Beenzino remains silent amid complaints about the slipshod production quality of his limited edition vinyl record
Beenzino released 1,000 copies of his full-length album '12' limited edition vinyl record to commemorate its 5th anniversary. The first 200 numbered copies (yellow ver.) were sold through a raffle with Hyundai Card VINYL & PLASTIC, and the remaining 800 copies (yellow/splatter/black ver.) were sold via online pre-orders with various vinyl record stores in South Korea.
Unfortunately, there have been numerous complaints about the production quality of the '12' vinyl in online Korean hip-hop communities, as well as negative reactions on social media towards BANA (Beast And Natives Alike)'s management regarding this issue and Beenzino's non-response to everything that is happening.
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"I should be happy to show off my Beenzino '12' vinyl..."
via HIPHOPLE
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I'm not good with words, so I won't even complain about the bad quality of K-vinyl records and how they're trying to cheat us, the consumers and listeners—all the talk over the past two days, set off by Beenzino's vinyl.
But I did have my doubts, getting the feeling that they went easy on quality checks because they assumed that most people only purchased the vinyl for collection purposes.
And so, having personally experienced this Beenzino vinyl situation, I made up my mind. From now on, I'll have nothing to do with anything related to BANA.
I was extremely disappointed.
At first, I was so excited about winning the raffle for the limited edition vinyl. All until I arrived at Hyundai Card VINYL & PLASTIC to purchase the vinyl, I had never expected this to happen.
Seriously, this can't ever be compared to The Quiett and Bong-hyun's excellent response (when The Quiett's 'glo forever' vinyl record production had several delays).
The quality of everything was just poor.
The vinyl cover? Gatefold? I think that's what it's called? The ends are opening up too. It seems they couldn't glue it together properly.
And...
That's it... Hahahahahaha
Okay. To be frank, the colour is quite pretty. But I can feel the insincerity with my whole body... ㅠㅠ
They call it "limited edition" and price it at 50,000 won, but there isn't even an insert or lyrics booklet that is often included with vinyl records.
(I haven't seen the original CD version, so if that version did not come with any insert then I've got no complaints. I'm just disappointed because 50,000 won is not a small sum.)
Moreover, I don't know if the hole right in the middle of the vinyl was punched in weirdly, or...
It's torn and wrinkled, and it can't fit in my record player LOL... I have to force it in just to play it.
And now if I were to flip to the B side or to remove it from the record player... It's so tightly fit that I have to turn it several times until it slowly comes off.
And on that B side, even the IAB logo and "Beenzino" text are flipped. I can't even stand to look at it.
I mean, I did enjoy the songs while the vinyl record was playing, but I got annoyed and just stopped playing it.
I was such a big fan, always calling Beenzino the best in K-hip-hop. After making this purchase, I've lost all affection for him and I'll be seeing myself out.
Because it seems like Beenzino simply thinks of his fans as "consumers" and that's all there is to it ㅠㅠ I don't like anything that Beenzino is selling after this one, so I'm no longer a fan of his. Never buying again!
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"The Beenzino Vinyl Incident"
Before I begin, please note that I am one of the victims who purchased the Yellow version which was suddenly changed into the Black version.
Of the 800 people who pre-ordered the vinyl online, those who purchased the Yellow version were "notified" 1~2 weeks before the slated delivery date that they would be receiving the Black version instead.
If you consider how vinyl records take months to produce, at 1~2 weeks before the expected delivery date the production of the vinyl records should almost be completed. It's either BANA's mistake or the vinyl pressing plant's mistake... I shall not write more in case there are misunderstandings.
We appreciate listening to vinyl records via analogue means, so its visuals are obviously important to vinyl record collectors. There is a huge difference between the coloured versions and the Black version.
It's just like you ordered the Set A menu at a restaurant but received a downgraded Set A-lite menu instead.
Remember when The Quiett released his 'glo forever' vinyl? The expected delivery date was getting delayed for quite some time, so they added the 'Hangang Gang' 7-inch vinyl for free. There were also frequent and detailed updates regarding the production process. Beenzino's '12' vinyl is miles apart when compared to The Quiett's 'glo forever' vinyl.
To be honest, I'm not even expecting free gifts like the 7-inch vinyl. It was my first time hearing of something like that too.
What's disappointing is BANA and Beenzino's response to this incident.
They were feeling sorry for the incident, so BANA promised to add in free sticker sets. I don't know if the stickers can live up to the coloured versions. Obviously, all of us who purchased the vinyl became enraged. And they even uploaded this notice on their Instagram Story which would subsequently disappear after 24 hours.
