Based on positive experiences from people who purchased releases from my personal collection I'd like to take it a step further and start my own mail order to sell releases from various labels and spread these to others in this way, which I find very satisfying to do.
I'd like to know what the do's and don't of setting up a mail order are and how to best handle setting it up and getting in touch with labels to sell selected releases . I'd like to offer a varied mixture of Noise and more experimental sounds and I'll be happy to write some own texts for releases using my experience with writing about Noise for a personal touch.
Happy to hear your advice.
Have a look at the other labels/distros in your country and try and offer something different to them, something that makes you stand out a little.
Don't expect too much at the start. Hopefully after some time you can devlop some regular customers.
Keep cardboard boxes and bubble wrap from any other purchases you have made, always useful for packing stuff.
Do you actually enjoy taking in orders, keeping inventory up to date and mailing stuff out? A lot of people who love underground music have tried to run a distro, but it's pretty much just grunt work and often people can't keep up, leading to delays and unhappy customers, possibly getting a reputation as a scammer or unreliable at the very least.
Quote from: Black Psychosis on April 14, 2026, 06:26:09 PMHave a look at the other labels/distros in your country and try and offer something different to them, something that makes you stand out a little.
Don't expect too much at the start. Hopefully after some time you can devlop some regular customers.
Keep cardboard boxes and bubble wrap from any other purchases you have made, always useful for packing stuff.
Great advice, I'm indeed thinking of perhaps making the mail order focused more on Noise from various countries as well as offering newer, lesser known artist's releases. Different but good material.
Quote from: host body on April 14, 2026, 08:07:51 PMDo you actually enjoy taking in orders, keeping inventory up to date and mailing stuff out? A lot of people who love underground music have tried to run a distro, but it's pretty much just grunt work and often people can't keep up, leading to delays and unhappy customers, possibly getting a reputation as a scammer or unreliable at the very least.
I do like taking orders, the administrative stuff and shipping them out within two days max. Maybe it's because I like doing precise stuff, don't know
From personal experience, and my own trial/error. Have shot myself in the foot here and there...
-Send orders next day if you can, follow up with tracking.
-Don't employ terminology like "pending orders" "delays" etc. Impressions last. People will continue to buy from the guy who gets shit done.
-Get postal insurance on larger orders and vinyl if you're taking paypal payments. Mail gets damaged and paypal rarely takes the sellers side.
Quote from: FallOfNature on April 15, 2026, 11:02:07 AMFrom personal experience, and my own trial/error. Have shot myself in the foot here and there...
-Send orders next day if you can, follow up with tracking.
-Don't employ terminology like "pending orders" "delays" etc. Impressions last. People will continue to buy from the guy who gets shit done.
-Get postal insurance on larger orders and vinyl if you're taking paypal payments. Mail gets damaged and paypal rarely takes the sellers side.
Thank you, great advice.
It'll be nice to have a good mailorder in The Netherlands!
Quote from: impulse manslaughter on April 15, 2026, 01:46:51 PMIt'll be nice to have a good mailorder in The Netherlands!
Happy to hear that, I'll do my best to make it something special!
Just some Advices:
- You will have Contact with Idiots and Bugglers.
- Always send Insured, never without. Even if its cheaper and even if its normaly arrives, there are a lot of Pople who skrew you up and have absolute no problem to let the World know.
- Keep in Mind that you have a Big Number of Deadstock which will maybe never sell. Have enough Money Aside.
- Think about VAT and Hobby / Regular Mailorder Difference. Could be expensiv afterwards
- Have Fun with it. If it feels like a Burden, stop it like all others :)
Quote from: Goat93 on April 15, 2026, 02:00:42 PMJust some Advices:
- You will have Contact with Idiots and Bugglers.
- Always send Insured, never without. Even if its cheaper and even if its normaly arrives, there are a lot of Pople who skrew you up and have absolute no problem to let the World know.
