and collecting but I guess it's not the same when it becomes your business. Great video keep them coming!
Focus, Focus, Focus. I have a list of what I'm looking for, and that's that. If I have to pay a bit to get it, so be it. If people out there need to flip to make money, so be it. I collect picture discs of a particular metal band, and these things are never cheap. It's still fun for me, and as most of them are bootlegs, it's still exciting when a new release is on eBay for the first time. It's expensive many times, but I've never hated this hobby. I think when you buy EVERYTHING out there, you'll really increase your odds of hobby burnout.
You're right, it used to be a lot more fun when I was younger. It was a novelty. It's also gotten REALLY EXPENSIVE. And at the same time the market seems oversaturated. The fast food comparison is good. I've found it's better to find a local restaurant with similar prices and real food. (The metaphor is you might as well go for quality records, even if it's $2 more than fast food). In the pre-internet days I went to the library to research the Goldmine book, which has all the matrix numbers. I was just trying to look up a Sgt. Pepper UK '67 press and the deadwax numbers are not on Discogs. Might be time for another trip to the library. The flippers make me wonder how many records sit in a crate somewhere, unsold, unplayed waiting to be sold for a price that's way too high. The biggest con of the internet is it's endless. You could spend your last penny on an infinite amount of albums. At least with a local record store there's only so many things you can take home. You can can also assess the condition yourself at the local record store.
I wouldn't regard a reputable record store owner as a 'flipper' per se because, A) you ARE clearly n enthusiast, not just doing this for the bucks; B) you provide both your reputation plus an in-store experience if buyers want it, the former of which flippers might not provide and the latter of which online flippers don't; C) If you price used pls reasonably, you're not necessarily of the flipper mentality; D) presumably when there are new limited releases you don't buy multiple copies to then put them aside until the price skyrockets, thereby preventing others from access to limited stock just so you can excessively profit later,, but instead you're selling it at typical retail price; and E) you provide a personal educational resource re. vinyl vs just moving 'product.'
Even at $50, I'm in. I'm just buying things that make me happy. You should check out the beautiful Melanie albums being sold by Cleopatra records, Easy Action Records in England and, Possum Records in Australia. All 3 record companies are dealing with her 60 years of recordings. It's expensive buying from England and Australia. It would be great to see all these beautiful pressings in one place in America at a little better price. These Melanie reissues were set up by Melanie and her management just before she died a few months ago. I went out and bought a $2,000.00 U-turn stereo just to enjoy them. Music makes me happy and my love of Melanie and her music takes me back to 1967, where my love of music began.
Great video as always Dillon, you have your finger on the pulse of the community. A number of factors have made it less fun, cost in particular, but it’ll swing back.
Enjoyed hearing your perspective on this! And all these answers are mostly speaking on the topic of new releases/Reissues. The used (online) market has lost so much trust of collectors, eBay and 'Scogs are hopeless nowadays. The availability of sales data is a valuable tool, but it's largely being distorted for profit, folks pricing 2-3x true value just because an item is the only one available at the moment.
What finished me collecting vinyl here in the UK, was when people started skimming knackered records to make them look mint. I'm not sure if this practice still goes on, but i soon got out. I only have CD's now.
Hello there Dillon, I totally support your opinion! I’m collecting since mid 90s, leaving in Greece in mid 90s records were literally everywhere and for cheap! I mean really cheap, German or Dutch pressings for 3 euro. I worked for some time in a record store / record label those last years I totally understand the struggle. As a collector of mainly metal / prog rock / Italian soundtracks I can tell that the market , pressings, expenses makes no fun anymore either from collector or “industry person” point of view.
I grew up in the golden era of vinyl in the mid to late 1970's I still have my original 100 plus 70's and 80's vinyl collection. I got back into vinyl in 2001 I watched it slowly grow over the years to amazing heights, and consequently rising prices. For me the vinyl bubble peak ended with the much hyped release of the triple vinyl Adele with a whopping 500,000 pressings at $63.00 a pop filling up the vinyl section at Walmart, consequently gathering dust and likely destined for a future dollar bin section. Walmart (in Canada) would eventually phase out both CD's and Vinyl 1 year later. It was kind of telling of the reality of the music industry today which is so "ho-hum" at the moment. I still love to play my old and new vinyl's to this day and will continue to do so in the future, but I have a more cynical view of the present direction of the vinyl culture, with crazy prices, speculators and flippers galore. Today It does feel like a big bubble beginning to deflate.
ALWAYS coming up with the deep thoughts buddy. So I'm a few years older than you but I have gone through similar. In the 90s my mom would take me to the local record store and I would dig in the 1.00 bin and find killer title after title. Now at 39 I have seen what vinyl collecting like other hobbies have become. The flipping is really toxic. For those of us that either want to go back to their youth or in some cases a friend 😉 introduces them to a genre that it's hard to find those og presses it can get a little daunting. BUT! You take it one album at a time and don't live with regret. -Tree
I will go as high a $15 on a used record I really want if in mint condish and hard to find, oop, but usually I am in the $1-$5 range. Recent local shop buys: Wall of Voodoo Call of the West NM $15. Motown Greatest Hits 2 lps $5 NM. Pretenders Learning to Crawl $5 NM. Rufus Stompin at the Savoy 2 lps NM $10. Temptations Anthology 3 lps $11 NM. I take'em home clean'em by hand, run them thru the vevor ultrasonic, rinse and dry, put them in new inner sleeves, wipe down the cover and place in an outer sleeve, then relax and start playing them.
The thing that has hurt recently and is concerning to me is seeing one of my favorite record stores in L.A. closing and now another one of my favorite shops just announced it’s closing because of low sales.
