Bull Moose

Hey all, anyone know any numbers? I read somewhere that the first 30,000 of the SUPER DELUXE will be hand numbered...but first 30,000 how many of the "limited" super deluxe are they pressing. Even that seems like a LOT for a limited version.

Ill probably just get the deluxe version of III since I have the first presses (Canadian) of the I and II.

Based on the number of pre-orders the store where I work took today, 30,000 could be a reasonable quantity.

Hey Bull Moose. Wait time should show up? And I was planning on Middle St. Should I go to Scarborough though?

First RSD in ME.

Either store will be just as good in terms of finding what you want. Mainers are pretty chill, so don't worry about fighting people for what you want. I'd get there about an hour early if you can't live without a low-quantity release by a very popular artistic if you want to hang with other collectors. It's really fun to be outside the store before we open.

Keep your afternoon free. We are working on some pretty awesome events.

Is there a reason the Johnny Cash reissue LP and Sun Records compilation LP were removed from your site? They were there previously.

I hate to sound like a politician but I can't confirm or deny anything about those two releases. You will know on 3/20 whether or not they will be available in the US. I don't know the dates when we will hear about other territories, btw.

You might notice other anomalies if you look closely. We did recently remove some titles at the request of the label. Wires got crossed somewhere so a bunch of stores, including the one where I work, thought it was OK to list things that the label wished hadn't been listed. I don't know what happened. All I know is that the label needed us to handle their stuff differently. RSD is a big collaboration between many parties, so naturally we respect each others' wishes without requiring a lot of explanation.

I'd say you pretty much mailed it.

 

On your point about what fans want (better mastering, packaging, etc) I like to see things that were never put out before, IE The Pogues with Strummer singing, All Shook Down, and not reissues of items that can be found for a few bucks like Fleetwood Macs Rumors.

Obviously, that would be preferable, but I do think there is a place in the marketplace for clean well-pressed editions of classic albums. They sell well. Many of those are "first release" or "windowed" titles, because it does kind of make sense that Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, Notorious B.I.G., Nirvana, etc. records should be widely available. Know what I mean? 

It's a little different when you turn to 90s and 00s punk & metal, because the quantities on the used market are much lower. People who buy releases on labels like Victory seem to be pretty happy to have straight reissues on colored vinyl. I assume it's because they missed out on them first time around. Labels like Sundazed and Varese Sarabande also do a nice job of reissuing things that really deserve a new life.

It's always great when labels or artists choose to issue previously unheard music and that really was what I was hoping for back in 2007. We are lucky that there are so many prolific current artists like Xiu Xiu, as someone else mentioned in this thread. Then you've got labels like Omnivore who excel in finding unreleased stuff. Some people are really excited about their Jaco release. RSD's crazy grown makes it a lot more likely that amazing things will continue to be released.

Thanks.

http://www.bullmoose.com/p/951660/pinback-pinback

 

Is it possible that is only 12 bucks?

I'd be a little skeptical especially since one release I've got my eye on is listed at $8 there while another store I've been in contact with said it was going to be $20. 

 

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE

SRP for Pinback is $20.97. 

Just out of curiosity Chris, you played a major role in starting Record Store Day and Bullmoose does do a great job in doing great sales on other stuff in the stores on that day and getting bands in at all the stores, but how do you feel about the prices on RSD exclusives climbing year after year? You guys do perhaps the best job out of any store out there to keep them low, but some of the prices that distributors are asking for are pretty outrageous I think and kinda kills the idea (again in my eyes only) about what the day is about. I want to support my local record store, but some of the smaller one shot stores are getting priced out of the game by the distributors.

If your think that the prices in general are rising, I hadn't noticed much of that. I can think of one label that pushed its prices up last year. I haven't seen their prices this year so I don't know if they brought them back down. We will order less of their stuff this year if it is too expensive so they will correct their pricing next year.

I definitely have seen experimentation over the years. Those 7" box sets a few Black Fridays ago were expensive to produce and didn't sell as we hoped. They were created in response to collectors' requests for higher quality releases, but clearly that was not exactly what people wanted, or at least they didn't think a really cool box was worth an extra $10-15. It was worth a try. Maybe they would have caught on.

Looking back on that, I think that certain kinds of fans wanted better mastering and pressing on the records they like. Of course that adds to the cost, but those fans are willing to pay for the sound they want. We probably could go on and on about this.

If your question was actually about distributors that sell to stores that don't buy direct marking things up too much, I am not an expert. However, some of the stores in two of the three record store coalitions that run RSD rely on those distributors. The people who run those coalitions would take action if their members were being abused. I also suspect that non-coalition stores for whom selling new music is an important part of their business probably know which distributors will treat them best around RSD, because they treat them best all year round.

Let me know if I'm off base and I'll give it another shot.

