discogs marketplace?

I have to say that in general the marketplace has been really helpful for me lately -- talked about why on here -- and so far no glitches, but once or twice I have been surprised at shipping costs from the UK and Europe. One time I was hesitant to complete the transaction but they were pretty hard to get items in good condition so I shrugged and ate it, though I made a mental note to steer clear of that particular seller if I could find things elsewhere. But more typically what's happened is that what looks like a good deal on the face of it becomes just as expensive as anything else might be once shipping is factored in. One time I went "Never mind" and did what I probably should have done to start with and order it from the label that originally released it!

I'm always surprised at any orders I get coming from outside Europe, as shipping is almost always as much as the actual purchase price!

To the USA standard airmail for a single LP will cost just under £9 at a minimum. Double LPs are more likely £12 if packaged decently. Get it tracked and signed and it's more like £13 and £16 respectively.

I misread the packaging pricing! Had no idea it would cost me $$$$36! Could have got a copy of the record cheaper in the UK as a result (and also post-Brexit conversion rate, fuck me that's savage)

(trust me i am always trying to finagle passage to your fair nation, ned!)

I paid $40 for the newest Lissvik LP direct from Smalltown Supersound. I could buy it on Discogs right now and with shipping from Europe, it would still be cheaper than direct from the label.

Poland is the country I avoid. It might just be me, but packages from there take a really really long time to arrive to the US. Long enough that you will have given up on the order before it arrives, and when it arrives you go "oh, this."

It's a shame that NSBM/RAC records are banned from sale. Like I get that it's just to minimize the chance of someone in the moral grievance business writing a "hate music is being sold on discogs!" article and them losing business, but all that does is force people who want to buy them to directly give money to whatever nazi label produces them. Seems really shortsighted.

If the record doesn't arrive and its not the seller's fault and they've been helpful but the record still doesn't arrive, what should one do wrt feedback? my instinct is to give good feedback but i am generally a wuss about such things

I'd say no feedback, unless they request it or something and you want to oblige

I have so many records to sell in G+/VG condition, the grading is nerve wracking

Ok so I was so, so sceptical about the discogs marketplace. Thought it was a hassle, had epic bidding wars on eBay in mind towering over fixed price stuff. But last week, on an afternoon where I had nothing else to do, I decided to put some twenty odd records on there I don't really care for anymore (moving houses next year probably anyway). And it's been raining orders ever since. As of tonight they're all gone! In one week! And this is 75-125 euros a piece records I'm talking about, I am genuinely surprised there's people about still wanting to pay the fair (popsike, rec collector and whathaveyou researched) fixed price.

the amount of speculation that goes on with new european house 12"s is really shitty. suspect the labels themselves are behind some of it.

I've only sold a few things there, but I've never had a problem, except for once, when I forgot to set geographical limits on bids and some Russian wanted to buy something.

I just bought a copy of Painkiller's Rituals: Live in Japan (a Japanese-only release, long out of print) from some dude in Norway this week. No jewel case, but it still has the obi strip.

Lurve Discogs. I find the prices really fair, but then again I buy strictly CDs. I can almost always find what I'm looking for in great condition. Between Amazon, AmazonUK, eBay and Discogs I'm very happy.

I've just started selling. Listed the first 30 records yesterday afternoon, got my first order this morning. That was quick.

I've sold stuff on Discogs for years now, countries all over the place. Never had an issue.

Would anyone who's sold on discogs be kind enough to offer any tips they have for setting things up? Supplies to get before listing records for sale? Where to get the right boxes? Can I just make a trip to the post office and get everything there? Cardboard cut-outs for padding?

I'm not sure exactly how to determine shipping prices and options. Do I just need to visit the post office and take some notes?

Any help is much appreciated. I'm excited to start doing this.

ok i'm figuring this shit out lol.

Media Mail for a record to anywhere in the continental US is usually just north of $3. Basic record mailers don't come from the USPS. You'll have to buy them at a shipping supplies store or online (you can get them in bulk orders of 100 for less than $30 if you dig around). Then just pick up a roll of bubble wrap somewhere local and you're all set.

thank you!

Here's yr mailers.

http://www.4bubble.com/50-lp-record-mailers-w-free-shipping-513.html

👍

also - take the records out of the sleeves and ship them in separate inners, packed tightly - this prevents the records from splitting the seams of the record sleeve during shipment, which has happened to me on both ends :(

oh yeah, good tip

sleeve otm, but oversized mailers should be mandatory (imho). nothing worse than getting a record that's lived a good life, only to have one or more corner smashed in shipping.

haven't shopped around for options (since I never get around to selling anything), but here's one example:

http://whiplash-shipping-supplies.myshopify.com

if you're shipping records of value, find an option that is slightly rectangular, provides a crumple zone for your postal person.

