Roots Archives Forum

Ernie is the man. Oh, and haven't you heard? Strictly brick and mortar stores are so 20th century. You can't hang onto an outdated business model and expect to thrive. SCAPEGOATING!!!!

The real treasures are in second hand stores.

I still prefer flipping through the record bins, even though I live close enough to Ernie B's for the default shipping to get it to me here overnight. The stores I shop go to the bother of keeping their stock up, and in just about every other way making sure I enjoy myself while I'm there. I may only go in once a month, but seldom leave without six or seven LPs, dubplates, etc. under my arm--usually to the tune of a "benjamin" per visit.

I haven't ordered on-line for quite a while, with the exception of stuff from Japan, which is by definition, obscure--stuff like "King Jammy Meets Dry & Heavy: In the Jaws of the Tiger" (great album, BTW).

If their sales aren't where they should be, the problem is with the store(s), not EB's, as I see it anyway.

Since I am now back in NYC, I try to shop at Jammyland as much as possible. Do I pay a bit more that way? Yes, but I pass it off as the price for admission! Where else can I go to hang out, talk reggae with other hard-core fans, and listen to whole albums before I buy them? Hell, last time I was there I got to meet a pretty well-known Jamaican producer and talk to him for a while about what things were like in the JA music scene in the 70's. Going to Jammyland is always a great EXPERIENCE. Something that buying on-line can never replicate.

If I didn't live close to a reggae record shop, I would definitely buy most of my stuff from Ernie, but since I do, I'd rather do my part to keep Jammyland open. The experience of going there is priceless, and I'd hate for that to vanish.

Wow, that's nasty. Thanks for copying it and posting it because it ireally made my day. I need a good laugh now and then to keep my sanity.

I guess I better respond, just for your amusement because I doubt anyone takes the original writers thought very seriously...I will reply below with "EB:} in front so you know it's me talking...I'll put a ">" in front of the original posted words...

I always welcome anyone to be critical of my business...that's how I learn to do better.

Thanks to all for your kind words in your replies.

Read my response below if you are interested...

-Ernie



>Is it us, King Power Records, or is EB REGGAE >Distribution helping to SHUT DOWN Reggae stores >worldwide?

EB: Many of the stores I sell to are thriving. In fact stores are the backbone of my business. I am the last person who wants stores to close because it is in my best interest to sell more, not less.


>Ernie B's, for those who don't know, own the market on >Reggae CD/LP Distribution

EB: I am not the biggest company in the business. VP is. I have 10 employees, VP has about 60 I think. VP has issued over 1,000 albums on their label, I have issued zero. I do think I'm the best to deal with and have the best selection, but I am sorry to say I am not the biggest. Even VP and myself combined only have about 5% to 10% of the world market share in reggae sales.


>he doesn't even check for RESALE LiCENSE NUMBERS anymore!!!

EB: That's actually a good point. It is a little tough on the stores...we do in fact have a liberal policy as far as giving a wholesale price to most anyone who orders in large quantity. However with the music business in it's current state I think it's best to just let supply and demand determine what price will work and what won't. I have customers paying full price and paying $1000 per month for reggae and at the same time stores buying $175 at a pop and getting a better price, so if you want to talk about fair I think it's a good argument that the $1000 customer deserves a break.

EB again: The real price complaint should be made toward Best Buy, Walmart, Costco, Tower (to some extent), Circuit City and other big box stores for predatory pricing on big sellers. Like Bob Marley Legend for $9.99 on shelf when my cost from Universal was $12.06! It's actually not even legal to sell at below cost in an attempt to injure competition. This (plus downloading) are the 2 reasons why stores are going down. The other problem now is Amazon and other markerplaces...they have such low prices on CD's that stores can't compete...plus the fact that Amazon has so many used CD's.



>How about Payola? Payola is the process of paying >distributers/radio programs/advertisers to promote your >music above all else regardless of the quality...

EB: I have no idea what this refers to...someone needs to explain this to me so I can respond.


Have you seen the burn CDR's that ERnie B's sells after having boasted he would never sell bootlegs? Has anyone seen the quality on the WACKIES dvd? Straight up Bootleg from a VHS tape......

