Buying Vinyl Online

[Milo_Myage]

Not something i've done very often so was wondering if you guys had any tips particuarly for used vinyl.

Any great sites outside of the obvious?

Any horror stories i should avoid?

Are the days of bargains on eBay over for good?

Discogs is a great resource but what's it like for shopping?

I guess it's always going to be a gamble buying unseen but this is as good a place as any to share your wisdom.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Not something i've done very often so was wondering if you guys had any tips particuarly for used vinyl.

Any great sites outside of the obvious?

Any horror stories i should avoid?

Are the days of bargains on eBay over for good?

Discogs is a great resource but what's it like for shopping?

I guess it's always going to be a gamble buying unseen but this is as good a place as any to share your wisdom.

I've had good and bad experiences with Discogs. My first purchase through them proved to be a bad one, but the seller had perfect feedback, so returning the record was difficult, but I managed to get a refund minus the 2 postages. Since then, I've tried to be a little more careful, and the best lesson learnt for me, was buy from a UK seller. The second record I bought through Discogs was from someone in Italy, the record arrived, and was in far worse shape than described, but there was little or no point in trying to return the record for a refund, because the two postage costs would have been more than the record's value. Since then, all has been good.

www.musicstack.com is worth a try, a bit like Discogs, but a little less professional.

Ebay has never been a massive source of records for me, but you can still pick up the odd good deal. Car Boots and charity shops still hold some bargains, but they're getting harder and harder to find..

Good luck with your record buying.

 

[Al ears]

I can agree with bigbernard. Discogs I have used but only a couple of times, with no problems.

Most of my vinyl is purchased new but I have bought many from Ebay. If you select the dealer carefully you should have no problems.

I have only recently found a second-hand record dealer about 15 miles away so he is going to get a bit of my custom again soon, especially as he has a record cleaning machine.

 

[Freddy58]

Hiya folks

I just had a look at Discogs. Looks like a really good source for albums. I see some are advertised as "mint". Is there much of a difference between "mint" and "very good plus"?

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I see some are advertised as "mint". Is there much of a difference between "mint" and "very good plus"?

I buy mint or near mint for the media, I'm not quite so fussy for the covers. You're taking a chance with Very Good Plus, and it depends if they've played the record to grade it, ot just graded it visually.

Be careful, be fussy, and buy from the UK wherever possible.

 

[Freddy58]

I see some are advertised as "mint". Is there much of a difference between "mint" and "very good plus"?

I buy mint or near mint for the media, I'm not quite so fussy for the covers. You're taking a chance with Very Good Plus, and it depends if they've played the record to grade it, ot just graded it visually.

Be careful, be fussy, and buy from the UK wherever possible.

Hiya Big fella

Just as an excercise, I searched out 'Crime Of The Century' by Supertramp. There's a mint copy (media) for £12. To me, it would be worth it, but would that be considered too much to pay?

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I think the answer lies in the album title.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I buy mint or near mint for the media, I'm not quite so fussy for the covers. You're taking a chance with Very Good Plus, and it depends if they've played the record to grade it, ot just graded it visually.

Be careful, be fussy, and buy from the UK wherever possible.

Agreed. The only time I buy Very Good Plus is when the price is very low - unless the album content itself warrants a lot extra for Mint, I also stick to Mint or Near Mint.

 

[Daz B]

I have bought a lot off Ebay over the past 6 years and only had a couple of bad experiences.

What records is a good place to buy vinyl as is Amazon.

Many record shops do sell on ebay under different names, so worth checking these out.

If you buy off ebay always check and read lastest feedback, that will give you a good indication on what the quality is going

to be like and how quick and well packaged the delivery is likely to be.

Always do your research before buying.

 

[Freddy58]

I think the answer lies in the album title.

Sorry to keep on, but what would you consider a reasonable price for a mint copy of that album?

 

[stevebrock]

I think the answer lies in the album title.

Sorry to keep on, but what would you consider a reasonable price for a mint copy of that album?

Seen one for £4 at Langley Mill Records

 

[Freddy58]

I think the answer lies in the album title.

Sorry to keep on, but what would you consider a reasonable price for a mint copy of that album?

Seen one for £4 at Langley Mill Records

Just checked, they don't have it now. I guess patience is required. I'm not very good at patience

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Just checked, they don't have it now. I guess patience is required. I'm not very good at patience

I'm pretty sure I've seen it in charity shops and at car boot's, so a bargain is out there if you are patient.

 

[respe]

Second hand, I prefer to see them, so I tend to practice patiance, although pink fish media has a honest,good second hand shop. For new try fresh press records.

 

[Freddy58]

Been looking around Discogs Generally speaking, there aren't that many albums described as 'mint', apart from new/unopened pressings. I'm thinking where possible to get original recordings. I do see that there are a good few described as 'near mint' that are early recordings. In your experience, do these measure up, generally speaking?

 

[jamesrfisher]

Been looking around Discogs Generally speaking, there aren't that many albums described as 'mint', apart from new/unopened pressings. I'm thinking where possible to get original recordings. I do see that there are a good few described as 'near mint' that are early recordings. In your experience, do these measure up, generally speaking?

been using Discogs quite a bit recently and 'near mint' are very good. Not had any with scratches or jumps in the. Only caveat is to see if the stellar has played them or they are 'as seen' as there can be a problem that is not visible but certainly audible but something that looks very used can play perfectly, I know from my own collection!

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I'm not sure of Discogs' selling rules, but my guess is that sellers are not allowed to describe used records as any better than Near Mint.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Only caveat is to see if the seller has played them or they are 'as seen' as there can be a problem that is not visible but certainly audible but something that looks very used can play perfectly, I know from my own collection!

This is good advice. I have The Cure-Faith, which is quite a quiet album, and I've owned it since the early 80s, and it looks like mice have been ice skating all over it, but it plays with barely a crackle (after I cleaned it with my Knosti). But, I have bought brand new albums, that look perfect, but play like a bowl of Rice Krispies.

Definitely make sure the seller has played the record, and if you're not sure, ask them if they have, or if they can. If they don't reply (which is quite likely), don't buy from them.

 

[Freddy58]

Thanks fellas

I've seen quite a few that catch my attention

 

[stevebrock]

This is good advice. I have The Cure-Faith, which is quite a quiet album, and I've owned it since the early 80s, and it looks like mice have been ice skating all over it, but it plays with barely a crackle (after I cleaned it with my Knosti). But, I have bought brand new albums, that look perfect, but play like a bowl of Rice Krispies.

Same as my House of Love - House of Love, looks a right beat up bit of vinyl but plays wonderful

 

[floyd droid]

I'm not sure of Discogs' selling rules, but my guess is that sellers are not allowed to describe used records as any better than Near Mint.

Assuming thats the case , then rightly so. If its been spun then it aint mint , end of .