I agree, that's ideal, BUT mandatory tracking / insurance in every small order is too much for a potential buyer to afford. And normal shipping cost is already expensive -almost- everywhere. You will have less orders just because of that, if you apply it, certainly.
Don't know how big and frequently updated you intend to do it. If it has frequently new stuff incoming it will become big, eventually. A nice idea, IF you have space, is to use something like the 'Build an order' option S&W has. People buy, you keep them, they buy more, you keep them till there is enough to make a good package, and that could be sent registered indeed.
Quote from: Theodore on April 15, 2026, 04:07:22 PMQuote from: Goat93 on April 15, 2026, 02:00:42 PMJust some Advices:
- You will have Contact with Idiots and Bugglers.
- Always send Insured, never without. Even if its cheaper and even if its normaly arrives, there are a lot of Pople who skrew you up and have absolute no problem to let the World know.
I agree, that's ideal, BUT mandatory tracking / insurance in every small order is too much for a potential buyer to afford. And normal shipping cost is already expensive -almost- everywhere. You will have less orders just because of that, if you apply it, certainly.
Don't know how big and frequently updated you intend to do it. If it has frequently new stuff incoming it will become big, eventually. A nice idea, IF you have space, is to use something like the 'Build an order' option S&W has. People buy, you keep them, they buy more, you keep them till there is enough to make a good package, and that could be sent registered indeed.
All good points, I'll see how often I'll have new stuff coming in. I'll soon orientate myself on exactly the type of releases I'd like to sell.
Quote from: NocturnalLibrary on April 14, 2026, 04:11:46 PMBased on positive experiences from people who purchased releases from my personal collection I'd like to take it a step further and start my own mail order to sell releases from various labels and spread these to others in this way, which I find very satisfying to do.
I'd like to know what the do's and don't of setting up a mail order are and how to best handle setting it up and getting in touch with labels to sell selected releases . I'd like to offer a varied mixture of Noise and more experimental sounds and I'll be happy to write some own texts for releases using my experience with writing about Noise for a personal touch.
Happy to hear your advice.
Don't use Canada Post.
Quote from: NocturnalLibrary on April 14, 2026, 08:38:11 PMGreat advice, I'm indeed thinking of perhaps making the mail order focused more on Noise from various countries as well as offering newer, lesser known artist's releases. Different but good material.
Keep some selection from known artists and respected labels along with the lesser known ones. Most sales from the latter stock won't be from people buying bunch of obscure releases at random (that happens occasionally though, and if the person is happy with his purchases, you'll have a steady customer, since he trusts you to come across new and interesting stuff in the future as well), but an item or two purchased along with something by Government Alpha, Con-Dom, Hospital Productions, etc. You'll want your selection to be different enough to be noticed, not so different that it gets you ignored.
Quote from: Dunwich on April 15, 2026, 07:12:15 PMQuote from: NocturnalLibrary on April 14, 2026, 08:38:11 PMGreat advice, I'm indeed thinking of perhaps making the mail order focused more on Noise from various countries as well as offering newer, lesser known artist's releases. Different but good material.
Keep some selection from known artists and respected labels along with the lesser known ones. Most sales from the latter stock won't be from people buying bunch of obscure releases at random (that happens occasionally though, and if the person is happy with his purchases, you'll have a steady customer, since he trusts you to come across new and interesting stuff in the future as well), but an item or two purchased along with something by Government Alpha, Con-Dom, Hospital Productions, etc. You'll want your selection to be different enough to be noticed, not so different that it gets you ignored.
That makes sense indeed. It's funny you mention Government Alpha, that is an artist I'd definitely want to stock for sure. I like his releases a lot and he's also amongst the relatively newer Japanese Noise artists.
The Do's: If you sincerely enjoy and get enthusiastic about other likeminded individuals picking up physical media. I think this is imperative when doing mail order/distro, because without that natural enthusiasm, you probably will not enjoy it and find it to be like tedious "work".
