Record Grading & packing.

[The Barbarian]

One of my pet hates within the 2nd Record hand buying world is sellers using RC grading.. This is purely used {in most cases} as an excuse for sellers to porn of less than satisfactory condition records imho.. I grill every seller i use now before taking the plunge. Why sellers can not drop the apparent standardised grading lark & just carefully inspect the record visually, just basically be honest, describing exactly what they see down to every detail. playing every record to sell is understandably time consuming but it is a bonus if possible.

This is how i go about grilling:

Hi there
Could i bother you to please inspect the record once more time for any Marks, scratches or pressure marks that maybe evident ?
Could you also please tell me if their are any splits/split-through along the LP cover top & bottom & any worn corners especially the ends of the spine ?

Ring ware is generally easy to spot by the pictures shown.

If you decide to go ahead & buy. Here's thicko proof instruction

Hi there
When packing the record could i ask that you please keep the record in it's inner protective bag but remove from the main LP sleeve. place the items in a poly sleeve, if not available a tight fitting paper bag {Please don't attempt to use a carrier bag as the record needs to be perfectly flat sandwiched between to the card, use card stiffener each side tape over the stiffeners to hold the LP tightly in place {The Poly sleeve is to avoid the tape pulling the printing from the cover}& lastly please please post out in the correct LP mailers.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w425/ELPFAN1968/Card001.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/ELPFAN1968/media/Card001.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w425/ELPFAN1968/Card002.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/ELPFAN1968/media/Card002.jpg.html)

This LP should now stand a very very good chance of surviving the postman..

Remember money does not grown on tree's.. The last thing you want is disapointment when you paid out you hard earned cash

[Pete The Cat]

On the subject of grading / condition.

If buying second hand physically (eg shop or fair), holding the record up to the light usually reveals very faint thin shiny traces on the mat finish of the label around the hole, where the spindle has caught and rubbed each time the record has been put on. This may of course be widely known to other vinyl obsessives, I've always found it to be a good indication of amount of previous use when a record is said to be "mint".

Pete

[julesd68]

One of my pet hates within the 2nd Record hand buying world is sellers using RC grading.. This is purely used {in most cases} as an excuse for sellers to porn of less than satisfactory condition records imho..

It's an absolute pet hate of mine too ...

I find the majority of sellers pack ok but there are just so many time wasters selling incorrectly graded vinyl. I only buy vinyl from those who have a returns policy, but the majority of those still expect you to pay to send the record back if it is wrongly graded. Why not save the bother and grade it properly in the first place?

I remember recently buying a copy of 'Paranoid' from a 100% feedback seller which was advertised as mint and 'unplayed' old shop stock. It took me a nano-second holding it up to the light before playing to work out it was completely knackered. I think my stylus got 'stuck' on just the second track ... :steam: Fortunately the seller had the courtesy not to waste my time to ask me to send it back ...

It's generally a good idea to ask a couple of questions - no matter what they are, you can gauge the 'seriousness' of the seller by the response you get ...

[julesd68]

On the subject of grading / condition.

If buying second hand physically (eg shop or fair), holding the record up to the light usually reveals very faint thin shiny traces on the mat finish of the label around the hole, where the spindle has caught and rubbed each time the record has been put on. This may of course be widely known to other vinyl obsessives, I've always found it to be a good indication of amount of previous use when a record is said to be "mint".

Pete

Absolutely, plenty of ebay sellers include pics where you can see spindle wear that tells a story ...