I used to collect records in the 90’s and the early 2000’s. For me internet killed the joy of it. I loved going to used record stores and spend hours just looking to find that one great piece. Then the internet came and you could get anything you wanted as long as you had the cash. I continued for a while, but then I realised it didn’t give me happiness anymore. I still have records from that last year that I have never listened to. Just started again to buy some new stuff, but with the insane prices now I have to be very picky.
this was a counseling session, so true ups and downs w a life long love like record collecting. kinda digging the VHS experience, my mom has a whole John Cusack collection, like you said, reminds me of a simpler time. Amazing your wife was ok w your buying that vintage tv 😂😂😂
As far as new releases, I buy indi records when they are good but as far as supporting major labels that re-release their old catalog, I usually avoid it as they are the ones that hog up all the resources at the pressing plant and slow down the release times for indi label releases. There are some great current bands that release new music that sell direct to their customers (i prefer new funk bands) and aside from the music being so great, the connection between the band and it's customers is more immediate and there is no large corporation standing in the way to make a disconnect. As long as great indi bands still release music on vinyl, I'll still buy them. I just don't feel the need to buy a 75th pressing of Led Zeppelin on orange vinyl when I still have my black pressing from the 70's & 80's.
Watching this last night, and my wife was in the other room....she overheard the first few minutes and said "that sounds like everything you've been saying" Yup. Good to know I'm not crazy. Feeling every bit of this as well. Have a few talking points to add, I may do a "reaction video" on the topic, because this stuff hits SO CLOSE. Great work brother.
I am in the process of selling 3/4 of my collection. The 1/4 that I am keeping is the stuff I love. I decided to get back to the roots of what got me into collecting in the first place, and the primary reason was the music. I loved the music, but my addictive personality took over and I became a completist, collecting stuff I would never even listen to. The way I see it is it would be wonderful to have a massive collection of records if you had endless finance, but buying original pressings of music you grew up with now is just insane, so a decision had to be made…the love of the music or the ‘valuable’ item sitting on the shelf that may or may not ever be listened to. So l made the decision…the love of the music. I’m not an audiophile, so a $10 CD is now actually worth more to me than a $100 dust-collecting record. Everyone collects for different reasons and in different ways…I get it, but for me…I am done. Buyers want as much as possible for as little as possible and sellers want the same, someone is going to lose.
One thing I can’t stand is that everyone thinks their records are worth tons of money. People trying to sell $10 records for $50 because it’s Fleetwood Mac or Pink Floyd. Thanks for keeping your pricing fair and honest. 👍
I hope we don't relive the 90s...we had a small record shop and CDs took over and slowly killed it. Now like you said the last 5 years it resurged, and got very popular. I think inflation has hurt too, $35 and up for a standard record is an ouch for me. I still hold a place in my heart for vinyl, CDs and I have a lot on digital. I only hope the best for you and others who have stores (I visit yours each year I go down to NC..be there again in two weeks) take care and keep the faith.
Profit buying and selling is what makes the world go round. It keeps the stuff we love in circulation. The guy that sells something for more than it was bought for is providing a service. This service costs time and time is money. Imagine if you were required to keep everything that you ever bought. We’d all become hoarders or minimalists living in empty houses. Record collector here and rare book scout for over 50 years.
In the late 70's and 80's I was a collector. I had 10,000 LP's in my apartment, 5 turntable 's nice equipment. I sold a big chunk in in the 90's. Now I have roughly 3,000 and class myself as a listener only and have had great finds at yard sales , estate sales etc. I retired at 63 and just love listening man everyday . But with CD transports & Dacs sound quality is great with those also. It's the garage sale hunt I love and there is a lot of great bargains out there.👍🙂
I don't people see how people think showing records on social media is a negative. If you don't want to watch them, go do something else. Videos are a great way of getting good suggestions of artists you are unfamiliar with.
I am priced out of this hobby at this point. Stores rarely have dollar bins anymore as well. I have so much dollar bin garbage that I love but it's hard to want to drop $15 on scratched garbage that someone prices via Discogs median.
I got excited last week when I found some Haitian funk at the thrift store, not valuable but rare and really fun and cool to listen to, that’s why I’m still an avid crate digger
Hi Dillon. This video was great. I agree with and can relate to absolutely everything you have said here. It's like a therapy session for vinyl addicts, seriously. I cannot say anything more, without repeating something you've already said as you covered all bases here. Keep up the good work 🙂
It’s true I’ve been there his prices are unbelievable it’s amazing I actually felt like I could afford to shop there so I bought more than I was planing on, such a breath of fresh air
During 2020, so many people became "collectors", not just records but comics heavily as well. People were stuck at home and bored. As a collector, I'm happy when people sell off because that puts sought after pieces in the world. As far as it "not being fun as before", it comes and goes. I'm a DJ, travel the globe DJ'ing and digging for records, vintage toys, arcade machines etc and I still love digging but it's like eating the same breakfast or dinner everyday, you need a change.
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Record collecting for its own sake will quickly lose its appeal, unless you focus on the music. It’s not the size of your collection that matters, it’s the content and what it means to you. Otherwise you might as well collect bottle caps.
One of the rare sensible & rather brilliant internet comments I have read since a while , especially in the record lovers world!
I knew a guy who owned a record store and his philosophy was he'd rather see a collection of 30 records that were all great as opposed to a collection of 2000 records and most of them are crap/filler.
Quality beats quantity!
All killer, no filler!
lean and mean!
That sorta thing.
100% ...
I only collect music i listen to and makes me happy , i attempt to get the best versions i can afford in my budget
I purge regularly to get rid of anything that doesnt fit that ethos.
THANK YOU!!!
