Vinyl Me Please (store, exclusives, swaps, etc)

No. That's not how it works. It is only for people who are CURRENTLY signed up for BVSC. If your add on track is essentials and you have not swapped out for it, you can get 20% extra store credit. If you're in the US, that would be $23+ 20% extra.

You will only get $32.40 in credit if your main track is essentials and you are currently signed up for BVSC and swap for credit. If BVSC is your current main track, you could theoretically do an add-on, swap that for BVSC (which you will not receive until at least October) and take the 20% extra store credit. But I really don't see any world in which they don't issue a blanket 20% off coupon because of this screw up.
Right, but the wording is vauge. It doesn't say if you swap out your essentials, it says if you're currently signed up to receive BVSC (I am , as an add on track) and swap for credit then you get 20%. It doesn't say if you swap IT for credit, just that if you swap for credit. I fully suspect they meant exactly how you laid it out, but that's not exactly what it says.
 
If they fixed their logistics they would have far fewer CS issue to deal with.

I know. My point is, the logistics may be significantly improved with just another track or 2 going out in the normal monthly Shipping cycle.
As opposed to a few exclusives every week that could be shipped right away, or be grouped with your monthly shipment, and are often delayed, or have inventory misplaced, etc, etc.
They have the most control over their ROTMs. If logistics are going to improved, they should focus there.

CS responses were ALOT quicker in the days when there were only monthly shipments and exclusive drops once a month.
 
What's all this people talking country and not throwing Gram/ Burritos/ Gram era Byrds in about? Grevious Angel should be in everyone's record collection. Gram And Emmylou busting out the harmonies is a massive yes! As should Sweetheart for that matter and Gilded Palace of Sin and Burrito Deluxe.
If you are looking for a quality reissue of Flying Burritos Brothers look no further...

Been looking for Gilded Palace for ages but shipping is nearly $50 for internationals. The search continues
 
Aww man. I hope I get my extra 20% credit. I swapped BVSC for credit (already have the 2015 World Circuit release that I’m happy with).. didn’t get an email from VMP though.
 
True, customer service is a huge issue as well. But hopefully that would be part of the streamlining. If they just have the once a month tracks and maybe a few true exclusives per month, that would hopefully mean far less issues for CS to get backed up.
So you're saying that VMP is a company that sells physical goods but has issues with inventory, shipping, fulfillment and customer service. What could possibly go wrong by adding more inventory, shipping fulfillment and customers?
 
Been looking for Gilded Palace for ages but shipping is nearly $50 for internationals. The search continues
I don’t know about their distribution but it might be worth it to check with your local, it might have some additional add on cost added to the overall price but they might be able to get it cheaper than what you would if you had to cover shipping. It is still in print. I have had locals order me some Europe only LPs in the past and it was cheaper overall.
 
I know. My point is, the logistics may be significantly improved with just another track or 2 going out in the normal monthly Shipping cycle.
As opposed to a few exclusives every week that could be shipped right away, or be grouped with your monthly shipment, and are often delayed, or have inventory misplaced, etc, etc.
They have the most control over their ROTMs. If logistics are going to improved, they should focus there.

CS responses were ALOT quicker in the days when there were only monthly shipments and exclusive drops once a month.
It was also quicker then because they had a website that worked and fewer customers and less buckets.
 
So you're saying that VMP is a company that sells physical goods but has issues with inventory, shipping, fulfillment and customer service. What could possibly go wrong by adding more inventory, shipping fulfillment and customers?

I'm not making excuses for them. But yes, a more streamlined process with only monthly tracks would almost definitely help. The inventory issues are not as prevalent with the ROTMs (especially because they can press more when initially oversold). And they all go out in the same cycle each month. Every order would be a combination of 4 separate records.

I know we all like to trash on VMP and it's certainly deserved a good amount of the times. But I'm not pulling this out of my ass. They did used to be alot better in terms of logistics (especially CS) and it's when they had a much more straightforward shipping and exclusives setup. A new track or two would fit much more easily into a streamlined fulfillment process than the exclusives that have so many different factors, some of which are outside of VMPs control completely (like release date delays, and inventory being shipped to the wrong place).
 
It was also quicker then because they had a website that worked and fewer customers and less buckets.

Well it's seemingly confirmed that another track is coming so that's that. I've been way happier with them in terms of fullfillment since sticking almost exclusively to tracks and I don't think more tracks will change that. If they scale back elsewhere even better
 
I'm not making excuses for them. But yes, a more streamlined process with only monthly tracks would almost definitely help. The inventory issues are not as prevalent with the ROTMs (especially because they can press more when initially oversold). And they all go out in the same cycle each month. Every order would be a combination of 4 separate records.

I know we all like to trash on VMP and it's certainly deserved a good amount of the times. But I'm not pulling this out of my ass. They did used to be alot better in terms of logistics (especially CS) and it's when they had a much more straightforward shipping and exclusives setup. A new track or two would fit much more easily into a streamlined fulfillment process than the exclusives that have so many different factors, some of which are outside of VMPs control completely (like release date delays, and inventory being shipped to the wrong place).
I was being somewhat facetious but yes, they were better at logistics when they were smaller and offered less products. That simply makes sense. They were also better at logistics when they did not have swaps and fewer tracks. But in the past year- year and a half, they have been absolutely AWFUL at knowing inventory. There have been times where VMP didn't even know how many store exclusives were pressed of certain titles. Remember when someone had to tell them that they actually pressed 1,500 of the Bon Iver exclusive instead of 1,000? They have also proven to be awful at estimating which albums will be popular and which won't (see: this month's BVSC fiasco).

Them fixing their logistics without bringing in new leadership or management is going to be insanely difficult. There is no communication at all between departments. Their "new" website is awful. Their inventory is awful. They don't have enough CS reps. Everything trickles down and ends up in CS's laps. Pauly said on reddit that they don't need more CS when someone brought it up. All sides of their business are delusional. Their CEO doesn't understand when to invest in things like logistics because he has said that he only cares to spend money on things that make them money. They try to cut corners in nearly every aspect of their business to keep their margins up.

I get that I'm often hard on VMP but I truly want them to succeed. They have good product for the most part. They have a built-in fan base that is very enthusiastic. And yet they cannot get out of their own way. 99% of their problems are avoidable.

Your idea, in theory, could work well. But in practice, if they cut down the number of store exclusives (or totally get rid of it) that's a gigantic amount of revenue stream they would be losing every week, causing them to make cuts in other areas which they simply cannot afford to do without further tanking the company. From a business perspective, they need to have money rolling in constantly otherwise their operation budget becomes difficult to manage. If everyone has a 3 month sub, for example. that is paid up front and they go 3 months without additional income from those customers without store exclusives. It reaches a point where the number of new subscribers drops off drastically, limiting the amount of new capital you are raising each month.
 
Eh fuck It. I'll swap for the 20% extra. I'm thinking they will overpress and will be able to grab it down the line in a sale lol. Plus this probably won't be shipping till October right?

Probably grab one of this AP Pressings y'all are raving about... 🤔
You could do an add-on track, swap that for BVSC to lock it in and then swap your main for credit? You'll still get it (just not until October) and get the extra money for the swap...
 
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