VPI Classic platter - is center milled?

It's the gasket that is causing your problem. The gasket is
for use with the center clamp only. It's only useful if you
don't have the outer ring clamp. If you screw down the center
clamp enough, with the gasket underneath, it will flatten out
the record. If you screw it down too much it will dish up at
the edge. If you have an outer ring clamp, and a center
weight you should not use the center gasket.

Agree with Brf. Apb689, you write that your "platter has a slight rise in the center." If that is really the case, your aluminum platter is defective. Check as Brf suggests.

By gasket, I mean rubber washer for use with the screw down clamp. I am assuming this is what Abp689 is talking about? I can't imagine the platter would get through quality control if it was that bad on it's own.

Okay. That is odd. Instead of an inner label recession, the platter has ~ 0.5 mm uniform center label rise.

It then appears VPI missed a QC check in the milling department. Coming up on 30 days of purchase. Hope this is not going to become an issue.

FWIW: love the TT! And thanks for the feedback. I'll update progress.

Call Jack, Mike or Matt at VPI. They are super responsive and they WILL make it right for you. Tell them that Bruce, their "Lontzmann," told you to call. Fyi -- a Lontzmann is a distant relative in a manner of speaking.