I have between 400-500 records and when I find it's getting larger, I sell some. In considering getting it down to 300.
I don't collect records, I buy music. And nostalgia is the main reason.
Well put!
Dollar bin is my go-to these days.
Every hobby has peaks and valleys.
A fellow audiophile and music enthusiast told me that the political and social climate was starting to interfere with his enjoyment of the music. Talk about outside interference!
@@williamcampbell3868Music is my escape! 😅 It'll change my mood from bad to good quickly!!! 😊 Hollywood and music people endorsing one side or the other kind of alienates your audience, but I always try my best to separate the artist from the art... I'm talking to you Roger Waters! 🤣
I just fell (back) in love with CDs- as much as I love vinyl CDs take up less space, are lower maintenance and still plentiful and cheap on the second hand market. I still find at least one or two fantastic albums at every thrift store I go to. I do feel like we're on the brink of a resurgence though so snatch them up while you can!
I miss the old days before price guides and the internet. I'm 71 years old so I can remember when I could go to garage sales and flea markets and always come home with some new and exciting finds that I never knew existed. The only people that looked for records were people that CARED about them. We didn't have a smart phone to look them up. All the knowledge was in our heads. The vendors at the flea markets didn't research records because nobody cared about them except collectors. Sadly, the young collectors of today will never experience how much fun it used to be. On the positive side, now you can pretty much find whatever you're looking for on the internet or in a knowledgeable record store. You don't have to wear out your car or spend all your money on gas. It's still a great hobby but the excitement of discovery has faded somewhat. I'm finding some enjoyment listening to a lot of the new music on platforms like Bandcamp. There's a lot of great stuff being made. It's too bad mainstream radio won't play it.
Yes to Bandcamp! Great music is just as fun to listen to in a digital form, not everything needs to be physical media. Gotta keep your portfolio diversified with all formats.
I have not bought an album in almost a year, mostly because at one point I had 35 albums that were not even played yet, not even opened, I bought so many, I didn't have time to play them. Now I enjoy what I have and eventually Ill go back to buying, but not before i sell a lot of what I have now, records I will never listen to again..great vid..
Excact same here. I have so many records I haven’t listened too yet
Hahaha same!
I've been collecting since 1986. I currently own 4000+ lps and 1500 CDs. In the past two years I've purged approximately 300+ duplicates, seldomly spun etc. I've begun grabbing pop records from the 70's /80's. Little River Band Hits can take you places!!!
Only Monsieur Vinyl has been collecting since 1986 😅😅
@@frenchvinyladdict You're an addict. You can't help it.
I have been collecting records all of my life. I still have a few from my teen years back in the 70's & 80's. I don't buy nearly as many now, but I always have my eyes open for something special.
As a musician, it is a spiritual experience to put a record on. Listening to vinyl allows the artists to take you on the journey they envisioned creating the album, vs just listening to your favorite few songs of theirs. I’m also deeply connected to the history of music. I love finding an old record of a band you’ve never heard. I want to spend the rest of my life listening to things I’ve never heard. BALANCE is the key, you nailed it with that. Thanks for the conversation, it’s our responsibility to remind others of balance and what makes this hobby special. I need to do more to connect with other collectors. Bring in a rural town, Im so thankful for our local record shop 🤙🤘
I agree completely!
I think what annoys me the most is seeing random beat up records at second hand malls for stupid money. That said, I still have good days when I come out of place with records that are treasures to me for a few bucks a piece. I need those days, those finds, to keep me going. Grateful for a couple of local spots doing their best to keep prices fair.
I should say, I’m also mostly in it for the music and not for a perfect, original-only collection. I like finding used records because I just want to be able to have as much of the music I love as possible. I think keeping those expectations realistic helps too.
One big positive: I am so happy that more women and kids and families are excited about vinyl. I love seeing stores with lots of diverse people enjoying the hobby and enjoying music. Was at a store the other day where a mum came in with two kids in Beatles t-shirts and they were so thrilled to leave with a record, it was just lovely to see. That accessibility is important to the future of the hobby, and to be able to enjoy it with others.
What is great is how many quality reissues getting released. What sucks are the ridiculous prices in the 2nd hand market.
Dont support the second hand looser s they are just crap copies anyway.
👏🏽 I’ve turned to Jazz reissues as of late easier on the wallet
The poor quality reissues outnumber the good ones.
@RoofLight00 Yes, but at least you can sleuth out the differences now. 20 years ago it was a lot of faith buying something to hope it was good.
There is truth to that. A lot of records that would sell for 10 bucks a few years back are now 20-25, the 2nd hand market definitely sucks. Everyone goes by what Discogs tells them to, which is misleading to say the least. As for the reissues, I agree. I think no matter what you're into a lot of records you never thought would be reissued, they are now.
Your comment about nostalgia vs bills hit hard man. It’s that stream of consciousness that makes so many endeared to you because whether you realize it or not you’re starting to voice things we think or feel but don’t say. Nice video again and continue this open stream of thoughts please!
Thanks so much!
Dylan , you made the greatest vinyl record shirt ever made . "Vinyl isn't going Anywhere" . The compliments I got from the record elders.... they loved that shirt and asked where they could get one . The record collecting community is like living organism or tree/plant . Sometimes the organism will grow limbs and produce leaves/fruits . It will receive a lot attention(News Media) when it produces fruit (Big retail shoppers/Pop/ Switfies) and colorful leaves (they hang on longer but are temporary collectors who go all in ) . This life cycle will repeat like the 4 seasons (fads) it will lose some limbs and its leaves & fruit will fall and rot but the core trunk or roots (People who are dedicated and truly love vinyl) will stay healthy and keep living . But only until "we" the true dedicated record collector will be done when we are cut down or destroyed .
