Shipping & Returns ...
How much is shipping? Shipping costs vary by weight, location and the shipping service you select. The best way to get an accurate shipping quote is to add the items you wish to purchase to the shopping cart by clicking the “Buy Now” button. Once you have added all the items to your cart, click the “View Cart” button at the top of the page. On the “View Cart” page, you will be able to enter your postal code and select the country where your order will be shipped. Click the “Recalculate” button under the map and all the available shipping options and prices will be shown. Please feel free to contact us if you need further assistance.
Do you ship outside the US? Yes. We ship worldwide.
How will I know if my order has shipped? Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email confirmation, which will include a tracking number.
When will my order ship? Each item has an estimated processing time on top of the “Buy Now” button on the product’s page. On any order containing multiple items, the approximated shipping date is subject to the longest-listed time for any item included in the order. If you would prefer to split your order, you will be responsible for any additional shipping charges.
Will I be able to track my package? Yes. Upon shipment, you will be sent an email containing your tracking number.
My order is shipping outside the United States. Will I be charged additional customs fees, duties and/or taxes? Do you cover these fees? SoundStageDirect is not responsible for any customs fees, duties or taxes associated with importing your package. Please consult your country's import regulations.
My order contains a pre-order. Will it be shipped separately? Orders usually ship once all items are available. In some cases, we may split the shipment or contact you with other options regarding the pre-order.
I pre-ordered an LP. What is the release date? We strive to offer our customers the most accurate release dates on any and all pre-order titles. However, please note that some releases are announced without a specific date and dates are always subject to change.
Why am I being asked to confirm my order? While we understand that many of our customers purchase records as gifts for other, have their orders shipped to school or work addresses or live outside the United States, we will need to confirm all orders with different “Bill To” and “Ship To” addresses, as well as international destinations before shipping to first-time customers. We do this as service to our customers to prevent the hassle of fraudulent or unauthorized purchases or charges to your credit card or PayPal account.
Are your products are guaranteed? Every product in your order is guaranteed against defect. Should you find anything that appears to be defective, please refer to our return policy below.
What is your return policy? SoundStageDirect will accept returns on defective merchandise. Please note that you must contact us within 30 days of purchase with your order number, name and an explanation as to why the item is being returned to obtain a Return Authorization Number (RA). We may ask some questions but only as an effort to ensure our customers receive the best customer service possible. Your RA number should be included on both the inside and outside of your return.
SoundStageDirect reserves the right to inspect all returned products upon their arrival and deem whether the product is indeed returnable. If an item is returnable, the customer assumes the responsibility and cost of shipping the item back in the condition it was received. We will gladly ship exchanges back to you at no extra charge. However, if a product is deemed not returnable, the original product will be returned with the customer assuming shipping costs both ways.
SoundStageDirect will exchange all purchases deemed defective. However, shipping costs will not be refunded. Please note that exchanges will only be made for the same title.
How do you package your records? We go the extra mile to ensure your records arrive safely and free of damages. For a slideshow outlining our packaging process, please consult the following link: http://www.soundstagedirect.com/vinyl-record-packaging.shtml.
What is the safest way to ship records? Combining both care and custom-made boxes to protect records in transit, we offer some of the highest shipping standards available for your LP purchase. While we can secure your sealed record to the best of our abilities, seam splits (the actual record inside its cover breaking through the spine of the cover in transit) can occur as part of the shipping process. The only way to avoid seam splits is to remove the record from the cover before packing it to be shipped. We will open your record and pack the vinyl in its protective sleeve separate from the cover. Requests can easily be made via the comments section when placing your order. However, unless you request your record packed in this manner, we are not liable for any seam splits that may occur in transit.
Other Questions ...
I forgot the password to my account. How do I retrieve it? Click on “My Account” at the top of the page. You can choose to either “Show Password Hint” or “Send Password by Email.” Please feel free to contact us if you need further assistance.
Can you explain the different formats you offer: 180 Gram, 200 Gram, Reissues? Some LPs are produced on 180- or 200-gram pressings, offering high-definition premium-grade virgin vinyl. In comparison, “standard” vinyl records usually weigh between 120 and 140 grams. These limited-edition LPs are manufactured with the hi-fi enthusiast in mind. A 180- or 200-gram LP is sometimes also referred to as an audiophile pressing. Typically, these pressings feature higher bass response and an even, warmer sound. 180- and 200-gram LPs are typically manufactured in limited amounts and are considered collectables, commanding both a higher demand and price.
A vinyl reissue is a repressing of an original LP, typically extracted from the recording's master tapes. In some cases, reissues are remastered to lower surface noise and improve overall sonic qualities. Reissues help preserve both the music and cover art of many older recordings, especially when original LPs become unavailable or can no longer be found. Reissues are offered in a variety of weights from 120-gram to 200-gram and offer a great opportunity for record collectors to own many classic recordings.
Is your website secure? Yes, both physically and operationally. Physically, our website is hosted in a managed datacenter with stringent access controls along with full fire suppression, managed and backup power, and sits behind a network firewall having redundant network links to Tier-1 Internet backbone providers. Operationally, our website runs on state-of-the-market HP Blade hardware supported by fully redundant iSCSI storage. Servers' Operating Systems and supporting applications are kept at current patch levels and our on-line shopping cart is scanned daily my McAfee Secure to assure compliance with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS).
What types of payments do you accept? We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and PayPal. You can also pay by money order. Please note that no international money orders can be accepted.
Do you purchase or appraise used LPs? We do not purchase or appraise used LPs. If you have LPs you wish to sell, please visit the Princeton Record Exchange at www.prex.com.
Are your records used? All of the LPs we sell are new, sealed and come directly from the manufacturer.
Do you have a storefront? We do not have a storefront, but if you are in the Bucks County, Philadelphia or Central New Jersey area and wish to pick up your LPs, you are welcome to do so. Please call us beforehand to make the appropriate arrangements.
Where do you get your LPs from? We buy directly from both major and independent labels and distributors, offering both domestic titles and imports. Some of these companies include Warner Brothers, Universal, Sony Music, Speakers Corner, Analogue Productions, MoFi, Music on Vinyl, Original Recording Group, just to name a few. In utilizing as many sources as we can, we present our customers with the widest selection of available titles. And, as always, all our LPs are new and sealed unless otherwise noted.
Do you sell accessories and hardware? Yes. We offer a wide array of accessories from record cleaners, brushes, cleaning solutions and many more to keep your vinyl collection sounding its best. We also carry a wide selection of turntables, amplifiers, speakers, pre-amps, DACs and other hardware from some of the most-prominent names in the industry. We are authorized full-line dealers for such companies as Rega, VPI, Music Hall and Clear Audio, among others.
