williemyers Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 hi guys, first time here. I've got a mint (factory shrink-wrapped, unopened) copy of Decca's 1969 release of The Who's "Tommy". Only thing is, I can't get the pressing data off of the records with out opening the package? And, of course, I can't inspect the condition of the records? So, do I open the package, get the info and reduce the price to "near mint"? Or do I leave it sealed - mint - and offer it "as is - no returns" to collectors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williemyers Posted July 6, 2022 Author Share Posted July 6, 2022 wow!.... hundreds of views and not a single reply?.... itsWetWilly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardlineKid Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Open it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smailtronic Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Open it, listen to it. prowl20, N8TRU and IndigoHollow 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefwahoo Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 If you are planning to sell it and want to maximize the sales price, there is no question. Leave it sealed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williemyers Posted July 6, 2022 Author Share Posted July 6, 2022 ah, that's great! thanks for the replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N8TRU Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Records were made to be opened and listened to. Records can be opened and mint especially considering shrink wrap can rot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek™ Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 1 hour ago, williemyers said: ah, that's great! thanks for the replies Few things make me more proud than seeing the community band together to enlighten someone that records should be opened if they're going to be played, and sealed if they're intended to sell. 🥹 You came to the right place. prowl20 and Mars 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknown pleasures Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 8 minutes ago, Derek™ said: Few things make me more proud than seeing the community band together to enlighten someone that records should be opened if they're going to be played, and sealed if they're intended to sell. 🥹 You came to the right place. I’ve been doing it the other way around and it seems to work just as well. Mars and prowl20 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mameeshkamowskwoz Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 19 minutes ago, unknown pleasures said: I’ve been doing it the other way around and it seems to work just as well. Playing sealed records must be hell on your stylus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknown pleasures Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 25 minutes ago, mameeshkamowskwoz said: Playing sealed records must be hell on your stylus! It’s not too bad, I just get a new Crosley each time. illuminographer, prowl20 and mameeshkamowskwoz 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardlineKid Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) If you don't open to make sure it's mint, you should say it's "presumed mint". There could be damage in shipping that you can't see unless you open. I don't think opening is going to scare away anyone who is serious about owning the record Edited July 6, 2022 by HardlineKid Han Solo and mitchard 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowl20 Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 2 hours ago, mameeshkamowskwoz said: Playing sealed records must be hell on your stylus! If you weigh the stylus down enough it goes right through the cover. Works pretty well. You just need to sharpen it a little too before weighing it down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han Solo Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Here's the thing, if you don't open it, you don't actually know anything about the state of the record. Sure its sealed. But so what? The record could still be pressed off centre due to a mistake at the pressing plant. The wrong music could have been recorded onto the disc. It could have two A sides or two B sides. There could be residue stuck to the disc that no one noticed before they put it in the sleeve and sealed it with the shrink wrap. Sealed doesn't necessarily mean "mint". HardlineKid and mitchard 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitchard Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 38 minutes ago, Han Solo said: Here's the thing, if you don't open it, you don't actually know anything about the state of the record. Sure its sealed. But so what? The record could still be pressed off centre due to a mistake at the pressing plant. The wrong music could have been recorded onto the disc. It could have two A sides or two B sides. There could be residue stuck to the disc that no one noticed before they put it in the sleeve and sealed it with the shrink wrap. Sealed doesn't necessarily mean "mint". Yup. The listing definitely would need to indicate that the album is "presumed mint" and no returns/refunds. But still expect to have issues with the seller (bad feedback, probable PayPal dispute) if they chose to open it, and there is an issue. Especially if you list it as one pressing based off the limited information you have from the outer sleeve, and it turns out to be a different pressing entirely. With these mass produced major label releases from the 60s-80s, it can sometimes be incredibly difficult to determine the exact pressing with the outer info alone, and you need to verify matrix numbers, center label designs, etc to really be sure. Also, I don't know if this has been debunked as finicky vinyl dude pseudo-science yet, but wasn't the general consensus that decades in shrink poses concerns serious for warping? Han Solo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unknown pleasures Posted July 7, 2022 Share Posted July 7, 2022 5 hours ago, mitchard said: Also, I don't know if this has been debunked as finicky vinyl dude pseudo-science yet, but wasn't the general consensus that decades in shrink poses concerns serious for warping? It depends on the shrink. There’s more than one kind used, and the more “plastic wrap” kind definitely gets snug around the corners over time and starts bowing the jacket, especially on single LP or non-gatefold releases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HardlineKid Posted July 7, 2022 Share Posted July 7, 2022 How valuable is this presumed record? I mean is anyone going to take a flyer on this being the pressing they're looking for when the relevant info is inside the jacket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Posted July 7, 2022 Share Posted July 7, 2022 Open it and turn it into a bowl copelandkid 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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