His Brand New Toys seven-inch single, which enjoyed a small run of 500, was snapped up by touts, with many copies resurfacing on the internet with huge mark-ups.
Weller said in a statement to fans: ‘Unfortunately I won't be taking part in Record Store Day again. It's such a shame because as you know I am a big supporter of independent record stores but the greedy touts making a fast buck off genuine fans is disgusting and goes against the whole philosophy of RSD.
‘There were copies of my single on eBay the day before Record Store Day and I've heard stories of people queuing outside their local record shop only to be told there were none left at opening time!’
Event organisers have acknowledged there is a general problem with touts taking advantage of the annual limited editions created for Record Store Day, and said they ‘shared frustration’ at evidence that Brand New Toy had been offered on eBay.
‘We are disappointed that despite our best efforts to drive out the touts, once again some people are seeking to exploit the goodwill of artists and labels by selling RSD exclusives at vastly-inflated prices on eBay,’ they said.
‘We clearly cannot control the activities of members of the public, but the Record Store Day Code of Conduct makes it clear that any store found to be complicit in unauthorised sales on eBay faces being banned from future events.’
The grassroots Record Store Day movement first came to the UK in 2008, and now involves more than 200 independent record shops and hundreds of limited edition rare vinyl and CD releases.
You can listen to our Record Store Day 2014 playlist here
Weller said in a statement to fans: ‘Unfortunately I won't be taking part in Record Store Day again. It's such a shame because as you know I am a big supporter of independent record stores but the greedy touts making a fast buck off genuine fans is disgusting and goes against the whole philosophy of RSD.
‘There were copies of my single on eBay the day before Record Store Day and I've heard stories of people queuing outside their local record shop only to be told there were none left at opening time!’
Event organisers have acknowledged there is a general problem with touts taking advantage of the annual limited editions created for Record Store Day, and said they ‘shared frustration’ at evidence that Brand New Toy had been offered on eBay.
‘We are disappointed that despite our best efforts to drive out the touts, once again some people are seeking to exploit the goodwill of artists and labels by selling RSD exclusives at vastly-inflated prices on eBay,’ they said.
‘We clearly cannot control the activities of members of the public, but the Record Store Day Code of Conduct makes it clear that any store found to be complicit in unauthorised sales on eBay faces being banned from future events.’
The grassroots Record Store Day movement first came to the UK in 2008, and now involves more than 200 independent record shops and hundreds of limited edition rare vinyl and CD releases.
You can listen to our Record Store Day 2014 playlist here
