Ernie B's...reggae?

[vlad]

For sure there's good money to be made with AC/DC, Charles Aznavour, or Led Zeppelin vinyl repress, but I have to say this website has lost its identity as far as I am concerned. Switching to other retailers / websites who really focus on reggae. I guess there must be VERY good money behind selling hard rock and french pop vinyl repress, but its made the website unfriendly for reggae fans (from a browsing point of view, with all the clutter)

[Mark]

Agreed. It seems there will be some changes show/select only the reggae though.

I haven't ordered there recently but that is also/mainly due to shipping cost: $18.23 for a single cd from US to NL.

[Mosiah]

Yes, this is all very disturbing. Certainly don't feel like they are 100% focused on pleasing the reggae massive anymore. I used to place at least one big order there every month, but over the past year or two, I only buy from them occansionally. They used to be first with every both major and less distributed title, but now they sometimes are weeks behind other stores in getting what we once loved them for being on point with. Many times they don't even get it at all. And the pattern is very clear too; the problem only have gotten bigger with the more non-reggae stuff they take on. Things I expect those audiences have other places for. Let us reggae folks have our distributer alone.

[Slugger]

From a reggae fan's perspective (which I am of course), I understand the sentiment. But for purchasing reissues here in the U.S., it's still tough to beat the prices/quantity of releases available at EBs. I also don't fault them for diversifying to expand their business, although I hope it doesn't come as a detriment to their reggae selection.

I'm curious, what other retailers do people in the States use? I pretty much stick to discogs/ebay and EBs.

[rudeboi99]

From a reggae fan's perspective (which I am of course), I understand the sentiment. But for purchasing reissues here in the U.S., it's still tough to beat the prices/quantity of releases available at EBs. I also don't fault them for diversifying to expand their business, although I hope it doesn't come as a detriment to their reggae selection.

I'm curious, what other retailers do people in the States use? I pretty much stick to discogs/ebay and EBs.

Same here. Based in the U.S., nothing beats EBs, Discogs or Ebay. I may be the lone man standing but I admire their non-reggae selection. I have ordered a handful of funk and soul vinyl. The prices are great too. But I agree with Mosiah, EBs is getting releases late, and sometimes not at all. With a surge in reggae re-issues I hope EBs will keep up the pace cause I love the website, but won't hesitate to order an item overseas if it's not available.

[Billy Boom]

It is disheartening to see reggae superseded by non-reggae releases on EB's front page (although there is a note on the site about a reggae only function soon to be implemented). At least where I live in the US, indie hipsters, whose interest in reggae often begins and ends with Heart of the Congos, are the main people buying new records so it's not altogether surprising EB would shift strategies—there's a lot more money to be made catering to that audience than to reggae fans. As long as the reggae only function is realized I can't fault EB for doing what's necessary to stay in business. I don't buy new reggae records anywhere else unless necessary and mostly he stays on top of the new releases I'm interested in (with perhaps a delay of a month or two). It seems like it's mainly the new UK steppers records that he passes on, which is no great loss to me. Kalbata and Mixmonster's recent LP and 7" are a couple egregious oversights though.

[Grasshopper]

I think his rationale is that when people see that they can order other kinds of music from him, they will also order reggae. So, as one who HAS ordered other kinds of music there, i don't mind it. But I do agree that by turning into a massive distributor of other kinds of music, has had some negative affect. Customer service is slower, titles seem to come in later, etc. It does cause me pain to see him stocking Billy Joel reissues instead of the latest Pressure Sounds.

But Ernie has always been a stand up guy, and a good place to shop w/great customer service and an unbeatable selection. The new shipping costs are high, but it's probably what it costs. he's double boxing everything. Never had any problems with the old boxes, but maybe people were complaining?

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, even if i don't love all the changes. With anything new there's always growing pains....Maybe a different website design would help keep the reggae separate from the chaff (: But if people don't like certain things, give him some feedback and maybe he will take it to account as he moves forward.

ps: fyi--i checked the website and you can now search by genre only, so there is a way to only see Reggae listings, and not the other stuff.

[vlad]

Money, money, money

I have given up on vinyl. Back to mp3. No weight, no scratches, no packaging, no ernie b.

Rasta lives beyond black plastic!

[Roots for breakfast]

I just think that Ernie B is making a move so his store can survive. Like all of you, I would prefer the store to be dedicated to reggae, but the reality is that majority of people don't purchase music anymore and this have impact on stores. I have seen a few stores offering mp3s and WAV to adjust to the market demand… but I assume that might be quite complicate to get into that type of business when you are not Amazon/iTunes or alikes. I personally don't mind that he is carrying other form of music, I would just like to see the same type of choice in reggae there once used to be… but sadly, months after months there is lesser choice for reggae CDs every time I order. Proof that he carefully think twice before ordering CDs to stock back things that are sold out.

[Gabranth]

MP3 killed the compact disc star.