Stuff We Sell

About Ordering

About Dischord's Download Service (MP3s)

About the Label

How will my domestic order be shipped?

Orders are processed Monday through Friday, except on major holidays. Most orders are shipped within 48 hours and sent via the US Postal Service. We offer a choice of Media Mail, First Class and Priority Mail shipping with prices automatically calculated and displayed according to the weight and destination of your order. Media Mail is usually the most affordable option and according to the Post Office these packages should arrive within 3-9 days of shipping. In our experience the vast majority of packages do arrive within this time frame. However, in rare instances Media Mail packages have taken up to 3-weeks to be delivered. We can not track packages so please be patient and try to refrain from asking about your order until the 3-week time frame has passed. Contact us at [email protected] if you think your order may be lost.

Do you offer Priority Mail shipping?

Yes! You can opt to have your package shipped by Priority Mail which, according to the Post Office, should arrive within 2-3 days of shipping. However, you should note that First Class packages will often arrive in the same time-frame as Priority mail, especially on the east coast, and may be more affordable for you. Shipping prices and estimated transit times will be displayed in your shopping cart. Please also note that transit times begin from the date your order is shipped, not the date your order is placed. All orders are processed on a first come first serve basis.

What form of payment do you accept via the website?

We accept most major credit cards and well as Pay Pal. Customers may order by Check or Money Order, however these orders will not be shipped until funds arrive and are cleared by our bank. Our credit card processing company is very strict about address verification and sometimes legitimate orders, especially from outside the United States, can get caught up in their fraud screening filter and be rejected. If your order is being rejected, and you know your credit card is in good standing, Pay Pal is a very good alternative.

What form of payment do you accept via traditional mail-order?

We accept most major credit cards, pay pal, checks and money orders. If you are sending cash you do so at your own risk, so conceal it well! If you are ordering from a country other than the United States you must pay in US funds.

How are international orders shipped?

International orders are processed Monday through Friday, except on major holidays. Most orders are shipped within 48 hours and sent via USPS First-Class Mail International which is by far the most affordable option. The USPS used to estimate 4-10 days transit time but now does not make official transit estimations for this service.

Why was my credit card declined, and why then does my statement say, "payment pending?"

The main reason for declined credit card transactions, other than insufficient funds, is incorrect billing address information. To protect ourselves and our customers from theft and fraud our bank requires billing address verification, which includes street address and the 5 digit postal code (zip code). Some international postal codes have only 4 digits and we recommend that customers from these countries try adding a zero at the end of their code or use Pay Pal (who will accept credit cards) for a payment option.

Customers who receive an error statement or a statement that their card has been declined should rest assured that their credit card has NOT been charged. A "pending" charge may show up on your bank or credit card company's records for a day or two, but no actual funds have been, or will be, transferred.

Who do I contact about a missing package or a mistake with my order?

Mistakes do happen and we try to resolve them as quickly as possible. You may write to [email protected] or call 703-351-7507. Please have your order number or confirmation email handy and we'll try to take care of whatever problem you have ASAP. Customers that have packages returned to us due to bad or incomplete addresses may be held liable for extra shipping charges.

Does Dischord sell t-shirts?

Dischord doesn't sell shirts directly but Dischord co-owner Jeff Nelson sells Dischord t-shirts and sweatshirts through his company Pedestrian Press. These are the only official, authorized Dischord shirts. Individual bands are in charge of their own shirts and some sell them and others do not. Minor Threat, for example, do authorize t-shirts while Fugazi do not.

Can I download Dischord releases directly from this website?

Yes! The entire Dischord catalog is available for direct downloading from our website in the form of high quality (320 kbps), non-restricted (DRM-free), MP3 files.

Can I download from the Dischord website if I live outside the USA?

Absolutely! As long as your payment goes through our system we do not have regional restrictions on our MP3 delivery.

How do I download music from the Dischord website?

Our system offers a unique hybrid of the direct sale and subscription based download services. Customers have the option to download entire albums and EPs for a set price or purchase Digital Credits (15 Credits for $10) that can be used to download individual songs.

