Tips for buying used Vinyl needed

Avoid the super shiny LPs. Someone just sprayed them with some Tire shine or other crap. They are super shiny, so You can get to know the look. Once you see one, you'll know what I mean. Even really crappy worn out records superficially look good when 'shined up'.

I've run across "shiny" LPs quite a bit in my travels - they look so "unnatural" I avoid at every turn. Even after multiple washings a record will never shine like this not to mention sound any good.

"Prices on 'gon for vinyl is ridiculous"

Gotta agree the 'gon is not the place to shop for vinyl. The love of vinyl here elevates prices beyond what you would find most anywhere else in the real world in many cases.

The pricing here is skewed by the hunger for sound quality. Sound quality (as opposed to record condition which is different) has little bearing on record prices in the real world.

Whoops, I should have said "vinyl" not "records". Bad marketing on my part....

Having been buying and selling lps for four decades some simple rules apply:
1). Find a bricks and mortar record store that doesn't stock junk (i.e. dusty & warped copies of all of Elton John's recorded output) and whose employees do not resemble to sociopaths from "High Fidelty". If they grade records well and price accordingly and they discuss music intelligently, stick with 'em.
2). Ebay is an absolutely wonderful resource (as is A'gon)ONCE you have established sellers of repute. If you are buying unseen you might inquire if the seller uses a dedicated lp mailer and bubble wrap rather than pieces of the box his pizza was delivered in.
3). It's been noted previously, a record vacuum - even the Record Doctor's basic model - is essential.
4). Protect yor investments w/quality inner and outer record sleeves.

Best wishes. The music and record buying is where the enjoyment resides in this hobby.

Mike

look at the spindle hole for wear

>>12-10-10: Tzh21y
look at the spindle hole for wear<<

Meaningless.

I have albums 50 years old that have a fair amount of spindle hole wear that play perfectly.