kickinfatbeats Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 this is the second time i picked up a record at a show i went to, only to find out that it was available for much cheaper online. pretty disappointing. http://www.merchdirect.com/TripleCrownRecords/Vinyl/Act_I_and_Act_II_Triple_Vinyl?productid=12276 paid $30 for this at the show last night so i guess the moral of the story is to shop online instead? seems to be the better idea to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrickemmons Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 With shipping you're looking at near $30 anyway + the band gets that extra $9 you spend, and most likely the band had to pay probably near the $21 cost to get the vinyl from the label so they need to make a profit on tour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxv Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Well they could be gouging but also depending on how popular that band is, if they are playing a bigger club (I have never heard of this band before), the club could be getting a cut of the merch sales. This is a typical practice for your theater type venues on up so that forces the bands to raise their prices at these venues for their merch which is partially whey you see 25+ dollar t-shirts. One thing you can take comfort in though is your money actually went to the band (or mostly went to them) so you supported a band you liked directly. Bands rely on merch sales at their shows to make their money, eat, buy gas, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkticon Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Most venues take about 10% of media sales. They shouldn't be taking any cut of media sales, but them's the breaks. And prices can depend on a lot of things. If they had to expedite ship new stock out to a show they might change the price to help recoup the extra shipping costs. Plus, 3 LPs for $30 isn't that unfair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kickinfatbeats Posted May 16, 2011 Author Share Posted May 16, 2011 all good points. thanks for the feedback. i feel better about my purchase now, and will continue to buy records at shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtw88 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 This is dumb. Buy it online. If the copies they're selling aren't copies that the label gave them for free for pressing it, then they would have been able to get it at wholesale pricing which is going to be lower than the retail. Even at 10% going to the venue, they're still overcharging by $5. Minus the Bear played a free show at my school a couple years ago and were selling Acoustics and Beer Commercials for something like, $20 each when they were available online for $10-14, and the school was not taking any percentage of their merch sales. It just bothers me when bands feel entitled to overcharge on tour merch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itmustbereal Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 This is dumb. Buy it online. If the copies they're selling aren't copies that the label gave them for free for pressing it, then they would have been able to get it at wholesale pricing which is going to be lower than the retail. Even at 10% going to the venue, they're still overcharging by $5. Minus the Bear played a free show at my school a couple years ago and were selling Acoustics and Beer Commercials for something like, $20 each when they were available online for $10-14, and the school was not taking any percentage of their merch sales.It just bothers me when bands feel entitled to overcharge on tour merch. merch is the only thing bands make money on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rforster Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I usually don't buy vinyl at shows because carrying it around is a pain.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanutuk Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I usually don't buy vinyl at shows because carrying it around is a pain.. in the ass !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtw88 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 This is dumb. Buy it online. If the copies they're selling aren't copies that the label gave them for free for pressing it, then they would have been able to get it at wholesale pricing which is going to be lower than the retail. Even at 10% going to the venue, they're still overcharging by $5. Minus the Bear played a free show at my school a couple years ago and were selling Acoustics and Beer Commercials for something like, $20 each when they were available online for $10-14, and the school was not taking any percentage of their merch sales.It just bothers me when bands feel entitled to overcharge on tour merch. merch is the only thing bands make money on No one forces people to be in touring bands. It shouldn't be the burden of listeners to support some twat's dream or being a professional gigger. You can make money without gouging the people supporting you. Bands can make a shitload of money playing shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharkticon Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 This is dumb. Buy it online. If the copies they're selling aren't copies that the label gave them for free for pressing it, then they would have been able to get it at wholesale pricing which is going to be lower than the retail. Even at 10% going to the venue, they're still overcharging by $5. Minus the Bear played a free show at my school a couple years ago and were selling Acoustics and Beer Commercials for something like, $20 each when they were available online for $10-14, and the school was not taking any percentage of their merch sales.It just bothers me when bands feel entitled to overcharge on tour merch. Since it was a free show for you, you couldn't chuck a few extra dollars their way? Prices can also be set by demand. If I can sell tour shirts for $25 at the same pace that $20 shirts move, why deny ourselves the extra sales? Bands have bills to pay, too. Otherwise it's as simple as: don't like it? Don't buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcpherson123 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I rest comfortably knowing that the band I like makes profit from the merch I buy at the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knowyourborders Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I rest comfortably knowing that the band I