To purchase an album download simply navigate to the release you are interested in and click on the Buy Digital button at the top of the page and that album will be added to your shopping cart. Once you have successfully checked out you will be given the option to download your album(s) as a single compressed Zip file or as individual track files. Please note that even though the Zip files are compressed they can still be quite large (up to 100MB) so we do not recommend this option unless you have a high-speed internet connection. Access to your order history and download options are available on your personal My Account page.

What Are Digital Credits?

To purchase individual track downloads you will first need to purchase a block of Digital Credits. These credits are sold in blocks of 15 (for $10) and it takes one credit for a single track download. Once you have a block of credits simply navigate to the release you are interested in and select the track you wish to download by clicking on the + queue button. This will load that track onto your personal My Account page under My Digital Tracks where you can download the MP3 file at your convenience.

For more about downloading music from this website go to our Download Help page.

How do I redeem the free MP3 coupon that came with the LP I bought at my local record store?

First, you will need to create a (free) personal account on our website. Then go to www.dischord.com/redeem_promo and enter the case sensitive 12 digit code that is printed on your coupon. Once the code has been entered you will be given the option to download the album tracks immediately from a single zipped file or as individual song files. If you choose to download your tracks individually you will be directed to the My Digital Tracks section of your personal My Account page. Simply click "download" next to the name of the track and the download will begin.

How do I redeem the free MP3s that come with vinyl LP purchases from the Dischord website?

If you buy an LP from the Dischord webstore that features a free MP3 download you will be given options to download the MP3s at the end of the check-out process on your invoice. If you do not download the tracks immediately they will remain available to you on your personal My Account page to download at your convenience. Simply select the relevant invoice from your Order History.

How much do I need to know about computers to use the download service?

We do not recommend using our download service unless you have a modest technical understanding of your home computer and its music software. We use industry standard file formats that are compatible with the vast majority of systems but if you are unfamiliar with your home music management software you may want to experiment with downloading some free content and getting comfortable with the process before buying stuff from Dischord. Dischord cannot be held responsible for customer software or hardware systems that may be incompatible with the delivery or functionality of Zip files or MP3 music files, nor can we be held responsible for any damage incurred by the improper handling of these files. Dischord does not support third party download managers, which can flood our system with unsupported data requests and compromise your tracks. If you have any questions you may call us at 703-351-7507 or send an email to digital[at]dischord.com

Is Dischord content available from other download services like itunes and Amazon?

The Dischord catalog is also available in MP3 format from: othermusic.com, e-music, itunes, rhapsody.com, napster, and amazon.com.

Does Dischord sell directly to stores?

Yes! We sell "direct" to mom and pop shops across the country. We sell all the Dischord stuff as well as hundreds of bands, labels, books and DVDs from the Washington DC independent scene. Contact direct[at]dischord.com for a catalog.

Who else distributes your records?

Our records are available from independent distributors such as: All Media Supply, Cobraside, Day After, FAB, Forced Exposure, Green Hell, Konkurrent, Revelation, Revolver, Sound of California, Stickfigure, URP, X-Mist and more!

Who distributes your records world-wide?

SRD (UK) distributes Dischord Records exclusively in the UK and non-exclusively in Europe. Dischord Direct sells directly to Japan, Europe and other select territories. For information on distributing our records in your part of the world contact us at Dischord Direct and we'll point you in the right direction

Why do you put the mail-order price on the back of your records? And why do record shops charge more than that price?

We put our mail-order price on our records because we charge less than most labels and we want our customers to know they have the option to buy directly from us if they believe the savings are not being passed onto them. However, it is perfectly reasonable for stores to charge $1-2 more than the price you see on the back of our records. Record stores have high overhead costs and offer convenience and variety that mail-order does not always afford so it is perfectly reasonable for them to charge a little more. We absolutely support independent shops and believe you should too!

Does Dischord have a retail store?

No. We are a mail-order and wholesale distributor and do not have a public "store."

Can I visit the Dischord House?

The Dischord label is no longer run out of the "Dischord House" which folks are used to seeing on album covers and pictures, and truth be told -- we try to discourage impromptu visits. Our current office space is small (and rather boring) and visitors tend to keep us from doing what we do. Ian still maintains his office in the Dischord House but it is mostly used as a residence and since he is often out of town we ask people not to disturb the folks who live there. It should also be noted that the Beecher Street address is actually Ian's parents family home and not the Dischord House.

