Did you see this e-article in Yahoo news today??

Rlwainwright,
my 1st point was supposed to be very tongue-in-cheek (hence the exclamation mark) but I did not know a better way to show that in my post. Agree, his prices for those 2 particular albums is ludicrous.
the other 3 points: it was refreshing to see somebody outside the small world of Audiogon/AA/AudioCircle recommend products you + I would use.

I think a QA listening test is of value to the customer but his prices are beyond the pale.

Used album: $2.00
Cleaning: $2.00
Listening time 1 hour $35.00
Wear on equipment: $2.00
Cataloging/Stock time $2.00
Shipping/Receiving cost $10.00
Operational cost: $10.00
Total cost $63.00

$63.00 would seem to be a reasonable cost for the service but obviously he is not using this method as his business plan. He is looking at low volume and high prices, therefore decreasing his actual work load and increasing his profit margins. He would need to sell 12 copies of DSM for every single copy that he sells for $700 or more. Also, at the lower rate it would beg the question..."how many supposed hot stampers are there?" At $700 a pop it rises to the level of exclusiveness and therefore meets the emotional need of his consumers.

Of what I understand the equipment he uses is highly modified. Nothing is as purchased. How can you judge a record that most people will be playing on standard stock equipment regardless of its cost? Is the system on the analitical solid state side or the warm tube side as that will effect playback?. I would like this information before purchasing. Also shipping cost for the return of a 750.00 record is what?
I would rather talk with a local dealer to listen to what he has to pick the best sounding version on MY system. He would get back all clean records for his trouble. If you buy used records then you will have a store you go to often and have a relationship with the owner. I do with 3 stores and all have great return policies especially since everything is cleaner upon return than when it leaves

The whole thing is just stupid!

Taters, I tend to agree with you that the pricing on these "hot stampers" vinyl is ludicrous BUT there just might be some truth to it.
Read this forum thread (as I did) & also watch the Mike Fremer video (see the post by Qdrone) in its entirety (I'm in the process of - watched 20 mins of the 60 mins).
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?gmusi&1399384539&&&/Hot-Stamper-myth-or-reality-

after all of this you might still be unconvinced but at least you'll be better educated (I was/am).