Sunday, March 15, 2020

About SKFong.Blogspot.Com

Updated March/2020

Happy spinning and thank you for the support

Did very little for this blog in 2019. Busy year... dad passed away, home overhaul renovation (now I have a dedicated room for my LP/CD collections), traveling for assignments etc... and now kena grounded with Covid-19.

Back to the vinyl scene, the buy/sell activities have been really slow. Mainly due to lacking of new-used stock coming in and lazy to do marketing. Somehow just no urge in me and the lacking of motivation!

Take pictures, upload, posting, take order (& sometimes answering very irritating questions from buyer), packing and updating. Biang.. all that for that little margin... not worthy le.

But lucky me, somehow I still managed to clear like 200+ of good-old English albums by bundling with rare-Chinese titles. Somehow this tactic works and you must be patient to wait for the right buyer. 

Recently launched the 50% promo. Only 1 deal so far. 3 chaps came and picked about 50+ titles. Their average price was like SGD16.5.  Consider an excellent deal with many good titles that outside would be SGD25-40.

I still got about 1200 albums to clear. Help me to shut out can? In return, you will get 10% cut.

Thanks, 

/ / /

Updated 1/Jan/2018

Happy New Year and thank you for the support. 

Is getting harder to sustain this routine of buying and selling. This mainly due to my full-time job with quite a bit of traveling. In addition, the business rationale of this trading is getting out of hand. 

As predicted last year, Canton/Chinese title prices are sky rocking (in HK). Buying there and resale here can hardly fetch any reasonable margin. And not forgetting the high potential & risk of getting a warped record or other unnoticeable inferior issues that could make the album worthless.

Supply is by far outcry of demand. Too many titles are being dumped into this little island and niche market without truly understand how a sustainable business should be. Anyway I have minimum fixed costs so I cant be border that much.

All in all, personally, I find the vinyl scene here is a sunsetting business.

Back to the hobby, nothing happening last year after iI hocked with Naim. Still a Nac82 + HiCap + Nap180. I am happy with this setup, Naim is fast and dynamic. Can cater to all genre of music lo.

As for turntable, added a Micro Seiki & is in hibernate mode. My aim is to get it running by 2018Q1. Garrard 401 & Linn LP12 are taking turn to perform.  Pending my mood to mount the arm for the TD160 super and revive a half-dead TD150.

Till then my friends, stay tuned and happy spinning.

cheers, SK

/ / /

Updated 1/Jan/2017

Happy New Year and thank you, friends, this blog is coming 8 years old and still counting.

Appreciate your strong support.

Few noticeable trends and probably to continue in 2017 and beyond:

- Canton/Chinese titles the prices have somehow gone crazy.  No point to highlight the long list of reasons. So don't hesitate too long if you come by something you like

- Uncertain-death artist is not a price-surge guarantee phenomenon. But it will somehow urge the buying interest.  For all sellers (dealer or individual) please acknowledge and act ethically

- Expectation, if you are into the 80s, the disc will probably aged 35+. If you are into the 90s, the album will be around 25+ years old. So please dont expect a MINT copy with perfect playback. Minor hairlines and ticks are somehow unavoidable ( but not to worry, I will still try my best to assure your satisfaction and you should demand the same treatment from other seller too)

- Demand v.s supply. If the pattern goes on, probably in the next decade this little island will house the most Japan pressed albums than any other country (maybe we will out-beat Japan itself, hahahaha).  Buyers are spoilt for choice and this contribute to lower margin. I think the local trading scene somehow has set the wrong foot for business sustainability and ecosystem. Good luck to them

Alright, as for me, nothing much changes from last year. Software wise, I have added many Chinese/Canton titles in the 90s. These are investment for me though majority of them are not my cup of music. Hardware wise, full Naim (Nac82, Hicap, Nap180) with + Spendor SP1/2, Celestion SL6 and Epos ES14. They are simply the perfect combination

Stay tuned and happy spinning

cheers, SK

/ / /



Updated 2/Sept/2015

Thank you friends, this blog is 6yrs old and still counting. Appreciate your support.

