DO IT YOURSELF (Her)story in a nutshell...
Ruin Nation Records and Distribution is based in Bremen / Germany and located in a 3 room flat with 2 people living among boxes and shelves and records and books...
Ruin Nation Records and Distribution exist since 1993 in various forms and is a non-profit* organisation, owned and operated by a single person with help of a group of dedicated activists.
Our work is mainly based within the Anarcho Punk Scene, with links to the Dissent networks and social critical movements world wide...
Our aim is to inform and inspire people, may it be through music, literature, or other mediums, to seek for alternatives to survive free thinking and independant from the ongoing oppressive, abusive, capitalist, racist, sexist and exploitative mechanisms and structures of the so called "society" we all are a part of.
We try to achieve this by independent production and distribution of Records, CD's and Books that carry a message or ideas to inform other as well as being present at public events, such as concerts, festivals, demonstrations, congresses, etc
Prices for the offered Items are as low as possible to make them affordable for everyone to have the chance and right to get the information, musical pleasure. We call this a non profit culture*
We work with a consensus based descision making model, which means there is no boss - all 'agents' are involved in the descision making process.
Ruin Nation is a DIY None Profit Distribution • Don´t expect any Semi Professional Business like terms along our service as we (me and all Ruin Nation Shit-workers) do this because of our intensions and believes of a Alternative Culture and hope to inspire you enough getting something out of it. We also try to life a live aside of books and records, so please be patience, we reply all mails, orders within a week!
We DO write official Invoices to keep track of our stuff. Thats it!
* although we do not operate to generate profit, we still need to generate revenue in order to finance our activities (e.g. office rent, phone bills, new projects, products, postage etc) this should be achieved by adding a slight profit up to the Wholesale price. Usually not more than 20% ( except if German Books have fixed prices) sometimes even less.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...
Here's a list of issues that might answer your question upfront. If not... feel free to send me a Email or check out the RUIN NATION REC - FORMSPRING site... thanks.
- ORDER CONDITIONS and how to order in General can be found HERE
- SHOPPING CART AND NAVIGATION HELP can be found HERE
THIS WEBSITE IN GENERAL
... needs an major modern update. Especially on Layout and features in general. Programming is still on old HTML/PHP standard and might look different on other computers but the general mailorder or shopping cart should work out fine. I plan on updating and redesigning the entire Ruin Nation Website as soon as possible. Meanwhile, for RSS feeds and MY SPACE or FACEBOOK feed connections visit the Ruin Nation Blog.
CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS
People keep asking if we have a online "Customer Account" according to the webshop function where you can store your data. - The answer is "NO" since we do not store addresses on third party servers unless we have a fully control on who has access to it. Aside of that you don´t have to count anymore on prices and shipping, i fear you still need to remember where you live all the time again.
DIS-ORDER CONDITIONS
Please always read the order conditions , i know it´s boring odd blabber but READ IT!!! • Iff possible give plenty of Alternatives as some stuff solds out pretty fast and is not always easily to restock.
CREDIT CARDS
Are crap and not punk but corporate Bullshit. But...since some of you have to use it, because of corrupt Postal services and crap bank connections, AND Paypal isn´t really better either, we now accept Credit Card payments, BUT... at the moment only via our Paypal (!!!whoohey!!!) gate away. So, to pay via credit card you need to become a paypal member and get in touch with us before so we can send out a money request to you. I try to work on a easier solution but at the moment thats the only way.
RESERVATIONS
After receiving your order in the Email Inbox i usually try to get back to you with an detailed Info on Postage, Payment and Availabilities of the stuff you want within 3 days. After receiving my information and confirmation i cannot hold your order longer than 10 days until i hear back from you. Please understand that packing up boxes and coordinating the paperwork is not always fun and please be honest and sure about that you really want the records, books etc when you actually place your order. If deals get busted it´s frustrating for person who may would like to have the records you ordered too..., and it´s frustrating for me because i count on you.
REVIEWS & OPINIONS
Due the fact that it is very time consuming to do personal Reviews on Items and Titels within the mailorder catalogue, i started to cut and paste reviews from various descriptions and pre-written reviews (usually with a source!) unless i have a a complete different opinion on what the reviews says and expresses. I hope you understand and have enough trust that i do not try to sell you a cat in a bag... eh?
RECORD PRICES
have gone up slightly! Especially a few Imported LP's are now EURO 10.00 ! We have to do this to provide a further existence of this Project as Tax and Postage Prices rise within our retailers... • All in all we try to keep our Non Profit Prices since the last "Ten Years" on a stabile level.
BOOK PRICES
vary a lot! Give us a wave and we post you updated informations and sort out deals to get the stuff to you as cheap as possible!
CURRENCY • VAT • POSTAGE AND BILLING:
All prices include VAT already but DO NOT include Postage! Click Here for Postage and shipping Informations as well as for any currency information.
We ship via HERMES and DHL unless instructed otherwise. Please supply a street address when ordering. For rush orders, specify date needed and method of shipment you would prefer ( Air or Surface) - We try to do it on the most safe but cheapest way, so get in touch and we work it out.
People outside the EU. It is not possible to avoid custom contact and we have to include a invoice with real prices and numbers. You might have to pay custom fees on top of your order. This is beyond our control. I am truely sorry about that...
ORDER DISPATCH AND DELIVERY TIMES:
This is impossible to say. Ruin Nation is run most of the time by a single person only and i do the best i can. Usually after payment received it does take 2 or 3 (business) days to get your order shipped. Delivery by the HERMES or DHL services varies and depends on where you live on this globe. Please in a really worst case allow at least 20 days before you freak out.