Thank you for your continued interest and support towards Beenzino '12' 5th-anniversary vinyl. Due to strengthened and extended COVID-19 safe distancing measures in Germany, prolonged technical issues on the manufacturer's end, delays in colour vinyl production and continuous air freight delays, we inevitably announce that all colour vinyl records will be changed to the Black version. For the unintentional inconvenience caused, all Black version vinyl records will come with an official sticker pack, and we will begin delivering pre-orders and accepting orders from 14 August onwards. The vinyl records are identical to the separate copies sold via Hyundai Card VINYL & PLASTIC, except for the different disc colour. Please contact the various suppliers for any other queries. Once again, we'd like to thank you for your continued interest and support.
And Beenzino, the artist behind the album, has said absolutely nothing regarding this incident.
I even considered the fact that maybe, Beenzino only approved of the idea to produce the vinyl record and has no idea that it is currently being sold.
But he once reposted an Instagram Story from a fan who played the Yellow ver. vinyl from Hyundai Card VINYL & PLASTIC. I believe that there's no way he is out of the loop because the negative sentiment from his fans is pretty severe.
From the perspective of those who purchased the vinyl, his attitude felt like this: "Oh well they're 1,000 limited edition copies anyway, you want to cancel your purchase? Yeah whatever, go ahead if you don't like it."
And in the present we live in today, the quality of vinyl records sold is cause for controversy.
They're not called "K-vinyl records" for no reason. They're overpriced, yet the quality is absolute scum...
It's simply disappointing to see BANA lacking far behind for merchandise when compared to other music labels.
I think that BANA or Beenzino must make an additional response to this matter.
TL;DR
1. The coloured versions were changed into the Black version
2. Those who purchased (the coloured versions) have to accept their decision
3. Proper response to this matter is needed
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Comment threads from Beenzino's Instagram and YouTube channel
Source: Beenzino's Instagram
1. [32♥] Do you have nothing to say regarding the colour changes to the vinyl?
- I know right... If only he cared about it...
- I wish they'd upload an official notice... I'm still in denial over this matter...
- BANA uploaded a notice only via Instagram Story and didn't even apologise. The compensation is a free sticker set... Many have expressed disappointment for the shameless notice when they're giving us something completely different from what was promised. Some are thinking they didn't want to be flooded with negative comments so they uploaded the notice as a Story instead of a proper post.
2. [32♥] I ordered the Yellow version, so why are you changing it to the Black version? It's not simply "a different disc colour". I'm truly disappointed. I really don't mind waiting, so please produce the Yellow version.
3. [20♥] I really don't need those stickers, so please produce the Yellow version even if it takes time.
4. [15♥] You're really going to let things pass like that? I'm so f*cking disappointed.
5. [14♥] I guess Beenzino is completely alright that his own full-length album's physical copies are getting ruined since he's busy with his YouTube channel
6. [12♥] I really like your YouTube channel and everything. But I truly wonder where the idea to replace your original vinyl design with some useless stickers came from. How creative.
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Source: Beenzino's Instagram
1. [89♥] Beenzino, the one who's snapping photos and working on some stuff, but doesn't apologise for the situation with his vinyl records!
- A: I was one of the lucky 200 who won the raffle, so I purchased the vinyl. But it was a defective product;; I didn't think much of it because I bought it just for collection purposes, but now I'm hearing about the remaining 800 copies getting changed to the Black version... The expected delivery date keeps getting delayed too;; I hope they can sort this out asap...
- B: Wow, there are defective copies among the 200 limited edition vinyl records too? You might want to just cancel the order
- A: I don't know if it's just mine. Even if it's just a single copy it's still a defective item, but when I purchased the vinyl at Hyundai Card VINYL & PLASTIC they said that strictly no exchanges were allowed, even if it has defects, because it is a limited edition vinyl. The hole in the middle of the disc looked forcefully cut out, and that hole was too small for my turntable... I forcefully widened that hole and now it fits my turntable, but not sure if that caused problems because now I can't play the B side...
2. [6♥] There's a lot of talk on HIPHOPLE regarding the bad quality of the '12' vinyl...
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Source: Beenzino's YouTube Channel
1. [205♥] Hyungnim, I'm forced to receive the Black version of your vinyl.. Could you just comment anything about this...
2. [178♥] Hyungnim, aren't you being too much for what's going on with the vinyl records? When problems cropped up with The Quiett's vinyl records he thought of his fans first and decided to re-manufacture them... You flexing the money you can't bear to spend - it's totally unconvincing. You haven't explained or anything so I wrote a comment.
3. [45♥] I was very disappointed about this vinyl incident. I'm getting slapped by reality as I think of my Jazzyfact merchandise, the concerts I've been to, the albums I own.