"Junk" LP listings on audiogon - get rid of 'em

Ed. Noses in the air? On this site? Wadda ya mean?

Let me ask this. In what way are all the "junk" LP's that some of you are whining about effecting your ability to buy the music you purportedly seek? Is it that you have to wade through what you don't want among standard pressings to find that MFSL audiophile(?) half-speed master that would otherwise appear by itself and save you grazing effort? Is it that you have to bear the utter insult of sifting through umpteen Metallica and Abba LPs' to get to that coveted Bartok? Is it that must slog through a swamp of $5 LP's to get that $30 one that just has to be better? Or is it that you resent someone listing and selling LP's without paying a fee? I don't get it.

As for myself, I've sold only a few LP's on this site and bought a couple handfuls. I got taken badly on one occasion, but all the rest have been good experiences. Taking a quick look at the feedback for those that seem to be frequent sellers on this site, it would appear that the vast majority are serving a need and doing so in a way that is not causing much dissatisfaction between buyer and seller.

Oh, and heaven forbid that a pedestrian $5 LP would find its way onto this hallowed site. I mean, really, it could lead to listings for Aiwa boomboxes. :-0

Maybe this. Mandate that every sale be an auction with $1 opening bid and no reserve. That would test the market.

Oh boo-hoo-hoo!
Really, have we become so lazy and spoiled, that a second or two spent to click through stuff that doesn't interest us has become a major Herculean task of arduous labor?!!! Agon is a great audio/video website that has something for everyone, from novice to electronic master wizard. And it's a VERY easy site to navigate through, unlike a few of the other AV sites!

I've read and agreed with all of the points above being made. While i've found some "gems" ( at least to me ) here on Agon, i've also experienced the same "how long does this list go on for" feelings.

As such, i tend to agree with limiting the total number of "free" ads ( which includes "wanted" ads too ) that one can have running at one time. After this limit has been hit, "free" ads are no longer free but $0.50 apiece. Since this is next to free and one can list several items in each ad, it is not really cutting into the profit margin on any given item being listed for sale. If one can't organize their ads well enough to limit how many free ones that they have running at one time and feel that $0.50 is a rip-off to list items for sale here, one can always go to Audioshopper, Audioweb or Rec.audiomarketplace and clutter up those forums and do it for free.

This approach doesn't crimp the lifestyle of those that occasionally take advantage of "free" ads and encourages others doing so on a regular basis to minimize wasteful use of bandwidth. If they refuse to do so, they can pay the piper, which also helps to support the site that they are taking advantage of. Seems like common sense to me and nobody loses out so long as they aren't greedy. Sean
>

Ed - you've TOTALLY MISSED the point...but, if it's any consolation, I agree with the points you did make...all the best, Bizcut1.

Bizcut1, what really is the point, then? And how would you address the issue?

If the is issue is, on one hand, "audiophile" quality LP's, please provide us a definition of "audiophile" quality that can be applied consistently and appropriately. Would my second pressing of Cat Stevens, which is sonically excellent, be excluded because it wasn't half-speed mastered, for instance?

If it is, one the other hand, an issue of LP condition, tell us how a standard of, say, NM- or better can be applied on listing posted by private when the actual condition of the LP cannot be verified. Would this not lead to even more "stretching of the truth" in listings?

From a buyer's standpoint, the only salient point I can see is that one must sift through multiple listings to perhaps find that one that appeals to them. From a seller's standpoint, the only real point I see is that the "gem" I may post for sale would get less exposure amongst the otherwise "junk".

With respect to listings being free, I always figured that the goal of the 'Gon folks was to provide and easy and cheap forum in which make available MUSIC.

But, hey, I'm open to ideas. If you've different slant on this than the one I am reading, I'd like to hear it.