Why don't you release music from outside Washington, DC?

We only release music from the DC's music scene because this is the city where we live, work and have the most understanding. To expand would be to dilute our focus. We encourage creative people to take control of their local scenes and to look within themselves to create opportunities as others encouraged us to do when we started out.

Well, how DO bands end up on the label?

We work with bands through a rather organic process. We do not work with contracts so our relationship with our bands is based on friendship and trust. New bands come into the fold when they have made a mark within our community and there is mutual agreement that we would be a good fit for each other. We do not purport to represent the entire scene in Washington, DC. Dischord is one of several independent labels who work collectively make up the DC underground.

What is a Dischord "half-label" release?

Dischord half-label releases (i.e. DIS 110.5) are records that are produced/manufactured either in conjunction with another label or by the bands themselves. Dischord began as a DIY label and we encourage bands, especially newer bands, to take the record production into their own hands to learn about the process. Once these records are produced we offer both our logo and our distribution services. For a variety of reasons some of these bands end up on Dischord's regular roster and others do not, but regardless, we feel especially connected to each one of these records.

Tell me about the re-mastered CDs. Should I replace my original CDs?

Our main objective with the Re-mastered Series is to present CDs that are faithful to their original recordings. These CDs were re-mastered directly from the original source tapes by Silver Sonya in Arlington, VA. Digital sound technology has improved dramatically since the late 80s/early 90s when many of the albums from our catalog were first transferred onto the CD format. While the quality of the original CDs was state of the art for their time, it became clear to us around 2001 that as older titles came up for scheduled re-pressings we should replace their masters with new ones to take advantage of the improved technology. For a complete list of our re-mastered CDs go here: Dischord Re-Mastered CDs

There is nothing defective with the quality of the original CDs and no need to replace the copies you already own if you enjoy them. To the casual listener the main difference between the old and the new is a slight boost in volume and clarity.

Tell me about the re-mastered LPs.

In late 2008 Dischord Records brought the production of our records back to the USA after many years working in Europe. In doing so we had to begin re-cutting much of our vinyl catalog for US plants. We began by re-pressing current titles, and later re-issuing others, all re-cut at Chicago Mastering Service, many from from the Silver Sonya masters. All the re-cut albums feature complimentary MP3 album downloads. Dischord has always enjoyed very high quality vinyl mastering. For many years much of our vinyl was mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London by our friend and partner John Loder, who passed away in 2005. But the metal-work that is used to press vinyl LPs eventually wears out with use and we decided that with John's passing that it was time to bring these projects back home and pass the torch to Bob Weston and Jason Ward at Chicago Mastering Service.

It should be noted that unlike our CD re-masters, which took advantage of vastly improved technology to make the CDs sound truer to their original tapes, these newly re-issued LPs simply offer a "fresh cut" using new materials and a more hands-on approach to the record making process, and do not attempt to represent an artistic improvement. For a complete list of our re-mastered LPs go here: Dischord Re-Mastered LPs

What is "mastering" anyway?

"Mastering" is a process that occurs after the music has been recorded and mixed, where the material is collected from its original source tapes, computers, etc., transferred to a single media (now usually digital) and run through a highly sensitive equalization process to attain a uniform tonal and volume range from song to song, source to source. There are also different ranges for digital media (CDs) and analog media (LPs) so each format needs to be mastered to its own specifications.

What is the status of Fugazi?

Currently Fugazi is on an indefinite hiatus and has no plans to tour or record. This may be a permanent condition, it may not -- only time will tell. In the meantime the Fugazi band members remain busy, both with other musical projects and tending to their young families. Ian runs Dischord Records and is playing out with his band, The Evens; Guy has appeared in projects with members of the EX and Patti Smith and has produced recordings for Blonde Redhead and The Gossip among others; Joe is writing and performing solo and in collaboration with others; and Brendan is producing the Burn To Shine Live DVD series, and has been active producing albums by Medications, Mary Timony and others.