Question for buyers of vinyl

[Spur07]

Hi Guys

Just wondering if I could canvass opinion regarding your attitudes to returning vinyl which is not up to scratch or misrepresented. Do you try and insist the seller covers the return postage? From my experience so far it seems many are reluctant to do so. I know it amounts to only £3 to £3.50 but I don't see why a buyer should pay anything on principle, especially if the record is way off the condition described. Bearing in mind how much vinyl costs these days imo sellers need to work a bit harder at checking their records and if they only perform a visual check and it turns out to be a bad player they should take full responsibility.

[prestonchipfryer]

That's one of the problems of buying 'blind' off the internet. One persons' mint condition might be the others' average. However, if it's not as described and off that bay thingy, open a case against the seller, that is what I would do if not happy. Otherwise put it down to experience.

John

[Spur07]

Hi John

I avoid fleabay when it comes to vinyl. I get my used stuff from Musicstack or Discogs.

I agree the grading system is open to interpretation but I don't think many sellers are actually listening to their records - the problem can arise that sometimes there's no correlation between visual condition and how the record actually plays. I've had a few that look 'EXC' on inspection but are terrible players with dreadful surface noise. This problem therefore isn't just confined to the internet and if you buy from a shop you've still got to take time out to return it. I don't know, maybe its just me, 5 or 10 years ago when prices were much lower I wouldn't have given a stuff.

[Haselsh1]

My experience involved buying secondhand vinyl via Amazon which was described as mint but which of course was nowhere near mint. I put it down to experience but gave feedback that reflected the facts as I saw them rather than how the seller saw them.

These days I prefer to buy brand new vinyl and reissues. Yes, I know that even brand new vinyl can be a let down but I am usually a lot happier this way.

[John]

next step Paul is a RCM

[keiths]

next step Paul is a RCM

That certainly helps, but isn't a universal cure as some crackly records are either grooved-damaged by a previous owner's chipped stylus, or were badly pressed or pressed on crap vinyl in the first place. I've a copy of Miles Davis 'Sketches of Spain' on heavyweight 1960s vinyl that I bought as 'new old stock' from HMV Manchester about 10 years ago, which although visually Mint, is crackly as hell and no amount of cleaning is helping.

Also, even with an RCM, some muck is so deeply engrained in the grooves that you still struggle to shift it - I bought a Pat Metheny LP the other week (actually the seller threw it in for free with some other LPs that I'd purchased because it was so grubby) that I've cleaned 6 times so far and is just starting to quieten down.

[John]

Lol totally get where you coming from Keith
I was mostly gently teasing Paul

[Spur07]

LOL, I'm not quite at that stage yet John, although I can see the virtue in having a RCM. As keith says sometimes it doesn't seem to cure the problem but it would be nice to have one just to enable you to clean an album more than once.

I took 6 or 7 LP's to Sister Ray in Soho to be cleaned just after christmas. The only one that really benefited was my Beatles 'White' album. One of those was a Billie Holiday 200g reissue that was unacceptably noisy but alas no luck. That 'll be going back soon.

[sq225917]

I only ever buy from sellers who 'listen grade', visual grading is utterly pointless unless you are buying them as art.

[Smoker]

touch wood its been all good from ebay, i stick to ratings of ex and vg and have been suprised at the condition of many. most seem to have been kept vey well particularly those from the 70s.

my copy of dark side of the moon is the only one that crackles lightly in places, cost £2.70 so cant complain. it might get the wood glue treatment! or i might save up for a cleaner lol

never had to return any yet! did have one arrive which contained the wrong record. they sent me the right one so i kept both just paid for the postage.

[Spur07]

I only ever buy from sellers who 'listen grade', visual grading is utterly pointless unless you are buying them as art.

Thanks, I didn't realize there was such a thing. I'll look out for that in future.

Visual grading is indeed a waste of time. I've got LP's that have been hammered over the years and lost all there sheen but play still fantastic.

[keiths]

Thanks, I didn't realize there was such a thing. I'll look out for that in future.

There are a couple of eBay seller (Phoenix records is one from memory) that will provide a needledrop sound file on request that is sometimes useful.

[jazzpiano]

I agree with you Paul.
A) Ask upfront if they have a return policy, what it is?
B) The more you pay (collectible vinyl advertised as such), the more you should expect.
C) Prioritize - Whatever it is you care about: NO scratches, warps, nice cover, etc., get that out upfront. I know a long-established record dealer in Chicago, an institution really, who will no longer sell collectible/used vinyl via mail/ups, etc., because he got tired of neophyte vinyl collectors expecting a 50-60 year old record to LOOK and sound like it had never been opened or played.
D) And related to "C": find yourself a reliable "specialist" dealer that you can establish a trusting relationship with (ask others, on this site too, if they know any reliable dealers?). I have one here in the States and while the cover may be a little rubbed (and he warns me about this), and there may be the slightest of occassional surface noise, the records sing like a bird! He will also tell me: "I know you, and this is a record you're not gonna be happy with" - I appreciate that.
E) If you're buying a record where the shipping costs more than the record you're just kinda taking your chances.

Best, and hope this helps,
Barry

[Spur07]

Thanks Barry

It seems I'm certainly going to have to be a bit more careful in future.

[oceanobsession]

i would say you are gambling on a 60 40 these days with new vinyl, ive just
purchased The trees on shore which is a first class remaster , but it was scratched on one album but the quality is top notch, it seems that these
records get scratched when handling them which is sad i kept it which ima bit
pissed about to be honest.