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Receiving Warped Records In The Mail During Summer

grooveman

grooveman

Super Member
I've been getting alot of used and rare records off of The Bay lately with pretty good results. Now that it's Summer, I'm getting more and more concerned about warpage due to excessive heat exposure. Today I received a package from Germany, that arrived rather bowed and I was very weary of accepting it. The package took almost a month to arrive and who knows how long it sat in customs and under what conditions!

Needless to say....I accepted the package and held my breath as I carefully opened it . Fortunately, there was no damage to the cover and only a very slight warp to the record, which my tonearm can track without any issues.

I don't use or own a record clamp. But I might consider one in the future, for using on slightly warped records such as this one. Anyone else receiving warped records thru the mail as the temperature escalates this time of year? Also...what's a good record clamp to consider? I'm thinking maybe of going with the Mitchell, but I'm open to suggestions. It would be used mainly on my Thorens 160-Super turntable.
 
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grooveman said:
I've been getting alot of used and rare records off of The Bay lately with pretty good results. Now that it's Summer, I'm getting more and more concerned about warpage due to excessive heat exposure. Today I received a package from Germany, that arrived rather bowed and I was very weary of accepting it. The package took almost a month to arrive and who knows how long it sat in customs and under what conditions!

Needless to say....I accepted the package and held my breath as I carefully opened it . Fortunately, there was no damage to the cover and only a very slight warp to the record, which my tonearm can track without any issues.

I don't use or own a record clamp. But I might consider one in the future, for using on slightly warped records such as this one. Anyone else receiving warped records thru the mail as the temperature escalates this time of year? Also...what's a good record clamp to consider? I'm thinking maybe of going with the Mitchell, but I'm open to suggestions. It would be used mainly on my Thorens 160-Super turntable.
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I generally try to avoid having records shipped during the hotter months. Pops told me back in the day many mail order companies wouldn't ship in the summer.

As for the record clamp, I bought one a while back for my Concept and it was my biggest analog disappointment yet. I don't really notice any difference at all in the warps. I suppose it offers some benefits in the way of speed stability via the extra mass it provides, and it has cool factor, but functionally it was a waste of money. YMMV.
 
Yeah, it definitely happens. I try not to order any during the summer unless I must have some small pressing that will sell out instantly. Trying doesn't always work though, and I have ordered plenty and a lot of them are a little warped. I imagine it could be avoided if packaged tight between rigid enough sides.
 
Might have to play it safe and ease up with getting records thru the mail until the weather cools down abit! Ironically......this is the only problem I've had with a warped record bought this season. It also came the furthest distance! I'm thankful it wasn't extremely dished and deemed unplayable! I don't need another snack bowl!

I'll have to think over the record clamp purchase for now. Btw....the record I received is a near mint German Decca 1st pressing of The Rolling Stones "Let It Bleed" complete with the blue bordered poster! Both the label and back cover have "Royal Sound Stereo" printed on them. A great sounding record to say the least and one that almost bit the dust. But like the band that recorded it....has survived!
 
I'm in Phoenix,
I avoid having any records mailed to me during these months.
I've gotten them warped before. Playable, but still slightly warped.
 
This thread jinxed todays shipment.

Kidding but so far 1 out of the 5 lps I got in the mail has a slight warp. I originally told my self I wasn't going to buy records online during the summer but I gave in when I saw a couple lps I wanted.
 
Yes I just ordered three albums off ebay. I thought maybe to to ask seller to wait till it gets cooler to ship them but I want them now. :D Hope they come undamaged.
 
I just sold a sealed Led Zeppelin IV 200gm on eBay for $160. I packed it (taped) between several layers of thick card stock to insulate it, and to hopefully keep it flat.

If the shipper takes caution in packing, it can be done.
 
Shipping, hell. I'm having problems with LPs I'm buying in record stores! I have had three separate copies of 'Electric Warrior' and two copies of 'Bon Iver' that have been moderately-to-severely warped in the last two weeks. Now I get to go back to the record store (again) to try and find an unwarped Bon Iver (already took care of the T.Rex). This time I'm opening the damn LP in the store...

-D
 
Had three records shipped in the past 1½ weeks - one new from Amazon, one new from SoundStage Direct and a used one from an eBay seller halfway across the country. All arrived unwarped. I suppose I was lucky because of the two deliveries I was home for, both boxes felt very warm to the touch.
 
nu2toobs said:
I just sold a sealed Led Zeppelin IV 200gm on eBay for $160. I packed it (taped) between several layers of thick card stock to insulate it, and to hopefully keep it flat.

If the shipper takes caution in packing, it can be done.
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My package from Germany, with the Stones LIB album, could have been packed much better...considering it's long destination! The seller wrapped the LP in only a thin layer of bubble wrap and shipped it in a rather flimsy LP mailer.

If some layers of cardboard were used in place of the bubble wrap, I think the carton would have been less likely to have bowed and the record would have remained un-warped. Oh well....I guess it could have been alot worse.
 
Unsure how this is related but I once did a quick 'n dirty test to see how a typical LP stood up to hot tap water. I used Air Supply record from 1982 on Arista, which would be average to less-than average in terms of pressing weight.... it surprisingly did not warp at a water temp of 130F. It appeared to warp severely, but once dried and played it was fine again. ??
 
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So, how hot is it where you guys/gals live?
I'm in Phx (hotter here than anywhere, I think) and records are A OK up to 100 degrees. But when it hits 105 or more, then I worry.

I would think most you should be ok if its < 100, and your mailman doesn't leave the package sitting in direct sunlight for the afternoon.
 
Ambien Gnome said:
I would think most you should be ok if its < 100, and your mailman doesn't leave the package sitting in direct sunlight for the afternoon.
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I assume it happens in the back of trucks, or bellies of planes, or containers of mail on trucks, or however it is the mail gets around these days. Maybe I assume wrong.. I am always there to get the mail so it's not happening outside my door. It's 80-100 here, but that's kinda irrelevant if it's coming from across the country, or world. On the other hand, all the records I've got from Japan have arrived in absolutely fantastic shape.
 
dumptruck said:
On the other hand, all the records I've got from Japan have arrived in absolutely fantastic shape.
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Absolutely!
Actually, every single transaction I've had with Japanese buyers/sellers has been nothing short of perfect. Shipping times, packaging, professionalism, quality, friendliness, etc. Why is that?

Hmm, about how records are traveling (back of trucks, etc.)...
I mean, how hot can it get in those places?
I have always been under the impression of as long as the box is not in direct sunlight, you should be ok. Unless, of course, they are placed in furnace-like temps. But I don't know where that would happen.
 
I dunno, ever climbed into the back of a moving truck in summer after it's been on the freeway all day? That's pretty hot.
 
Happened to me with one LP, badly warped and I assume it was left sitting in the sun in the mail truck on a hot summer day.
 
It's probably just as hot if not hotter in a pressing plant in the summer... then again, that may explain why so much new vinyl comes warped these days :scratch2:
 
LP packages sitting/riding around all day in the back of a hot delivery truck are probably the culprit to alot of used LPs arriving warped. Not much we can do at that end.....we're at their mercy!

When I purchase records from stores, flea markets and garage sales this time of year, I'm always cautious to keep them out of direct sunlight when transporting them around.

Buying used records at a flea market takes an added step during condition inspection. Along with checking for surface wear.....warpage/bowing issues need to also be addressed, as alot of these LPs are exposed to sunlight while they sit all day on a dealers table.
 
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