Mine arrived packed only in the dreaded thin plastic envelope, so the corners were softened up, though no serious damage. I've never received a record from Amazon that wasn't in a cardboard LP box, but I guess I couldn't keep my virginity forever.
Let's try this again... And, THIS time I will be careful so that my perfectly innocent statements *cough... won't be twisted by the Evil minds that reside here... UB40 - Unprecedented (2-LP) $22.62 PRIME https://www.amazon.com/Unprecedented-UB40-featuring-Campbell-Astro/dp/B09SKZ9KCY BETH HART - Better Than Home $21.99 (Transparent vinyl 20% Off) PRIME https://www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Home-Clear-Transparent/dp/B09L4YY174 BRIAN SETER - Setzer Goes Intru-MENTAL (White vinyl w/Red & Blue) $14.69 PRIME https://www.amazon.com/Setzer-GOES-Instru-MENTAL-Brian/dp/B0915HG2WM/ SELENA GOMEZ - Revelacion Deluxe (Red vinyl) $14.39 PRIME https://www.amazon.com/Revelacion-Deluxe-Colored-Vinyl-Selena/dp/B094X8XP8L HORACE PARLAN - Speakin My Peace (Blue Note Classics - Pre-order 15% Off) $23.49 PRIME https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRNJGKQP
That’s strange. My copy was pre-packed by the label in a LP mailer. Amazon also placed it in one of their cardboard boxes with air pillows, which hasn’t happened in a few years.
I just realized something. Whenever I buy a record from Amazon on sale with a price below $20, like the recent deal, Two Headed Freap from Blue Note Classic, or the Bevis Frond, it always arrives in this flimsy plastic envelop with absolutely no other protection. Whenever I buy a record which is not on sale with a list price let's say between $25-40 it always arrives in the appropriate LP mailer, and sometimes they put it inside an additional box with air pillows. I wonder if these cheap bastards decide what packaging to put the record in based on the price.
If I have learned anything about Amazon it's that there is near zero consistency or reason with there packaging for vinyl.. Every time I think I figured something out or see a pattern it's broken soon after.. Outside of stuff that's given to amazon in well protected boxes already like most boxsets or the more expensive albums it's simply a hail mary and you just have to hope for the best! The last album I got in a plastic bag was $40ish I believe and I didn't even try for a replacement. I buy probably 70-80% less vinyl from Amazon then I did 2-3+ years ago so at least when things do come damaged it's not nearly as often anymore. I live in a slightly rural area so I still use them for a bunch of other stuff where it doesn't matter if it's not packaged great at least. If you do get a majority in mailers still you should celebrate it and embrace all the deals you can get with minimal headaches.
I try to purchase more that one LP at a time, with the assumption being that they'll use a box for two or more. This was a rare case when I only bought one, and it didn't turn out well. It might just be coincidence but in my mind it reinforces my bias.
I ordered Bitches Brew ($20.39+tax) a couple weeks ago and finally received it. It was loose in the box, banging around, with a crease to the cover. No record mailer, just a few sheets of packing paper, no air pillows. It's going back. They do this to themselves!
I don’t think I’ve ever ordered more than one LP at a time from Amazon, over the last few years I’d say 9 times out of 10 they come in either an LP mailer or a larger box. Guessing it’s all down to whatever fulfillment center processes your order.
I know it is probably random based on who is processing your order. I buy maybe one or two records per week from Amazon maybe more if I find a good deal. For the last two years, they all have arrived packaged in an LP mailer. I have gotten all my Tone Poets and Classic BN from them and the THF was the first that arrived without a mailer, without even a box. It goes back anyways because of the non-fill on side 2.
ANYWAY back to some deals on a couple of classic Blue Notes: Time Waits: The Amazing Bud Powell (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series)[LP] https://a.co/d/0yKmULu $18.79 Dial 'S' For Sonny (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series)[LP] https://a.co/d/c7wFan2 $18.60 Tons of other Blue Note Classics going for around this same price right now, most less than $20.