Record Store Day 2024?

I haven’t been to every RSD but I’ve been to several. Been to large stores that go all out and a small store that participates grudgingly. One year, at the small store, I was there to get an obscure record I was sure no one would want. There were 9 of us in line before the store opened. The couple that was first in line had a good-sized box with them. When the store opened, they ran in, to the table that had all the releases and basically raked every single one into the box. I was shocked that they got out of there in one piece.

Every criticism I hear of this event is valid. I think the best way to handle it would be this:  when the list is released, allow customers to order one of each, pay for it, and then select a participating store to have it sent to. Pickup has to be on RSD. This solves the problem of having to show up real early, wait in line, and wondering if you’ll even get what you want. The stores won’t be stuck with unwanted, unsellable stock, and customers will still show up on RSD to pick up their orders (which is the main purpose, to get people into the stores) and at different times of the day (most stores, it’s pretty much over two hours after opening).

Thoughts, comments, suggestions…..

yeah, the limited quantities is like door to door salesman telling you, "if my manager approves": .... nasty, insulting treatment of customers.

@nicholsr - I think there is much sense in your suggestion. It's not that different from how some ticket sales are handled by certain artists and/or venues who try to minimize scalping...

I know a couple of the founders of Record Store Day, and a current Project Manager. To me, RSD has lost its focus. What started as an event to save Independent "Mom and Pop" new and used vinyl shops, similar to "Black Friday" for major retailers, has now become a cash grab by the labels by intentionally limiting the supply of highly hyped releases and charging ridiculous prices for those scarce releases. The sad part -- MANY of the releases are never opened, much less played. They are bought by groups who camp out at the stores, and immediately turn around and sell them for double, triple, or higher prices to "collectors" who couldn’t give a shit about the music, they are banking on it being an "investment".

I stopped attending RSD years ago when the music fans began being replaced at the front of the line by "scalpers" -- just like the current system for trying to buy concert tickets anywhere but the small venues all around the Country. Ticketmaster "bots" guarantee that the best seats are gone within 2 minutes or less of when the ticket sales begin. Then, 5 minutes later, every ticket reseller site on the Internet have the best seats relisted for sale at 5 times face amount or higher. That’s why I only go to clubs that have capacity of 500 or less. It’s the only way to see a live concert for under $30. I fear that the Record Store Day is almost that far gone...I hope I’m wrong.

Rather than initiating a new thread, I believe I’ll post this video of Mazzy reporting from the Austin Record Show here. I assume this video will result in people who think LP’s in general---and "collectible" ones in particular---are nonsense expressing their disapproval.

Mazzy, by the way, characterized the $79.99 price for the Sweetheart Of The Rodeo 2-LP set as "obscene", but bought it anyway. Kinda like buyers of ultra-high priced hi-fi equipment.