media collecting thread

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Malcolm
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media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

I go to an above average number of shows. Over the past year, I've found myself becoming a collector of random merch and media, with an emphasis in vinyl, usually with the goal of getting it signed. Exactly why? I'm not sure.

First off, if you ever want physical musical media, check out discogs.com. There's also musicstack.com, but the UI seems clunkier, the market's smaller, the catalog isn't as complete and detailed, etc. After that, there's always ebay, which is more of a seller's market. However, in direct contradiction of this, I'm tracking a boxset there which is going in greater quantity and cheaper than discogs. If I can't snag a relatively cheap one Tuesday night during bidding, I can see how much I can haggle on another.

Recently, I've been on a rare CD bend related to versions of this, including a semi-rare Japanese fan club version I can't seem to find a lot of info on. I'm still missing a couple biggies.

Before year's end:
1) get the Scream Bloody Gore boxset
2) pick up half a dozen rather rare versions of "Synchronicity" by the Police
3) finish off the Transformers the Movie set with the considerably cheaper singles and one moderately priced shape disc
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

Lost the ebay auction but I at least made the fucker pay for it. Turns out there's a holy grail boxset of 100 clear vinyl that wasn't publicly for sale and were made available to friends and family of the band. They've hit the resale market. I've found one so far. If it's around in a month and I exercise some self-discpline (i.e. no major record/CD purchases of any sort), I can swing it financially and psychologically. I did pick up 3 Howard Jones albums today in respectable condition for $12. Going to see if I can run into him at the show Friday. Next on the list: cheap OMD albums, also for the show Friday.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

They've hit the resale market. I've found one so far. If it's around in a month and I exercise some self-discpline (i.e. no major record/CD purchases of any sort), I can swing it financially and psychologically.
Sweet. More of them, for cheaper. If one's around Friday, I'm closing that deal.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

... and gone. Sheeee-it.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

Before year's end:
1) get the Scream Bloody Gore boxset
...
Turns out there's a holy grail boxset of 100 clear vinyl that wasn't publicly for sale and were made available to friends and family of the band. They've hit the resale market.
Think I landed both of them. I paid a bit more than I'd have liked for the 500c public edition (though cheaper than the auction I lost), but I got the other 100c private version for significantly cheaper than I thought. Saw the clear version blinking on and off for sale on discogs today. The one I jumped on couldn't have been up for longer than 10 minutes. Down to the last 3 reissue versions from a few years back, and then I have to sit and wait
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

I do not know when, but some day, I will get this album. Naturally, this shit passed under my radar the first time which means I'll be paying a premium for it when I do get it (ebaying for $700 presently). On the flip side...
Image
It's a record with synthetic xenomorph blood in the layers.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

Malcolm wrote:
Before year's end:
1) get the Scream Bloody Gore boxset
...
Turns out there's a holy grail boxset of 100 clear vinyl that wasn't publicly for sale and were made available to friends and family of the band. They've hit the resale market.
Think I landed both of them.
Arrived and exactly what I expected. I was a bit nervous at the price I paid for the clear boxset and the seller's account looked damn near new. That version is currently going for double what I paid a couple weeks ago. \/\/00t.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

There's at least one import album I want that I'm waiting to buy until Friday. If the UK leaves the EU, I expect the Euro will drop and people won't adjust prices accordingly.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

Caved and bought the Aliens OST xenomorph blood edition. Time to get autograph fodder for Toad in Dayton in September.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

If I can locate Regulate (album or single) on LP tomorrow, I may check Warren G at a local joint.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

Couldn't find anything except a crappy copy of "Ghetto Village." Drag. Pretty sure Warren will be back at some point. While cruising the stores, I scored a bonus find.
Image
That purple thing is the obi strip and it's a decent indicator of how much wear and tear a Japanese album has been subjected to. It's quite common to find them missing entirely. Damaged is also a usual thing. I happen to have a 40-year old Japanese record album for comparison with a similar setup. It was owned by a 1970s DJ over there that took good care of it. The outer cover and obi strip show age. You can easily believe they're four decades and counting. Even the insert paper is ever so barely discoloured.