The Don'ts: If you're setting up distro/mail order with the intent to turn a profit you might be disappointed and most likely will find out real quick that in order for mail order to stay in existence, is that it absolutely has to coming from a place of pure passion and in my opinion this is how mail order should be established under those types of terms and conditions. Those seeking to turn mail order into some type of extra income or side hustle of sorts, should view it more so as a hobby. The reward is being able to contribute back to what you enjoy most.
Quote from: Cranial Blast on April 16, 2026, 01:05:19 AMThe Do's: If you sincerely enjoy and get enthusiastic about other likeminded individuals picking up physical media. I think this is imperative when doing mail order/distro, because without that natural enthusiasm, you probably will not enjoy it and find it to be like tedious "work".
The Don'ts: If you're setting up distro/mail order with the intent to turn a profit you might be disappointed and most likely will find out real quick that in order for mail order to stay in existence, is that it absolutely has to coming from a place of pure passion and in my opinion this is how mail order should be established under those types of terms and conditions. Those seeking to turn mail order into some type of extra income or side hustle of sorts, should view it more so as a hobby. The reward is being able to contribute back to what you enjoy most.
Exactly, I'm gonna set it up because I really love to spread these releases to interested listeners as well as make people discover new different material amongst known names.
There are many kinds of distros and I would say thinking and planning a bit what it is one wants can be good. There are different advices to be given to different kind of distros.
There are guys who have small label and take only small number of carefully curated, often stylistically related releases. Benefits are that even if you have merely handful of customers, one may get rid of distro stock while selling your own things. Stocking things one can honestly recommend is absolutely the best. And doing exactly that - actively writing descriptions / reviews is entirely different thing than anonymous hyperbole sale pitch. It is not usually generating much money, but means of getting your own stuff out there, plus things you like.
If deciding to go all the way, and start big distro, aimed to have wide selection of releases, it will require way more time, money and cumulating inventory. I am not even sure if anyone can really advice someone who wants to give a try to such thing in 2026. Situation is so different compared to the past. Other international dealers may have cumulated their inventory for 20-30 years, plus may have contract with couriers for better shipping prices, but in other hand, whoever will start distro, generally sees that inventory never becomes smaller. It just grows and grows.
Ability to sell at gigs can be big plus. Even small gigs.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 16, 2026, 09:14:22 PMThere are many kinds of distros and I would say thinking and planning a bit what it is one wants can be good. There are different advices to be given to different kind of distros.
There are guys who have small label and take only small number of carefully curated, often stylistically related releases. Benefits are that even if you have merely handful of customers, one may get rid of distro stock while selling your own things. Stocking things one can honestly recommend is absolutely the best. And doing exactly that - actively writing descriptions / reviews is entirely different thing than anonymous hyperbole sale pitch. It is not usually generating much money, but means of getting your own stuff out there, plus things you like.
If deciding to go all the way, and start big distro, aimed to have wide selection of releases, it will require way more time, money and cumulating inventory. I am not even sure if anyone can really advice someone who wants to give a try to such thing in 2026. Situation is so different compared to the past. Other international dealers may have cumulated their inventory for 20-30 years, plus may have contract with couriers for better shipping prices, but in other hand, whoever will start distro, generally sees that inventory never becomes smaller. It just grows and grows.
Ability to sell at gigs can be big plus. Even small gigs.
I would also say that its good to know the selection of the respected distros of your country... like for example there was no need for me to stock one thing that satatuhatta + fa have as they have fixed customers and certain things they enjoy.
My first and foremost motivation for the couple of years that I did it was to stock records I liked to have in my shelf and to share them with others too. Especially experimental music that was not that much usually covered by the other distros in finland. For example you could get Discreet Music LPs from Satatuhatta, but what about Art Into Life? Kashual Plastik? Lasse Marhaugs stuff? Well perhaps that. Do you enjoy Vainio? Well this one by Marja Ahti is amazing... I should email her... Dead C adjecents? New Zealand in general?