Chris

US RSD fans might want to check out this list of releases that have been officially announced. The lists of rumors blogs borrow from each other seem to be less accurate than they have been in previous years. I thought this might help people figure out what's what.

Some US bands and labels have announced titles to the public but haven't released the sales information to stores yet, I left those off the list but I will add them when we get the official word. 

If you prefer to see the same list with cover art and links to more information go here. We are still filling in track lists, pressing quantities, etc. so important details are missing, we might add them later.

Several important distributors have yet to release their lists, including Think Indie, as noted above. Many more titles are in the pipeline, so don't fret if something a label or artist announced isn't on my list. It's probably for real. 

Enjoy,

Chris

Yeah, exactly. Is it that much of a problem to change a few numbers on the jacket to make it easier to identify?

I don't know, never having done it. I guess it is.

I think the big problem is when the UPC is reused, because that makes it impossible to computerize everything. A UPC is supposed to uniquely identify a record, but I think some labels don't understand this and reuse old artwork when they repress. 

Anyone know if the Buried Alive repress is gonna be online only or not?

It will be available to US stores. I don't know about any other territories. There will be only 900 so it might be smart for you to contact your local store and ask them to make sure to order one for you. 

What's the difference? Is the new one remastered or is it just RSD price gouging?

Whatever this is, it's got nothing to do with Record Store Day. I hope that helps.

They do use their same store accounts, they don't care if people know, they are shitty for doing that to longtime customers, by it's business, in this case it is very shady but still business on their part. It is not hearsay on bullmoose and ameoba, they indeed have been flipping and still are.

Unfortunately I'm just reading this now.

Whatever you saw, it wasn't us. I'm curious exactly what you saw. I just looked through all the sold listings from the beginning through 12/27 and didn't see anything that could be confused with us. 

BTW, our eBay name is Bullmoose207 because somebody already had Bullmoose. I could understand your confusion if whoever is Bullmoose had sold a copy, but that doesn't seen to be the case.

I'd love to know if someone is impersonating us, so please let us know the username or post a link to the sold listing. That would be a great help.

Thanks,

Chris

We just got an update on the U2 "Ordinary Love" single. As some suspected, the b-side is "Breathe" not "Breath" and it's not a new song. It's being called "Mandela Version" to differentiate it from the original version on No Line on the Horizon.

List price is $11.98 for those who may be wondering.

Yes, I can definitely understand that, and trust me I am more glad than anything that this is being done with the utmost care. I personally don't prefer mono to stereo unless the mono mix is strongly superior, and while I can't see how some people see that for this record, there is a good amount who do, and short of an original "A" stamper pressing, this will be the best thing for that group.

Good to see you here on these forums too, Chris!

Thanks for the welcome. I recognize your username from another forum.

Chris

Funny thing is, it's actually a mono REMIX. They did actually mix it to tape again from the 3 track. There has to be a huge demand for this for them to do that. But it's mono for the sake of mono, so why? It's not the original mix, it wasn't mixed on any of the same equipment... Any sense of authenticity is lost. I get that it fills a need for people who for some reason want to hear this coming out of one speaker, but they're kinda missing the point I think. I see it as mono for the sake of being in mono, with little in common with the original mono release. And with that said, it should technically be a much improved mono record. But KOB is such a damn well recorded album I don't get why anyone would want to hear it in anything but stereo anyway. It's glorious.

My $.02

Depending on how curious you are, you might read Analog Planet's review. They explain why it was remixed--the mono tapes are missing--and compare the mono remix to the various stereo issues. 

The review ends with

the music experience is complete and organically "whole," making a strong case for the superiority of the mono mix. If you love this record (and who in the world does not?), the mono reissue is a necessity not an "add-on" option!

 

I'm not suggesting that you make the new mono mix your "go to" version. However, there is a point to this beyond getting getting all of us to buy the album yet again.

Chris

Man, Bull Moose has the best price on the BTBAM box but no online availability for it.

We pulled our RSD stuff offline for a little bit --- we weren't setup for multiple copy orders for items in tight contention --- and this is our fault - we didn't foresee that if people had the same item in separate shopping carts upped their quantity, they would in effect take the item away from someone else.  (say we have 3 in stock of something.  three people put it in their cart.  that's ok because we have 3... but then 1 person ups their quantity to 3... well if they complete their sale first, then the next two people - who already had it in their cart - wouldn't get theirs)... to rectify this, we'll be putting back up what we have left with a 1 per customer limit... it will happen quite soon.  

But please accept our apologies and acknowledgement of fault to the few folks who ordered multiples and were cancelled --- I believe those folks ordering were all true fans and not resellers or anything -- they were just trying to pick up extras for a friend --- so it stinks that we've left some of them out in the cold.  Sorry again.  We'll keep in contact with the impacted fans and try to help if we can.

