I definitely think VG+ is a "higher" grade now than it used to be. VG+ used to mean trashed to me, there were all these VG++ and EXC- before NM. Now it seems VG+ can be pretty damn clean. Of course, it seems to be a grey area where some sellers think an LP that David Lee Roth did rails off of for 3 weeks is VG+, so it's hard to say. I think when buying records unseen, my approach is VG+ means you are taking a chance, because a seller can argue that VG+ means beat if you try to complain.
The record "looks" like it would be VG+. It is fairly glossy with a few surface marks and scratches but the playback is pretty bad. After not finding the record for a while in used bins I decided to pick it up on the bay. Unfortunately, it wasn't what I was expecting when I put the needle on the record.
How do you all deal with this sort of thing usually? Do you ask for a refund and return the record or do you just eat the cost?
-billb
If you dropped real loot on it, or even if you just feel gyped, you can certainly contact the seller and say so. Most but not all eBay sellers will accept returns, if you wanna eat the shipping cost, which is better than eating the whole thing, if you consider the album useless to you. Like I said, if he tries to flex, the VG+ thing can get thorny, because sellers will use it both ways to support whatever argument they are trying to make:
"this is TRUE VG+, very nice copy!"
"if you read the description, I SAID it was VG+!"
If it is an actual record store or heavy vinyl dealer, they will most likely accept your return if you say "it was visually VG+, but played VG-" since most don't play grade records, and don't want negative feedback.
