Pitfalls of being a Scoggler

[djperkins]

Just browsing on scogs...what does "great playable copy" mean...obv the words add up...but why would you advertise a record for sale if it's not playable, it's a bit like "priced to sell" another way of spelling "I'm a nob" and if the same description is used over and over and over, like it's too much hassle to change the words around a bit, especially as most are only 3 or 4 words long anyways...all adds up to NO with me and deffo takes away any chance I would sell to them aswell.
I always send a short, polite message when buying or selling, and then translate with google into the applicable language also, it may be slightly "pigeon" but you will have better comunications, I offer, and reccomend, detailed pictures of everything that I have for sale.
I also only deliver 1st class with a signature, this means that your in the best position should a claim have to be made, if you don't offer a recorded details delivery service, Paypal will automatically err on the side of the buyer and take the money straight from your account. One record can be sent 1st class with a signature, a brand new mailer and 2 stiffeners for £4.50 total cost, I charge £3.90 and the price of the disc subs the rest, I also put a band of "Fragile" tape across the tab of the mailer, makes it easy to see if it's been tampered with and also makes it easy to remember for the Posty, should their input be needed at any point. No one has ever asked me for a picture, most don't eveb look as far as the delivery costs bit and wait untill you send an invoice, but if you do all of the above, you can't go wrong.
I bet there have been some monumental ripoffs on there in the past tho...I have had a few buyers simply not reading the description correctly or having some bizzarre, personal idea of what is NM, VG+ etc...also had 1 bloke, Russian Federation, a while ago who tried to use his feedback power as an angle to knock some cash off the bill...after he had taken delivery of course, I sold him some very, very cheap but water damaged 1st pressings of AC/DC, Deep Purple, Rolling Stones etc...all the vinyls were mintola but the covers fkd but still supplied as promenance, because there was a comunication problem it was almost impossible to resolve through the message system, or so I thought, I am not unsympathetic to anyone who may have made a mistake or is being over protective of their 100% status, but this fkr had been drummed down to 96% very quickly and didn't seem like a genuine chap to me... I lured him into a double bluff by offering him 25% off his next order, obv after finalizing the current deal, I took a gamble that he hadn't noticed I had changed the "setting " which filters out anyone under 99% rating...blockage, and his devious plans were thwarted with a dash of Blighty savvy.

 

[sevenuk]

I have to say... I have used 'plays fine on a listing' :$ having said that i do add an mp3 file to the listing

I always quality check my vinyl and clean before posting and if i notice a blemish above how i have already listed i always mail the buyer and offer the option of a reduction or caqncellation... I hate it when i get wrongly described vinyl sent to me and don't want to do it to other people. It also reduces the problem of individuals coming back and saying it wasnt as described as i let them know the vinyl is double checked!!

I thought Paypal had relaxed the issue for sellers having to prove it had been delivered and now we only had to prove proof of posting had been obtained. I always thought this aspect grossley unfair as it is rare a package does get lost. In deed i had a parcel returned from mexico after a few weeks as the individual had given me the wrong address!! Paypal made me repay after i had resent it which pissed me off - in fairness the individual did repay the funds and some of the postage too so i didn't lose too much.... it's a fucker though.. as international signed for doesnt track to the door, whilst airsure is more expensive and puts buyers off!!

 

[JACKG]

I have loads I want to sell but cant be assed because of its quite often a ballache + Postage has gone up, vinyl prices have gone down

I dont think that the standard record grading terminology helps, eg if a record is in 'good' condition in my opinion this can mean its often in a pretty crappy condition:S

To me mint is unplayed, so near mint is often more appropriate - and last time I looked there was no option for 'excellent' condition - why not?

Sometimes when Iv listed stuff on ogs Iv wanted to grade it as excellent as I believe VG+ is unsuitable but this is my only option as I do not want to go with nr mint...best to be conservative.

Selling to foriegn sellers is also more risky imo (particulary Spain Iv found).

Iv had a couple say it never turned up and demand a full refund even though I have 100% sent it. Anything of value I think you have to send it recorded...Iv heared that paypal are now putting the responsibilty on the seller to prove the items been sent and recieved?

Although as I buyer too I understand things from that perspective and too many times Iv had stuff go missing or turn up not as described:|

Having said that the majority of people are sound...just a shame you get a minority will try it on.

 

[siman91]

Conditions is a minefield and I always try and be accurate. I bought a copy of Fantasia First Taste on vinyl, told is VG to VG+ turned up and would not play all way through, to me thats in the bin unless disclosed before sale. I always clean my records before playing when bought to give them the best chance.

Regarding sales, Ive had some great sales recently however they are not going to make me rich. Post office is killing me and only reason for selling is to clear some space and spread the great sounds around the world. Italy is the worst for postage and always have item tracked and insured. Japan is hugely expensive to post to and French collectors seem to have the highest condition standards.

Regarding the cost of vinyl, the routine stuff is now very cheap however the rare records are becoming more expensive as collectors come to the house market (house meaning all genres within house inc jungle, techno etc). The issue is that collectors are picky on conditions and generally only want mint.

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[Howy]

Got to say, from a buyers perspective Discogs is a minefield! I'm sick of sellers taking ages to dispatch orders, sellers not having items i've ordered, after i've payed (usually the records you want most!) And the usual grading problems. The last lot, i ordered 16 records all overgraded, of which 4 were supposed to be mint. 1 described as 'a pristine copy' by the seller, another as 'awesome'. - they had been hammered. Looked like the guy had been playing frisbee with them in the park with an over enthusiastic Pit Bull! This from a seller with nearly 500 sales and 100% rating! How does that happen? Also, a couple of times recently i have trawled through a sellers items (different sellers) and excitedly added items to my basket ready to buy, only to look further and find they are selling records by certain disgraced pop stars, well f**k that, click - basket empty. I aint buying from those sellers again. Just goes to show some sellers will try and flog anything. I suppose its best to stick to sellers you can trust. . .