I copy from the release history the conversation to the thread, since I'm interested in other s opinion. My position is to leave these as they are, but maybe I don't have enough information.
Pontu
loukash, that's too difficult for me to comprehend. I didn't know that these are export copies for Europe, but if they are, then the country has to be Europe, which means it is not a US release, only manufactured in the US. How could we merge American and European release? Waiting for clever people commenting in the forum thread.
loukash
Such stickers are a "post-manufacture" change, same as promo stamps or promo stickers. On Discogs we're treating them the same, following RSG §6.12.2.. So the question here is not "whether" but "with which version". :)
Pontu
loukash, yes, I understand that (although I have no proof that these stickers are post-manufacture, i.e. added later somewhere else, not in the factory), but the main thing I do not understand now is how I can merge European version with US version. Can you explain me this?
Yes, there is possibility to choose for the country "USA & Europe", but this release is not made for USA & Europe, but only for Europe, and similar version without the sticker only for USA, so... my opinion is that these are unique releases, not post-manufacture modifications.
Pontu
the main thing I do not understand now is how I can merge European version with US version
The stickered release is a US release. The CBS sticker was applied due to trademark issues about the "Columbia" brand in some parts of Europe, and possibly elsewhere in the world.
You can add a release note that "export versions may have CBS stickers covering the Columbia logos" or similar. The keyword here being "may have": because if proceeded carefully, those stickers can be removed. (Been there done that.)
Pontu
this release is not made for USA & Europe, but only for Europe
No, it's exactly the same release as the US one, only with additional stickers for export, see above.
Yes, of course I understand that these are exactly the same releases like the US ones, only with stickers, but the question I asked more than once: how could we merge American and European release? The stickered versions were meant for European market, like you have said.
Let's copy and paste from the guidelines:
7.1.1. "Country" refers to the country of origin (the market) of the release. /---/
7.1.2. The country is NOT where the release was manufactured. /---/
Hence, the stickered releases are not US releases any more, but European releases. They are manufactured in US, but the market is in Europe. That's what confuses me. You can't merge, and leave the country "US", because that would be incorrect. It is a clear distinction: the releases without the stickers are for the US market, the releases with stickers for the European market.
And there is on more thing I mentioned, but that's what probably no-one knows: where and when were the stickers added? If the stickers were added in the US factory before packaging and sending to Europe, i.e. during the manufacturing, then the stickers are not post-manufacture. If the stickers were added in Europe by distributors, then it's post-manufacture.
If we merge (which seems probable, since my voice is too weak), what do you think, would "USA & Europe" be for the country correct, or rather misleading? And, of course, we can be sure that in a short time there will appear new submissions with the stickers. Do avoid that, we have to be very thorough (strange word, is that correct? I write with the help of dictionaries) in the notes, free text field, and images, so that the s could find the stickered versions from there.
Pontu
how could we merge American and European release? The stickered versions were meant for European market, like you have said.
The "market" is irrelevant here.
The only relevant place to make a note about the stickers is the Marketplace item description if you're selling such a stickered item. Like I do in this case on Tale Spinnin'.
Pontu
the stickered releases are not US releases any more
I don't know what to do, if market is relevant for every Discogs submission, but irrelevant here. And obviously I haven't read all those discussions, and I can't do it now, I don't have enough time for that. Is there any decision somewhere, or just different opinions?
