Needles & Grooves

WTF!

-changes filter from LP to CD-

Yup good time to really put on the brakes on pre-orders and slow down my vinyl purchasing.

At the same time, retailers are sitting on a lot of expensive inventory that they are going to have a hard time moving with a recession looming, and belts tightening. Along these lines, Plaidroom was wise to have an impromptu summer sale, to clear out stock. With costs unavoidably increasing further, perhaps the vinyl bubble is about to burst?

@hatfieldpdx hobbies and entertainment typically explode during recession.

@TheThinWhiteDuke true, but covid is the wildcard. It introduced a ridiculous number of people to this hobby, driving up demand/prices, all compounded by supply chain issues, and now inflation and the possibility of a recession. At current/future prices, I just don't see the continued growth that retailers were likely hoping for, which equates to inventory that isn't moving.

@hatfieldpdx I'd still be very shocked if the hobbies that went nuclear during lockdown (records, cards, games) took a hit or even stopped growing. Lot of data and stuff they teach in econ classes that belt tightening doesn't happen in avenues that people look at as escapes. People go to off brand groceries and wear last year's clothes but they keep up their hobbies

@TheThinWhiteDuke yeah, my point was more that we are in uncharted waters, so I'm not sure you can write it up as economists might have in the past. I don't doubt that the hobby will continue, especially among the most dedicated...but if costs escalate, a decent number of the newcomers will likely pivot away from vinyl to one of their more affordable stay-at-home hobbies.

The price of oil sure isn’t going down any…

@hatfieldpdx I mean not to debate- but it's not as uncharted waters as it seems, for vinyl at least. The "bubble" is 15 years in and the surge during lockdown doesn't represent a significant crossection of vinyl buyers. .