Wednesday 12 May 2010

Screaming For Change

I've always thought myself to be lucky with records. But some people would argue that you make your own luck. I'm still undecided. But let me now tell you a story and then you can give me your opinion...

Back in about 2003 I was out of touch with hardcore. I was studying for some exams and had a couple of years where going to the library was my life priority. I fell out of touch with music, but still wanted new tunes from time to time. During this period, I bought an LP by a band called BRAND NEW. I knew nothing about them, but I bought the album from RevHQ. I remember that their weekly update email said that this band sounded like Saves The Day. Based on that description I bought this album. It cost me like $12 or whatever, and came on white vinyl. Here's a picture:

The album is ok. Nothing special. The Saves The Day reference is pretty valid. I played it a few times, it was ok, but hardly a ground-breaking record. Anyway, fast forward to 2010 and I notice that there is a buzz about this band on the Vinyl Collective board. So I did a little research and found out that this album now sells for hundreds of dollars. Not only that, but there are four different colours of vinyl, and the white one just happens to be the rarest of all. So I looked on eBay and found that a clear vinyl copy had recently sold for $450... but the clear copy is more common than my white one, and also mine was in better condition with the shrink wrap and sticker. So I decided to try to sell it for $500. And, more importantly, that I wanted to sell it off eBay so that I didn't get ripped off for fees and ripped off by some overseas paypal claim dickhead. Within two days of posting on the internet I had an offer of $500 from a girl in LA.

Around the same time, I was arranging a trade with a guy from the band ISIS. He happened to live in LA. I had exchanged a few emails with him and he seemed like a nice and genuine guy. I felt I could trust him. So I asked if he would help me. He agreed. So I ended up sending him my Brand New LP along with the other records I was trading with him. He then met up with the girl in LA for me, gave her the Brand New LP, and she gave him $500 cash. He then paid me via a paypal personal payment (no fees!). I then decided to go shopping...

First thing I bought myself was something I have wanted for a long time... a colour pressing of 'Screaming For Change'. I didn't give a crap about what colour I got, I just wanted one. There happened to be a green one up on eBay, so I took it for a very fair $150:

A couple of weeks later and the same dude was selling a red copy of the same record. Given that I had a few hundred dollars in paypal, I couldn't resist. This one cost me $202. It's supposed to be red, but is really much closer to pink:

Even though I paid a lot of money for these things, I prefer to think of it as a trade. One take it or leave it pop punk LP from 2003 for two classic Wishingwell slabs of wax plus money to spare. I think it worked out pretty damn well. The only problem now is that I feel compelled to try to get the other two colours (purple and grey). But these things aren't cheap, and unfortunately I don't think I have any more $500 records lurking on my shelf that I can liquidate.

15 comments:

TreTillDeath said...

Ug. I would have sold you my UC LPs.

mcs said...

Would have, could have, should have.

Do you still have them? I want the first press yellow sleeve poster one and also the purple one that are on your (probably out of date) trade list.

Carlos said...

nothing better than coloured screaming for change vinyls!! I saw that auction (pink vinyl) according to the descripton is ltd to 5!! so its a nice score and good price, I've traded and bought records to Dietrich before he has great stuff..

Sean said...

you ARE a lucky dude when it comes to vinyl. the stuff that you get offered blows me away all the time. good post.

mcs said...

I'm not convinced that there were 5 to be honest.

As for being lucky... I think it stands to reason that a guy who spends like an hour or more per day looking for records is going to have more opportunities than someone who spends an hour per week. So that's why I say I'm not convinced it is luck.

jhulud said...

Sometimes it's also a matter of being there at the right place and right time. I have a few records as well that I got when first released that are now hundreds of dollars. I've traded and sold a few and in the process made some great connections and friensdhips.

mcs said...

You are right, Juan. Part of it is being in the right place at the right time... but I guess I'm kinda thinking that the more time you spend in as many different places as possible, the higher your chances of getting nice things. So in some ways, you do make your own luck in the way you play the game.

mel said...

Nice one Marcus. You got a bargain.
My red looks more pink too.
I read somewhere that there were 10 on pink.

Wade said...

seriously such a great post, and yes, it would be considered a trade in my book as well and a damn good one at that

Kyle said...

Dang, nice! I hope to own one or both of those sometime in the future.

-cja said...

that red UC looks exactly like the red YOT 'BDTW' LP i had years ago. red against the paper dust sleeve but when put to light it looks pink.

anyway, nice scores!

an old friend gave me a pink marble version of the UC LP years ago but i can't remember if i sold/traded it. still have a first pressing and actually prefer the 1st pressing artwork over the 2nd.

Dobek Ohashi said...

Same here, got rid of all of my green cover versions ages ago. I only have the yellow sleeve/poster/sticker combo now. Considering to let go off that too :)

Call me insane but UC was never on top of my most listened to records.
Same goes for the INSTED and 7 SECONDS. I have absolutely no idea why. I trie dto like these bands but they are in the best scenario still just average.

Lins87 said...

I'll call you insane! 7 Seconds early material is up there with the best.I mean cmon The Crew rules, Committed ep rules and the Blasts...ep rules to!

Dobek Ohashi said...

What up Lins :)
Yeah, 7 SECONDS can sound real amazing if you play it after some mediocre band like VERSE or whatever but play it after the ANTIDOTE or URBAN WASTE or even JUDGE EP and it will sound so weak that you will want to throw it out the window :)
I have just sold all of my 7 SECONDS records. UC is up next :p

Sajid said...

Hey I just stumbled upon your blog today...enjoyin it! Keep up the good work.

Any chance we could get a scan of the Screaming For Change insert? Sadly, the only copy of it I have is the latest repress with no insert.