Rough Trade’s new vinyl selling scheme has come under fire, with some taking to social media to express their disappointment.
As they detailed in a post on social media yesterday (August 2), the scheme would allow people to swap “pre-loved records for cash with FlipVinyl”, a company the iconic record shop describes on their website as the “fastest-growing second-hand vinyl buyers in Germany who have revolutionised the way to sell vinyl online”.
However, people have noted that they’re offering extremely low prices for rare records. “Have to agree with all the comments,” wrote one user on X/Twitter. “Someone got offered £9 for the #DavidBowie ‘Five Years’ vinyl box set which is worth about £1000!!? 
Surely Rough Trade will bin this ill-advised scheme…”
The significant backlash online led to a follow-up statement attempting to justify the prices.
“Please note! We appreciate this service won’t be suitable for everyone’s needs i.e. those seeking to maximise collectible items,” Rough Trade wrote on social media. “However for anyone looking to trade casually for a quick turn-around i.e. to make space, then this could well be a great solution.”
The reception has been scathing, with many sharing the low prices they were offered. “‘We pay far more than our competitors…'”, wrote one social media user. “I cannot believe you have partnered with this company. It’s a genuine shame to see the once fiercely proud and independent Rough Trade bow to the greed of opportunistic capitalism.”
Another wrote: “Who dreamt up this scheme? You’re offering next to nowt, with no transparency about how the records are being sold on. Putting the word Flip in the title shows exactly what you’re at. I don’t think I’ll be buying from Rough Trade anymore,” with another agreeing it was “genuinely insulting to do this during a cost-of-living crisis”. Check out more reactions below.
Welcome to Rough Trade's new Corporate Policy Head. pic.twitter.com/xcJuKDgX46
— Memorial Device (@memorialdevice) August 3, 2024
If you want to sell your records, do not use this service
Genuine record dealers care about giving you a fair price (while making a fair profit themselves) and care about finding your records a good home
The prices Rough Trade are offering here are exploitatively low https://t.co/F1Wtu6NjNu
— Cheap Indie Vinyl (@CheapIndieVinyl) August 2, 2024
This is a potentially fatal own goal for @RoughTrade What on earth were they thinking?
— Phil S (@BigDerbyMan) August 3, 2024
I read about this last night. Utter disaster for them.
— Steve Robertson (@ScotsBear1973) August 3, 2024
Absolutely disgraceful prices and you should be ashamed to have partnered with them. Just put my 10 most valuable records in there worth over 4k (median) and it’s not even offering me £100 for the lot. Grim profiteering.
— SFS (@shitsocials) August 2, 2024
Back in January, Rough Trade announced it would be opening a new store in Liverpool, marking the sixth branch in the UK for Rough Trade – following stores in Bristol, Nottingham and three shops in London.
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