A reserve price is the minimum price the seller will accept. This price is hidden from bidders. To win, a bidder must have the highest bid and have met or exceeded the reserve price.
Pricing: I do not do this for living (thank god) but do know the value of records, therefore, my starting price is the absolute minimum I must get for it (I paid that much myself or it is truly, at least worth that amount). Essentially, that means, you will not get screwed by purchasing that record, because I would not feel bad paying that much for it myself. It will be at the very least a very fair deal. Item descriptions: I will do my best to describe the item as accurately as possible. I take pictures of every detail but do not display it due to charges. You may email me requesting additional pictures or ask about item details. While mistakes may happen, I will never knowingly misrepresent an item (remember, I still buy records myself and know how it feels when you buy an item and it is nowhere near its description, thankfully, most sellers are honest.) Finally, I will play grade all records that are not MINT- (meaning listen through the record in its entirety, not just sections) before sending it out. If I think that record does not sound good or is not worth what you paid for it I will let you know before sending it out, no surprises.
Shipping: All records come in protective sleeves, they are shipped using proper LP cardboard mailers (not used Pizza boxes) and covers are wrapped with bubble wrap. I do not take out record out of the cover , I package it very tightly and I do not think any seam splitting can occur (I know many dealers do, however, I feel the record is more important than the cover, so the cover provides additional protection, if you want me to ship it by taking the record out of the cover just send me an email asking for it). Shipping is via Media Mail at $4 and $1.50 per each additional record. In US, I actually lose with shipping. For International bidders shipping varies, please email for a quote before bidding, otherwise average is $15 and $4 for additional records. For Canadian buyers, you may check out with default price, but I will refund certain amount, depending where in Canada, the shipping is $7-11, again, I will refund a certain amount, or, simply request total. NOTE that for International shipping to have tracking and be fully covered by PayPal the cost is around $10-15 more. Should records get lost I take no responsibility (this has not happened yet). Personally, I recommend the cheaper option! Insurance is optional, please request it. Your item will be shipped within 48 hours following your payment. For those seeking fast delivery I encourage you to use Priority Mail (you have that option upon checkout). Otherwise, item will be shipped via Media Mail and may take up to nine days (how slow). Shipping insurance is extra $2.50 for items insured up to $70.
Grading: LPs are graded visually and conservatively under many bright lights. Questionable marks are play graded. If an LP has been play graded it will be indicated so and a grade 1-10 will be assigned to it. Play grade means the record has been listened to from beginning to the end, both sides.
I will NOT discuss my grading conventions or practices or attempt to convince you my grading method is the best or the right one. Personally, since I am a collector myself, I grade records to the best of my knowledge and according to how I feel about it, I do not grade records to deceive you. There are some dealers that use similar grading that I agree with, but basically there are three grades: new (M), like new (EX) and used (VG). Of course, there are variations of those three grades, using common sense and judgment those variations become: M, M-, EX, EX-, VG+, VG, G.
As a basic premise, all of my records must play without skipping, regardless of the surface noise and pops, clicks and crackles. Some turntable may need to be adjusted to handle "rough records" though. Therefore, a "G" record may look horrible but still be playable.
I feel my grade cover should give you a good clue as to the visual quality of the record. Sometimes, visually, the record may look better than its playback condition is, likewise, some records may look really bad but play very well, this too will alter final grade, meaning, the record may look VG but play EX.
Special note about MINT-, MINT- is not MINT but it can be. To my understanding and acceptance, M- may have a light mark or two, even a light scratch which does not cause any listening problems, MINT- will still be as close to new as humanly possible. So, if you are one of those who do not accept sleeve marks (which may be on the record from the manufacturing/pressing), please, do us all a favor and look elsewhere! Along these lines, if you will not accept a record because an inner sleeve has a 1cm split at the bottom, please, look elsewhere. Most likely, nothing but a sealed record will satisfy you. I attempt to grade MINT records as MINT- (if I was not the first owner), my other grade is MINT-- (this corresponds with others' NM grade), my next grade is EX, anything not MINT/MINT- will be graded as EX. I can promise one thing: you will not receive a dirty/dusty record or the cover. NOTE: I do not use Goldmine standards (I bought too many NM records that were barely EX)!
So, what do my number grades mean?
*10 is given only to a record that was sealed and then purchased by me, no other record will get 10!
*I give 9 to an LP that collectors would consider MINT, (9 is my highest grade for a used record), meaning, there will be no surface noise but you might hear a pop or two not because there is a damage (scuff or a scratch) but simply how the LP was pressed, or a flake of dust might have fallen onto it during playback. This will sound almost like a CD (meaning, no noise, obviously LPs sound much better than CDs), it does not get much better than this, any audiophile will be pleased with this.
*8 grade may have 4 or more faint pops or slight surface noise, usually found on a record that's been played a few times but was very well taken care of, most audiophiles will be pleased with this.
*7-8 grade may have 10 or more faint perhaps inaudible in regular listening) pops or little more surface noise bordering annoyance to those that are used to hearing things on a CD, some audiophiles may not like this sound quality, but most will be very satisfied.
*5-6 grade will be just like 7-8, except surface noise/crackles may be more pronounced. The record will have constant surface noise but will not over power the music
*5 and below, may have skips and even more surface noise. I really do not have such records.
+ or - is used to enhance item's description, meaning, EX++ is so nice it could pass as MINT but I still consider it EXCELLENT and not MINT.
