That $60 album I found at a garage sale in Cleveland last month

I stumbled on this pressing of a 1978 jazz fusion album called "Eastern Standard" by a guy named Tom Reichman at a garage sale three weeks ago. Paid 60 bucks because the cover looked pristine and the seller said it was rare. Got it home, dropped it on the turntable, and the first track had this weird skip that repeated the same 3 seconds over and over. I checked the vinyl under a bright light and there was this tiny hairline crack right near the edge that I missed. Took it back to the address the next day but the house was empty, like they packed up and left. Now I'm stuck with a $60 coaster and wondering if anyone else has gotten burned on a supposed "rare find" from a garage sale that turned out to be damaged.

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2 Comments

taylor9295mo ago

Bought a portable felt brush and magnifying glass. Helps catch cracks before paying.

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river1825mo ago

Why would you drop 60 bucks on a record without listening to it first? I've been digging through crates for years and the first rule is always check the vinyl before you pay, especially if the seller is talking it up as rare. A hairline crack near the edge is tough to spot, but you should run your fingers along the grooves and hold it up to the light from different angles before handing over cash. The seller skipping town is shady too, which makes me think they knew exactly what they were selling you. You live and you learn, but next time bring a portable turntable or at least hold the record up and look for warps and cracks in natural light.

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