Apparently as a result of misbehavior in a past life - I was part owner of a record store in the late 70's/early 80's.During that time period the record companies had gone from a defective return policy that allowed us to return defectives for identical replacements plus typically a 10% of sales return for credit. This allowed us to restock with better selling albums to replace stuff that wasn't selling.The record companies decided to just allow 10% returns period - to include whatever you had in defectives.The initial defective rate shot up dramatically - Record companies didn't care how many crap pressings they made - they stuck the retailers with most of 'em.One result of this is that probably half my records were returned as defective - since we had to eat 'em - I and my partners kept 'em.Got out of the records business.
So -for probably the first time in 15 years I'm in a friends store buying records - he offers me a bunch of records for free - initial defectives - now the record co.'s and importers have a zero return policy. Invoices come stamped "All sales final -no returns" . Man - now there's a real incentive for a manufacturer to become quality obsessed or just maybe - not give a damm?
2 points:
1.) Get real real picky and ya'll can convince any retailer to get the h%ll out of the record business.
2.) Based on 45 years of listening to records - they have surface flaws(ticks and pops) and warps.Equipment that deals with this reality is worthwhile - one of the reasons I use a Oracle turntable.
Oh yeah - I really ,really hate record companies.
So -for probably the first time in 15 years I'm in a friends store buying records - he offers me a bunch of records for free - initial defectives - now the record co.'s and importers have a zero return policy. Invoices come stamped "All sales final -no returns" . Man - now there's a real incentive for a manufacturer to become quality obsessed or just maybe - not give a damm?
2 points:
1.) Get real real picky and ya'll can convince any retailer to get the h%ll out of the record business.
2.) Based on 45 years of listening to records - they have surface flaws(ticks and pops) and warps.Equipment that deals with this reality is worthwhile - one of the reasons I use a Oracle turntable.
Oh yeah - I really ,really hate record companies.