rsims Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 (edited) Hi All. So I've been having some bad luck with my local record store. 75% of the new records I purchase from them have some form of warping. This one in particular I'd like to get some thoughts on. They already swapped it out once and checked this new one on their turntable before I re-purchased, however they only checked side B (in hindsight I should have asked them to flip it). Side A has some edge warping that I'm not sure would qualify as acceptable, as I don't want to risk wearing our my stylus. If this seems fine I'd prefer not to bother the store a second time. With that said, these recurring experiences are making me more likely to purchase online. So far none of the LPs I've purchased from Amazon have had warping and their return policy is way easier than going back to my local store. I always feel bad because I know stores have to eat the cost when an exchange is made. So to sum things up, would you keep or return this record? Thanks in advance for your thoughts! Edited July 13, 2020 by rsims Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
se7enstitches Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 No I wouldnt. They need to be doing quality control which is part of running any successful business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bear801 Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 (edited) There’s some kind of QC issue going on somewhere unless all you buy are LPs with 80page booklets inside. i’ve been buying vinyl from local shops since 1994 or so and i rarely ever have had to take a record back. 75% is insane. Edited July 12, 2020 by bear801 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgrantx Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 The unfortunate reality of vinyl in 2020 is that it is really hard to get perfect vinyl. A lot of plants will only accept returns from labels if defects affects playablity. I would say a good amount of these are probably like this when the label got them and in turn arrived at the store like this. You say these are new and sealed so stores can't open new vinyl coming in to check them all. The QC problems really go all the way back to the source, QC is a problem but it's a plant issue. I will say the mail is slower now and it is giving vinyl more opportunities to warp in hot trucks as well. I've seen a lot of warped records posted in the Metal and Core Collectors facebook group this summer. aopps42 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fowty Dollaz Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 8 minutes ago, xgrantx said: The QC problems really go all the way back to the source, QC is a problem but it's a plant issue. Pretty sure this is the issue. Warped records seem to be happening more and more frequently for me (though not this frequently). Basically, I don't think it's the store's fault. aopps42 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museummouth Posted July 12, 2020 Share Posted July 12, 2020 (edited) How could a store do QC on sealed albums?thats ridiculous. I’ve never returned an album to a store ever. Warping happens it’s part of the hobby. Get a flattener. although I do agree that warping seems more common in general now than say 5 years ago. Edited July 13, 2020 by museummouth copelandkid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsims Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 Thanks for the info everyone! Based on the video, do you think this record is ok to play semi-regularly if it tracks decently? It seems to play ok. A few clicks and pops but it's also acoustic, so just guitar and vocals. Not the loudest music in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Hundred Fifty-Two Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Dude it looks fine. What’s the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 If it plays, it stays. Words of wisdom Snaggle Von Swift, One Hundred Fifty-Two, Billich0986 and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRHews Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 24 minutes ago, Dub said: If it plays, it stays. Words of wisdom If I fits, I sits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Letskissthesky10 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 That’s a pretty solid warp but I would assume the record would play okay. I’ve had this issues more so with mail order (specifically amazon) if it’s common, less than $30 and if its playable I’d just keep it. If the warp bothers me I just put some books on top of it for a couple days. Usually flattens out perfectly. If it is a rarer record or more expensive I would ask for a replacement or refund. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bear801 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 1 hour ago, museummouth said: How could a store do QC on sealed albums?thats ridiculous. I’ve never returned an album to a store ever. Warping happens it’s part of the hobby. Get a flattener. although I do agree that warping seems more common in general now than say 5 years ago. I usually wont return them if i bought it locally. Even if i should. im just not seeing a lot of warped records. One a year maybe out of buying 40 or 50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsims Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 Side A in the video has a lot more minor, yet noticeable pops and cracks than Side B which sits relatively flat. Is that a symptom of a warped record or would warping present as jumping / skipping when played? Thanks again for the info! Relatively new to collecting but really enjoying this newfound hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satan Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 .... gonna stay outta this because this question is fucking ludicrous. Snaggle Von Swift, rsims, faaip de oiad and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsims Posted July 13, 2020 Author Share Posted July 13, 2020 (edited) Great reply Satan! You just changed my life. 🤪 How dare me be so uninformed! Edited July 13, 2020 by rsims ok. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
se7enstitches Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Consistent warping issue on sealed records may be coming down to how they are stored in the retail space. There is also a possibility that you are expecting perfection where there won't be, or have too high of standards. Maybe a little bit of both, or not at all. Who knows??? 😅 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roandy55 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 2 hours ago, Satan said: .... gonna stay outta this because this question is fucking ludicrous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burnthealbum Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Will there be pie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reshiram Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknown pleasures Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oblivions Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 (edited) 75% of new/sealed records I buy have some kind of warp, often medium or above. It’s been that way for about the last 2 years. I live in Southern California so I imagine it’s a combination of maybe less quality control standards at plants, as the vinyl resurgence rages on, and the temperatures of mail rooms and vans here. A few years ago, I’d check with labels/shops on large warps but now I don’t bother unless there is an actual skip or the warp is a gnarly edge warp. Large bowled warps can still play through fine and I have a $100 stylus on a $300 player so I don’t have the qualms that some have with warps putting an extra burden on their setup. In the end though, the increase in warps is one of a handful of reasons why I’ve stopped buying as many records. It is what it is and I should be slowing down my purchases anyway so I haven’t done much Flat Records or Bust advocacy at all. Edited July 13, 2020 by Oblivions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nico Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Explain to me how an a-side can be warped but a b-side is not? Doesn't make sense. MyEnemy, Snaggle Von Swift, One Hundred Fifty-Two and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsimmons Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Maybe I'm lucky, but I can't remember the last time I got a new record and it was warped. Maybe its the clamp that my TT has that keeps them weighted down when playing. 75% of records having warping is bonkers to me. I don't know if I can even pick one out in my collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skacel Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 12 hours ago, se7enstitches said: Consistent warping issue on sealed records may be coming down to how they are stored in the retail space. There is also a possibility that you are expecting perfection where there won't be, or have too high of standards. Maybe a little bit of both, or not at all. Who knows??? 😅 I think if you are a perfectionist this hobby would drive you absolutely insane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billich0986 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 I recently got a record that had a decent warp. I put the record on a hard flat surface, put about 50lbs of books on top, and left it alone for a month. Was it perfectly flat afterwards? No. But it was significantly better and has no issues playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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