Deathbyart Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 (edited) I am working from home today and using this time to update my collection on Discogs. As I go through them, I realize how common it is for the seams to split during shipping. While getting those albums after waiting months is always awesome, it's also heartbreaking to see the sleeves split up. It feels like this a fairly new phenomenon. Am I the only one? Edited December 21, 2020 by Deathbyart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknown pleasures Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 Don’t think it’s really anything new, probably just more people buying records through the mail as the years go by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuckinandsuckinandtouchin Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 I’m sure I’m not the only one, but I always add a note to ship the record outside of the jacket to prevent seam splits which the seller almost always does. That’s for used LPs though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tipyourbartender Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 Seam splits on the printed inner-sleeves can be even worse. It's really disappointing to open a new record and see that. Buffbloom and prowl20 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Hundred Fifty-Two Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 45 minutes ago, unknown pleasures said: Don’t think it’s really anything new, probably just more people buying records through the mail as the years go by. Yeah. The more times a record is mailed the more likely there will be a seam split. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhulud Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 With vinyl's popularity being on a continued upswing, the level of careful packing by a majority of distros is a downward trend. Sure, a lot are using better LP mailers for corner protectors and all...esp. in the U.S....but it won't save the records from being jostled around and getting those seam splits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenanigans Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 53 minutes ago, tipyourbartender said: Seam splits on the printed inner-sleeves can be even worse. It's really disappointing to open a new record and see that. Getting printed inner sleeves is pretty disappointing. I think some labels (Fat) are realizing these always get destroyed and are moving away from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenanigans Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 2 things I do when shipping unsealed records - ship the record outset the jacket and put it in a paper sleeve if it has a printed inner. prowl20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 I've learned to just accept seam splits, especially on new sealed records. Bad corner dings were what always annoyed me. But that has been so much better over the past few years with the new mailers that have come out like jhulud mentioned. MtrCtyWx and timsimmons 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScorpio Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 2 hours ago, Deathbyart said: It feels like this a fairy new phenomenon. Am I the only one? This is an old fairy. Sorry, couldn't help. ghost and Deathbyart 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScorpio Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 IDK how "common" it is, but it does happen. I also suspect some sellers try to get away without disclosing seam-splits before selling as I have received a record or two over the years that made me wonder, as the packaging was solid all around aside from a small split. Not incredibly common, in my experience. Personally as a seller, I take all used records out of the cover. If it has a picture sleeve, I remove the vinyl from the sleeve and include paper inner and plastic outer sleeves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apirk Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 I’ve always looked at splits and dings as the price of buying records online instead of locally. I mean you are getting cardboard sent inside thicker cardboard and it is going hundreds of miles, things can happen with the best packing jobs warhenrecords, morfiend, smailtronic and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrd Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 I've had quite a few recently, seems to be trending towards happening more often. It is kind of a bummer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derby625 Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 (edited) 14 hours ago, ROVVLES said: Personally as a seller, I take all used records out of the cover. If it has a picture sleeve, I remove the vinyl from the sleeve and include paper inner and plastic outer sleeves. Ditto. This isn’t hard Seam splits suck on sealed records but they happen so I don’t get super stressed anymore about it The thing that confounds me is someone shipping the record in the jacket and the whole thing “naked” in a mailer; vinyl inside sleeve inside mailer with no plastic sleeve/bubble wrap/etc Edited December 22, 2020 by derby625 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSchwimmer Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 I ship all used records with the records outside the jacket, if I'm selling a new record I offer to slit the record along the edge and remove it from the jacket. If it's new and you want it sealed, no shipping method can 100% stop a record inside a sealed sleeve from potentially shifting and causing a split. MtrCtyWx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIGMA_BALLZ Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 I don’t get the obsession with seam splits. You have a flat plastic circle with sharp edges inside a paper sleeve, yea seam splits are gonna happen. so what? How often are you looking down at the top of your record, you’re not gonna see it, and then just store the record outside of the jacket, problem solved. seam splits, corner bends...who cares? It adds character to your record. Nothing stays pristine forever..besides it’s just paper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fowty Dollaz Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 