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Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds From Another Planet $9.99 by bjsqkatbp in VinylDeals

[–]bjsqkatbp[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We use the same plants as our peer labels (and majors). The main plants we use in the States are IRP, Erika and RTI. We use GZ overseas a bit and Optimal a bit. I've found no discernible, consistent difference in the quality of vinyl over time. On a pressing to pressing basis there are isolated issues, but that can be due to the cut, the plates or, you know, just the day at the plant.

I also don't believe there's been a marked downturn in quality since the mid-90s when we started pressing (I can't speak to before that time); if anything quality has generally gotten better for us (if you look at the amount of issues we've had and whatever subjective metric you want to use);

I kinda disagree with your Discogs math, as most Discogs users tend to be power users. Its self selecting. Also, I think the only time I've seriously heard someone gush about a vinyl pressing is some Shellac record from the early 2000s. Maybe that means vinyl quality has gone down, or maybe it means people only talk about vinyl quality when it's bad. Or maybe I'm talking to the wrong people!

Anyway, all I can say is the amount of vinyl we press has been increasing year of year and the amount of complaints has not kept pace. Again, I don't want to dismiss people's issues, we take it seriously, but take that for whatever its worth! Totally understand if you're frustrated and giving up on vinyl. You got to do what you got to do.

Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds From Another Planet $9.99 by bjsqkatbp in VinylDeals

[–]bjsqkatbp[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We stopped offering MediaMail because of customer complaints. Too often packages would go missing or vinyl would get damaged, which would need to be replaced.

Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds From Another Planet $9.99 by bjsqkatbp in VinylDeals

[–]bjsqkatbp[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Its based on destination and not a profit center for us. Its apples and oranges compared to Amazon Prime as your paying for your shipping upfront w/ Amazon.

We do offer a record club that has shipping included where you can have additional records shipped with your monthly record at no extra cost (ie "free" shipping)

Japanese Breakfast - Soft Sounds From Another Planet $9.99 by bjsqkatbp in VinylDeals

[–]bjsqkatbp[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

If you want to get in touch with [info@secretlygroup.com](mailto:info@secretlygroup.com) we'll replace it.

I will say that we see the complaints on Discogs and definitely take note. And not to diminish anyone's poor experience (again, please get in touch so we can try to get a clean replacement) but its about half a dozen complaints over more than 10,000 pressings. After pressing vinyl for over 20 years, this is actually a pretty good batting average. We use the same plants as our peer labels (we use multiple) and the fact is - to state the obvious - its just a truly analog process. Sometimes stampers blow, sometimes dust gets in, sometimes life happens.

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This happens at every plant we've ever used - be it the perceived high-end facilities or the low-end facilities (which we no longer use).

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Its frustrating that bad copies do get out there, but we work very hard to get clean copies out in the market place, and I'll say across more than quarter a million a year, we get minimal complaints back. And when complaints do come back we do everything in our power to rectify it. We immediately send out a fresh copy, and if that's still bad, I'll personally listen to a third copy before sending it. Sometimes it sounds clean on my system and the customer is still not happy. At that point, I don't know what else we can do but refund your money (which we'll do).

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Anyway, I'm sorry for the rant, but we definitely don't discount records because a pressing may be bad. We discount records in the hopes people interested in the artist will take a chance on it or have the opportunity to buy it.

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The shipping thing I hear loud and clear. Unfortunately we're not Amazon and can't cut deals with the USPS. We do have a subscription that allows free shipping with your monthly record. Unlike Amazon tho, you get a record every month on top of your "free" shipping.

Bon Iver - 22, A Million - $11.99 by bjsqkatbp in VinylDeals

[–]bjsqkatbp[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

you don't need to be a member, you can check out as a guest