For 45s, I place the sleeve at the bottom of a wraparound cardboard mailer, then add a stiffener, then the record inside a polythene sleeve, then another stiffener on top. I seal the mailer with masking tape, then put it inside a rectangular padded envelope.

The pro-rata packaging costs are included in my shipping cost calculations, and the final figure is pretty much the same as everyone else's (slightly lower, if anything) - so the message here is that there's no need to labour over cheaper home made alternatives, just buy the proper products and charge it back.

The nice surprise - I'm new to this too - was discovering that PayPal lets you pay for your postage and prints your address labels, thus eliminating the need to queue at a post office.

It's all going remarkably well so far. Stuff is shifting, ratings are coming in, and I've had a couple of large private bulk orders. Luckily, I had my full inventory of titles already to hand, so I'd recommend getting that done too. (No need to grade and value them in advance, you can do that when the wish list comes in.)

you guys are awesome. thank you.

Pro tip, when you first start packing stuff and you think you're done, give the mailer a firm shake up and down and then left and right. If anything rattles or moves, open it up and put in another cardboard flat or empty sleeve in there... helps keep the sleeve from being damaged (corner bumps, etc) in transit.

how's this goin for you so far, map?

i'm waiting for my lp mailers to get here on monday. ground shipping from new jersey on those, sheesh. i got mailers, cardboard flats, record sleeves and bubble wrap. on amazon because i have a store card with them and the other supply website wanted something ridiculous for shipping.

i'm going to finish cataloging my house/tech and figure out the shipping options this weekend. shooting to list on monday.

also got packing tape.

I've just had an order from someone who signed up to discogs that same day (zero feedback and profile otherwise blank) looking for overseas shipping (Poland from UK) who has paid the asking price for something I had available for best offer. Not sure if/how to proceed...

Um, what's the issue?

It seems the dude has seen the record they have been looking for, and does not want to haggle in case someone else gets in before him/her.

Happens all the time. Ship it via tracked post if you are worried.

Thanks for the advice, yeah will ship tracked, haven't sold outside of the UK before so was slightly nervy about returns/if there is an issue etc

every user has to start somewhere! but if you are that concerned you could always send a message and see how the reply comes out?

Yeah feel bad for doubting (don't want to come across like those ebay "ZERO FEEDBACK BIDDERS NEED NOT APPLY" people), just haven't encountered before. Just sent them a message anyway

I've shipped all over the world, never had any kind of issue beyond the ' this ain't as good as' type things (all resolved happily)

(had a few whoa this is way better than' in mitig.

iirc you can tweak selling preferences to prevent this? I know some sellers require feedback > 95% or something?

So there is an ongoing process of counterfeit, bootleg and other kinds of 'unofficial' releases being blocked from sale.

It's not clear why now (previously only relatively few releases would be blocked, usually due to abhorent content or specific copyright claims,) but it seems likely there's some pressure being exerted by an industry body.

Andy (from Balearic Social) had a thread on this on FB the other day:

https://www.facebook.com/AndyPye10/posts/10155574831424414?pnref=story

So there is an ongoing process of counterfeit, bootleg and other kinds of 'unofficial' releases being blocked from sale.

It's not clear why now (previously only relatively few releases would be blocked, usually due to abhorent content or specific copyright claims,) but it seems likely there's some pressure being exerted by an industry body.

So where do I sell my guy called Gerald white label?

I've always wondered if the edits scene (at least the vinyl sales side) would come crashing to a halt if Discogs, Juno etc get spooked away from selling them.

I've noticed some items being blocked from sale, are they now removing the entries entirely?

apparently not, based on that FB thread

They already allow digital files to be added to the site but not sold on the marketplace, so it's an easy change for them to make.

Just blocked from the marketplace.

As long as they exist and meet some basic criteria, releases are never supposed to be removed from the database once entered. Occasionally to the annoyance of artists who'd like to curate their history.

The basic Discogs rule is that you can create an entry but you have to own the specific release.

I did create an entry for the Alberto's 12" radio version of "Snuff Rock" even though I didn't own one. I do now though, thanks to ebay..

Oh, and I've had a few 'unofficial' Beatles CDs 'withdrawn from sale' recently. I'd sell them on ebay nut I'm guessing one person is acting for The Beatles, maybe.

I got ripped off by a discogs seller for the first time this week. Should've looked more closely at his feedback. His account disappeared once I flagged the transaction. Still waiting for PayPal to do stuff. Oh well, nbd, wasn't a huge purchase.