The best thing for me is enjoying the music and the sound of the records I buy.
When I buy a record, I’m imagining myself retired sitting at home late at night with my dog and a cup of tea, I see each record as an investment in my life’s enjoyment. Reissues are fantastic at the moment, and we’re starting to get high end copies of 90s material which is my era. But with Kevin Gray, Ryan K Smith, Chris Bellman and others, paired with plants like analogue productions, blue note, vinyl me please, third man, even now craft and rhino really stepping up, really high quality is so obtainable
But there is a lot of turds too, even coming from Chris Bellman. Especially the Iron Maiden reissues from this August 2024. Some of them were complete crap pressings.
@@rabarebra hadn’t heard of that, that’s really unusual for him, every bellman cut I have is fantastic
Passions ebb and flow. It's natural. Follow another passion for a while. Follow whatever whimsey catches you. Come back when it feels right again.
Absolutely. Well said 👍
Awesome insight. I stepped away from several lifelong hobbies because it was killing me. Took up Thai cooking classes and baking 😂. Then one day got the urge to get in the car and driving 3 1/2 hours to scour for vinyl. It was a blast and I met some really good new friends ❤
There’s no doubt that it’s not as fun😢…. The thing is you still can’t beat the feeling you have when you score that record that you always want it or you got that release in whatever format you want. The physical format is still a really cool fun thing.🎉❤
Great video - my favorite part of collecting in 2024 is the fact that you are cranking out some awesome exclusives! Keep it up - discovering new music is the best! Northern New Jersey loves you :)
Thanks John! Glad you like them!
Visited your shop back in first of June, and your prices are fair, in-line with their current values. Really enjoyed your shop. Its all killer inventory!! Keep up the great work.
You eventually reach the point where you have almost everything you want and the ones you do want you need to shell out big money to get them
I’ve been thinking the same thing as of lately. It’s referred to as hedonic adaptation. The honeymoon phase is over and I’ll still buy on occasion, but it’s definitely on the back burner for now.
Started doing pop-up events this year after a few years of doing record swaps. It's really hard finding good records in Germany, lots of crap, but I'm so happy I stepped up.
Dillon
Great video, have collected records for 50 years and still buying but agree that the market is not the same. I also collect rare books, exactly the same thing has happened to prices and makes many items unaffordable. However, I still very much enjoy the searching and there are still bargains out there, nostalgia is the reason I buy all of these items and makes me happy.
Regards from the UK
Always knew the market was going to cool, but I am so happy about how many reissued albums have come out! When I started, Nevermind was $500, or Superunknown was $400. Didn't get into it for the value, I now have something to spin for the rest of my life 😁
My collecting has slowed down a bit but it's fun when i find a grail or a common record that i didn't have!
Travelling keeps record collecting fun for me.
I have found some good records in the most unexpected out of the way places in foreign countries. The adventure and effort keeps it exciting.
I like having a record and looking at it and remembering the memory attached of where and when I got it.
I may have times where I focus on non vinyl things but its the one interest in life I always return back to and have a newfound love for.
I travel for work and I still go to the locally owned record shops in every city I visit. I still have the bug! That said, I have almost every record I sought after when I started years ago.
I've slowed down a little bit on the collecting side of things an am more just enjoying playing what I've got, yes it's great to find a record that you have been looking for but the most enjoyment surley is listening to your collection
One of the things I love most about vinyl is music discovery. I would not know anywhere near the amount of music I do if I were not buying records. I started to explore psych, hard rock, metal, jazz, folk, and so many more genres all because I was curious about a physical vinyl record. I collect and sell and create content all out of a love for the music!
Im building my collection again, i go through cycles of listening. I just upgraded my setup to a fluance 81+ and their bookshelf speakers to match. Im in love with everything i listen to and i think its so cool to get pieces of history from literally all over the world. Places i will likely never make it to in my life. Ive got a healthy mix of originals and reissues and im excited to add a copy from your store here soon. Cant wait till i see my diamond eyes 👌🏻
BTW I have bought six of your records. I do not flip them. They are in my collection for good. First, records for me are soundtracks of my life I am 72. I can hear a Yardbirds song and it is attacked to a memory. The music from 1964 thru 72 or so cannot be matched. Second, records are art. Just like someone collects paintings, I collect album art and the music inside. I love the colors and creativity. I listen everyday. It affects my disposition and improves my outlook on life. It’s a passion for me.
Your melancholy is based on familiarity. You are a jaded old pro so yeah I understand. I’m still extremely excited after 45 years because I look for things in categories that are new to me like things from the early 50’s.. Spoken word, etc.
We adapt and survive! Crazy prices will fall and the cycle will start again, for sure! Thanks for all the work you do Dillon!! Greerings from Spain🤘🤘
Exactly. Lots of big collections will be sold off waaay cheaper in the coming years and peak the interest of another generation of collectors when economy gets back to normal
I respect your viewpoint. You've educated me more than any 4 year program. It's been fun and interesting to watch your journey in the industry while balancing family and responsibilities. I've bought a couple of your labels releases and can see that you've taken on a boatload in the last couple of years, which has obviously changed your own perspective on the industry. It's understandable.
I see an inevitable downturn in vinyl collector's going into '25, but like any retail industry, you have to adapt along the way. Desiring lower prices, better quality, etc, that'll always linger to some extent, too. For the thrill of the hunt, there is a natural ebb and flow to it, like in anything. Less responsibilities mean more fun. More responsibilities mean what you have going on.
Personally, I'll always collect, but my parameters may change with the dynamics of the industry and economy. I hope you continue on in all of this and find a renewed enthusiasm.
