Is eBay a Safe Place to Buy Records?

Whether eBay is a safe place to buy records presents two different questions. Will the seller send me the records once I've paid for them? And, will they be in the promised condition? In fact, eBay is both the best place in the world to buy records, and the worst place. Anyone who is an avid collector of records and has bought on eBay already knows what I'm going to tell you. This is for everyone else.

Let's tackle the issue of seller fraud first. I can dispose of that concern in a few sentences. When interviewed on CBS "60 Minutes," eBay founder Pierre Omidyar stated that only 30 sellers out of one million fail to deliver on their promise to ship the goods. That means there is a .003% chance you won't get the records. The good news is there is a 99.997% chance you will get them. On the other hand, will you really get what you paid for?

The majority of people selling records on eBay are simply downsizing their collection, or disposing of those accumulated by their parents or grandparents. In most cases, it's not their intention to misrepresent the condition of the records. It's simply that they don't understand the grading system, and have no experience in determining condition. I've learned this the hard way. Maybe you won't have to.


This is a Polaroid photo of my very first record player alongside my collection of LPs and 45s. Somewhere in that stack is the very first album I ever bought - "Songs, Pictures and Stories of the Fabulous Beatles" on the Vee Jay label. It's now worth over $500, but beware of counterfeits.

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When you buy a record on eBay, you want it to head directly to your turntable platter, not your garbage can. So, how can you be sure the seller knows the difference between VG+ and Near Mint? The most obvious answer is to check his other listings and his feedback. Does he sell a lot of records, or is he getting rid of his collection? Do his listing descriptions sound like someone who understands the hobby, or does he radiate ignorance? What do his buyers say? Here's the kind of feedback you should look for to ensure a safe purchase.

"Goods arrived swiftly, well-packaged and in stated condition."

"Seller graded the records perfectly. The music is great!"

"Thank you for a flawless experience. The record was near mint as promised."

"In better condition than promised. Trust this guy."

If you don't view a comment of this kind on the very first feedback page, you're probably better off hitting the back button. Still, there is one way to know with relative certainty that a record is in good condition even if the seller isn't an experienced dealer. If the record is sealed, and therefore unplayed, there's a good chance you'll get what you paid for - unless of course the disc has been warped by heat, mildewed from moisture exposure, or broken from rough handling.

Whether you'll be happy with the condition of the cover is another matter. I've found that most people who are fussy about the condition of the record, are equally concerned about the condition of the cover. Your only recourse is to look for clues in the description, and hope there's an adequate photograph of the record cover provided in the listing.

The good news is that eBay has a plentiful supply of reputable sellers who understand the hobby and are experienced graders. The top sellers are frequently able to offer helpful information on the artists, release dates, first pressings, etc. Their prices are frequently higher, but that's because they select only the very best stuff to sell and toss out the rest. Their eBay stores and auction listings emphasize their knowledge, and encourage trust and safety.

Many of these established dealers used to sell at the record shows. Some still do, although many of the shows have either died out or have been overshadowed and outnumbered by the CD collector conventions. As a result, eBay has become one of the most convenient venues for sellers to place their high end stock of LPs, 45s and 78s. A few sell from their own web sites, while others have found success using popular non-eBay sites.

Perhaps none of this really matters unless you are a condition nut. The fact is, quite often the records that won't satisfy a hardcore collector will actually play just fine - at least to the ears of the novice listener. If you fall into that category, a high percentage of the records on eBay will probably suit you just fine. In that case, I recommend running a search for the item you want and buying the one listed at the lowest price.

However, if you're prepared to pay $20 for that early Perry Como album on the RCA Victor label in the "Living Stereo" format, or $2,000 for the red vinyl release of the Moonglows Christmas album on the Chance label, you may want to take a real close look at the dealer's experience before you hit the "Buy it Now" button.