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  1. #1
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    what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    having read a thread on this topic at another venue i though it would be informative to get thoughts on this from the AS community.

    there are few things more disappointing in the world of audio than unsealing a new LP that turns out to be defective or damaged. pressing defects include warp, off-center spindle hole, non-fill, stitching, etc. there is also damage from handling at the factory such as scratches as well as shipping damage such as jacket split seams and bent corners.

    as a theoretical benchmark, i think a reasonable expectation is that immediately after opening a new, sealed LP one should be able to grade it as NM and then be able sell it as such. in other words, buyers have the right to expect a defect free product. any defect or damage makes a NM sale not possible and significantly reduces the value of the record and may even render it unsalable (worthless) -- not to mention the infuriating playback issues of defective LPs which is the real issue i have here.

    my question is what is your tolerance for LPs that arrive defective and/or damaged? …how much of a degraded listening experience from this benchmark should one be willing to tolerate before returning an LP for a new copy?

    fwiw: my current view is that anything beyond a few ticks or pops is cause for a return. i also think that warps, off-center spindle holes, etc. that do not noticeably impact playback but do impact value are also cause for return. the question for me then becomes whether it is worth the hassle of doing so.
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  2. #2

    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    The last LP that i purchase was at a live concert. I took the brand new LP and cleaned it throughly. Despite that, it was so noisy that I never played it again. Unfortunately, you cannot return such purchases.
    I have a couple of friends who are LP collectors and buy limited-series LPs made by reputable manufacturers. Typically, those are well made. But with the LP craze going on out there, unless you are buying from a few selected manufacturers, you may not know what you get until you actually listen to it.
    In any case, I no longer bother buying physical media (LPs, CDs, SACDs, etc.). YMMV

  3. #3
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    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    at this point i am really only buying audiophile reissues from reputedly high quality pressing plants. even here it seems to be impossible to avoid defects...

    as an example, i recently bought an expensive MoFi 2x45 LP reissue which arrived with both spindle holes off-center, micro scratches and many more than a few pops + ticks throughout. using the benchmark described above, pretty sure it would have been unsalable. accurately described, would you buy it? ...that one went back.

    anyway, just seeing if i am even in the same zip-code as others on this issue.
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  4. #4
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    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    Quote Originally Posted by aKnyght View Post
    at this point i am really only buying audiophile reissues from reputedly high quality pressing plants. even here it seems to be impossible to avoid defects...

    as an example, i recently bought an expensive MoFi 2x45 LP reissue which arrived with both spindle holes off-center, micro scratches and many more than a few pops + ticks throughout. using the benchmark described above, pretty sure it would have been unsalable. accurately described, would you buy it? ...that one went back.

    anyway, just seeing if i am even in the same zip-code as others on this issue.
    you cant do anything about off-center pressings as the entire run is most likely the same. With warped/bowed records, if minor they can be flattened in something like the ORB DF01 otherwise my 'tables vacuum hold-down takes care of that. split seams are a bummer but not serious enough to warrant a return. a few random ticks and pops are inevitable. non-fill/stitching is the only reason I go to the trouble to replace copies. most independent resellers will not take back new vinyl for ANY reason, outlets like Amazon will take anything back to a point. I heard they cut off people for too many returns.

  5. #5

    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    I don’t bother returning bad pressings any longer as the replacements usually have the same defects. Has led to far fewer Vinyl purchases for me for sure. Getting discouraged with the entire Vinyl thing for sure as much of the newer music I like is either never pressed to Vinyl or is a terrible pressing.YMMV

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  6. #6

    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    Quite frankly, if you like the analog sound, nothing beats tape. There is steep price to pay of course.

  7. #7
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    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    I have returned a few from local stores and have them open up another one to see if it has the same defect. If it does I get a refund or pick something else out. Of course buying online it is too much of a hassle to return unless it was an expensive LP.
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  8. #8

    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    I've returned over a third of the vinyl I've bought from Amazon UK, damaged covers, faults in vinyl, warped, scratched.

    I'm sure the warping is due to storage in large sandwich panelled buildings with poor insulation ie hot in summer cold in winter.

    If you don't return them they won't improve quality control.

    EDIT: although most of the Amazon returns are due to transit and storage damage I also return for manufacturing defects which are common too. Unfortunately I don't think Amazon return to the manufacturer they just bin them, the local distribution depot about 20 minutes from me have already been criticised in the press for binning and destroying 100's of 1000's of perfectly good items every week, due to not selling or returns and lack of new storage and that's just one depot what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

  9. #9
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    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    Quote Originally Posted by mikeyb View Post
    I've returned over a third of the vinyl I've bought from Amazon UK, damaged covers, faults in vinyl, warped, scratched.

    I'm sure the warping is due to storage in large sandwich panelled buildings with poor insulation ie hot in summer cold in winter.

    If you don't return them they won't improve quality control.

    Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk
    agreed, given todays high cost of vinyl why would one keep a defect ?? I'd even return a used Lp if it didn't measure to the standard for which it was being sold.
    Cheers ! …. Dave

  10. #10
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    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    I may be the exception, but I have seen very few damaged/defective albums since I got back into vinyl. Certainly no where near 1/3. Maybe two or three tops in the 260 or so albums I have purchased since getting back into vinyl.
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  11. #11
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    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Myers View Post
    I may be the exception, but I have seen very few damaged/defective albums since I got back into vinyl. Certainly no where near 1/3. Maybe two or three tops in the 260 or so albums I have purchased since getting back into vinyl.
    Randy, I'm in agreement with you. I think I've returned one Lp in the past few years, but I must admit I've also bought but a dozen or less in that time period. My last purchase, Analogue Productions re-issue of 'Kind of Blue' is stellar, it completes my set, my Dads original 1959 and my 2001 re-issue.
    Cheers ! …. Dave

  12. #12
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    Re: what is your tolerance for defective LPs ?

    had to laugh when an LP i ordered from over-the-pond arrived yesterday ...packaged only in a paper bag!!


    of course the LP played flawlessly and was more or less flat (perfectly flat by optimal standards) but the jacket was all bent up.

    ...as if its not hard enough to get defect-free LPs.
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