I would advice you to just stock releases you are fucking excited about as they tend to be easier (and very rewarding) to recommend to people, heh. And yes as said before, forget about the money as what you will get you will most likely spend times X. Its a very honorable thing to do but unfortunately (at least for me) some people do it better than others.
100% agree on the shows with Mikko, although its bit a personality question of what kind of salesman you are.
My strong assumption is that one should not put too much emphasis on what other guys have and avoid that. There are a lot of people, who are not die hard fanatics in a sense, that they would buy item wherever it is available. There are number of people who would never buy from Freak Animal, but also people who would buy Marja Ahti from me if I had it, but don't bother to buy one thing from Akti (as example) if there are no other items they want. A lot of people have tons of artists they could buy if it just happens to be there when they make the decision. I am just like that myself. If I see seller with one item I want, I rarely buy it. If there are couple items that makes shipping and task of ordering kind of.. worth it.. then yes. It can be almost anything. Even listing your own 2nd hand items on distro may be better idea than to use discogs.
All good points again. Personally at times I would even order a single release I was looking for regardless of shipping but of course people ordering from my mail order would rather want to order several items rather than just one. For me the type of distro would not be a very big one but indeed one featuring releases I love myself with a well varied selection of projects for people to choose from. I can combine my own writings with the collection of releases to make it distinct.
Reached out to John Wiese for some first mail order stock of Helicopter releases. Black Horizons is a next label that seems to have interesting releases for my mail order.
Having actual pictures of the releases you're selling on your website should be a given, alas... ;)
Quote from: SCHEDELWEISS on April 20, 2026, 11:36:14 AMHaving actual pictures of the releases you're selling on your website should be a given, alas... ;)
That's for sure. I'm all for being honest about exactly what I'm selling :)
Cons: get ready to deal with people who have no clue how postal services work - basically used to Amazon level speed. The kind of people who message you in the evening asking where their package is when you shipped it in the morning.
Pros: ... but you also end up meeting a lot of interesting people.
Basic idea: just think about what you appreciate as a customer when you order from a mail order, that's a solid baseline for offering a good service to others.
I also agree with what was said above about the catalog: it often happens that I want to buy something, but if I can't find 2–3 other items to make the shipping worthwhile, I'm unlikely to go through with it (given the postal costs) unless it's something really valuable to me. that's probably one of the main factors.
Quote from: SCHEDELWEISS on April 20, 2026, 11:36:14 AMHaving actual pictures of the releases you're selling on your website should be a given, alas... ;)
This is actually quite interesting, since I never really considered pictures important. Which is also why my store has barely any. Current age is so visually dominated, that there simply wasn't old school templates of text based store systems available. So most of stuff I have is just generic "picture will be added later" type of images. No idea if it effects sales negatively or not? It is possible site look unprofessional and unreliable, but simply don't have time to go search pics of every release I got.
I get requests for cover, tracklist, duration, etc. Samples of tracks. Perhaps full album preview. Coming from generation where everything was bought by gut feeling or by recommendations of friends, I still pretty much do that. Couple of sentences describing what it is, may tell pretty well what it is about.
For mailorder, it could be stressed gow crucial thing is to buy: Mailers. Whatever one sells, but especially if LP's, it is mistake to try to save with using random pieces of cardboard and pizzaboxes. You got companies selling pretty cheap, but doable packaging materials that will make things faster and more secure. Even one or two LP corners crushed every now and then will be way more expensive for distro than buying solid mailers.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 20, 2026, 07:54:59 PMQuote from: SCHEDELWEISS on April 20, 2026, 11:36:14 AMHaving actual pictures of the releases you're selling on your website should be a given, alas... ;)
This is actually quite interesting, since I never really considered pictures important. Which is also why my store has barely any. Current age is so visually dominated, that there simply wasn't old school templates of text based store systems available. So most of stuff I have is just generic "picture will be added later" type of images. No idea if it effects sales negatively or not? It is possible site look unprofessional and unreliable, but simply don't have time to go search pics of every release I got.
