Customers info | Vendors info | Carrot Top Records
Dear label,
So you've contacted us about selling your records. Since there are no classes on running an indie label and what indie distributors expect or need to help them sell records, this document contains almost all the information on what WE need to sell your records most efficiently, and that's the whole point, isn't it?
1. Advance notification.
--"It's out now" just sucks. 2 weeks before release isn't quite enough. 4 weeks or more is great where possible. If the date changes, that's fine, just notify us periodically.2. Info.
--With this notification, we need a sheet of info from you, a one sheet if you will, that contains the following: ARTIST, TITLE, FORMAT, LABEL NAME, CATALOG NUMBER (DIFFERENT THAN UPC#), DISTRIBUTOR/WHOLESALE PRICE, RELEASE DATE, exportability, and some descriptive info on the band, this particular release, the packaging if it's special, etc. WHAT DOES THE MUSIC SOUND LIKE? Some people prefer to put a little picture of the cover art. This is a nice touch but you will not be penalized if it is not included.
--We've most likely got to presell your record without hearing it, so you've got to give us that info. In short, give us all the info (& perhaps some tasty press quotes where possible) that you can find that will help US sell your records, or if you want to think of it another way, why would somebody at a store or overseas distributor buy your record from us, or anybody else, when there are hundreds of new records released each week? What you provide to us on this one sheet makes the difference.
--A one sheet IS NOT a creative writing project. It is a sales tool. What you send out to press, friends, family, your web site, is your business. If you'd like us to sell your record, we need the tools that we have requested above. Save stream of consciousness prose and poetry for your English class or journal. All one sheets deemed to be creative writing projects receive a grade of F and are disposed of appropriately, usually along with the record they represent. Here is an example and here is a one-sheet for two great records (large download - 568k).
--If you have multiple releases, a wholesale catalog would also be helpful.3. Pricing.
--This is your prerogative. We use a standard mark-up percentage on top of whatever you charge us, no matter what list/suggested retail price you are claiming for an item. A good rule of thumb to consider is to use the following equation: Wholesale Price = 1/2 List Price. This means that whatever price you sell to us should be about 1/2 of what you would like to see it priced in the store. A $14.98 list price CD is usually sold to distributors for $7.50, for example. We cannot control retail pricing for items that we have sold, but generally the market works to make them fairly uniform.4. Proper, dated invoice.
--When you send us your goods, include an invoice that contains the following:
--Invoice to: CTD, Ltd. (NOT Carrot Top Records or just Carrot Top)
--Include your label name and return (shipping/street) address. This is important for returns down the road!
--Include to whom the checks should be made payable if it is different than your label name.
--Include a PO box if you'd like it sent somewhere different than your street address.
--An item by item listing of what you have sent us with the price for each title and/or format. Also include a total for all items on the invoice.
example: 100 Retsin-Sweet Luck CD @ $7.50 = $750.00
--We CANNOT PAY YOU without a proper invoice.
--Ship and Invoice to:
CTD, Ltd.
935 W. Chestnut, Ste. LL15
Chicago, IL 606225. Shipping to Distributors.
--Each distributor you use has a piece of the same pie. The pie is a small one for independent music. In order to insure that CTD gets a fair shot at selling your records to the small handful of pie eaters sitting at the indie table, it is imperative that you ship your goods to us so that we will receive them on the same day as your other distributors. If you're on the West Coast, it takes 5-7 days or more for your records to get here. If you're in the Midwest or East Coast, it's anywhere from 2-4 days. Please consider this when planning your ship dates to distributors. If we receive records late, we will be less able to sell them and will be more likely to return records to you and nobody wants that!
--Please ship UPS Ground. The postal service takes too long and does not handle their packages carefully. Please call 800-PICK-UPS to ask where your nearest UPS drop off site is located if you are unsure. If you choose to use Pack and Mail or some other intermediary service, WE CAN ONLY PAY YOU FOR PUBLISHED UPS SHIPPING CHARGES, ie. what UPS would have charged you had you shipped the package directly with them. Shipping services DOUBLE the price that UPS charges and we are not able to make up that difference with our tiny markup.
--Please DOUBLE BOX or use box liners (ie. extra cardboard) when packing your shipment. Please do not skimp on packing tape. Please DO NOT USE masking tape, scotch tape, staples, glue, paste,or gluestick. While paste does taste good, none of these will hold up to shipping and handling across the country. When your box is packed, it should NOT sound like a maraca when shaken. If you are using a recycled box that has already been used, it is extremely important that you follow these instructions. While nothing is perfect, following these simple rules will help to insure that your goods arrive without damage and are not returned to you in this damaged condition at your expense.6. Payment. (Pay attention. Read carefully. All will be made clear.)
--We generally pay on 60 day consignment terms (that is, for what's been sold).
--If the balance due of the currently due invoice is greater than the difference between the total open balance and our stock on hand, then we will simply pay the invoice in full.
--If that difference is smaller (ie. if by paying an invoice in full we will run into a credit balance with you where we have more stock on hand than money owed) then we will provide you with a statement of what's in stock and balance due and pay the difference between the two.
--Payment is always applied to the oldest open invoice. Any remaining balance is then moved forward either 60 days from payment date or to the payment date of the next open invoice, if any, whichever is sooner.
--We are not able to pay COD for anything, even if your band is now, or was at some point, on Matador or a Matador manufactured and distributed label.7. Imports.
--At the present time, we distribute only items made in the good ol' USA, and sometimes Canada, or that are sold to us by foreign companies with a US shipping, payment, and return address. While there are a few, tiny exceptions to this and every rule (except items 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 above), there are not many. So, unless your label is either based in the US, or less preferably Canada, or has an office here, we probably will not deal with you at this time. Nothing personal (see also 8 & 9 below).8. Type of Music We Carry.
--Our catalog is diverse, eclectic, deep, and pretty cool, we think. We primarily sell music that a well-rounded alternative/independent record store near you would sell, or that would cross over into it from another genre (eg. out jazz, hip hop, country, punk, emo, & whatever it is that the Flying Luttenbachers are currently doing). If your music falls outside of this category (eg. urban, R & B based woo-woo music, not that there's anything wrong with it), then there's not much sense in sending it so save the postage.9. Submissions.
--Send us a one sheet, some press if you have it, and a copy of your release. Wait at least 10 days after mailing to get in touch with us. We are deluged with submissions, so be patient, polite and persistent if we have not gotten to it.
--If we choose not to carry your release or label, it is most likely not because we hate you, your band, your label, your hometown, your professional sports team (except the Mets. We hate the Mets. And the Red Wings. And the Packers. And the Heat. And Manchester United. And the old Soviet teams. And excessive parentheticals), or anything else about you. It is most likely because we simply do not believe that we can successfully sell your release(s) and thus do not want to waste our time and yours trying. We are a small company with a small niche in a small market.
--If we decide that we cannot sell your release, that does not mean that somebody else won't be able to, or at least interested in trying.
--Likewise, if we turn down one release on your label, that also does not mean that we won't possibly be interested in something else that you may put out later. Please stay in touch.10. If you have any questions about any of this or anything else, PLEASE call us & we'll help. We want to sell your records as badly as you do, and hate returns as much, if not more, than you do. Seriously.
Thanks.
CTD, Ltd.
935 W. Chestnut, Ste. LL15
Chicago, IL 60622 USA
312-432-1194
312-432-1351 fax
Customers info | Vendors info | Carrot Top Records