ALSO: I no longer work on distro issues during the weekend. So if you email me on Saturday or Sunday there won´t be any reply until Monday.
BACKORDERS:
Let us know if you want to wait a little bit in case some stuff is sold out but reordered from us. We cannot guarantee that enough Titles are in stock in that amount you wish.
RETURNS:
We make sure to pack everything with our crummy crustie hands as safe as possible but in case you recieve a parcel that is damaged by the uniformed agents of the state. send us a email explaining what happened ASAP! Either way, DO NOT send any parcels without contacting us first! - THEN: If it really is our fault that the stuff is damaged we refund you the full amount after you send back the stuff postage paid!!! Please also note that we do NOT accept returns of T Shirts because you gave no correct Size and the Shirt don´t fit... we can (of course) change the sizes ( if available) but on your costs of freight! Theres also no returns on sealed items in case the seal is broken!
BUSINESS OPERATOR:
... of course we are not!!! We run a small DIY Distro out of a big but single room. We are punks doing it for the punks for the benefit of "SPREADING THE WORD" and do not expect any serious business like terms except that we write invoices to keep on track with the financial situation. Terms written above are necessary to explain and to make sure we can avoid as much confusion as possible.
MORE FAQ'S VIA FORMSPRING:
Not the answer you where looking for? Anything else to ask? You can either send me an email our use the RUIN NATION REC - FORMSPRING site... thanks.
DISTRIBUTION OF RUIN NATION TITLES:
The following Distributions provide a huge assorted Wholesale offer as well as doing distribution of the Ruin Nation Releases at least Mailorder in their countrys.
- Germany : www.skuldreleases.de (Official WHOLESALE of our Catalogue Titles)
- UK: www.activedistribution.org + www.activerebellion.com
- U$A: www.profaneexistence.com + www.interpunk.com
- Poland: www.trujacafala.com
- Italy: www.agipunk.com
- France: www.malokadistro.com
- Sweden: www.communichaos.com
and many more... - Give us a shot and we let you know where you can get hold of our releases and maybe also titles from our list in your country...
TRADES WITH YOUR RELEASES:
Of course we can do trades with our Releases and sometimes with stuff from the regular catalogue as well BUT we are limited in this sometimes due too much overstocks and lack of dosh... whatever. Let us know what you have and we can arrange something. DO NOT send any trade stuff before contacting us in the first place to check if there is some interest in the first place. I prefer to do invoice exchange with non Label stuff. But we usually trade with the usual trade terms such as: We can as well trade some titles from the regular catalogue. Ask for Info!
The current standard Traderates look like:
- LP - 3 Points.
- MLP & 10" - 2 Points.
- MC & 7" EP - 1 Point.
- CD - 2.5 Points.
- Double LP - 4 Points.
- Double 7" EP - 2 Points.
BUT WRITE FIRST AND WE DEAL IT OUT !!!
"Please always keep in mind what Ruin Nation is about! I rather distribute material with a strong anarchist punk purpose that goes a bit further than just being "Rockmusic" ; same for Books as well. Do not ask for trades with semi stupid homophobic grindcore, cheesy pop punk, stoner mainstream metal without having anything to say... know what i mean? Thanks..."
DISTRIBUTION OF YOUR RELEASES:
If you would like to have your stuff Distributed by us... get in touch, send a sample if possible for you and keep in mind what RUIN NATION as a distro is about (see BOLD TEXT above) Ruin Nation can pay cash whenever cash is available or work on invoice/consignment deals... Thanx.
SUBMISSION OF DEMOS / RECORD RELEASE DEAL:
Currently there is NO CHANCE at all to help out on your Bands Release since the release shedule is way behind the track and the economy these days didn´t allow to have more on the plate as we can chew... Sorry, and try another time.
...This is a small independent DIY organisation with limited possibilities and probably only release 2 - 3 Record Releases every Year. Sometimes more if i can afford to do so. Usually the release plan is far more ahead than i actually are beable to release the records finally in time. See catalogue number #14 / #8...
Very important is that i 100% like the music, the message and the people within and behind the Band and that there is a good feel with it to provide more than just a service!
I love to hear new stuff and learn to meet new people so if you think "Ruin Nation" may be the right choice, please submit your Demo Tape or CDR to the PO BOX Address on the contact Page. please be very patience with a reply as i´m really busy these days and try to cope with the amount of (e)mail every day.
Please DO NOT send any MP3 files or "Record Deal" Emails via My Space nor our regular email address - NO EXCEPTIONS!! - Neither will i listen to your Band on My Space, Last FN or MOG to get an impression. If you want me listen to your stuff you have to send a tape or CDR, Vinyl etc... and i will Listen to it and respond.
Send Demos to:
Ruin Nation Records
Po Box 10 58 24
28058 Bremen
Germany
Please don´t forget to include your contact address. Thanks.
REVIEW AND PROMO MATERIAL:
In the golden age of the Information highway, Web Zines ,Blogs and all that high tech assaults, ... it is NOT POSSIBLE for a Non Profit Shoestring operating Label & Distro (or whatever you will call it) to provide such professional PROMOTION and FREE REVIEW COPY Service that allows to send out loads of (new) releases to all the folx who request for it.
Why? - Because we can´t affort it. - Ruin Nation works with a very low profit marge and we keep prices as low as possible. This prohibit an easy "Review Copy Mailing" due to postage, production costs... etc etc... it´s simply too expensive and we have to choose really safely who will get review copies and who will not...
If you want to be enquire for the "Review copy rooster" please send me a copy of your Zine if it is on Paper - Trade is the name of the Game! Get in contact c/o the PO BOX...
If you do a webzine/blog... let me know your web address but chances are really low to get copies since theres too much Webzines / Blogs out there... sorry.