Record shopping isn’t as fun as it was before, and that is a fact. All the points discussed here are pretty valid. I’ve listened to music since I was a teenager in the 90s, but started buying LPs only by the end of the 2000s, and have passed the 1500 units, and many of these records would be really hard to get nowadays. It’s not only about the prices (which yes, they are crazy) but also because good records are very hard to find in record stores. I remember going shopping, both in the US and Europe, getting into a record store and ALWAYS finding at least a record I really wanted at a reasonable, if not a bargain, price. And in general, the selections were better. Now I might be older (44yo) and perhaps LPs are not a priority for me anymore, but I still do feel the urge to go into a record shop when I walk past it… unfortunately that excitement cools off as soon as I start flipping through stacks of very generic stuff. Perhaps in the US is different, but in Europe is getting very hard to go to a shop and leaving with a grail in your hands. I consider myself lucky to have acquired most of the stuff I wanted before their prices became prohibitive, but I can’t help feeling a bit nostalgic about those record shopping sprees. At present, I buy very few records (don’t think I ‘ve bought more than 20 since the beginning of the year) and many of the records I’d still like to get, go for crazy prices, so I just wait, eventually someone will put them at a decent price. I’m patient.
One thing I keep seeing in the comments is one way to renew interest in collecting is to cycle formats, especially cheaper formats. Whether it be CDs, 8tracks, cassettes or open reel, broaden your focus. Back before digital, when I came up short on cash to buy records or just nothing seemed interesting I'd take stock in what I had and make mixtapes. I'd bulk up on the sleeper tracks and take it outside. I think so many people see these guys online with massive collections and feel they have to keep buying to catch up. I say take a break and enjoy what you have!
Yeah I’m definitely in the “enjoy what I have” stage. Which I’m totally fine with. I love vinyl, and always will.
When I hear all this I'm very glad that I don't care about reissues, splatter coloured vinyl, RSD releases, audiophile, exclusives, limited this and limited that. I guess keeping up with all that can kill the interest pretty fast. However, I can relate to that the level of enthusiasm goes up and down. When the pandemic hit, I slowed down my collecting and now I'm slowly getting back. It goes up and down. Like life. Hang in there Dillon, take care!
On one hand, today you can listen to more music than ever, everything is available, even stuff you would never imagine you would be able to even hear is is only three clicks away. That's crazy and amazing and great. On the other hand, music used to be an adventure once. You had to drive miles to see an artist, listen to a band, find rare records (just to have the option to even listen to them). Certain cities or countries used to have a specific 'sound' or character. Sometimes you couldn't find information on certain bands, it was mysterious and exciting. You had to put a lot of time and effort in order to discover, learn and actually become an 'expert' or a person with some kind of higher knowledge that was not accessible to most people. You had to work for it and 'earn' it because of your commitment and dedication. Today every 14 year old kid can learn and listen to almost every piece of music that was ever recorded. No one is appreciating anything, it changed the way people consume music or even create, write and record music today. Record collecting nowadays doesn't really mean anything. It's another consumer product with no real value. Not to mention the huge money industry that was built around it in the last few years: reissues and boxes and colour vinyl and 'record store day', the fetishizing of the image of the turntable in pop and what not. You can still enjoy music, collecting, buying and of course the sound of a great stereo but the question is really - why does it even matter in the world we live in today.
You probably have everything you want, and you do it for a living. I shut my store and I couldn't be happier. I really don't listen to LP's much anymore, but I do like me some tape.
I've been selling since about 2006-2007 (somewhere in there) and collecting my whole life. The subject of this video is why I was afraid to open a store. I take breaks from records during the week just because I do get kind of tired of it. But by Thursday - Friday the vinyl need is back and I'm all in. These people that just started buying records five seconds ago were never really interested in the hobby/record industry/ or whatever enough in the first place IMO. Please sell your collections back! (of original pressings); and you might as well throw most of the 180 gram junk away.
This is just my opinion I apologize in advance if this hurts anyone's feelings. Thank-you - The Brit-Pop Snob.
Love your channel I always make time to watch your updates and order your exclusives. Love that you’re keeping the record collecting community going by doing what you do and so very well at it! One day I will make a trip to NC to shop your store. Records are forever!!!
The best way I know to sum it up: Too many people who are making a profit from records don’t actually collect or enjoy records. You are selling records you don’t need to other collectors to enjoy. People who are buying something they don’t enjoy just to make money off it dramatically increases the price for real collectors. When it comes to buying in store I’m not a fan of the one we have here and I’ve gone to others a little farther away. There’s a reason I drove 9.5 hours to your store last year and plan on doing it again this year, you have an amazing shop and treat everyone so well. Keep doing what you’re doing
I totally agree with what you said,far too many are making a profit from selling records they don't give a shite about.
@@OwenManuela Utterly disagree. Best way to profit is by selling records that have no meaning for you, to buy those that do. That way you don't feel pressured to part with anything you actually like! Buying up bulk copies of strictly limited editions to flip is a different consideration, but these often level out over time ... e.g. 'limited editions' that rapidly sell out on RSD often end up being listed for asking price (or less) days or weeks later.
I love that there are so many reissues available. Give me a new sealed record I'm a happy guy. I may lose interest from time to time but after over 50 years it balances out like you said. I am trying to get up the nerve to do a purge. Gotta make room for the newbies!
As a collector of almost 45 years, I agree with everything you said. It's a love/hate relationship with vinyl sometimes. But I'm proud of the empire I've built, and will continue to grow it.
great video man. It's funny you mention the Vhs tape thing, I've actually been doing the exact same thing. I'm also a father and these past couple Fridays me and my son have watched a classic movie from my childhood on the VCR, and the latest one was Flipper! I'm not even joking. Blank Check and Free Willy also. Raising 'em right. Amen to that simpler times comment, that's exactly it.
