Vinyl manufacturers don't stand behind product?

4yanx,
One was Anthony Braxton's "This Time.." by Get Back, manufactured by Abraxas. The other was Otis Redding's "Dictionary of Soul" by Sundazed manufactured by Atlantic under license by Rhino. The retailer didn't look at the manufacturer and indicated all manufacturers have the same "no exchange" policy.

To my knowledge and experince, that is total hogwash.

My experience earlier last week was wonderful! I purchased a 180 gm audiophile double album and there were roughly 10 seconds of ear splitting pops on one side. I contacted Red Trumpet, where I purchased it, and received an email back form the President, Richard Flynn. He apologized for the inconvenience, indicated that there hadn't been similar problems with these albums (a response to a question I had asked), and said he was sending another one out to me immediately and to not bother sending back the defective ones.

I'm not implying that he would do this every time for me or with every customer's request to return, but that's service and I appreciate it!

I'd have to suggest to Mitchchavis that he might consider doing his record buying business elsewhere.

I don't think its the manufacturers, guys, but the distributors. The local vinyl dealer and I are very good friends and he has told me that absolutely, positively, the vinyl distributors do not take anything back under any circumstances. In fact, everytime he places an order he has to verbally acknowledge over the phone that he understands the "no returns on vinyl" policy. There is also a written clause on whatever form or P.O. that he has to sign, too.

With that said, this retailer WILL take back vinyl for any reason except for "surface noise". Pops, scratches, warps, etc he will take it back no problem. I agree with him that "surface noise" can be a matter of opinion and it is a risk we take by listening to vinyl. He won't allow some knucklehead to rip open 6 copies just to find the best pressing.

Bear in mind that retailers like this guy eat the entire cost of the LP when it is returned. He either marks it way down and tries to sell it as damaged or (I think) he simply adds it to his own collection and tries to listen past the imperfections.