Hi

Basically I've been looking at some albums I want to buy on the Airmail Recordings label, as they have extra songs etc. But I have a few questions regarding Mini LP CD's as I'm completely new to them to be honest and haven't come across them before.

1. Howcome they are so expensive? Or is it just that Japanese CD's in general are expensive? It's going to cost around £20 UK (including shipping) for one CD, whereas in the UK you can get CD's for around £10 or less. Is there something that makes them so pricey?

2. Are they worth this amount of money? As I could just buy the actual original LP equivalents really (I could probably get two albums on LP for about the price of one Mini LP CD, although there are no extra songs on them), I do buy both vinyl and CD's. Is the packaging anything special? Is it impressive? It sounds off putting because it's classed as 'cardboard sleeves' etc, just doesn't sound impressive when it's put like that, it makes me think of something you would get for free with a magazine.

I guess my questions are probably really quite stupid but I was just hoping you could answer them anyway.

Thanks for your help.

Qazeleus wrote:
Hello and welcome - firstly these are not stupid questions!

QUOTE:

1. How come they are so expensive? Or is it just that Japanese CD's in general are expensive? It's going to cost around £20 UK (including shipping) for one CD, whereas in the UK you can get CD's for around £10 or less. Is there something that makes them so pricey?

The cost is for a number of reasons including the following and more:

1. Japanese CDs are considered to be better quality - but note that not all Japanese Mini LPs have Japanese made CDs in them! (I can never remember which ones but it's either Air Mail or Archangel.)


2. The packaging is (arguably) more expensive to make


3. The manufacturers price them as high as they possible can get away with. CDs are no longer any where near as popular as they used to be so they compete where they have to (jewel cases) and charge what they can for "premium" products

QUOTE:

2. Are they worth this amount of money? As I could just buy the actual original LP equivalents really (I could probably get two albums on LP for about the price of one Mini LP CD, although there are no extra songs on them), I do buy both vinyl and CD's. Is the packaging anything special? Is it impressive? It sounds off putting because it's classed as 'cardboard sleeves' etc, just doesn't sound impressive when it's put like that, it makes me think of something you would get for free with a magazine.

Whether they are worth it is up to you I guess.

Most people who have bought these as an investment have been disappointed. There are some exceptions but generally they drop in value (across the board) although there are some that are worth more than others, due to rarity usually, and this value is usually wiped out with a reissue (are these happen regularly).

The latest SHM releases (eg. the "deluxe" versions and others) usually come with more than one version of the cover (eg. from different countries). You may want to look threw these, find one you like and buy it as a taster. Some of them are really nice. Perhaps pick a bad you don't know too well and try them. I knew nothing about "Caravan" and have been really happy to wait and fork out the extra money on the SHM versions.