I really dislike record retailers that feel compelled to wrap up vinyl records in tape. Wide packing tape. (I’m looking at you, Amoeba!) I suppose I understand the desire to ensure that the price sticker reflects the cost that said store deems is appropriate. (Or wishful) And I do understand that there are theft issues and some retailers like to make sure that a sensormatic/anti-theft tag is taped down somewhere in the mix. (Because we don’t want someone walking out the door with a $3 record, now do we?)
However, that is not always the case. Yesterday I did some record shopping at one of the Rasputin’s stores in the area and, man, I spent a good hour (and likely longer) simply (and slowly) peeling tape off of records. Yes, I care. I care a lot. Which is a helluva lot more than I can say for record store clerks who not only affix tape horizontally and vertically, but also give no thought whatsoever to taping over a custom sticker. Is barbaric too strong a word? (Probably) Didn’t your parents teach you better than that? What’s that, you say your parents don’t know what a record is either? Ugh.
Anyhoo, yeah, I get it – you don’t want customers changing prices and you don’t want customers opening up records. It’s true – people are stupid and there are some folks who will try to sneak out a Tool record in a Andre Previn jacket. I’m sure it happens. But there has got to be a better way. (There isn’t…or won’t be).
graypunk 