Problem with buying used jazz LPs

[MylesBAstor]

is grading like this. You can see the Grand Canyon gouge in the photo yet it's NM/VG++? Is he joking?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JAZZ-33-RPM...ic_on_Vinyl&hash=item1c287ea028#ht_500wt_1198

 

[mep]

Even if this guy was blind and graded his records by touch he would have felt that gouge. At least he took a picture of it so you could understand his version of the grading system. I wouldn't take that record if you gave it to me.

 

[treitz3]

Good grief! It appears as if he tried to wipe it clean with something slightly abrasive as well. Sad.

 

[Bill Hart]

I'd say only 1/3 of the NM records I buy off ebay are even playable. They are cheap though, and every once it a while, you get lucky with original pressings of pop stuff, e.g. i have a copy of Blood Sweat and Tears second album that is just killer.

 

[mep]

I'd say only 1/3 of the NM records I buy off ebay are even playable. They are cheap though, and every once it a while, you get lucky with original pressings of pop stuff, e.g. i have a copy of Blood Sweat and Tears second album that is just killer.

That LP is killer!

 

[Thomas.Dennehy]

Sadly, I had to pass on a copy of John Barleycorn Must Die at an estate sale yesterday. Gouge in my favorite track. The hunt goes on.

 

[puroagave]

jazz from this era are hard to find in NM cond and it was common knowledge that many original BN on thick wax seemed to be cut deeper and much of the diagonal scuffs werent obtrusive. ive said this before and it bears repeating to vinyl collecting noobs - music collectors are not audiophiles they dont understand their own grading system!

 

[MylesBAstor]

jazz from this era are hard to find in NM cond and it was common knowledge that many original BN on thick wax seemed to be cut deeper and much of the diagonal scuffs werent obtrusive. ive said this before and it bears repeating to vinyl collecting noobs - music collectors are not audiophiles they dont understand their own grading system!

And in many an instance, despise audiophiles. I've had a few run (luckily only a very few!) ins with eBay refusing to refund my money for crap.

 

[jazdoc]

As with anything used, you have to find reputable sellers. I never spend more than $25 on a first time purchase from a seller I haven't used before. Most sellers are concerned about their online reputations and I've had very few problems with the few records that were not close to being as advertised. I've purchased over 200 LPs on Ebay and until last month, never had a problem with a seller and Ebay handled this incident expeditiously and refunded my money.

I keep a list of favored sellers (and no I'm not sharing ). Well, I'll share one: Euclid Records. If anything, their grading is conservative and their service is spectacular. The records are rarely screaming bargains but you NEVER have to worry about over-grading.

I'd rather buy a great record at a fair price than a fair record at a great price.

 

[MylesBAstor]

As with anything used, you have to find reputable sellers. I never spend more than $25 on a first time purchase from a seller I haven't used before. Most sellers are concerned about their online reputations and I've had very few problems with the few records that were not close to being as advertised. I've purchased over 200 LPs on Ebay and until last month, never had a problem with a seller and Ebay handled this incident expeditiously and refunded my money.

I keep a list of favored sellers (and no I'm not sharing ). Well, I'll share one: Euclid Records. If anything, their grading is conservative and their service is spectacular. The records are rarely screaming bargains but you NEVER have to worry about over-grading.

I'd rather buy a great record at a fair price than a fair record at a great price.

Good advice doc! One sorts out the chaff and gets a list of vendors that you trust. Too many use that BS Goldmine grading system.

 

[puroagave]

eons ago, i used to buy a lot of EMis and deccas from a seller that advertised in the back pages of TAS. he had an encyclopedic knowledge of classical and opera music. he prob only dealt with (tolerated) TAS list buyers because they made him a lot of money, he depised much of the music and tried to talk me out of some of it suggesting older mono recordings with superior perfomances.

My rejection ratio was 50% with this guy and i knew id eat the return shipping if i wanted to do more business with him. to be honest his records probably graded higher on his system using a blunt stanton stylus and a sh!tty TT. then there's the "this record is so rare, who cares how it grades so you should accept my arbitrary NM grade" LOL