Likewise, the album pictured above is goddamn near 40 years old. However, the booklet, lyric insert, and especially the obi strip look fucking brand new -- it's still kind of glossy, which is fucking amazing. The gatefold cover is pristine and spotless. It is near mint in every way, shape, and form. I'm going to bet this thing had one or perhaps two previous owners. There are 3 explanations for the condition I can think of:

1) Owner bought it, threw it on a shelf or in a closet and forgot they owned it for 35 years.
2) Owner was OCD.
3) Owner had a time machine.

Anyway, scored it in person for 3-4 times less than what insane websites are asking (a shade over $100). Sane places indicate I saved about $10 plus shipping.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

Malcolm wrote:Caved and bought the Aliens OST xenomorph blood edition. Time to get autograph fodder for Toad in Dayton in September.
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK. It arrived in a noticeably damaged state in terms of cosmetics and possible playback integrity issues. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

Checking on what the possibility is of cleaning the item.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

Malcolm wrote:
Malcolm wrote:Caved and bought the Aliens OST xenomorph blood edition. Time to get autograph fodder for Toad in Dayton in September.
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK. It arrived in a noticeably damaged state in terms of cosmetics and possible playback integrity issues. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK.
I was going to just let this shit slide and take it to my buddy to get it cleaned but the dude that sent it is claiming that given my extensive knowledge of physics and chemistry, I should have provided him special shipping instructions. That's sticking in my craw a bit since it's fucking plainly the responsibility of the SELLER to pack his shit correctly. Checking the ebay Answers Center is repeatedly confirming that:
You are responsible for the item until it is delivered to the buyer, because USA law (the UCC) says it belongs to you until then. If it's damaged or lost in shipping, it's your risk and your loss. Your disclalimers don't change the law, and eBay and PayPal policy will enforce it.
Last edited by Malcolm on Thu Jul 21, 2016 2:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
GORDON
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by GORDON »

He probably stole it in the first place.
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Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

GORDON wrote:He probably stole it in the first place.
If he stole it, he'd be letting it go for a way, way cheaper price and he'd use stock photos. Also, this isn't a thing you can just walk into a store and pick up. The "try to get a refund" case is further strengthened by the fact I can find two brand, shiny, new copies that will ship from the US via ground only for what I paid or less. The real bitch is how I'm going to have to pack it IF I decide to pursue a return and refund approach because I'm sure as hell not sending it via ship.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

I'm inching more and more towards going the R&R route. But that's going to suck so many goddamn goat balls and take forever and a day while my cash waits in limbo. I'm thinking some type of desiccant in with the vinyl to prevent further fuck-ups.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
TPRJones
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by TPRJones »

If you may be going the refund route don't bother with cleaning it yet. There's a high probability that if the seller won't pay for return shipping Paypal will require you to destroy the item to get your refund.
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Malcolm
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by Malcolm »

TPRJones wrote:If you may be going the refund route don't bother with cleaning it yet. There's a high probability that if the seller won't pay for return shipping Paypal will require you to destroy the item to get your refund.
Under no circumstances, and I repeat, absolutely NONE, will I destroy this item. I would sooner pay for the return shipping than throw out something that took over six hours to make and of which there are only 75 copies.

If the R&R idea is shot down in any way, Plan B:
Cleaning is the vinyl surface is so cheap that I may as well consider it free if I can get it done in town. Talking under $10 and it's looking more and more likely the two dark spots will come out. The label damage, however, isn't something I can repair without some respectable printing and scanning equipment ... which isn't 100% out of the question but my perfectionist, archiving ass is going to require some very convincing fabrication.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
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Re: media collecting thread

Post by GORDON »

I assume "destroy it" requires photo proof? Fake it. I doubt they CSI the evidence pics much, if at all.
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