I have moved on to a new job that requires intensive traveling. Unlikely in the past, whenever I headed to (for holidays or work) are the major cities with lots of record/CD shops . Now, I mostly travel to those less-established countries where "hifi" is not in their dictionary. Given to that, I have less time for myself and the opportunity to source for new-used LPs. 

In the past a year or so I have sold off most of my beloved decks.  Reduced from 13 to 4 turntables. Now, I only left with:

- Garrard 401, 
- Thorens TD125
- Thorens TD160 Super and 
- Linn LP12

Unlike in the past, I used to change deck every 1-2 months but now is a real challenge. How I wish there are 48 hours a day!

Given the above, you will see me less-active in the coming months. But rest assure, there are still many goodies to be revealed. It is just a matter of time.

Stay tuned and happy spinning

cheers, SK

/ / /


Updated 15/Mar/2014

This blog been running for about 5 years and really thanks to all the visitors and friends continuous supporting.

Being a collector, I know exactly the feeling of buying something not as "described" and the lousy feeling. Hence, I will continue to strive for excellence in the quality of the LPs/CDs that I am selling. So far so good. 

I don't take in BULK lot from overseas, blindly! I don't have 100, 200, 500 shipment from overseas weekly. Simply as I don't believe the quality of those items.

I believe "good things come in small packages". All my LPs/CDs are mostly carefully hand -picked, cleaned (double wash), tested and honestly described the condition inside out. Yes, it takes time and quite troublesome to post album by album.  However, my efforts ensure the buyer peace of mind and worry-free on the item.

Thanks again to all my friends. 

Happy spinning!

SK

/ / /


Updated 5/May/2013

Thanks for visiting my blog. I started this blog in late 2009 primarily is to share my hobby in audio and my vinyl and CD collections. Also, am using this blog to trade LP, CD and audio equipment

Most of my LP collections are from the 80s & 90s and mainly into POP, Indie and a bit of Jazz. Rock is not my cup of tea

All my vinyls are clean with VPI HW17f regardless if they are new or used. My (current) decks are Thorens TD160B (SME 3009 S2) & Linn LP12 (Rega RB300)


My CD collections comprise of CD Single (about 60%) and album (40%). Personally, I find CD single is as good and rare as the vinyl 12" single. Reason as there are many live, unplugged and/or unreleased tracks only released in CD single format but not in the main album. This gives the CD single another distinctive value in addition to the audio quality as compare with the CD album.

My humble audio setup is still evolving and my dream is to have my own audio room but i believe this is one big constraint for many living in Singapore that confined within the size of HDB flat.

Thanks again for coming by and let's enjoy the music...


Cheers,
SK


/ / /

(Updated Monthly) Archival for:

Done Deal (Dec2020, SW154, HW1)

Done Deal (Nov2020, SW196, HW2)

Done Deal (Oct2020, SW116, HW8)

Done Deal (3Q2020, SW180, HW6)

Done Deal (Sept2020, SW65, HW5)

Done Deal (Aug2020, SW60, HW1)

Done Deal (Jul2020, SW55, HW0)

Done Deal (2Q2020, SW405, HW10)

Done Deal (Jun2020, SW145, HW5)

Done Deal (May2020, SW96, HW3)

Done Deal (April2020, SW164, HW2)

Done Deal (1Q2020, SW173, HW4)

Done Deal (4Q2019, SW98, HW3)

Done Deal (Setp2019, SW61, HW3)

Shut down between April - Aug 2019 due to house renovation

Done Deal (Mar2019, SW36, HW2)

Done Deal (Feb2019, SW49, HW0)

Done Deal (Jan2019, SW10, HW0)

Done Deal (Dec2018, SW20, HW0)

Done Deal (Nov2018, SW18, HW1)

Done Deal (Oct2018, SW19, HW0)