SS = STILL SEALED
M = Mint is only given to an LP that was purchased and then opened by me.
M - = MINT- is not MINT but is very close to it, near new, there might be a blemish or two, but overall record and jacket are like new or very close to new.
EX = Though not mint still quite nice vinyl visually clean something held back the M - grade, there may be light visual marks/faint scratches or scuffs. There may be light surface sound, the cover may have some ring wear starting to form, light creases, but it will still be very sturdy and overall nice.
EX- = Minor seam splits, minor ring wear but only on the back side, edge wear, small sticker tears etc can come into play, the cover will still be strong and sturdy. On the vinyl there may be more visual marks/scratches. There may be light background surface noise, faint pops and crackles.
VG+ = Generally, VG+ and below will look bad with many scratches and scuffs, but again, the record will play through fine without skips or jumps, although, it will have surface noise and/or pops and/or crackles, the cover will most certainly have ring wear and some discoloration, creases and heavy edge wear.
VG = As they say, "very good" is not good at all, the record will look pretty bad and sound will not be good either, there will be deep scratches and heavy groove wear, heavy scuffing, surface noise will be very audible and pops/clicks may be present. Still, the record will be playable and noise will never over power the music. On the cover there will be heavy, heavy ring wear both front and back, there might be stains etc. But all the defects will be noted. Only very rare records will be offered with this grade!
Finally, if I over grade a record (sometimes when listing many items I may miss a minor detail) I will let you know about it before sending the record to you. NO SURPRISES!
Payments: I accept PayPal only but contact me if another payment arrangement should be made! PayPal is the most preferred method. In rare cases I might accept some other form, but please email me first. Your payment is expected within three (3) days of auction close. Your item will be shipped next day following your payment.
Returns: All records are fully guaranteed, your satisfaction is extremely important to me, more importantly...I personally have to be satisfied with the sale and know that I provided some value to you. I do not sell crappy records. Should you be unhappy with records you buy, please contact me to make appropriate arrangements, normally, you would ship them back at your cost, but I will refund the entire purchase amount once I receive the record(s) in the same condition I sent them. Again, buyer pays for shipping items back to me! Certain, very rare albums may be excluded from this policy, if you just wanted to copy that record, ask me for a copy on CD (at a reasonable price), do not buy and then return the record after you copied it.
Communication/Chain of events: So you purchased the record from me. Congratulations and thank you very much for your business. How many times have you bought that precious record and never heard from the seller? Please, acknowledge me at least. I do not consider the list below spam, but personally, I'd like to be communicated this way about the purchase I just made. Here is how I will communicate about it with you: 1) You will be notified when records will be shipped, 2) Once shipped you will receive another email informing you that it has been shipped, additionally, if you live in US you will receive a notification with a tracking number (it is available for international shipments as well but it costs too much, you have that option however) 3) NOT APPLICABLE IF PAID IMMEDIATELY: If you bought an item and are unclear as to how much to pay due to combined shipping or shipping rate, you will receive an invoice, once paid 1) and 2) as specified above will follow 4) Payment is due within three (3) days of item purchase, if you need more time let me know. Otherwise, you will receive payment reminder every day for the first three days, then on day seven, and finally, "Unpaid Item dispute" will be filled on day ten. Should this occur, you will be automatically excluded from future purchases. 5) If I discover a problem (undisclosed in the listing) with a record I will notify you about it prior to the shipment and offer a solution.
About me: Greetings and welcome to my LP collection. I'm an avid LP collector myself with some 7000 LPs and growing. European background and American know-how (is there a better combination?) All of the records featured here and in the future auctions are from my personal collection and are either duplicates or records I no longer listen to. If you are "mint crazy" you are probably interested in SEALED records only, if, however, you primarily listen to the music and aren't just collecting because records might be worth something you've come to the right place as collection is bound to please most music lovers. Most (80%) of the records listed have been play graded on a Technics SL1200 MK5/Ortofon cartridge and listened through Senheiser headphones, therefore, my grades are very strict and are given a number 1-10. Most are in 8-9 range, a 10 is only given to a record that was sealed and opened by me. This means a used record can only get a grade 9 and not 10. Almost all the records are M- and EX, they have all been cleaned and covers have been cleaned as well.
Other notes: I have thousands more records, but only list about 500 at a time. If you want to see my full catalog please ask me for it, I will not spam you with special offers.
*The estimated delivery time is based on the seller's handling time, the shipping service selected, and when the seller receives cleared payment. Sellers are not responsible for shipping service transit times. Transit times may vary, particularly during peak periods.
All records are fully guaranteed, your satisfaction is extremely important to me, more importantly...I personally have to be satisfied with the sale. I do not sell crappy records.
Should you be unhappy with records you buy, please contact me to make appropriate arrangements, normally, you would ship them back at your cost, but I will refund the entire purchase amount once I receive the record(s) in the same condition I sent them. Again, buyer pays for shipping items back to me!
The buyer is responsible for return shipping costs.
Please NOTE: Payment is due within three (3) days of item purchase. If you might need more time, please ask us ahead of time, not after! Thanks!
Also NOTE: International orders, if you chose cheaper mailing/shipping option we are NOT responsible for items that may be lost in shipping, (we always obtain a proof of mailing though), your invoice includes two charges, the cheaper is first and more expensive the second, the second includes tracking # and fully covers your purchase by PayPal!
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
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