An online buyer of records asks what postage costs for an LP and a CD, whether the price is shown before ordering, whether the order can be had free of charge and whether the order can be returned. These decide 50 points out of 100.
blackandwhite.fi · Black and White Records Oy (PRH 2190554-6) - a record specialist shop over 35 years old in Hakaniemi, Helsinki, Finland's widest collection of used records, online shop and store (blackandwhite.fi)
78.2SCORE
LP postage cost64
CD postage cost59
Postage shown before ordering100
Free delivery threshold100
Right of return100
Basic metrics · 80.9
Digital quality76
Transparency90
Reachability68
AI quality score86
+ The condition grading scale for used records is explained thoroughly: MINT, EX (Excellent), VG (Very Good) and G (Good) are spelled out in words, and it is also stated that in a record's description the condition is given in the form record/sleeve, and plus and minus signs refine the grade
www.levykauppax.fi · Levykauppa Äx Oy (PRH 1108938-9) - Finland's largest record shop chain, new and used LP and CD records, online shop and stores in eight cities (levykauppax.fi)
70.4SCORE
LP postage cost63
CD postage cost72
Postage shown before ordering100
Free delivery threshold0
Right of return100
Basic metrics · 74.6
Digital quality68
Transparency82
Reachability60
AI quality score84
+ Record prices are shown both in the product listing and on the product page without logging in, for example new LP records 19.99-36.99 euros and used records from 3.99 euros upwards
Basic metrics: 74.6, rank 3 · ▲ 1 place
– Free delivery threshold: The free delivery threshold is not mentioned in the delivery terms, delivery costs or FAQ.
www.swampmusic.com · Swamp Music Oy (PRH 0708461-4), Tampere - online shop and store for new and used vinyl records and CDs (swampmusic.com)
66.6SCORE
LP postage cost38
CD postage cost86
Postage shown before ordering100
Free delivery threshold50
Right of return0
Basic metrics · 75.7
Digital quality75
Transparency82
Reachability60
AI quality score81
+ The condition grading of used records is explained: M (Mint, new unplayed), EX (Excellent, good condition), VG (Very Good, played a lot) as well as markings for the condition of the sleeve and the disc, and new vinyl records are marked in the lists with the label M/M UUSI
Basic metrics: 75.7, rank 2 · ▼ 1 place
– Right of return: The FAQ on ordering mentions only a 10-day notification period for defective products; the 14-day right of withdrawal is not mentioned.
www.alppari.fi · Record shop älppäri.fi (business ID (Y-tunnus) 2780416-4) - online shop founded in 2016 and specialised in used and condition-graded recordings (alppari.fi)
49.4SCORE
LP postage cost1
CD postage cost0
Postage shown before ordering100
Free delivery threshold0
Right of return100
Basic metrics · 74.6
Digital quality76
Transparency82
Reachability52
AI quality score80
+ The shop specialises in used recordings and states that all products have been condition-checked and condition-graded (LPs, 7-inch and 12-inch records, books and magazines), and that for CDs a description of the condition of the disc and the cover paper has been written.
Basic metrics: 74.6, rank 4 · no change
– Free delivery threshold: The free delivery threshold is not mentioned on the delivery methods or delivery terms page.
stupidomarket.fi · Stupido Productions Oy (PRH 2141301-5) - online shop of Stupido Records and Stupido Booking, domestic and international vinyl and CDs (stupidomarket.fi)
41.1SCORE
LP postage cost0
CD postage cost0
Postage shown before ordering50
Free delivery threshold0
Right of return100
Basic metrics · 66.2
Digital quality65
Transparency62
Reachability60
AI quality score77
+ Record prices are shown in the product listing without logging in, for example 19.90-59.00 euros
Basic metrics: 66.2, rank 6 · ▲ 1 place
– LP postage cost: The postage cost is not stated on the home page, in the delivery terms or on the info page; it appears only in the order.
The buying motives of these services could not be checked; the reason is shown for each one. They are not on the list as poor performers but as unscored. The result of the basic metrics is shown for comparison.
www.8raita.fi · Fast Freddie Productions Oy (PRH 2076484-1), secondary trade name 8raita - online shop and store for new vinyl records and CDs (8raita.fi)
NOT MEASURABLE
Digital quality82
Transparency68
Reachability52
AI quality score78
+ Record prices are shown in the product listing without logging in, for example 28.90-47.90 euros
– The site blocks automatic reading (bot protection).
QUESTIONWhat does posting one LP within Finland cost?
Standard delivery price for one LP domestically.
4 € or less = 100 points, 12 € or more = 0, in between directly proportional.
20 p
CD postage cost
QUESTIONWhat does posting one CD within Finland cost?
Standard delivery price for one CD domestically.
€3 or less = 100 points, €10 or more = 0, in between directly proportional.
12 p
Postage shown before ordering
QUESTIONCan I see the postage cost on the shop's pages before I fill the shopping cart?
Whether the postage fee table is on a public page.
Table on the page = 100, fee only stated when ordering = 50, nowhere = 0.
8 p
Free delivery threshold
QUESTIONFrom what amount do you not have to pay postage?
Order value from which postage is not charged.
100 € or less = 100 points, 200 € or more = 0, in between directly proportional.
6 p
Right of return
QUESTIONHow many days do I have to return the product?
Right of return or cancellation stated on the shop's page, in days.
14 days or more = 100 points, 0 = 0.
4 p
Basic metrics
Digital quality, transparency, reachability and AI quality score
Basic metrics × 0.5
50 p
Notes
The comparison includes six record shops. The metrics are the postage costs and terms stated on the shops' own pages, not record prices, because the selections are not comparable.
Postage is the price of each shop's basic delivery within Finland. Matkahuolto or parcel locker options may be cheaper, and they are mentioned in the notes.
Information that the shop's pages do not state gets 0 points, and the reason is shown on the row. 8raita blocks automatic reading with bot protection, and it was not scored.
About this comparison
We scored 6 online shops for physical music media on 19 metrics: transparency, reachability and content quality. The most important question: can you see the price, condition and right of return of the record before entering your payment card details?
What transparency means in this category
Record price displayed without logging in (25), whether the record is new or used and, for used ones, the condition grade on the product page (15), the used-record grading scale explained (15), delivery costs and free delivery threshold stated (20), right of return and cancellation clearly stated (15), business ID (Y-tunnus) or responsible company clearly stated (10)
How to read the comparison correctly: Half of the points come from buyer's questions, i.e. things the buyer finds out before deciding. The other half measures how openly the company publishes its prices, terms and contact details. Clear differences in points indicate a genuine difference: one tells you the price immediately, another only after logging in. Close scores should not be read as a ranking order, because every measurement has a margin of variation. The measurement accuracy and the full calculation formula are open in the methodology.
Customer experience is brought into the assessment separately. We also collect customer feedback and customer experiences about companies through separate surveys. The survey results will be added to the overall assessment later.
Record price, condition and right-of-return transparency are the industry's pain points. When buying online, the collector cannot see or listen to the record, so it is important to see the price without logging in, information on whether the record is new or used and, for used ones, its condition grade, delivery costs and any free-delivery threshold, and how the condition grading scale for used records and the right of return are stated. The comparison rewards shops that state these openly and explain their condition grading transparently.
All six are domestic record stores with their own working online store. Some specialise in used records (Black and White Records, älppäri) and grade the condition of the records, others mainly sell new vinyl (8raita, Stupido Market). A ranking cannot be bought: scores come only from publicly verifiable information.
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