Personally no images - this is a negative for me. It screams placeholder/can't be bothered - not a slight at you Mikko hehe... as I get it why you do it. But I think a release has a cover for a reason and lot of times it's integral to it. In the "old days" sure I also used to also get handwritten / typed lists from mail order sources where it was not possible to put an image. But now even the crappiest phone now has camera with print sided rez. Plus I still apply physical store thinking to online. i.e. If I went into a record store and all the covers were blank with just a description text I would buy nothing - unless the person behind the counter was a very very good talker. This may be personal to the way my brain works but there's countless times where I've become interested in something I knew nothing about just because of the cover.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 20, 2026, 07:54:59 PMThis is actually quite interesting, since I never really considered pictures important. Which is also why my store has barely any. Current age is so visually dominated, that there simply wasn't old school templates of text based store systems available. So most of stuff I have is just generic "picture will be added later" type of images. No idea if it effects sales negatively or not?
On a personal level, it's not a big deal, especially nowadays when I can find the cover elsewhere in a second.
But If I'm browsing the site looking for a third or fourth record to add to an order, than maybe an artwork might catch my attention more than a band name or title and push me to add one more item.
Dont deal with anyone listed in the rip off's topic.
Quote from: BlackCavendish on April 20, 2026, 09:54:31 PMQuote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 20, 2026, 07:54:59 PMThis is actually quite interesting, since I never really considered pictures important. Which is also why my store has barely any. Current age is so visually dominated, that there simply wasn't old school templates of text based store systems available. So most of stuff I have is just generic "picture will be added later" type of images. No idea if it effects sales negatively or not?
On a personal level, it's not a big deal, especially nowadays when I can find the cover elsewhere in a second.
But If I'm browsing the site looking for a third or fourth record to add to an order, than maybe an artwork might catch my attention more than a band name or title and push me to add one more item.
This exactly. Also am a "visual buyer", I check NH/FA site mostly if I am looking for a specific release, but hardly ever just to browse the huge inventory... on the other hand, sometimes one can find an old release that's sold out elsewhere, just because people can't be arsed to browse the "wall of text", so it's a win sometimes to have no pics haha
I can find myself in both opinions on displaying images of releases. On the one hand I like the NHFA approach of mostly no images as it's a great way to discover new artists and releases without knowing too much ahead about what they're gonna sound like but for consistency and neatness I would still rather display the releases images so people know what they're going to get.
But don't (hilariously) hide the "naughty" ones, like discogs / rym.
Quote from: Minus1 on April 21, 2026, 03:35:56 PMBut don't (hilariously) hide the "naughty" ones, like discogs / rym.
Definitely not, I don't like that censorship though to be honest there's much less NSFW type of artwork of new Noise releases than in the past. I also doubt I'll have many of those in stock since it's not always stuff I'm into.
When I place orders online, I know what I am looking for/getting, so the presence of images (or the lack thereof) is really unimportant. This is especially true when the seller is trusted (as Mikko is). I don't see the missing images on his site as reflecting a lack of effort or anything so much as presenting an image of "if you know, you know." With noise, how can you really go wrong with that?
Looking over recent purchases, has there really been that much you have bought as a result of seeing a picture? For me, recognizable names/connections (through labels, projects, etc.) are a much bigger determining factor.
When I go "shopping" at S+W, I might be familiar with about 50% of what I see. Visuals "get me in the door" (or not) on the unknowns. It's kind of sad to admit that. But a list with no visuals would be a rough presentation for me.
I suppose if we are searching for a particular item, that's fine. But for "browsing" and researching, visuals really help me.
(I personally think Soundohm is the gold medal standard on presentation.)