17 hours ago, apirk said: I’ve always looked at splits and dings as the price of buying records online instead of locally. I mean you are getting cardboard sent inside thicker cardboard and it is going hundreds of miles, things can happen with the best packing jobs 8 minutes ago, crossedoutname said: I don’t get the obsession with seam splits. You have a flat plastic circle with sharp edges inside a paper sleeve, yea seam splits are gonna happen. so what? How often are you looking down at the top of your record, you’re not gonna see it, and then just store the record outside of the jacket, problem solved. seam splits, corner bends...who cares? It adds character to your record. Nothing stays pristine forever..besides it’s just paper Kinda feel exactly these ways about it. I hate when something is fucked up, but it really doesn't matter if it plays appropriately. My biggest complaint is when brand new records sound like scrotum dragging under the needle. LIGMA_BALLZ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCDELTAT Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 Yeah can't complain. One thing I want to get better at is repairing seam splits. I feel like I saw someone on IG a month ago show their process and it was very impressive. Essentially using the same weight of paper, gluing it into the inside, and then painting it with the same color. MrScorpio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmpatrick Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 Seam splits dramatically increased with the popularity of fucking 180 gram vinyl. I hate that shit. No need for it other than to jack up the cost on the manufacturing end as well as for the end user. There's zero sonic benefit. I laugh when a store expects you to accept a record that arrives with seam splits and keep your mouth shut. They don't consider it damaged when it's going from their hands to yours...but when you walk in to sell a record with a seam split jacket then they're sure as fuck going to ding you for it. It's bullshit. Seam splits on the jackets and inner sleeves are damaged product. End of story. MrScorpio, fuckinandsuckinandtouchin, al-naafiysh and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradedOnACurve Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 20 hours ago, shenanigans said: 2 things I do when shipping unsealed records - ship the record outset the jacket and put it in a paper sleeve if it has a printed inner. This. Should always be standard practice. MrScorpio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrScorpio Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 5 hours ago, jmpatrick said: I laugh when a store expects you to accept a record that arrives with seam splits and keep your mouth shut. They don't consider it damaged when it's going from their hands to yours...but when you walk in to sell a record with a seam split jacket then they're sure as fuck going to ding you for it. It's bullshit. Seam splits on the jackets and inner sleeves are damaged product. End of story. Agreed 100%. It is the seller's responsibility to ensure that items arrived undamaged. I can semi-agree with someone above who said there is no way to ensure 100% against damage, but I would argue that better packaging practices can eliminate a vast majority. Some places still use a single LP mailer, or a single box that can easily be damaged by one careless drop, or by being smashed by heavier packages in transit. There is no excuse for sending items worth $50 or more in simple cardboard box when items can easily be double boxed and shipped media mail without adding too much to costs. The investment in packaging is worth the money saved in potential returns, or money lost from buyers who may be deterred from making additional purchases from sellers who don't pack securely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fowty Dollaz Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 I definitely agree with double boxing if it's costly, but also there is absolutely no way to prevent seam splits if it's staying sealed. It has nothing to do with packaging and everything to do with handling. If a sealed record gets shaken up enough, seam splits are going to happen. If you don't care if a record is sealed, then have em take it out. If you're one who cares about that, it's gonna be a gamble. I don't care how many boxes, stiffeners, bubble wrap, literal steel cases, etc that are used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenanigans Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 1 hour ago, Fowty Dollaz said: If you don't care if a record is sealed, then have em take it out. If you're one who cares about that, it's gonna be a gamble. This too. If you buy a sealed record and don't ask for it to be shipped outside the jacket its on you. Opening sealed records is not general practice. Fowty Dollaz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknown pleasures Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 11 hours ago, jmpatrick said: Seam splits dramatically increased with the popularity of fucking 180 gram vinyl. I hate that shit. No need for it other than to jack up the cost on the manufacturing end as well as for the end user. There's zero sonic benefit. I laugh when a store expects you to accept a record that arrives with seam splits and keep your mouth shut. They don't consider it damaged when it's going from their hands to yours...but when you walk in to sell a record with a seam split jacket then they're sure as fuck going to ding you for it. It's bullshit. Seam splits on the jackets and inner sleeves are damaged product. End of story. I refuse to believe a 180 gram record without a split inner sleeve exists. Never seen one. Never will. jmpatrick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelby Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 Personally I like to file all my records edges down a few millimeters before shipping something to avoid the inevitable comic book vinyl collector noob rage. I only hate seam splits because they cause unnecessary returns that drove vinyl costs up over the years. smailtronic 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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