I read the BR blog all the time and appreciate what I have learned. It is just one, but an important data point. To date I have not bought one as I have acquired most of my albums years ago….What pressing/stamper might have the best average sounding copy and the right tail Hot Stampers.
The way I look at it, if someone is looking for a great sounding copy of a favorite LP their pricing model seems fair… Example…
They know from history only (only they know this true along with a few buyers) the US Sticky Fingers 1971 ATCO/Broadway OG from Monarch or Sonic win shootouts… This is an important edge.*assumption as example
The cost today to buy 8-10 copies in real VGplus condition or better is probably $100 per record, maybe more..They expect the shootout to yield 2 Hot Stampers, Those get sold for $700 on average and they lose a bit on the other LP’s.
Sometimes they have one LP they sell for over $1000, they can also have a failed shootout, even the winner does make the grade..
Just trying to highlight the information edge..
The buyer gets money back if not happy. Clearly only for someone that wants this best sound…
I personally have 10-12 copies of the album, my favorite. Probably bought at $25 average cost over the years. Half because of condition issue would not qualify. With my remaining 5-6 clean copies I don’t even know if even one has a chance of winning a shootout.
Someday they will get cleaned again and if can get somebody to help me with a shootout, compare them to one of theirs…