like makes profit from the merch I buy at the show. Agreed. I really don't mind paying a few extra dollars when buying stuff directly from the band. I really wanted to buy the new Fleet Foxes record at their show last night but sadly didn't have the cash. Only $15 bucks, which is pretty much what I would pay anywhere else. Oh well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjaicomo Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 This is dumb. Buy it online. If the copies they're selling aren't copies that the label gave them for free for pressing it, then they would have been able to get it at wholesale pricing which is going to be lower than the retail. Even at 10% going to the venue, they're still overcharging by $5. Minus the Bear played a free show at my school a couple years ago and were selling Acoustics and Beer Commercials for something like, $20 each when they were available online for $10-14, and the school was not taking any percentage of their merch sales.It just bothers me when bands feel entitled to overcharge on tour merch. I couldn't get into that show, and I was fucking pissed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjaicomo Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 This is dumb. Buy it online. If the copies they're selling aren't copies that the label gave them for free for pressing it, then they would have been able to get it at wholesale pricing which is going to be lower than the retail. Even at 10% going to the venue, they're still overcharging by $5. Minus the Bear played a free show at my school a couple years ago and were selling Acoustics and Beer Commercials for something like, $20 each when they were available online for $10-14, and the school was not taking any percentage of their merch sales.It just bothers me when bands feel entitled to overcharge on tour merch. Since it was a free show for you, you couldn't chuck a few extra dollars their way? Prices can also be set by demand. If I can sell tour shirts for $25 at the same pace that $20 shirts move, why deny ourselves the extra sales? Bands have bills to pay, too. Otherwise it's as simple as: don't like it? Don't buy it. He/we paid Minus the Bear in a student fee, so it was free. But you had to make a $20,000 purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradedOnACurve Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 merch is the only thing bands make money on No one forces people to be in touring bands. It shouldn't be the burden of listeners to support some twat's dream or being a professional gigger. You can make money without gouging the people supporting you. Bands can make a shitload of money playing shows. You my friend have never been in a touring band. It's Minus The Bear and smaller acts we're talking about... not Lady Gaga. I usually don't buy vinyl at shows because carrying it around is a pain.. Carrying around vinyl at shows does suck though...unless theres re-entry. Always have an LP mailer handy even though you'll look like a dork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tattoomike Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 No one forces people to be in touring bands. It shouldn't be the burden of listeners to support some twat's dream or being a professional gigger. You can make money without gouging the people supporting you. Bands can make a shitload of money playing shows. Wow, everything about that statement is completely assinine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mindovermatter Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I'd like everyone who is complaining about how difficult or expensive it is to buy LPs at shows to go read the thread about "worst customer service" from a label or distro - I'd gladly pay a band an extra few bucks knowing that they got the cash to help get them to the next show (remember, gas IS $4+) and also get to avoid having to wait 1-2 weeks for a record that may or may not have been crushed by USPS. That peace of mind is priceless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabpower Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 You can also ask the band to sign the album if you're into that. I buy merch whenever I can because I know how hard it is making money from touring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gotsubverted Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I've always had luck with haggling with bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcamps Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 godspeed was selling all lps for $20, i don't think any of them cost that much from newbury comics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headtowall Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 it also depends who they are on tour with. sometimes bands have to upsell to the price of the headliners merch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kickinfatbeats Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 godspeed was selling all lps for $20, i don't think any of them cost that much from newbury comics that was the other one i felt kind of duped on, saw them in brooklyn a few months back. dear hunter, godspeed, and citizen cope. all bought at the show, all found for cheaper online. but whatever, i agree that if that extra money is going to the bands then i'm totally cool with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarostino Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 thats probably the point where living outside the us doesnt suck that much (concerning vinyl). records at the shows over here usually are cheaper than in stores, i cant think of an example when a record was more expensive. latest example: thursday's common existence.... around 20€ in stores, 15 at the show. there are two things that do suck: first, carrying the record around (but you can usually just buy it after the show). second, ive already seen a few bands who couldnt get their records through the customs and had absolutely no vinyl/cd for sale at their gigs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dynamitekid Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Im willing to pay a little more to get an lp at the show. For example: I bought the Dear Landlord lp when I saw them for $10, online it was $7. I usually wont pay much more than that though because I can't have as much fun when carrying around a record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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