Quote from: Balor/SS1535 on April 21, 2026, 08:51:13 PMWhen I place orders online, I know what I am looking for/getting, so the presence of images (or the lack thereof) is really unimportant. This is especially true when the seller is trusted (as Mikko is). I don't see the missing images on his site as reflecting a lack of effort or anything so much as presenting an image of "if you know, you know." With noise, how can you really go wrong with that?
Looking over recent purchases, has there really been that much you have bought as a result of seeing a picture? For me, recognizable names/connections (through labels, projects, etc.) are a much bigger determining factor.
I agree, same here I know what I'm after too and I also find images to be unimportant as well. I use images in my distro, but only because the distro is small and it's a manageable task for me. If I had a large distro with a lot more items and with a constant cycle of new incoming items, I wouldn't bother with images either, as it's not necessary.
If there is no image but there is written what label released it is also fine. From there you can already think ah good label let me check it, you can always have a look elsewhere for cover or description. Or label site for description, its not like there is 100 noise related labels so would take you hours to get more info.
But well, people nowadays like to have things fast and perhaps being a bit lazy to check info elsewhere?
If distro is runned good with shipping in timely manner and good packing the reputation builds itself and will attract more potential buyers.
I rarely check samples or so, if there is description elsewhere ok to check it elsewhere. Being customer with nhfa since the very beginning he started it i know rarely was/am disappointed what I got there even with seeing no images, many times band name and title speak for themselves.
Would be good to have more distribution of usa labels like new forces, tribe, Phage, hospital (!).. some of their releases don't seem to get here i think.
Perhaps i am wrong, there is soundohm now I discovered (i saw name here on board what lead to it) early this year only who seems to get alot (2 quite big orders went very good by the way, awaiting third one now and did that subscription for half yesr they do).
In general, another good distributor in Europe focused on noise and related is a very good idea!
And, if you are who i think what sells on discogs (1 good transaction, awaiting second package now) you are on the good road.
Quote from: Minus1 on April 21, 2026, 03:35:56 PMBut don't (hilariously) hide the "naughty" ones, like discogs / rym.
I would say the opposite. Many stores lost their electronic payment options due graphics or even titles. I think it is the real album that is the ART. List is just a list of things and I would expect anyone to be smart enough to find sustainable way of running distro and not getting kicked out of their store system and funds frozen just because insisting free expression. Hah... it is the album itself that matters. No need to have explicit things visible for random windowshoppers or even rats.
It seems all very much gamble. Biggest dealers get away posting full frontal nudity to meta social media or selling items genocidal items. Small dealer may see himself booted out instantly.
Quote from: Antihumanism on April 22, 2026, 06:34:44 AMits not like there is 100 noise related labels so would take you hours to get more info
I beg to differ...
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 22, 2026, 10:30:41 AMNo need to have explicit things visible for random windowshoppers or even rats.
Good point
Besides the nice discussion on images yes or no, the suggestion to carry more US labels to spread releases of in Europe (I think that was meant?) through my mail order is good. I'm kinda investigating which artists I'd like to sell releases of but US labels often also follow my taste.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 22, 2026, 10:30:41 AMQuote from: Minus1 on April 21, 2026, 03:35:56 PMBut don't (hilariously) hide the "naughty" ones, like discogs / rym.
I would say the opposite. Many stores lost their electronic payment options due graphics or even titles. I think it is the real album that is the ART. List is just a list of things and I would expect anyone to be smart enough to find sustainable way of running distro and not getting kicked out of their store system and funds frozen just because insisting free expression. Hah... it is the album itself that matters. No need to have explicit things visible for random windowshoppers or even rats.
It seems all very much gamble. Biggest dealers get away posting full frontal nudity to meta social media or selling items genocidal items. Small dealer may see himself booted out instantly.
Yikes. Forgive my naivety, but who plays god here? Financial institutions? I mean, this isn't Disney. It's Noise/Experimental/etc.