“I love bringing old music back to life.” That’s why I subscribe to your channel brother.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Fraction is one of my favorite records of all time. So glad I got through Noble and the shipping quality to the UK was amazing.
Thanks so much!
I am thankful that I bought majority of my 3,000 records in the 90's when I could bring home a giant stack for next to nothing compared to now days. Haven't been to a record store in months, not many record stores close to me so the stores really raise the prices compared to online I'm not paying $100 for one record. One time I went to the best record store in my area found one I wanted but was insanely over priced so I pulled out my phone found it on discogs for half the price bought it from discogs while in the store and walked out.
Great video. To me, and as you mentioned, one of the big upsides is getting pristine album reissues of records you will not find anywhere or that are so rare they cost a fortune. Cheers.
Aloha Dylan,
I too started getting burnt-out collecting records in late October of 2023, So I bought myself some 8-track tapes & learned how to restore them ( changing pressure pad, aluminum splicing tape) & it's so much fun ... & the prices for 8-track tapes anywhere from. 50 cents & up, of course resellers ask a premium for theirs but there's a lot still out there. The great thing is I feel like buying & hunting again...
I'll still buy record albums but now I got something else that makes me Happy here in Honolulu Hawaii.
Mahalo ed
Great insight as always. Keep the reissues coming, I have several of them, you are doing us all a great service by releasing affordable (and VERY well done) versions of records, that, as you said, would be unavailable otherwise.
Ahhh you said it ... nostsalgia! For sure😊
I remember buying VHS tapes for the kids when they were little from Goodwill for 20c, some were still sealed. All before streaming services were available. Now those prices are crazy for wax, cassettes and even cds lately
You are so right. Sharing this to my facebook. Greetings from Sweden!
Great video Dillon! You hit the spot..I think we collect for ´nostalgic reasons´, for ex..when I play my Pyromania (Def Leppard) album I get the feeling when I was in middle school..and.that feeling a record can only give you..
I've been collecting since the 70s and loved the vinyl resurgence and the fact that releasing new records became a thing again - then the greed set in. I don't buy new records now. I content myself with getting secondhand records and giving them a new home and happy to support my local record shops.
I don't buy new records as most are a cash grab and just sound bad.
Thank you, Dylan! I really enjoyed this undervalued discussion which needs to be had more often! I was really feeling you during the Goodwill section… brought back the same memories, my friend
Those young people who sell their collection will live to regret it. I buried my collection away for 20 years, so glad I kept them. 🤓
Great video Dillon, it was really interesting that you mentioned about being tired and then talked about the buzz of finding that retro TV and VHS player, back when you started collecting you probably had 100's if not 1.000's of grails to find, which I guess watching your vids you have now found most if not all of them
Anyway I love what you are doing, if I lived in the states and not the UK, I'd be buying a few of your exclusives and reissues, keep the great work up and keep finding that balance
Your example of Buckingham Nicks near the beginning really jumped out because we have a very small record store (nothing online) and we’ve bought two copies of that in the last two months. And no one had ever brought one in before that. We don’t usually talk to people about why they’re selling their records, but getting out of collecting if it was just a Covid thing makes sense.
Great video. Enjoyed your comments about the love of nostalgia being a motivating force - I have the same love, being a collector all my life. At one point, you mentioned it being an "escape," which it is... a healthy escape among so many unhealthy ones people choose. Hope you visit your shop next week while I'm on vacation since I don't live in NC. Visited last year and bought a few records.
I've cut back on buying, I visit your shop once or twice a year for a few albums and maybe order 2 or 3 new releases, and that's all I do anymore. It all started when I realized I wasn't listening enough to keep up with all of what I was buying.
I definitely understand that. Thanks for visiting!
@@noblerecords great video! Thanks for sharing
I've bought a lot of records, new and used, over the past 3/4 years. I've bought most of what I've wanted and have more to buy, but it's not as high a priority as it has been. I've definitely slowed down and I'm fine with that.
I'm currently out of the game. Lost my job, life is expensive, trying to find a new job which isn't easy; I don't live in my native country and exist here in my third language, and it's an uphill battle at all times. So I'm not buying stuff, and it's allowed me to take a step back, and I realized I wasn't having so much fun in the last year or so. Prices are out of control, competition is fierce, and it's become about trophy hunting more than the music for the older, rarer stuff, and new stuff sells out immediately due to flippers. I've got about 6000 LPs crammed into my tiny, expensive apartment, and I have been digging deeply into my own collection, and enjoying what I have. We'll see what the future brings. Some days I think of selling all my records and living in a van.
The only reason to buy music or movies or video games is to enjoy them and own a copy for yourself, so as not to have to depend on streaming
Now is the time to sell. I think records' value is at its peak now.
Sell your records. You're the second person I have seen today complain about being on the verge of homelessness while admitting they are sitting on a very valuable record collection
I have been finding loads of great records here in the UK. It's a great time for digging and collecting but I guess it's not the same when it becomes your business. Great video keep them coming!
I have some really good condition 1950s UK press 45s and 78s to clear (came from a neighbour) chart hits but somewhat rareities/survivors.
Focus, Focus, Focus. I have a list of what I'm looking for, and that's that. If I have to pay a bit to get it, so be it. If people out there need to flip to make money, so be it. I collect picture discs of a particular metal band, and these things are never cheap. It's still fun for me, and as most of them are bootlegs, it's still exciting when a new release is on eBay for the first time. It's expensive many times, but I've never hated this hobby. I think when you buy EVERYTHING out there, you'll really increase your odds of hobby burnout.
You will never buy everything out there. There is always something to discover it never ends.
