FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Vinyles.com lists every physical music release still produced and distributed in France: over 160,000 vinyl records, CDs and cassettes. For each record, we compare offers from many retailers (Fnac, Amazon, Cultura, Leclerc, eBay, CDandLP…).

Once you've found your album (using search or the music genres), the offer button takes you to the retailer's site, where you complete your purchase. Vinyles.com does not sell records itself.

The catalog covers new vinyl records, CDs and cassettes still distributed in France:

• new releases, this week's releases and pre-orders;
• limited editions and colored pressings;
• 180 g audiophile reissues;
• picture discs and collector's editions;
• over 160,000 releases sorted by genre and subgenre: rock, jazz, soul, electronic, pop, classical, hip-hop, metal…

When retailers also sell the record used, those offers are shown separately, in the “Used” tab. Before buying used, read our used vinyl buying guide.

No, none. You only pay the price of the record and any shipping costs charged by the retailer. When you buy after clicking an offer, the retailer may pay a small commission to Vinyles.com: that's how the site is funded, with no effect on your price. See our terms of use for details.

The prices shown are reference prices, updated regularly from our partner retailers' data. Only the price on the retailer's site at the time of purchase applies.

A difference can come from a stock change, a flash sale at the retailer or an update delay. Always check the final price on the retailer's page before confirming your order.

Prices are collected from many sources and are not synchronized in real time. Differences can come from:

• an update to the retailer's catalog;
• an offer or promo code only available on the retailer's site;
• exchange rates for foreign retailers.

We only show recently collected prices, and we always send you to the official source.

On each product page, offers are sorted from lowest to highest price, with the retailer's logo and, when we know it, the estimated shipping cost. New and used offers are split into two tabs. The price history shows whether the current price is a good deal.

On a record's page, use the “Get alerted” box: choose a back-in-stock alert or a target price, then enter your email address. We'll let you know as soon as the record is available again or drops below your price. No account is needed, and every email includes an unsubscribe link.

Promotions depend on the retailers: sales, Black Friday, Record Store Day, promo codes only valid on their site… Subscribe to the Vinyles.com newsletter (at the bottom of the page) to hear about the best deals and limited releases.

The retailer you buy from. Vinyles.com sends you to their site: the order, payment, delivery, parcel tracking, returns and after-sales service are entirely handled by them, under their terms of sale.

Delivery times, shipping costs, international shipping, payment methods and return conditions are shown on the retailer's site when you order.

Contact the retailer's customer service quickly (often within 48 hours for a damaged parcel), with photos of the parcel and the record. Depending on their policy, they will offer a replacement or a refund. For online purchases in the EU, you usually have a 14-day withdrawal period for a new, still-sealed record.

It depends on the retailer: most accept cancellation until the item ships, but some very limited editions cannot be cancelled. Browse all current vinyl pre-orders on Vinyles.com. The conditions are given when you order on the retailer's site.

No, there are no accounts on Vinyles.com: the whole site is freely accessible. Your wishlist (the heart on each record) is saved in your browser, and alerts and the newsletter only need your email address.

If you buy, you can create an account on the retailer's site to track your orders.

Click the heart at the top of any page to open your wishlist. It is saved in your browser: it's only visible on that device and disappears if you clear your browsing data.

For a question about an order (tracking, return, after-sales), contact the retailer you bought from directly.

For a question about Vinyles.com (catalog, incorrect product page, suggestion, partnership), use our contact form or email contact@vinyles.com. We reply within 24 to 48 business hours.

1. Dry cleaning: a carbon fiber brush before each play removes surface dust.
2. Deep cleaning: a dedicated record-cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth, following the grooves.
3. Avoid: tap water (limescale), pure alcohol and household cleaners.

Dry clean before every play, deep clean every 10 to 15 plays or for a used record. Find brushes and cleaning solutions in our accessories, and the essentials to get started in our turntable accessories guide.

Do: store records upright, like books, in anti-static inner sleeves, at 18-21 °C (64-70 °F) and 45-50 % humidity, away from sunlight and heat sources.

Avoid: horizontal stacks (risk of warping), heat, humidity and tightly packed shelves that crush the sleeves.

More tips: 5 mistakes to avoid when storing your records.

• Weight: 140 g minimum, 180 g for audiophile pressings (better stability).
• Respected labels: Mobile Fidelity (MoFi), Analog Productions, Music On Vinyl, Speakers Corner.
• Mastering: an “AAA” mention (all analog) or remastering from the original tapes.

A 180 g record doesn't always sound better: the source and the mastering matter more. A poorly mastered 180 g record will sound worse than a well-pressed 140 g one.

To tell LPs, 45s and maxi singles apart, see our guide to vinyl formats.

1. Dust on the record or the stylus: clean both.
2. Incorrect anti-skating: adjust it to match the tracking force.
3. Wrong tracking force: check your cartridge's specifications.
4. Warped record from heat: unfortunately beyond repair.
5. Worn stylus: replace it (lifespan of about 1,000 hours).

Upgrading your cartridge or turntable? See our guides to the best phono cartridges and the best turntables.