Vinyl manufacturers don't stand behind product?

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.

I just gotta say that a lot of this talk makes me DOUBLY appreciative of my dealer and his distributor, by extension. I am also wondering if this situation varies at least by geographic location or individual distributor. I went and bought several LP's yesterday and pointedly asked my guy his scoop. He said that it is about a break-even propostition for him to take a defective LP back, sometimes losing a buck or two. He does not hesitate at all for good customers becasue he wants to keep them as good customers. He went on the say that HIS distributor does an even credit exchange and DOES stand behind defectives, for which he can subsequently seek credit from all but a very few foreign manufacturers.

He went on to say that if a distributor would NOT stand behind product, within reason of course, he would not last long in the business because LP buyers would not stand for such practices. He did comment, however, that he knew things were different with some distributors "back east", but would not further elaborate. Seems this may, in part, be a "what the market will bear" issue.

I've stopped shopping there because I've had trouble returning defects and mis-marked condition albums. They've got a great selection of basics, but they couldn't care less about keeping customers.

Try Jackpot, 2nd Avenue, or Recordsbymail.com (you can pick up there). You'll have much better luck, and they actually seem to appreciate their customers...

Rmacdo

I've actually returned 2 defective copies of Neil Young's latest to their shop on 23rd. They were perfectly cool about it, and gave me an exchange for something different. Music Direct mail order will also take back defectives, no problem.

Jackpot took back a Linda Thompson album that has known defects, but I'm sure they would have taken it back anyway. Basically, a shop shouldn't sell a product that they aren't willing to stand behind. There is absolutely no excuse for copping out and putting the responsibility on the manufacturer or distributor.

All I know is that, for vinyl quality, I actually expect the worst these days with new records. If I'm unwrapping it, I expect a clean record with no warps, pops, or ticks. Unfortunately, this is rare. I have better luck with used!

Rmacdo