@@DavidB-py8nz you took that literally. It's an old expression. It means constantly buying things you never really wanted or needed.
You're right, it used to be a lot more fun when I was younger. It was a novelty. It's also gotten REALLY EXPENSIVE. And at the same time the market seems oversaturated. The fast food comparison is good. I've found it's better to find a local restaurant with similar prices and real food. (The metaphor is you might as well go for quality records, even if it's $2 more than fast food).
In the pre-internet days I went to the library to research the Goldmine book, which has all the matrix numbers. I was just trying to look up a Sgt. Pepper UK '67 press and the deadwax numbers are not on Discogs. Might be time for another trip to the library. The flippers make me wonder how many records sit in a crate somewhere, unsold, unplayed waiting to be sold for a price that's way too high. The biggest con of the internet is it's endless. You could spend your last penny on an infinite amount of albums. At least with a local record store there's only so many things you can take home. You can can also assess the condition yourself at the local record store.
I wouldn't regard a reputable record store owner as a 'flipper' per se because, A) you ARE clearly n enthusiast, not just doing this for the bucks; B) you provide both your reputation plus an in-store experience if buyers want it, the former of which flippers might not provide and the latter of which online flippers don't; C) If you price used pls reasonably, you're not necessarily of the flipper mentality; D) presumably when there are new limited releases you don't buy multiple copies to then put them aside until the price skyrockets, thereby preventing others from access to limited stock just so you can excessively profit later,, but instead you're selling it at typical retail price; and E) you provide a personal educational resource re. vinyl vs just moving 'product.'
The next record will fill that hole inside, never quit!
Even at $50, I'm in. I'm just buying things that make me happy. You should check out the beautiful Melanie albums being sold by Cleopatra records, Easy Action Records in England and, Possum Records in Australia. All 3 record companies are dealing with her 60 years of recordings. It's expensive buying from England and Australia. It would be great to see all these beautiful pressings in one place in America at a little better price. These Melanie reissues were set up by Melanie and her management just before she died a few months ago. I went out and bought a $2,000.00 U-turn stereo just to enjoy them. Music makes me happy and my love of Melanie and her music takes me back to 1967, where my love of music began.
Nothing is as fun as it used to be.
Neither it should be - US is in 2 wars and planning a third and giving folk a choice not worth dying for
Great video as always Dillon, you have your finger on the pulse of the community. A number of factors have made it less fun, cost in particular, but it’ll swing back.
Enjoyed hearing your perspective on this! And all these answers are mostly speaking on the topic of new releases/Reissues. The used (online) market has lost so much trust of collectors, eBay and 'Scogs are hopeless nowadays. The availability of sales data is a valuable tool, but it's largely being distorted for profit, folks pricing 2-3x true value just because an item is the only one available at the moment.
What finished me collecting vinyl here in the UK, was when people started skimming knackered records to make them look mint. I'm not sure if this practice still goes on, but i soon got out. I only have CD's now.
I get that. People running their beat up records through their vacuum vinyl cleaners. Selling them above Discogs median prices.
Hello there Dillon, I totally support your opinion! I’m collecting since mid 90s, leaving in Greece in mid 90s records were literally everywhere and for cheap! I mean really cheap, German or Dutch pressings for 3 euro. I worked for some time in a record store / record label those last years I totally understand the struggle. As a collector of mainly metal / prog rock / Italian soundtracks I can tell that the market , pressings, expenses makes no fun anymore either from collector or “industry person” point of view.
I grew up in the golden era of vinyl in the mid to late 1970's I still have my original 100 plus 70's and 80's vinyl collection. I got back into vinyl in 2001 I watched it slowly grow over the years to amazing heights, and consequently rising prices. For me the vinyl bubble peak ended with the much hyped release of the triple vinyl Adele with a whopping 500,000 pressings at $63.00 a pop filling up the vinyl section at Walmart, consequently gathering dust and likely destined for a future dollar bin section. Walmart (in Canada) would eventually phase out both CD's and Vinyl 1 year later. It was kind of telling of the reality of the music industry today which is so "ho-hum" at the moment. I still love to play my old and new vinyl's to this day and will continue to do so in the future, but I have a more cynical view of the present direction of the vinyl culture, with crazy prices, speculators and flippers galore. Today It does feel like a big bubble beginning to deflate.
ALWAYS coming up with the deep thoughts buddy.
So I'm a few years older than you but I have gone through similar. In the 90s my mom would take me to the local record store and I would dig in the 1.00 bin and find killer title after title. Now at 39 I have seen what vinyl collecting like other hobbies have become. The flipping is really toxic. For those of us that either want to go back to their youth or in some cases a friend 😉 introduces them to a genre that it's hard to find those og presses it can get a little daunting. BUT! You take it one album at a time and don't live with regret.
-Tree
I will go as high a $15 on a used record I really want if in mint condish and hard to find, oop, but usually I am in the $1-$5 range. Recent local shop buys: Wall of Voodoo Call of the West NM $15. Motown Greatest Hits 2 lps $5 NM. Pretenders Learning to Crawl $5 NM. Rufus Stompin at the Savoy 2 lps NM $10. Temptations Anthology 3 lps $11 NM. I take'em home clean'em by hand, run them thru the vevor ultrasonic, rinse and dry, put them in new inner sleeves, wipe down the cover and place in an outer sleeve, then relax and start playing them.
Soul music is discounted in general. Great finds.
15 bucks for vg+, nm copy 20. That is the new pricing model I experienced currently.😢
The thing that has hurt recently and is concerning to me is seeing one of my favorite record stores in L.A. closing and now another one of my favorite shops just announced it’s closing because of low sales.
