Custom LP Sleeves Update -- I'm out of sleeves!

[frofather]

Blake,

Any plans to ever make a "gatefold" version sleeve in this quality style? I am talking about the kind that you can fold out the gatefold LP and see the inside gatefold art while it is still in the sleeve.

[wertsdb71]

@frofather Believe it or not I've chatted a bit with Brandon (mrhoffame) about this idea and it is a great one, which I do believe we could make happen technically. The issue is that there is a minimum order that the manufacturer requires of 5000 pieces. I'm not sure that we have enough interest in the community to be able to ingest that many of these types of sleeves. When the dust settles, I will work a prototype with them and just see what happens. Then we'll go from there. :-D

[DoctorDeadwax]

put me down for a drop shipment, and if anyone in Canada wants some they can contact me and we can get a final number together before you place the order.

[wertsdb71]

@DoctorDeadwax GREAT! I know that Jeff (glowing00cabbage) and SpudBoy are looking for some sleeves. Being able to ship to your US address will be a huge savings in shipping costs.

[EzaVinylAddict]

@DoctorDeadwax Yes! I will want to order some in the very near future so perhaps we can coordinate thanks!

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

Not a problem! No one is asking you to control anything. I have plenty of the unsophisticated sleeves to protect my album covers. I'll call BU later in the week and find out how much shipping of a 1000 of those sleeves to Canada is. The story of my life are expenditures like these right AFTER Christmas. Guess I'm just a spud boy...looking for a real tomato....

[wertsdb71]

@GuessImJustASpudBoy Get in touch with Mark (DoctorDeadwax) about some sleeves. He has a US address and is planning to pick up a bunch of sleeves. I think this will work out very well for you and the other cats in Canada.

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

@wertsdb71 Yes, okay. I just received a PM from him now. Thanks.

[wertsdb71]

The last batch of sleeves were running at $15.75 per pack of 100. I'm expecting the next batch to come in at around $14 per pack of 100.

[ImperviousMason]

Damn. I was looking for some sleeves but they didn't encase the whole album like yours. What are your rates?

[StarBoyJonesProds]

@wertsdb71, I would like to make an order. Please let me know if I will be able to get in on this shipment. Thanks again. Bless

[wertsdb71]

@StarBoyJonesProds Yes, PM me what the number of sleeves you need and we'll work from there. Also, let me know where you live. Thanks for the interest.

[ballroom23]

This is great news! You are turning this community into a cooperative. Hope to get my shipment in soon. Sounds like I was able to get the last of the run.

[wertsdb71]

@ballroom23 Ha! Yes, yours went out just a few days ago. You were one of the last ones out of the first batch.

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

I'm just wondering how these sleeves are better than the 3-mil resealable polypropylene sleeves from BagsUnlimited? 'Cause I'm looking at getting a thousand of 'em. What happens to the BU sleeves - do they go yellow over time or something? I ordered a thousand from BU about 4 years ago and now I'm completely out but no yellowing that I noticed. One thing about the BU sleeves is that they tend to split if you insert the record ever so slightly off-angle. I've ruined several of these in this way.

[wertsdb71]

@GuessImJustASpudBoy It is my understanding that BU does not have a 3mil BOPP offering, just a 1.5 mil version. The seams on our design is a bit stronger so splits are less likely to happen. The BU polyEthylene sleeves that I picked up in 2001 are turning green, they are oily, they are cloudy, and they are too loose fitting. I wanted something better. ;-) Try some of these and see if they meet your needs is all I can suggest.

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

@wertsdb71 Hmmm...I bought 1K of them in 2007 from BU and they're still looking pretty good but don't trust my eyesight. The cost of petrochemicals to make these things have increased and now your sleeves are VERY competitively priced with BU. Do you think it's practical for you and would I come out any further ahead by shipping 1K of these to Canada? Have you sent any up here yet? BU offers a 3-mil 12 5/8" X 12 5/8" resealable - $34.00/100!! How thick are your sleeves? $231/1000!!

[wertsdb71]

@GuessImJustASpudBoy No disrespect, but "competitive pricing" had little to do with my efforts. If you are looking or "cheapest" then BU may be your best bet. Shipping costs to Canada is insane. I have shipped a few packs up to Canada. That resealable you mention is PolyEthylene--the crap that I will no longer use. The "VC sleeves" are made of BOPP--far superior material. My last manufacturing run ran $15.75 per pack of 100. Our sleeves are 2 mil. 

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

@wertsdb71 I bought 1000 of the 1.5-mil polypropylene sleeves from BU back in '07 and so far, so good - 'cept for 7 or 8 sleeves that I split with the sharp corners of single sleeve albums. They're now priced at almost 20 bucks for a hundred, 120 bucks for a thousand. Hence, my interest in your thicker, and possibly cheaper, polyprop sleeves. If you can get me a price on a thousand, I may order from you.

"Everything counts in large amounts" as the Depeche Mode song goes, and all??

[wertsdb71]

@GuessImJustASpudBoy Shipping is likely going to be the deal breaker for you--an estimate on ten packs to Canada, according to the USPS web site, tells me that it will be approximately $73. I'm expecting the sleeves to come in at $14 per pack of 100.

