How are you buying Alpocalypse?

[CatraDhtem]

and shipping-wise makes it more difficult to break the street date (although obviously not impossible).

That part I really doubt. Unless we're talking about some last-minute overnight shipping thing, stores have their Tuesday stock on hand typically by the previous Saturday at the latest for a number of reasons. Stores (assuming we're talking about one that's on the up-and-up) don't break street date because they don't have the merchandise; it's because to do so would put their parent company in contract violation with the label/studio.

[minnick27]

Yeah when I worked in te bookstore we alway had stuff early. We had 40 cases of Harry Potter 4 three weeks before it came out. Stephen Kings Dreamcatcher we had a case of that almost two months early, but that was the exception. Usually it was around two weeks ahead of time. That way you still have to time to order more or if the store didn't get their shipment due to error they still had time to replace it. Although smaller releases like Al's (unfortunately) would probably be in the shipment from the parent company as opposed to the label, which means they would have probably gotten it Friday.

[Way_Moby]

I know some smaller author's books will go on sale before the "release" date. I'm not sure it really works for music though.

[minnick27]

Well if things come in a bulk shipment from the company's distribution center it's easy. Say they threw 20 copies of Alpocalypse in a box with the stores resupply shipment. The discs themselves don't say the street date, so it relies strictly on someone checking te street date list. If they don't do that, then it's going out early. Lady Gagas new album would most likely come in several cases that have the street date marked on it in several places. as far as the company getting in trouble, I doubt there would be much stink over a store selling 1 or 2 copies of Alpocalypse, compared to a store selling 30 or more copies if Lady Gaga early

[CatraDhtem]

as far as the company getting in trouble, I doubt there would be much stink over a store selling 1 or 2 copies of Alpocalypse, compared to a store selling 30 or more copies if Lady Gaga early

Well obviously, but kinda like I said earlier, if we're talking about a professional retailer, then it's just something they wouldn't do anyway for any title, proporational response or not.

I mean, it's not rocket science. Even when distributors do send their own product (as has been mentioned on here), they usually stick big frigging labels on the cartons stressing the street date. It really couldn't be more foolproof.

Now, having said that, it happens all the time. There's a local chain around me that notoriously puts titles out early because they want to be "the cool store."

[Bruce the Duck]

Now, having said that, it happens all the time. There's a local chain around me that notoriously puts titles out early because they want to be "the cool store."

It's probably less about wanting to be "the cool store" and more about getting known for putting things out early so that they get the sales over their competitors. It makes sense, considering nowadays brick and mortar music retailers in general are becoming more and more obsolete. They have to do something to get people in their stores.

[TMBJon]

I've already bought the album three times on Amazon mp3. Once for myself and twice for some family members. Really a great deal on Amazon, and makes it so easy to decide to gift it to someone.
Still have yet to get the physical disc because Best Buy wasn't open yet this morning. I will be getting that after work, probably two copies for some reason.

[weirdojace]

Just bought the deluxe edition at Best Buy. Yay!

[Way_Moby]

I decided to go and see if my local Wal*Mart had a copy, and they did! So I got the deluxe edition!! I'm listening to it right now... Beautiful.

[weirdojace]

Wal-Mart has the deluxe one? That's good to hear. I didn't go there because I feared they would only carry the standard CD version. Whenever I go to a Wal-Mart or Target it feels like they never carry deluxe editions of stuff...