Quote from: SCHEDELWEISS on April 22, 2026, 11:09:31 AMQuote from: Antihumanism on April 22, 2026, 06:34:44 AMits not like there is 100 noise related labels so would take you hours to get more info
I beg to differ...
Oeps I means 100's not 100
A good image combined with an unknown artist and label, will make me search. Won't buy just from the cover -now, I bet i never did, don't remember, maybe I did ? It's not that I don't like good artwork / presentation ... Oh, i cant tell for sure how I did- . But an unknown artist, unknown label, with no image, will make me search more.
If I know, I know, no need for images ...
Well, I guess I'm a visual person! I won't respond well (or at all) to a list. (And in fact - I shop where the images are!)
Clearly I have no clue about doing this, but my 2 cents (and we round down in Canada!) would be:
Make sure that everyone who is needed to support such a venture fully understands exactly what it is! ie It ain't Disney.
Yes, there will definitely be images in my mail order. On the subject of what to stock it looks like there's especially interest in US labels since some releases are harder to get here in The Netherlands / Europe. I'll get some releases from Helicopter to start with but what other labels / artists you'd like to see specifically in my mail order? Just investigating what people would like to get and is currently less available around here.
Quote from: Minus1 on April 22, 2026, 05:39:43 PMQuote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 22, 2026, 10:30:41 AMQuote from: Minus1 on April 21, 2026, 03:35:56 PMBut don't (hilariously) hide the "naughty" ones, like discogs / rym.
I would say the opposite. Many stores lost their electronic payment options due graphics or even titles. I think it is the real album that is the ART. List is just a list of things and I would expect anyone to be smart enough to find sustainable way of running distro and not getting kicked out of their store system and funds frozen just because insisting free expression. Hah... it is the album itself that matters. No need to have explicit things visible for random windowshoppers or even rats.
It seems all very much gamble. Biggest dealers get away posting full frontal nudity to meta social media or selling items genocidal items. Small dealer may see himself booted out instantly.
Yikes. Forgive my naivety, but who plays god here? Financial institutions? I mean, this isn't Disney. It's Noise/Experimental/etc.
If one is using external services like indeed, financial institutions, webstore services, social media, etc. It all is vulnerable. Any notion of "free speech" or "artistic freedom" is void of meaning if some of these decide to kick you out simply for putting wrong kind of album cover with their company name on same page or check out processing includes all sorts of flagged words, that may indicated into forbidden content. Our arguments about "its just art" are usually useless, if terms of services flat out bans something you are doing. I have seen so many times people losing accounts, sites, stores, online payment systems, and it seems odd that how they would have not had little cautiousness and sort of self sabotage from beginning. You know, even as independent as SI forum is, there has been attempts to shut it down simply because it allows any types of noise being sold or discussed and not everybody likes that.
Quote from: Minus1 on April 22, 2026, 05:39:43 PMQuote from: FreakAnimalFinland on April 22, 2026, 10:30:41 AMQuote from: Minus1 on April 21, 2026, 03:35:56 PMBut don't (hilariously) hide the "naughty" ones, like discogs / rym.
I would say the opposite. Many stores lost their electronic payment options due graphics or even titles. I think it is the real album that is the ART. List is just a list of things and I would expect anyone to be smart enough to find sustainable way of running distro and not getting kicked out of their store system and funds frozen just because insisting free expression. Hah... it is the album itself that matters. No need to have explicit things visible for random windowshoppers or even rats.
It seems all very much gamble. Biggest dealers get away posting full frontal nudity to meta social media or selling items genocidal items. Small dealer may see himself booted out instantly.
Yikes. Forgive my naivety, but who plays god here? Financial institutions? I mean, this isn't Disney. It's Noise/Experimental/etc.
Actualy as long People don't send Money via Letter or visit the Store to buy directly, any kind of Financial Transactor can easily close your Business and there are enough People around trying to close it, cause it has some Stuff they don't like.
