Selling Still Sealed LP's On E-Bay

I just sold a *Still Sealed* LP on e-bay. I sold the LP as a satisfaction guaranteed item. I'm starting to wonder if that was a good decision. I say that, because I purchase LP's all the time that are still sealed but are not refundable. I understand the risk of doing that, but I accept that risk. On the other hand, if I sell somebody something, I want the party to feel that they are buying something from some one who would take care of them if the item had a problem. If I sell an item sealed, I have no way of knowing how the item really is. I don't want to rip anybody off, but at the same time I don't want to cheat myself either. I'm curious to know how other forum members, that buy or sell items sealed feel about this. Thanks to all that respond.

 

So if the LP is opened and it's not so hot, someone would return it? I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

That's my thinking on it, but....

 

Joe, my suggestion is to nix the satisfaction guarantee from your ad simply because of the legal implications. Your willingness to answer buyer's questions will go further and let the buyer know that you are on the ball with customer care. If it were to get damaged in transit the buyer could raise a fuss because of your statement. Just my HO.

 

Thanks Dave, I really didn't consider your angle on it, good point. I do know dealers that have disclaimers for those types of situations. I want to be fair and my buyers happy, but at the same time I want to protect myself from bogus claims. There are people out there, that no matter what you do, they're never satisfied.

 

Whenever I sell sealed CDs on ebay, as I do on occasion, I decline to guarantee condition, and I would assume LPs would the the same situation but even riskier given the risk of warping, bad pressings and the such. Buyers pay a premium for sealed items, so you can't really offer to open the item first, because you then destroy part of the value. It's obviously a 2-edged sword. As I see it, the problem with your guarantee is that it's too open-ended. Satisfaction guaranteed means you can return it for any reason, buyers remorse, it wasn't the pressing I hoped it would be, I didn't like the recording, etc. If you're concerned about the physical quality of the vinyl inside the sealed sleeve, you might want to consider tailoring your guarantee to address just the physical condition of the vinyl inside the record.

 

I don't know Todd...what if it's a manufacterors defect? Remember, Joe can't return it.

Joe, perhaps offer the US. postal shipping insurance for an extra fee. That way if it gets stolen during transit the seller will get a refund. If an album ever does go to the wind you can always stand on the "The buyer opted for no insurance. Sorry, I'm not responsible." platform. I would just simply guarantee that it's a brand new sealed album and leave it at that.

 

I only sell with insurance included.
I also only sell as ...sold as is no refunds

I had typed a nice story yet my . Comcast cable went down. It is so unreliable. my upload is probably like 17mbs instead of 256 causing page faults.

 

I buy sealed vinyl LPs all the time, and I get a clunker every now and again. Them's the risks you takes. As long as the LP doesn't appear to have been a crappy yard sale album re-sealed and passed off as new, I don't have any ill feelings toward the seller. How could he have known the condition by looking at the sealed album? I certainly couldn't. (This is assuming - of course - that the item description was accurate. Neglecting to mention that the cover appears to have been folded in half is just plain dishonest.)

I never expect the seller to stand behind a sealed out of print LP. It's just the risk you take. However, I don't buy 'em to collect sealed copies - I listen to them. Once I open it, if it looks like a re-seal, I will always let the seller know - I don't expect or want a refund - but I just like to let him know the condition - if he cares. He himself may have bought a batch of sealed stuff from a dishonest source.

I agree with the other threads - you don't owe a satisfaction guarantee. You're just exposing yourself to too much potential liability. Describe the items as accurately as possible, and let the buyer know the sale will be final.

 

The trick is, you would have to look inside it to know. Then, what good to the buyer would that be.

If it doesn't look like a reseal, don't blame the seller.

 

I wouldn't offer a satisfaction guarantee but I would refund the money if a sealed item is not in mint condition.

Joachim