EB: That's true the Wackies is a joke. I have some titles that are of lousy quality. But they are all legit, made by the owners of the material. I would like to see someone tell Bullwackie himself: "No I won't stock your CD or DVD because it looks like a pirate copy". There are some people you can't say things like that to. You gotta have some respect to these originator producers. Give them a break, they really can not afford to issue a replicated (real) CD. Saying I sell pirate music is downright silly.


>It seems as if the Deep Pockets of the White-Man have >begun to influence the CULTURE of BLACK PEOPLE and >BLACK MUSIC all over again...( any slave money in that >Ernie'?)

EB: All I do is buy records and then sell them. I don't make records, I don't sell illigal records, I don't force anyone to do anything...All I've done is bring some legitimate business practices to this messed up world called the music business. My goal was to always pay my debts and then sell records for as much profit as possible (yes I really said that...I really do want to make as much profit as possible). The reference to greed doesn't make since...if it were about money I would have quit this biz a long time ago because I don't need the money. I stay in this business for the same reason I got in: I love the music, love the customers, and I love learngin more about the music every day. The few complainers I have run into during my 15 years are usually the guys who don't spend any money, and they don't know anything about the music anyway. It is surprising how little most record stores know about reggae music.


>A message to ALL------Don't think you can survive >selling just music any more------Thanks Ernie'------

EB: It's true, it is real hard in the business now. But you can make money selling music. Every day new stores pop up and start buying from me. Plenty of success stories, but you gotta be smart and work real hard (and maybe get a little lucky).


>(Poster): I just hope the mom & pop music stores don't >become extinct because of this.

EB: I hope so to. I still like going into stores. No substitute for that.

EB: In closing, it may surprise you to hear that I do agree with the upset person claiming it was not fair to sell wholesale to non-stores. But, most of the non-store wholesale customers I sell to are radio DJs or club DJs, and I figure we better get the tunes in their hands because that helps EVERYONE in the business (promotion). There are some that are just regular guys and I agree they probably should not get wholesale prices from me, but frankly it's too much work to weed out certain guys. If people want to order a lot of music from me, they can get a discount...that is not a new concept. I am sorry to stores that have been damaged but you must know that the bulk of the damage is just the downloads, big box stores, etc.

Nuff Respect Ernie! Didn't know you posted here. Thanks for running such a cool business and getting orders processed so fast! You've ruined me for other online stores now... If an order takes more than two days to process (pretty standard elsewhere) I start getting irritated! You've set up unrealistic expectations for me!

Keep doing your thing, screw the haters!

EBreggae web layout is second to none.
Nothing but good things to say about EBreggae.com.

*If people want to order a lot of music from me, they can get a discount...that is not a new concept.*

Exactly. This is just good business practice, rewarding your most loyal customers as well as those who have the disposable income to purchase enough to justify giving a discount to. From a logistical standpoint, it easily takes more time to fulfill 500 single-item orders than to do one order of that same 500. When you take into account inventory issues (which I know you do!), this means a lot.

So please, don't beat yourself up for giving better deals to individuals who buy in large quantities. You are providing them with an experience that is mutually beneficial. I have found your prices very reasonable, and your deeper discounts on individual items have expanded my collection considerably. Though I'm not the type of customer to blow hundreds in a single order, I am the type who repeats business with those establishments I have pleasant transactions with.

Reggae isn't a charity, even if many are doing it primarily for the love of the music.

I've always expressed my opinion that Ernie B's web catalog is the best reggae music catalog and database on the web.

Ernie B's is good for the consumer, I used to order from RAS when they used to distribute, then Ernie B took over and I have never had problems. I pay the consumer price, not wholesale.

I used to go to Barton's Records & Gift Shop in South Central, Los Angeles. The atmosphere was great: loud music Jamaicans talking and grooving to the music, incense burning and Mr. Barton playing the latest stuff from Jamaica or old classics. He would always give me a deal on the few albums I bought and give me a couple of his picks to buy. Then we'd go around the corner to Joe's Universal Restaurant and eat some jerk chicken.

But then the riots hits and Joe moved out as did many residents, Barton had to relocate to another site, the internet came and Barton eventually closed shop and had some personal issues too.

There aren’t many good sources of quality Reggae music, Best Buy, Fry’s, Walmart might have one or two decent titles other than those I buy from Ernie B or used albums if I can find them. Other stores will sell at too high of a price.