Quote from: NocturnalLibrary on April 23, 2026, 08:31:28 AM...what other labels / artists you'd like to see specifically in my mail order?
easyridersnoise
Quote from: SCHEDELWEISS on April 23, 2026, 07:31:57 PMQuote from: NocturnalLibrary on April 23, 2026, 08:31:28 AM...what other labels / artists you'd like to see specifically in my mail order?
easyridersnoise
Thanks, I'll check that out.
My new mail order has been running for a bit with releases from Helicopter and SSSM but unfortunately I notice that it's not picking up a lot in terms of sales of new releases it's disappointing. Combined with the recent EU custom costs madness I've already been forced to scale down ordering more mail order stock towards closer to home labels.
What are your tips to promote this mail order better, share it to interested people? I've still got a good mix of many releases from my private collection up for sale so things could get better but for now it's a bit hard.
I would estimate it takes most of all time. Mailorder is something that cumulates over the years and returning customers - if they feel worth returning. Easy to fuck up that. In times like this, when it seems hard to estimate what will be state of underground in next.. 5 years? Gamble of how much and what to "invest" when usually it does take years and a lot of losses before all the deadstock problems may (or may not) start to resolve itself.
As for promotion, I would guess it is the only actual challenge, that is very hard to solve. No matter what size company or band you'd ask, everybody is struggling with challenge how to get word out there and how to be visible.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on July 08, 2026, 12:09:18 PMI would estimate it takes most of all time. Mailorder is something that cumulates over the years and returning customers - if they feel worth returning. Easy to fuck up that. In times like this, when it seems hard to estimate what will be state of underground in next.. 5 years? Gamble of how much and what to "invest" when usually it does take years and a lot of losses before all the deadstock problems may (or may not) start to resolve itself.
As for promotion, I would guess it is the only actual challenge, that is very hard to solve. No matter what size company or band you'd ask, everybody is struggling with challenge how to get word out there and how to be visible.
That makes sense, in the end I think it's about not giving up and remaining hopeful as much as it sometimes seem to take forever for things to get moving so it remains fun and eventually rewarding.
In some music genres, being last guy to have album may seem like failure. Even many UG music styles, releases get dated soon. A lot of current indie and punk/hc, I've been told, becomes 100% unsellable just about when band split up or stop doing gigs.
With noise, it is actually GREAT to be distro who has the last pile of SSSM tapes or handful of Helicopter CD's. It usually means, those customers who try to find physical copies, might be your new customers. Such experience may also lead into recommendation to others. At least that is what I see every now and then. I get order for release that came out decade ago. In next weeks I get 1-5 more orders for same item. It appears clear someone told somewhere that this place has old pressing still in stock. I realize not everybody is prepared to keep UG items for sale for next decade, but I don't mind. I have no intentions to quit anytime soon.
Quote from: FreakAnimalFinland on July 08, 2026, 12:56:34 PMIn some music genres, being last guy to have album may seem like failure. Even many UG music styles, releases get dated soon. A lot of current indie and punk/hc, I've been told, becomes 100% unsellable just about when band split up or stop doing gigs.
With noise, it is actually GREAT to be distro who has the last pile of SSSM tapes or handful of Helicopter CD's. It usually means, those customers who try to find physical copies, might be your new customers. Such experience may also lead into recommendation to others. At least that is what I see every now and then. I get order for release that came out decade ago. In next weeks I get 1-5 more orders for same item. It appears clear someone told somewhere that this place has old pressing still in stock. I realize not everybody is prepared to keep UG items for sale for next decade, but I don't mind. I have no intentions to quit anytime soon.
Good point. What makes me wonder however is to which degree it's good to keep releases from established well-known projects more than lesser known or obscurities that I find worthwile in order to be able to justify getting more different releases so to say. It's not my intention to make the selection diffuse and too similar to other distros but carrying the big names starts to become a bit of a point of reliance as others pointed out earlier in this thread.