The reason you didn't get them is because Mondo's distributor lost the entire run of 1000 but found them a few days before RSD and they are slowly making their way to the records stores now.

 

http://blog.mondotees.com/2013/04/16/a-few-words-about-record-store-day-2013/

Sweet - thanks for the info... we'll keep our fingers crossed!

How we are dealing with an online race condition.  

Problem:

Two vinyl lovers order the same records at the virtually same time (a few seconds apart).  We have two in stock.  Person 1 orders 2 copies... Person 2 orders 1 copy.  Right now --- if it's a virtual tie --- we are assigning each person 1 copy.  So Person 1 misses out on their second copy, but person 2 gets their first copy.  We have no idea if this is truly the best plan, but feel like this is the "fairest?".  Honestly, we've never run into this before --- we run super quick orders (i.e. people have to order the same items incredibly close together to not have the quantity updated before they finish their order - like less than 1 minute on average), but we've had a few online collisions like this happen today.  

What do you guys think?  Is that fair, or should we go with the line in the sand approach - first come first serve if even by a few seconds?  

@ Bull Moose

 

How do you know if your order has been fulfilled? I've watched the South Park 7" stock dwindle from 7 stores available to 3 and status of order still says order received... Does this status change once order is confirmed in stock?

Hi ifworkpermits,

The next step will be picked --- so right now it's on a pick-list (just like a shopping list) for one of the locations --- first they do is grab it off the floor and scan it -- when it's scanned it will say "Item Packaged"... but the moment it says "order received" that item is reserved for you 

Thanks!

Bull Moose

Absolutely wonderful that you came on the website to clarify everything Bull Moose. I am curious though about the the Drive Soundtrack. I was able to order it through the website before it said "Available in Store Only." 

 

Is this a good sign for those of us that got in there quick? I also picked up the Toadies & Sarah Jaffee : Down By the Water 7"

 

Fantastic of you to come on here and to be so genuine. Thanks again. 

Hi Tamubro,

The Drive never arrived --- we allegedly have 55 on the way, but I bet they're not coming.  Really sorry.  The Toadies looks to be in good shape though

Sorry again about The Drive... we'll keep our fingers crossed that the incoming orders to us get filled so we can ship it to you --- but I'm not optimistic about that one..

Thanks,

Bull Moose

I just want to say, from a customers standpoint, THANK YOU! I e-mailed your customer service a couple of minutes after I placed an order (due to a duplicate order) and Kiley in your Customer Service department responded, has been incredibly nice and I don't think that gets recognized enough so thank you!

Thanks - that's great to hear -- and thanks for passing it on... I'll give her the kudos!  

@Bullmoose,

 

I'm about to send an email, but I had a quick question regarding my order status. I've ordered several times from you guys over the past year and customer service has been nothing but excellent, but I always seem to have problems online. 

Even though I have my card info saved, it keeps telling me its invalid. During the rush this morning I couldn't find my card so I kept pressing "submit" since I knew the card # was correct. Eventually  after a few clicks my order went through. So my worry is: if for whatever reason my card is invalid (which it shouldnt be) will you still honor my order and wait for me to supply the correct/updated info, or will it just be cancelled? thanks

Hi Sowingseason92,

Thanks for the kind words and really sorry our site has been cranky!  I'll take a peek and PM you... Our website finally became our own on December 17th of last year -- meaning before that, we used an outside service -- but now, our website reflects our actual stores in real-time --- so we can do a lot more things to make sure our customers get the service they deserve.  For instance, if you basket is frozen or incomplete, we'll actually be able to peek at it and help push it through if need be.

You'll hear from us!  

Bull Moose

anyone can buy one south park 7" for me? to my usa friend address

seems like they block all russian IP's

 

i will sent you money via paypal

Hi xen0m0rph,

Yes, sorry that we block almost all non-US IPs... I can see where that is a drag for an international vinyl fan like you, so, again, sorry!

Regards,

Bull Moose

Thanks for the heads-up!  I just ordered the Black Keys / Stooges, Lemonheads / Misfits and South Park 7".  $22.95 shipped!   Now let's hope it doesn't get cancelled.

Hi mpitts (and to everyone),

Our site does have our live on-hand information --- so we *shouldn't* have to cancel anything.  Sometimes shop-worn issues come up, but since this is two day old stuff, that should be highly unlikely.  The only other things that happen are missing items (i.e. shoplifted items) and race conditions (someone at a retail store grabs it before we can pick it for online sales) - which should also be unlikely.  We'll do our best.  I'm posting here because we can see a lot of incoming traffic from here and want to make sure y'all are taken care of.  Our fill rate is around 99% -- which sounds good unless you're part of that about 1% --- so we keep working to make our fill rate as close to 100% as possible.

Regards,

Bull Moose