Let's get physical

Streaming services vs vinyl and paper books

I went to see if Miles Kane's new album is available for pre-order for my country, it wasn't yet, but while was there I spotted the special red edition of my favorite album, I don't think I've seen it here before, so I couldn't resist.

To be honest this is only the third new album that I own, and a small but decent collection from vinyl, from their modern era, that was gifted to me to save it from abandonment. I don't like calling vintage something from my parents' youth, for me this term applies to the 30ths, 20ths and early, but I'm often corrected about that perception, so feel free to categorize them as you want.

I was a digital girly and just last year this video by Rick Beato converted my mind:

That applies to knitting and crochet patterns too, as this is a craft journal essentially. My preferred way is digital and for a while I struggled a lot to find access to resources that other countries have. For some very strange reasons many sites for eBooks do not allow purchases from my country, as if our money stinks. I remember I was so happy when I found that first Kobo then eBooks started to sell to us. I have several books at both places. But then we saw what happened with the Kindle, which is insane! When purchasing ebooks I thought I would own them forever, or at least for the period that this site exists. I'm not agreeing on yearly subscriptions to them for sure, and feeling it unfair to pay the books' price and then lose them after a while.

And I don't mind when some sites are honest and from the beginning declare themselves as a library service. Storytel is the best thing that has happened to the European fiber community, because it provides accessibility to so many knitting books. And you know upfront that you don't own anything, but can borrow as many books as you desire thru the time you've paid. Although I'm not sure this is the best option for the authors. I spoke with some of the designers that I support and they don't feel like Storytel compensates them fairly, so make your choice wisely, do you need information (then that's the perfect place) or that's a gesture of support for your favorite creators, then buy directly from their own sites. Similar to what was pointed at the video above.

I'm slowly trying to start buying physical books too. But there is the huge, tremendous pain from dealing with the international delivery services. Some countries charge double, even triple of the price on the item itself. For the same books that their citizens use free delivery. Aha, you get it! Then the local postage is openly hostile that you are supporting a foreigner's economy, and for revenge charging you with the local VAT and waiting period of several weeks for checking and approval.

Surprisingly high number of sellers are incapable of sending orders with the correct paperwork, as if they are clueless what forms are required. Which rewards you with additional writing of explanations and if you're lucky may even win a not very nice trip, not to the local but the regional post station, just to allow you to get the package out of the customs office hold.

So yes, most often, the physical purchases that are international, becomes a battle that is worth it only if you're gonna treat the product as a little treasure. But there is still a little hope that came from ordering from local retailers. It's relatively slower (I found the album two other albums later) and available only for the products by the biggest, well established artists, but at least it is some kind of start point...

Of course, I'm also aware of the minimalist's viewpoint, and their talks about consumerism, overconsumption and hoarding, but I simply disagree with that when it comes to hobbies, and this will be the subject of my future post.

But buying art pieces is not pointless shopaholism! Buying art worth, it worth it, I promise you. It's the same as visiting a farmers market, holding the vinyl, the book, is literally holding the fruits of the work of the artist. With the small exception that they grow it not in the soil, but in their soul. Their apples, carrots and cucumbers, and if you could justifies feeding your body, it's even more important to feed your mind.

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I'm really curious to hear:

What has your experience been? And do you prefer the insecurity of owning digital products or the complicated world of dealing with delivery of physical purchases?