Great video Dylan. You don’t have to explain how you’re different from flippers. We all know ❤️
I used to collect records in the 90’s and the early 2000’s. For me internet killed the joy of it. I loved going to used record stores and spend hours just looking to find that one great piece. Then the internet came and you could get anything you wanted as long as you had the cash. I continued for a while, but then I realised it didn’t give me happiness anymore. I still have records from that last year that I have never listened to. Just started again to buy some new stuff, but with the insane prices now I have to be very picky.
this was a counseling session, so true ups and downs w a life long love like record collecting. kinda digging the VHS experience, my mom has a whole John Cusack collection, like you said, reminds me of a simpler time. Amazing your wife was ok w your buying that vintage tv 😂😂😂
As far as new releases, I buy indi records when they are good but as far as
supporting major labels that re-release their old catalog, I usually avoid it as
they are the ones that hog up all the resources at the pressing plant and slow
down the release times for indi label releases.
There are some great current bands that release new music that sell direct to
their customers (i prefer new funk bands) and aside from the music being so
great, the connection between the band and it's customers is more immediate
and there is no large corporation standing in the way to make a disconnect.
As long as great indi bands still release music on vinyl, I'll still buy them.
I just don't feel the need to buy a 75th pressing of Led Zeppelin on orange vinyl
when I still have my black pressing from the 70's & 80's.
Watching this last night, and my wife was in the other room....she overheard the first few minutes and said "that sounds like everything you've been saying"
Yup. Good to know I'm not crazy. Feeling every bit of this as well.
Have a few talking points to add, I may do a "reaction video" on the topic, because this stuff hits SO CLOSE.
Great work brother.
I am in the process of selling 3/4 of my collection. The 1/4 that I am keeping is the stuff I love. I decided to get back to the roots of what got me into collecting in the first place, and the primary reason was the music. I loved the music, but my addictive personality took over and I became a completist, collecting stuff I would never even listen to. The way I see it is it would be wonderful to have a massive collection of records if you had endless finance, but buying original pressings of music you grew up with now is just insane, so a decision had to be made…the love of the music or the ‘valuable’ item sitting on the shelf that may or may not ever be listened to. So l made the decision…the love of the music. I’m not an audiophile, so a $10 CD is now actually worth more to me than a $100 dust-collecting record. Everyone collects for different reasons and in different ways…I get it, but for me…I am done. Buyers want as much as possible for as little as possible and sellers want the same, someone is going to lose.
One thing I can’t stand is that everyone thinks their records are worth tons of money. People trying to sell $10 records for $50 because it’s Fleetwood Mac or Pink Floyd. Thanks for keeping your pricing fair and honest. 👍
I hope we don't relive the 90s...we had a small record shop and CDs took over and slowly killed it. Now like you said the last 5 years it resurged, and got very popular. I think inflation has hurt too, $35 and up for a standard record is an ouch for me. I still hold a place in my heart for vinyl, CDs and I have a lot on digital. I only hope the best for you and others who have stores (I visit yours each year I go down to NC..be there again in two weeks) take care and keep the faith.
I’ve actually switched to cassettes. Much cheaper and the sound quality isn’t bad with a good deck.
Yes! I just posted that I'm into finding cassettes. Virtually no one cares about that format. Kind of like records in the 90's
Profit buying and selling is what makes the world go round. It keeps the stuff we love in circulation. The guy that sells something for more than it was bought for is providing a service. This service costs time and time is money. Imagine if you were required to keep everything that you ever bought. We’d all become hoarders or minimalists living in empty houses. Record collector here and rare book scout for over 50 years.
In the late 70's and 80's I was a collector. I had 10,000 LP's in my apartment, 5 turntable 's nice equipment. I sold a big chunk in in the 90's. Now I have roughly 3,000 and class myself as a listener only and have had great finds at yard sales , estate sales etc. I retired at 63 and just love listening man everyday .
But with CD transports & Dacs sound quality is great with those also. It's the garage sale hunt I love and there is a lot of great bargains out there.👍🙂
I don't people see how people think showing records on social media is a negative. If you don't want to watch them, go do something else. Videos are a great way of getting good suggestions of artists you are unfamiliar with.
I am priced out of this hobby at this point. Stores rarely have dollar bins anymore as well. I have so much dollar bin garbage that I love but it's hard to want to drop $15 on scratched garbage that someone prices via Discogs median.
Today picked up a minty OG UK "Wreck misprint" first press Led Zeppelin II at the local thrift store for $2. Just gotta keep lookin'!
I got excited last week when I found some Haitian funk at the thrift store, not valuable but rare and really fun and cool to listen to, that’s why I’m still an avid crate digger
Oh nice!
You're doing a great job.( don't forget it's work). You have inspired my love of music. Keep em coming !!
I probably buy one new record a month as opposed to a few years back when I'd buy at least three a week.
Prices have gone insane
Very thought-provoking video. Thank you for this excellent video.
Hi Dillon. This video was great. I agree with and can relate to absolutely everything you have said here. It's like a therapy session for vinyl addicts, seriously.
I cannot say anything more, without repeating something you've already said as you covered all bases here. Keep up the good work 🙂
Thanks man! 🙏🫡
It’s true I’ve been there his prices are unbelievable it’s amazing I actually felt like I could afford to shop there so I bought more than I was planing on, such a breath of fresh air
During 2020, so many people became "collectors", not just records but comics heavily as well. People were stuck at home and bored. As a collector, I'm happy when people sell off because that puts sought after pieces in the world. As far as it "not being fun as before", it comes and goes. I'm a DJ, travel the globe DJ'ing and digging for records, vintage toys, arcade machines etc and I still love digging but it's like eating the same breakfast or dinner everyday, you need a change.