Buying vinyl records from online retailers has grown immensely over the years. While there is no better feeling than finding a treasure filed away among the sea of records at your local record store, it takes time to unearth such gems. Sometimes, you just want to get in, get what you want, and get out. Many times it is easier to look up what you want on Discogs and buy it online.
While online forums are a great way to determine the "best" pressing of a particular vinyl record, you can spend hours going from one forum to another seeking the opinions of others only to find yourself back at where you started. We suggest going to Discogs and looking at the review rating and number of reviews associated with that particular release as a way of ensuring you are making a solid choice. You can also jump into the comment section, however, you never know for sure of the intent of the writers. If you see 400 ratings and the average is 4.7 / 5 stars, odds are it is a safe bet!
All that said, finding the pressing of choice is only half the battle. Acquiring it in the condition you desire is another seemingly difficult task. This is because rating record condition is subjective and not a science. While there are standards (see our post Making the Grade: Understanding the Used Vinyl Market), not everyone adheres to those standards. Some unintentionally, others intentionally. Therefore, to minimize the likelihood of getting ripped off, it would be wise to implement a series of safety measures. Below we make a few suggestions for how to protect yourself from sellers that are determined to take your money and not deliver the goods (or at least the goods you thought you were buying).
The Seller - Before you purchase from any seller, look into their past reviews. Read the past 12 months reviews and look for red flags. If there is smoke there is likely fire. When we see smoke we all know that we should get out. Don't chance it. Maybe some have taken a chance and faired well. However, that does not mean you will. Reputation matters.
The Condition – Remember that one person’s view on an album's condition can vary greatly from another. If you want a near new record you will need to look for Mint or Near Mint vinyl. We would recommend only Mint (M or M-) or Near Mint (NM) when buying records online. However, we know that it is not always possible to find older records in that condition. As such, you may find a very fine record that is rated Excellent (EX) or Very Good (VG+ or VG).
Confirm Condition - Before you commit to buying an album, message the seller and ask them to confirm the exact condition by a set of standards you share with them. Share your opinion about what makes for the specific condition they have both the media (vinyl) and jacket (cover) listed. For example, a Near Mint record should be a nearly perfect record. The vinyl should look new and possibly never played. No scuffs, scratches, or swipe marks. The cover of a Near Mint record would be near perfect as well. No dings, bumps, ring wear, discoloration, or perforations. If the seller shares something different than your expectation, go on to another seller or if you really want it, negotiate a lower price that is more inline with the actual value of the record. Do this messaging on the chosen platform so you have a record of the interaction.
Confirm Matrix Information - Stamped on every vinyl record in what is known as the dead space there is a set of numbers, letters, and initials that identify the version of the pressing. Again, Discogs is a great resource for this type of information. Ask the seller to pull the record and and confirm the exact matrix information you expect the vinyl record you are purchasing to have. Again, do this messaging on the chosen platform so you have a record of the interaction.
Sealed and Can't Confirm Pressing (matrix) - We have found this to be an easy way for a seller to advertise a record as something other than what it really is. We advise that you stay away from these sellers because they likely have a no return policy for opened records. And, how do you confirm matrix? Open the record.
Shipping and Packaging - Confirm how the record will be packaged and the shipping speed/type. The goal is to protect and preserve the investment. Confirm how the record will be shipped. Media Mail has typically been a great and least expensive option. Rarely are their issues. However, there are issues from time to time. If there are issues, remember that it is on the seller to get the record to you in the condition advertised. If the record arives damaged due to shipping issues, be sure to communicate that to the seller immediately.
Credit Card or PayPal - We suggest using PayPal as the payment option. PayPal has some great protection programs in place for honest buyers and consequences for not so honest sellers. We also find them easier and quicker than going through your credit card company to dispute a purchase.
Domestic or International - While there are many great records available internationally, resolving an issue with an international seller is much more complex than with a domestic seller. Many times a seller will not refund a record until they receive it back. For a domestic purchase, that is not such a big expense to incur. However, international purchases can be an entirely different story. In most cases an international return will cost more than it cost to have it shipped to you. While PayPal or your credit card company may be able to help you resolve an initial transaction dispute and get you the funds for your original purchase back, they will not help with return postage reimbursement. This is another reason why choosing the right seller matters. A reputable seller will refund the return shipping cost as long as it meets their return policy (typically not opened if new) or if they were the cause of a mistake. We defer to domestic first and then international only if we find a great seller and have not other reasonable options.
Tough Lessons - Unfortunately, we have learned all we've shared above through experience. Here are a few examples of what happened to us when we relaxed our guard and a few that happened even when we were careful.
Van Halen: 1984 - We purchased Van Halen’s 1984 online. The purchased record was a 2010 release mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering and pressed by RTI. The record we received was a Specialty Records Corporation (SRC) pressing from 1984. Not only did we receive the wrong record, but the condition did not match the listing. When we contacted the seller, we found that he did not even own the 2010 version. This seller was a domestic seller that refused to refund the return shipping even though he misrepresented the record and apparently tried to pull a fast one.
Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - We purchased an original 1973 DJM Records UK release of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road internationally. We asked the seller to confirm the release, matrix info, and condition. He confirmed everything as listed. Mind you this was release was on yellow vinyl, a 2 record set, gatefold cover, and with yellow labels on the vinyl. What we recieved was a 1984 release pressed on black vinyl with black and yellow labels. Clearly not the record advertised or purchased. This seller had a couple negative reviews and a lot ot positive reviews. Where we failed was in checking reviews over the past 12 months. That is where the majority of negative reviews were found. He would not refund until he received the recod back. He eventually did refund us, primarily because we disputed with PayPal and provided visual evidence. However, we were at the mercy of PayPal and it took 3 weeks to resolve. This guy did eventually reimburse us for return shipping, so other than frustration, all was made good financially. However, we could have easily been out $30.
Bruce Springsteen: Born to Run - We purchased a 180 gram version of Born to Run released by Classic Records. Classic Records was a label owned by mastering engineer Bernie Grundman. Classic Records had a reputation for producing great pressings on 180 gram vinyl. However, they also had a reputation for non-fill on their 200 gram vinyl. Knowing this we specifically purchased the 180 gram record. The seller we purchased from listed the record as 180 gram but stated that he wasnt sure how to know for sure, but believed it was 180 gram. However, the record we received was a 200 gram version. When we contacted the seller, he said he didn't know how to confirm which release it was that he thought it was180 gram. Now, if you've ever held a 200 gram record and a 180 gram record the difference is obvious. Our belief is that he knew the concern people had with Classic Records 200 gram releases and pulled one over on us. He refused to accept a return because he said he stated in the listing he was "pretty sure" it was the 180 gram version. We chalk this up to our error in judgement. Sometimes you just have to listen to the gut.
Acquiring vinyl records is a wonderful and fulfilling experience, most of the time. Unfortunately, it can also be very frustrating. Therefore, we recommend that you keep the above suggestions in mind as you search for records online. Music is meant to be a positive and uplifting experience. Don't let the experience to become tainted by the seller, especially when most situations can be avoided with a little due dilligence.
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