[GuessImJustASpudBoy]

@wertsdb71 Okay. Damn - I would have preferred your 2-mil sleeves. I bought 1000 1.5 mil polyprop sleeves and 500 inner paper sleeves (forgot the thickness!) and shipping from BU came out to be 30 bucks 4 years ago. So 1000 2-mil sleeves would be, yeah, even heftier. (The box weighed a ton 4 years ago...) Okay, thanks for all your help and I hope I didn't waste too much of your time. 'Nice of you to do this for free cause the int'l shipping becomes a pain in the ass, huh? Thanks again.

[wertsdb71]

@GuessImJustASpudBoy I can't control the USPS/Canada Post rates. I imagine that BU is going to be about the same. 10 packs comes in at 28-30 pounds.

[kingsdrummer]

Boy I feel lucky to get my last order in. The sleeves are awesome Blake. You already have my number for the next 6-12 months. Wish I lived closer so I can help out. 

[wertsdb71]

@kingsdrummer Ha! Yes, Gil, you got the last ones that I was able to mail out. I got you down on the list here. I'll contact you when I learn more about the order, etc. How close are you to Duane (Lazerus)?

[kingsdrummer]

@wertsdb71 I believe Duane lives in Santa Rosa ( still not sure) and that is about a 2 hour car ride from me.

[wertsdb71]

@kingsdrummer Okay, maybe that's too far to do a single shipment that you two could split--to save on postage costs.

[Paneeks1960]

I am even thinking that the more people who find out about these, the more over that allotment is going to be needed. You may go over that 25, 000 quota by June of 2012. I was speaking with a new VC member today about them and I am still passing the word through comments and PM's. I love the ones you sent.

I am going to PM you know and I also want to say to you "thanks a million for doing all of the work in getting these done". It is great of you to step up and do this~

Rob/Boston

[wertsdb71]

@Paneeks1960 Yes, I don't think that I'll have a problem finding a home for 25,000+ sleeves. The problem is just paying for them _up front_ and then waiting on them to trickle out, you know. I am happy to help the VC with what I can, though. Thanks for the support!

[Afteringboard]

I was wondering what do this cost to send to Belgium? Let's say a thousand? Maybe an idea for the future: Having 3 dimensions: 1 little for 12 inch maxis / 1 normal as it is today / 1 big sleeve for the european measures, gatefold and trifolds.. Just an idea..

[wertsdb71]

@Afteringboard This has been discussed with a couple of others and having different sizes can be a problem when there is little interest in it. The minimum number of sleeves for any design/size is 5000. Unfortunately, I don't think I can find a home for 5000 of these for really large ones.

Just checked the USPS website for shipping rates to Belgium on ten packs and it is a ridiculous amount: $114.30! I'll do it if you want, but that just seems way out of line.

[dereckvon]

Sorry if I caused stress with my orders. It's the OCD in me.

[wertsdb71]

@dereckvon No stress, my friend. But I did think it was hilarious when you admitted that you weren't going to wade through the post office mess when mailing someone else's vinyl love.... but then made yet another sleeve order with me ;-D Funny!

[djsubrocka]

I will be wanting a bunch before to long. I want to get Blaked !

[wertsdb71]

@djsubrocka "Bunch?" If you are talking a thousand or two over the next 6 months then please get in touch with me so that I can make sure we account for your needs in the order.

[BrotherTuck1973]

I sent you a video. I cant wait for you to get more.

[wertsdb71]

@BrotherTuck1973 Got it, thanks. Nice find on that red-vinyl Tjader!

[mrhoffame]

Blake. I think it is great that you are selling these to us at cost, but I think it wuld be a good idea for you to take a little bit of profit on the end for yourself. Even if it's just a few bucks per packages. 1. You deserve 2. It can give you some capital to make bigger orders each time you place one. Lord knows you are not going to run out of "US" lol and you shouldn't be on the hook so much with each order. .

Thanks for all your time and effort Blake!

[wertsdb71]

@mrhoffame Hey Brandon, thanks for the positive comments. I do this for the VC because I know that some of you cats would do the same thing. I'm a "karma" kind of guy and know that it'll come back around when it is needed. :-D

[Lazerrus]

Awesome Blake. I know we have already talked so we're good. Glad to hear about the additional 1/16. Can't wait for the end of January! :)

[wertsdb71]

@Lazerrus Hey Duane. Yes, you and I are straight. I'll get in touch with you once I get the order placed. All the best.

[TheGrecianThunder]

Just e-mailed you....This is going to be the year of the Blake sleeve!

[wertsdb71]

@TheGrecianThunder Hey Andreas. Got your email and just responded. Thanks!

[stephievon]

practical and it makes sense. bulk always knocks the price way down. i'm sure the vinyl community will respond soon. thanks for being the sleeve face,

blake. your name has become a new verb and/or noun.

[dereckvon]

I love your sleeves!

[dereckvon]

I spoke to Teddy yesterday so I hope he's gotten in touch.

[wertsdb71]

@dereckvon Hey Dereck! Yes, just talked with Teddy a bit ago and we're cool. I'll keep you posted. :-)