Done Deal (Sept2018, SW7, HW1)

Done Deal (Aug2018, SW43, HW1)

Done Deal (Jul2018, SW37, HW0)

Done Deal (Jun2018, SW67, HW1)

Done Deal (May2018, SW112, HW2)

Done Deal (April2018, SW57, HW0)

Done Deal (Mar2018, SW51, HW1)

Done Deal (Feb2018, SW69, HW1)

Done Deal (Jan2018, SW46, HW0)

/ / /

Done Deal (Dec2017, SW15, HW0)

Done Deal (Nov2017, SW64, HW0)

Done Deal (Oct2017, SW130, HW3)

Done Deal (Sept2017, SW41, HW0)

Done Deal (Aug2017, SW56, HW0)

Done Deals (Jul2017, SW78, HW0)

Done Deals (Jun2017, SW93, HW1)

Done Deals (May2017, SW34, HW0)

Done Deals (April2017, SW57, HW2)

Done Deals (Mar2017, SW41, HW2)

Done Deals (Feb2017, SW40, HW0)

Done Deals (Jan2017, SW69, HW1) 

/ / /

Done Deals (Dec2016, SW32, HW1)

Done Deals (Nov2016, SW61, HW0)

Done Deals (Oct2016, SW92, HW1)

Done Deals (Sept2016, SW39, HW3)

Done Deals (Aug2016, SW38, HW1)

Done Deals (July2016, SW38, HW2)

Done Deals (June2016, SW46, HW2)

Done Deals (May2016, SW27, HW2)

Done Deals (Apr2016, SW49, HW3)

Done Deals (Mar2016, SW25, HW2)

Done Deals (Feb2016, SW66, HW6)

Done Deals (Jan2016, SW93, HW3)

/ / / 

Done Deals (Dec2015, SW31, HW4)

Done Deals (Nov2015, SW13, HW3)

Done Deals (Oct2015, SW20, HW5)

Done Deals (Sept2015, SW7, HW1)

Done Deals (Aug2015, SW24, HW2)

Done Deals (Jul2015, SW40, HW0)

Done Deals (Jun2015, SW42, HW3)

Done Deals (May2015, SW47, HW4)

Done Deals (April2015, SW39, HW5)

Done Deals (Mar2015, SW33, HW2)

Done Deals (Feb2015, SW23, HW3)

Done Deals (Jan2015, SW29, HW10)

/ / / 

Done Deals (Dec2014, SW39, HW4)

Done Deals (Nov2014, SW65, HW1)

Done Deals (Oct2014, SW72, HW3)

Done Deals (Sept2014, SW28, HW4)

Done Deals (Aug2014, SW40, HW1)

Done Deals (Jul2014, SW13, HW1)

Done Deals (Jun2014, SW27, HW0)

Done Deals (May2014, SW47, HW2)

Done Deals (April2014, SW46, HW2)

Done Deals (Mar2014, SW45, HW0)

Done Deals (Feb2014, SW25, HW0)

Done Deals (Jan2014, SW39, HW0)

/ / / 

Done Deals (Dec2013, SW24, HW3)

Done Deals (Nov2013, SW42, HW1)

Done Deals (Oct2013, SW10, HW1)

Done Deals (Sept2013)

Done Deals (Aug2013)

Done Deals (Jun & Jul2013)

Done Deals (May2013)

Done Deals (April2013)

Done Deals (Mar2013)

Done Deals (Feb2013)

Done Deals (Jan2013)

Done Deals (2012)

/ / /

Archival for (hobbies sharing):

For Your Info (2017)

For Your Info (2016)

For Your Info (2015)

For Your Info (2H2014)

For Your Info (1H2014)

For Your Info (2H2013)

For Your Info (1H2013)

For Your Info (2012)

/ / /

Past Done Deals Listed By Artists (not updated)

/ / /

My Humble Setup 2H2011  

My Humble Setup 1H2011

My Humble Setup 2010

No comments:

Post a Comment