Paul Chang
02-10-2002, 03:10 AM
Some discussions in the thread "Mail order for vinyl" http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1624 drifted into shrink wraps of records and here are some questions asked.
1. Why do USA, Europe and Japan have different practices?
USA: most LPs are shrink wrapped.
Europe: most are not wrapped at all.
Japan: some WERE shink wrapped and some in open loose bag. (Are records still being pressed in Japan?)
My late father told me in the 1950's he purchased unsealed new records in DC and NYC and records stores let customers audition before buying. Have you heard similar stories?
My speculation:
In the beginning probably nobody sealed the records. Due to the (most) liberal (in the world) return policy in the USA, a great number of records got returned and resold as new ones, let alone the in store audition copies. Customers started complaining so record companies resorted to shrink wrapping. Europe and Japan might not have similar issues. Some Japanese pressings were shrink wrapped for export to USA and the loose bag ones were meant for domestic consumption.
2. Do you tear off and throw away shrink wraps?
It is well known that shrink wraps keep shrinking over time thus cause the records to warp. But some collectors treat them as part of the total package. Obviously, if the records remain sealed the shrink wrap stay there so how do you prevent such records from warping?
3. What about those more interesting wraps, with colors or special stickers? Do you keep them? For example,
Pink Floyd: WYWH - blue wrap with logo sticker
Pink Floyd: The Wall - transparent sticker with album title on wrap
Rolling Stone: Dirty Work - it's only "Work" through the red wrap
Many others have stickers with track lists
4. If you keep the opened shrink wraps, how do you prevent the vinyl from warping?
I slit open the top edge as well then put on an outer sleeve. (Less valuable to some collectors? :()
1. Why do USA, Europe and Japan have different practices?
USA: most LPs are shrink wrapped.
Europe: most are not wrapped at all.
Japan: some WERE shink wrapped and some in open loose bag. (Are records still being pressed in Japan?)
My late father told me in the 1950's he purchased unsealed new records in DC and NYC and records stores let customers audition before buying. Have you heard similar stories?
My speculation:
In the beginning probably nobody sealed the records. Due to the (most) liberal (in the world) return policy in the USA, a great number of records got returned and resold as new ones, let alone the in store audition copies. Customers started complaining so record companies resorted to shrink wrapping. Europe and Japan might not have similar issues. Some Japanese pressings were shrink wrapped for export to USA and the loose bag ones were meant for domestic consumption.
2. Do you tear off and throw away shrink wraps?
It is well known that shrink wraps keep shrinking over time thus cause the records to warp. But some collectors treat them as part of the total package. Obviously, if the records remain sealed the shrink wrap stay there so how do you prevent such records from warping?
3. What about those more interesting wraps, with colors or special stickers? Do you keep them? For example,
Pink Floyd: WYWH - blue wrap with logo sticker
Pink Floyd: The Wall - transparent sticker with album title on wrap
Rolling Stone: Dirty Work - it's only "Work" through the red wrap
Many others have stickers with track lists
4. If you keep the opened shrink wraps, how do you prevent the vinyl from warping?
I slit open the top edge as well then put on an outer sleeve. (Less valuable to some collectors? :()