The GST (Goods & Services tax) which is 10% of the purchase price is added by Amazon, so they handle that part, it is added to the final price.
Amazon is the only place I'll buy new records from. Mostly cos there is a high chance I'll have to order three or four of them to get a clean copy.
I think when buying new vinyl online there is no more of a problem than buying at the store. You can't see the vinyl, or what shape it's in. Buying used us always a chance. Even when using known groups such as Discogs. I'm not sure about Amazon's return policy. I'd think that's where any problem will lie.
Just a heads up but the Coltrane's Favorite things repress on Atlantic with 2 albums, one mono the other stereo is for sale on Amazon right now for $33 or so. That's cheaper that used copies on Discogs.
Out of a cupla hundred purchases from the 'zon, I've had zero issues with packaging. I had one wrong order, a rap album shipped instead of the 1/2 speed remaster of the Stones - Some Girls). Return easy peasy. Another cupla album returns for Christmas presents that were dupes, again, no questions asked and simple.
Amazon used to have an Advanced Search function which did allow one to enter record label, it was great, but in the mid-2010s, for some inexplicable to me reason, it was eliminated; multiple e-mails asking why have never provided any believable response; it's my perception was that it was long gone before any of the current employees were even there, given the inability to understand what I'm even writing to them about. It was great for entering record company name, then sorting by price; still had way too many totally irrelevant responses, just as now, but there WERE fewer of them.
I've heard of this happening and I think a couple members here had it happen. Never happened to me (yet). One thing they have started doing is limiting the number of times you can return one purchase. For example if you buy a record, you may be allowed to return it for a replacement but not try a third copy. If the replacement isn't to your satisfaction they will force you to take a refund or keep the item. Of course you can just purchase the album a second time to get another go-round.
Do you just rip the plastic open? Bit disrespectful to other customers. Or are vinyl records not sealed in shrinkwrap in Wales?
I'm not sure what independent record stores you're using that In the whole time I've been buying Records ( 40 years ) , I've never once had a store with such a policy. I've bought Records from all over the world and never even come across anything as crazy as that ! Name and shame the store !
In my experience inspecting the record can only tell you so much. Some look half wrecked but play ok. Some look utterly pristine and have major crackle.
The record just arrived. All just fine in a cardboard mailer. So shipping takes about 3 days, which is decent for a German webshop.
I got one of the Paris albums I ordered a few weeks ago, sadly got the message that his 3lp from 2015 is sold out and no longer available. They should transfer the money back to my account...
As a fellow Dutch in such a small country its a bit embarrassing to buy from such a sad and devilish company.
Actually i looked up who owns it and how they are treating there employees as i buy some books there. It wasn't bad. The reviews from employees were ok.
I only got a notification monday that this title is no longer available so I will expect to receive the refund one of these days. Never had an issue before so not expecting any now.
Ah I didn't know that - I thought that bol.com was basically the Dutch version of Amazon. Okay good to hear. I've seen reviews of jpc.de varying from bad to good.
I like to support my local brick and mortar store. However when reviews indicate that a particular release has pressing quality inconsistencies I will go with Amazon because of their no hassle return policy. (e.g. recently ordered Joe Henderson's "Inner Urge" from amazon due to multiple complaints re pressing defects).
