As you may have seen in my other blog or Instagram posts, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the new Acacia Strain album. Their latest release prompted me to do something I’ve never done before: purchase my very first vinyl of their ‘C’ EP. After receiving it, I started to understand why vinyl records have been making such a huge comeback over recent years. I had one problem though. Now that I bought my first one, I wanted more. With the pandemic ongoing, I decided to continue to social distance and browse records virtually. However, I wasn’t really sure what online vinyl record store would be safe to buy from.
Online Vinyl Record Stores
I try to be very careful when making online purchases, especially after a frustrating Etsy experience a couple of years ago. We also have a difficult time getting packages delivered directly to our doorstep and it depends which carrier brings it. Because of this, I was terrified of ordering vinyl records only for them to be damaged when I received them. Finally, like the majority of people trying to survive the current state of affairs, I’m trying to be more frugal. If I’m going to make a purchase, I don’t want to spend money on something that’s not a quality product.
I read reviews and checked the websites of the most popular online vinyl record stores I could find. Amoeba Music’s website was temporarily down. I found mixed reviews about Discogs, but the negative reviews reminded me too much of the Etsy debacle. I then finally came across Elusive Disc.
Why I Chose Elusive Disc for My First Online Vinyl Record Store Haul
I was pleasantly surprised to see that Elusive Disc’s website was pretty user friendly and very straightforward, unlike Discogs. That’s not to say that Discogs’ website is difficult to use, but I felt very overwhelmed trying to find all pertinent information at first glance. When on Elusive Disc, I just typed in the artist I was looking for and it gave me every relevant result.
By the way, I didn’t intend for this to be a ‘haul’. When I started looking, I was really looking for Slayer’s ‘Seasons In The Abyss’. Elusive Disc was also offering free shipping and 10% off vinyl for orders over $99. Since this was my first time buying from this site, I planned to only buy one vinyl in case of any mishaps. However, as I continued going through their virtual inventory, I found several must haves and my plans changed. (Music is my kryptonite, okay?) As of today, Elusive Disc is still offering this coupon if you’re in the market for some new vinyl.
Elusive Disc has an impressive selection of vinyl records. I actually found more music I wanted here then I could find on any other online vinyl record store. With that being said, I only ordered vinyls that were listed as “In Stock”. There were some I had my eye on that were awaiting repress, back ordered, or were expected on a certain date. I was hesitant to order those though without a clear understanding of how the available items would ship. I’m still waiting on packages due to Covid 19 delays that I ordered weeks ago. I don’t need any others to keep tracking down.
So What Did I Order and How Did It Arrive?
Glad you asked. 🙂
One of the reviews I read about Elusive Disc praised them for how quickly they received their order. It also noted how safely their order was packaged. I expected there may be at least some delay as there has been for many other companies due to Covid. I was totally wrong. My order was placed on July 23rd, it shipped later that day, and I picked it up at the post office on July 25th.
It contained 5 vinyls and they were all packaged safely in one box. They were in perfect condition and I couldn’t have been happier. Before I show you what vinyls I ordered, please be advised that some images contain explicit material. Here’s what I picked up:
1. ‘First and Last and Always’ – The Sisters of Mercy
2. ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ – Judas Priest
3. ‘Far Beyond Driven’ – Pantera
4. ‘Turbo 30’ – Judas Priest
5. ‘1984’ – Van Halen
Is Elusive Disc a Good Online Vinyl Record Store?
While this is my first experience and I can’t fully compare to other buying experiences, I would say so. With so many scams and issues out there with online ordering, I wanted the smoothest experience as possible. Elusive Disc delivered that and then some. I still may give other sites like Amoeba Music and Discogs a try. I will definitely be a returning customer for Elusive Disc though.
Have you ordered vinyl records online?
I want to hear from you! Let me know your favorite online vinyl record stores and/or your favorite vinyls in your collection.
