This from an Opal Music newsletter:
(Sorry about the length.
_______________________________________________
"
IMPORTANT CHANGES AT OPAL MUSIC Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay in reply
to your recent order.
We have been closed for the past 2 weeks, mainly as we have
had an opportunity to move, very quickly, into new (larger)
premises but also after many recent changes to decide
the future of Opal Music.
Please, if you can, take the time to read this message.
The record industry (both labels and distributors) seem to
be doing everything they can to close the few remaining "Indie"
stores such as Opal Music. Most of you will have noticed
that your local independent store has now either closed down
or (in most cases) are finding it difficult to continue.
We now sell very few CD albums, even when we sell them for LESS
than they cost us from the record company, as either:
1) you can buy them from another internet store that is not
really a UK company and does not have the same rules and taxes
to pay.
2) the other store is so much bigger that they get huge
discounts or they can send back any items they do not sell
- which makes a huge difference.
3) the item is a limited edition like the recent Franz Ferdinand
and Super Furry Animals CD's. As we are no longer able to
sell anywhere near as many normal CD albums as we used to
the record companies will now only send us VERY VERY FEW
copies of any that are limited editions.
This also applies very much to "limited" singles.
In the past we have had in stock and sold large numbers
of copies of singles by bands like the:
White Stripes, Strokes, Franz Ferdinand etc.
However partly because of the CD album situation we now have
a similar situation with many singles.
Some recent examples include:
White Stripes - There's No Home 7" we received ONLY 20 copies
Boxer Rebellion - In Pursuit 7" ONLY 4 copies
Snow Patrol - Chocolate 7" ONLY 3 copies
We will sometimes be able to get more copies from other sources
but this can not be guaranteed and they will usually be a little
more expensive as a result.
In many cases new releases are also becoming more and more limited
- too few copies are actually being made - which we think is not always
so sensible. If you have bought for example every previous White
Stripes single then find it impossible to get say there 12th
single on 7" .... Sorry, this is record company logic for you.
We feel that despite what they may say in public it is now actually a
deliberate policy by most record companies to make life so difficult
that the remaining "indie" stores close down. Then they can use this
argument to force you to buy music in future from a handful of massive
corporate pay to download or subscription sites -
"like" Sky or My Coca Cola etc
.... really quite sad, especially for those of us who still like
the old vinyl ...
FOR THESE REASONS IN THE FUTURE
1) In most cases we will no longer be able to accept advance pre-orders
for new releases as we want to be certain that we will have the items
in stock to send to you so you will not be dissappointed.
2) We will stock less "new release" CD albums then in the past, apart
from limited editions and more underground harder to find releases
like for example - Ulrich Schnauss, Melys or Bearsuit ...
3) In most cases we will now NOT order in items that are no longer in
stock at Opal. This is actually to improve our customer service.
Record companies seem to be very good at losing stock in their
warehouses
or sending us the CD instead of an LP, damaged stock or even a
completely
different item altogether etc etc ....
Basically there is normally a problem with virtually every back
catalogue
order we do with most record companies.
Your order with Opal Music is then delayed and nobody knows what
is happening and nobody is very happy - so we have unfortunately had
to
STOP this service.
We already have in stock more titles then most other UK companies and
although some of you will be dissappointed by this change it should
mean
that in every other way you get a better faster service.
4) We will only be able to accept orders placed using our website order
form. Sorry no e-mail, post, fax or telephone ORDERS in future.
In the rare instance that there is a problem with your order please
EMAIL
to the same email address that automatically confirms you website order
and
we will now have much more time to quickly answer your message and
solve
the problem. This was also the reason for the increase in the website
minimum order - sorry this was not an easy decision and we really did
not
have too much choice about this.
SO IN FUTURE
when you place an order from the OPAL MUSIC website all the items will
normally already be released and the IN STOCK items - still virtually
everything listed on our website is in stock now - should be actually
SENT out to you and confirmed by e-mail within 2 WORKING (week) days
and often the same day you place your order.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Thank you very much for your valued custom and taking the time to read
this.
We hope you can understand our position and felt it necessary to
explain
what has changed recently. Despite some rumours OPAL MUSIC is very
much
alive and we will once again aim to offer you the best choice of
"indie"
music and service that the (UK) record industry allows.
Once again please accept our apologies if your recent order has been
delayed during this time."
