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Sellers increasingly overgrade records

Out of last ten records bought on ebay and discog only one man graded the record right on. He said NM and it was. How and where do you buy original pressings? Prices are going up, grading goes down. Market economy my a..
My warning to anyone thinking of getting back to or starting vinyl adventure - be prepared to send a lot of records back. Yeah, I suppose I could find just about anything in Manhattan stores for a few hundred dollars each. But that’s Manhattan and a few hundred dollars.
It wasn’t like that even five years ago let alone fifteen. It was maybe 20% -25% overgrading not 90%.
I am not talking about classical music records, it might be different, no idea.
Japanese sellers are a little better but still they overgrade, just less so.
inna
inna OP
7,132 posts
 
Not always in my experience. I know Records by Mail, he is generally good, though I did throw away couple of warped records from there in the past.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Would never buy records on ebay as you always get garbage.
inna OP
7,132 posts
 
I do talk to sellers sometimes. In most cases they want to get rid of me and my questions, at other times I get -you don't like it send it back- response. And I can't say I am fanatically strict, if stated NM record has couple of ticks that's alright, I still consider it NM, and VG+ is too broad in fact for all people to agree on.
I never buy sealed records - you never know what's in there and usually you can't return them.
Biggest problem for me is expensive shipping from and to Japan, often it makes little sense to return the record if shipping is not refunded as well.
slaw's avatar
slaw
20,403 posts
 
Thanks for the Records By Mail recommendation...never heard of this.

My Discogs experience has been mostly negative although it is a good resource for pricing, IMO.

I’ve had success with carolinasoul who has an ebay/Discogs presence. I’ve never had an issue with lps rated VG+ or higher. I’ve been to their physical store several times and they have good stuff. Worth registering for their weekly auctions.
inna OP
7,132 posts
 
I think, records on discogs are mostly overpriced.
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