Recently my nephew started collecting vinyl, and one of the first records he bought was Laufey “A Matter Of Time” autograph edition. He paid S$80 for it. My mum asked why it is so expensive, so I told her it is a fair price given this is a signed edition. Indeed, the price of a vinyl record is not as cheap as one might think. In this post, I want to share my knowledge on what is considered a fair price for various types of vinyl records: brand new release albums, vintage albums, and rare albums.
How much does a new release album cost?
A 12-inch 1LP album with no frills cost between S$35-45. A deluxe 1LP album might cost up to S$60 if it is a gatefold with extras like booklets. A basic 2LP album costs S$45-60, and can be up to S$70 for special editions. Due to the different production quality, the price could vary. Low-quantity albums tend to price higher as the production volume is small. This applies to Mandarin albums, Classical albums. Prices in Singapore are generally higher because of freight costs where retailers ship in smaller quantities compared to retailers in larger countries.
Across the globe, Japan is one of the few (or probably the only) countries that print the recommended retail price on the album cover or the obi strip. For album releases outside Japan, I try to find the RRP from the label’s or the artist’s official website and then do a currency conversion to get a gauge of the reasonable price to pay.
Where to buy new vinyl albums online?
- For Japan releases, I order from CD Japan as I can receive the newest releases within 7 days of launch. Their selling price excludes Japan sales tax, so the price is already 10% cheaper than buying from other Japan websites like HMV or Tower.jp. Their parcel packaging is top-notch.
- For US/Europe releases, I watch out Amazon for price fluctuations. Some titles can be had at a good discount thanks to their extensive distribution network and free shipping for orders above $60 (Amazon Prime members get free shipping for any amount). Amazon ships fine, usually its vinyl is packed in a record mailer box and then the box is loosely sealed inside a larger Amazon standard parcel box. Amazingly the records always come in excellent condition.
- For Hong Kong/Taiwan releases, I shop with caution at Taobao as there are counterfeit albums especially old titles. But for new releases, it is a reliable alternative as these China record shops work hard to procure copies to meet their own consumer demands. The other concern is that some shops do not pack the records well enough, and so sometimes I get records with some damages.
Where to buy new vinyl records in Singapore?
In recent years, the number of record shops in Singapore have probably doubled if we count both physical and online. I do not shop for records within Singapore that much because I buy more vintage records and fewer new title releases. And for new titles, I go for less popular genres like Classical, Instrumental, New Age and I find these genres readily at Wow Factor Records at reasonable prices. I previously shopped at Retrophonic Records for enya records. For albums by Chinese artists, you are sure to find them at Roxy Disc House. I also want to give a shoutout to Swee Lee who has grown their vinyl offerings with attractive prices. And if you are near Katong-Joo Chiat area, swing by Retrocrates for a varied collection of the latest titles and collaboration vinyl releases like Dick Lee.
Bear in mind that there is not one shop that sells all titles cheaper than others. As a smart shopper, you should buy your records from different shops to maximise your savings.
What is my latest vinyl purchase?
Chloe Chua 4LP boxset performing Mozart complete Violin Concertos. The recommended retail price is €95 or SGD150, but if you look hard enough, you can get it at more than 10% discount. I bought mine during the Amazon 9.9 sale at almost 24% discount.
