"Junk" LP listings on audiogon - get rid of 'em

Aw, I don't know. Sometimes I might agree to a certain extent. BUT, one person's crap is another's great find that they've been hunting. I've bought a couple off here that I've not found elsewhere which were sentimental favorites from many years ago. Some would probably consider it pop junk, but I was glad to have found it.

One persons "audiophile" label is another's over-hyped, surface noisy garbage. I've heard some standard, even non-first issue, LP's that are much better sonically than certain "audiophile" re-releases.

Yeah, there might be some wading to go through. Same is true of you go to a used vinyl store. Sometimes half the fun is in the looking. Sometimes if you're willing to spend the time, you're the one that gets the pearl.

Now, if we're talking about the pricing of LP's by some on this site......Oy!

Ed. Noses in the air? On this site? Wadda ya mean?

Let me ask this. In what way are all the "junk" LP's that some of you are whining about effecting your ability to buy the music you purportedly seek? Is it that you have to wade through what you don't want among standard pressings to find that MFSL audiophile(?) half-speed master that would otherwise appear by itself and save you grazing effort? Is it that you have to bear the utter insult of sifting through umpteen Metallica and Abba LPs' to get to that coveted Bartok? Is it that must slog through a swamp of $5 LP's to get that $30 one that just has to be better? Or is it that you resent someone listing and selling LP's without paying a fee? I don't get it.

As for myself, I've sold only a few LP's on this site and bought a couple handfuls. I got taken badly on one occasion, but all the rest have been good experiences. Taking a quick look at the feedback for those that seem to be frequent sellers on this site, it would appear that the vast majority are serving a need and doing so in a way that is not causing much dissatisfaction between buyer and seller.

Oh, and heaven forbid that a pedestrian $5 LP would find its way onto this hallowed site. I mean, really, it could lead to listings for Aiwa boomboxes. :-0

Maybe this. Mandate that every sale be an auction with $1 opening bid and no reserve. That would test the market.

Bizcut1, what really is the point, then? And how would you address the issue?

If the is issue is, on one hand, "audiophile" quality LP's, please provide us a definition of "audiophile" quality that can be applied consistently and appropriately. Would my second pressing of Cat Stevens, which is sonically excellent, be excluded because it wasn't half-speed mastered, for instance?

If it is, one the other hand, an issue of LP condition, tell us how a standard of, say, NM- or better can be applied on listing posted by private when the actual condition of the LP cannot be verified. Would this not lead to even more "stretching of the truth" in listings?

From a buyer's standpoint, the only salient point I can see is that one must sift through multiple listings to perhaps find that one that appeals to them. From a seller's standpoint, the only real point I see is that the "gem" I may post for sale would get less exposure amongst the otherwise "junk".

With respect to listings being free, I always figured that the goal of the 'Gon folks was to provide and easy and cheap forum in which make available MUSIC.

But, hey, I'm open to ideas. If you've different slant on this than the one I am reading, I'd like to hear it.