Jack White Defends Auctioning Third Man Records Vinyl on eBay

Jack White's label Third Man Records is facing a fan backlash after opting to sell its limited-edition releases to the highest bidder on eBay rather than through the Nashville, Tenn. label's usual outlets.

The move is intended to stop "flippers" -- people who buy limited edition records to resell at much inflated prices -- but predictably the new scheme has left many fans unhappy, especially those who subscribe to the label's paid service the Vault.

Responding to criticisms on the Vault's message board, White wrote (via Antiquiet), "Stop all of the whining. We didn't do anything to you but give you what you want. Don't want them to be expensive? Then guess what? Don't WANT them."

The White Stripes man had explained the logic behind the label's new selling policy, "We sell a Wanda Jackson split record for 10 bucks, the eBay flipper turns around and sells it for 300. If 300 is what it's worth, then why doesn't Third Man Records sell it for 300? If we sell them for more, the artist gets more, the flipper gets nothing ... We thought we'd let you decide how much they cost this time."

His tone soon changed however after fans responded. White wrote, "You would go so far as to say f--- you to us? For what? We didn't do anything to you but give you what you want ... If you don't want [this record], DONT[sic] BUY IT. And if you do want it, don't act like you DON'T want it. Get in line like anyone else ... It's you and others wanting them that dictates the price and the entire nature of the idea."