Record Store Day 2017: Vinyl appears on eBay for inflated prices
Record Store Day releases have already appeared on eBay at inflated prices, with some listed for over £200, it has been reported.
More than 500 releases are exclusively available through independent record shops today (22 April) – on vinyl, picture disc, cassette and more - to celebrate the event.
Queues began to form outside stores the day before the event and thousands of music fans have been sharing photos of their finds during the day.
It's 8am and this is the queue at #recordstoreday2017 at @RoughTrade in Brick Lane @RSDUK pic.twitter.com/DFiCfAegom
— Simon Robb (@SimonRobb85) April 22, 2017
Yet records have also begun appearing on eBay - NME reports that David Bowie’s Gem Promo Box has been listed for over £200, a Prince six-set LP collection is listed for £200, and The Ramones singles boxset is listed for £180.
Critics of RSD have suggested that, while it was previously a great way to support independent stores, the event has become a "Black Friday event that clogs pressing plants".
Record Store Day, once a great idea to celebrate indie stores now an eBay flipping Black Friday event that clogs pressing plants. Fuck RSD
— Daniel Dell (@TheLoudDell) April 22, 2017
A post shared by James (@jameess25) on Apr 22, 2017 at 4:49am PDT
11:45am, over 1700 Record Store Day 2017 releases already on eBay UK, over 750 already listed and sold.
— Jonny Trunk (@jonnytrunk) April 22, 2017
Johnny Marr criticised "eBay tossers" re-selling his Record Store Day release for an inflated price back in 2015.
Writing on Twitter, he condemned anyone who sold copies online at a higher cost.
"Do not pay inflated prices for I Feel You on eBay," he added. "It’s a rip off & not in the spirit of RSD. Johnny #screwthetouts."
The official Record Store Day website reads: "Record Store Day is the one day of the year when over 200 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture.
"Special vinyl releases are made exclusively for the day and many shops and cities host artist performances and events to mark the occasion. Thousands more shops celebrate the day around the globe in what’s become one of the biggest annual events on the music calendar."
Earlier this year we spoke to experts about what they predicted for vinyl and streaming for the rest of 2017 - read here.