Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

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Torjazzer
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

Post by Torjazzer »

Within the last six months I've had two records purchased from ebay, both arrived broken. A third record arrived intact, however I wrote to the seller saying that I couldn't write a possitive feedback considering the appaling way the disc was packed. I was shocked that the disc arrived in one piece and that the only thing that saved it was that it was an Edison DD. There are a LOT of people getting into the record business who don't know what they are doing. I think we should start posting the bad sellers' names on this forum.

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Nat
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

Post by Nat »

I received a broken one yesterday - immediate response and apologies, with a refund. It wasn't badly packed, just not well enough. I'm taking to sending along a boilerplate note on hope to pack 78 rpm records. Some sellers are just stupid (I got one a month or two ago an a manilla envelope!!!) - others just don't know.

But a few are really, really good - and I always praise their packing.

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coyote
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

Post by coyote »

Nat wrote:But a few are really, really good - and I always praise their packing.
Indeed! I do the same, as packaging quality or lack thereof is NOT an area eBay deems important enough to rate, so I list it in the feedback description to let other buyers know "this person knows how to Pack Shellac"!!

Out of curiosity, what is your boilerplate message on packing? Most of the time I'd be happy if the seller secures the record(s) between two pieces of heavy cardboard.

CarGuyZM10
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

Post by CarGuyZM10 »

This is why it is extremely rare that I buy records that will need to be shipped. Shipping is expensive, and for one or two records, it is not always worth it in my mind. It usually has to be a big quantity of records before I even consider it.

Thankfully, I have never had a bad experience shipping records. When I got into this hobby, it was through an ebay purchase of a VV-VIIIa, along with 50 period fox trot records. When it got here, the box it was in was so big, I could not get it into my car! I opened it, to find it was in a 6+ inch cocoon of bubble wrap, insulated from the box by tons of packing peanuts! Needless to say, the machine survived without a scratch. The records were shipped with the same care, though they were shipped stacked, with cardboard between every 15 or so records. The good news is that the cocoon it was in would not let them slide against each other. I was very lucky!

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edisonphonoworks
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

Post by edisonphonoworks »

So everyone is talking about how poorly records are packed. So how about some instructions on how to pack them. It seem we need answers instead of just grumbling.

I have tried various different methods of sending my blanks. Now I have lately gotten decent results, but not foolproof. I sell my blanks in a pasteboard box, with pegs, of 12 or 6. I bubble wrap each blank, and bubble wrap on top of them, then put a sheet of cardboard on top of that. I then bubble wrap the box and tape it shut and tape cardboard around this, then I put 3" of wadded newspaper on all 4 sides, and keep stuffing until nothing moves. They seem to have been making it by this method. Any suggestions??

dd2u
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

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ColumbiaBY
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

Post by ColumbiaBY »

I had been looking for my Favorite 78 forever! Out of the Dawn by Nat Shilkret. My bud found it one day and offered to give it to me, and gave it to me at school lunch (HIGH SCHOOL) the next day. When I asked for it he pulled it out of his 20 ton BACKPACK and handed it to me, I cringed. I placed it on my lap to get my packaging materials out of my backpack when 2 more of my friends got in a argument! Friend No. 1 proceeded to grab the 78 Off my lap and THREW I repeat THREW it at my other friend :evil: !!!!! Friend No. 2 proceeded to throw the 78 that was just thrown at him on the GROUND! (DIRT). In those seconds my heart was ripped apart and I exploded in anger and yelled at them, when I finished I went over to my crippled queen and realized it was still INTACT!!!!

The records gods shined upon me that day! My Fav song below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgfd9HnRQe8[/youtube]

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operabass78s
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

Post by operabass78s »

I would have loved to have friends in high school who actually knew what a 78 was! My junior year I did a presentation for economics class on the Victor Talking Machine Co. complete with ads, music, records and Victrola. It took the whole class period and got an A, teacher loved it (bored half the class though) :).

P.S. I don't know if you've heard them, but Shilkret recorded great arrangements of "Glow-Worm" and Felix Arndt's "Nola" on Victor. Some of my absolute favorite recordings. Also a recording of Ethelbert Nevin's suite "A Day in Venice" is a must hear.
Last edited by operabass78s on Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Nat
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

Post by Nat »

VV-IX:

If you have not shipped 78 rpm records often, a word of advice based on experience and broken records received: they are brittle! Records are best shipped in individual envelopes sandwiched between two layers of strong cardboard (multiple records can go into one sandwich). The sandwich is best wrapped in bubble wrap and surrounded by peanuts or wadded newspaper, then shipped in a strong cardboard box. Thanks for your care and attention – I look forward your shipment!

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johnwilla
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Re: Does this kind of stuff torque anyone else off?

Post by johnwilla »

Twice I rec'd records from France packed in a sandwich of masonite-type boards just the size of a 10" record sleeve, and they arrived in perfect condition. 3d time, the same vendor sent the record in a padded envelope with 7 (!) pieces of packing peanut inside with the record. Of course, it was in smithereens when I rec'd it. The vendor refunded my money, and sent me a similar record by way of apology.

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