Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam (aka, "Avocado") 2LP

(82876 71467 1; J Records, 2006)

This is essentially a new, old stock copy of the first (and as far as I know, only official) U.S. pressing of this rare LP. I purchased it new in 2006, and it sat still sealed in shrink wrap inside a larger outer sleeve until last year, when I was playing some Pearl Jam records and realized this was still sealed. I had seen this go for pretty high prices on eBay, and I could use that money, so I almost sold it without inspection. But holding it in my hands, I realized that it felt a little thick and awkward shaped, and the shrink was very tight. I then decided to cut open the shrink to prevent warping  (and to inspect if there was any warping in the record). In fact, there is very minor warping to both records because this LP comes with a very thick booklet (about 1/3") packaged inside the shrinkwrapped LP. I then decided to play it once to see if it would play through without any problems. It played fine on my turntable, which tracks at a light 1.75 grams tracking force, so I imagine it will play on most tables out there. And as long as you are careful opening the item and return it to me in the same condition I send it to you (i.e., still in shrink and well-cared for), I will accept returns if for some reason you do find the warp makes it unplayable on your system.

I think VG+ for the records and NM for the sleeve is a fair rating. As explained, the only reason the vinyl is not NM is that there is the minor, yet clearly visible warp. It's much more visible when spinning, but the photo above with the vinyl on my platter does capture it in a still shot. I am really disappointed that there is any warp at all, but it is minor, and I imagine that any, or at least most, still sealed copies will suffer from this problem. As cool as thick booklets are, they can wreak havoc on vinyl—even little CD booklets can cause problems. The sleeve is still in the shrink and has never been opened; I also have not opened the booklet to look through it, so it has experienced minimal handling. Even with the minor warp, I think you'll be hardpressed to find a copy of this album in better condition. (And no, you really don't want one of the cheap unofficial bootlegs that come on colored vinyl. Those aren't cheap either, so why pay $75 or $100 for a low-quality, illegal copy of something when you can get your hands on the real deal?)

Grading Policies and General Remarks on Vinyl Condition:

I do not own a record store and I don't read Goldmine. I'm not going to try to be an expert on grading. Too often when I buy on eBay, people rate items as "Very Good" that I think are ready for the trash.

I do however take care of my records. Most of them were purchased new from independent stores or distros, and I have stored each in a plastic sleeve to ensure that each record remains in about the same condition. Occasionally, I receive a new record from the label or distro with a small seam split or a bent corner. If that's the case, I'll let you know. If it's used, I'll describe whatever visible flaws I see. If I don't describe a particular item, assume that it is in "like New" condition. Whether or not that makes it M, M-, or NM, doesn't mean much to me.

Shipping:

I always ship in cardboard mailers. Most of the time they’re brand new ones that cost me $2.00 a piece, but occasionally, I reuse a record box that someone shipped a record to me in. As a regular eBayer myself, I know the mystery of whether or not a record will arrive in good condition can be quite frustrating and agonizing. I make sure there is no mystery by telling you how I pack my records up front. I believe that my shipping charges are still about average, and you can rest assured that your record will arrive to you well-packed.

I walk by the post office on a daily basis, so your item will typically be in the mail within 24 hours, but occasionally it will take 48. I ask in turn that you pay promptly. If, after 3 days, I have not received Paypal payment or been notified by you, I will start the process of reporting you as a non-paying bidder and relist the item.

Be sure to check out my other items, as I offer a pretty good discount for multiple vinyl records. U.S. bidders will pay the highest shipping cost for the auctions you win plus $1.00 for each additional item (Media Mail; Priority will be calculated at auction’s end). Combined shipping for international bidders will be calculated at the end of all auctions and will be based on total weight.