Nobody’s expecting inspection of every record, perfection, or anything like that. The expectation is pretty basic and not much different than any other industry, particularly for premium products within an industry: if you hold yourself out has having exceptionally high production quality and standards that yield impeccable sound at the highest quality (expressly for vinyl — the CD reference is irrelevant), and you price it accordingly — all of which is the case for AS/UHQR, well more than almost any other vinyl product save for maybe ERC — then back the quality up with good customer service. Part of that service is an acknowledgement that the mfr cannot check every item, which, in turn yields an acknowledgement that a certain rate of returns is inevitable.
It’s not hard or overly demanding. Granted, there’s an implication that too many vinyl customers are overly aggressive on returns, and that may be the case, but nothing about the OP led me to think that was happening here.
Chad markets heavily to the most discerning vinyl consumer with the most disposable income among vinyl consumers and prices his products accordingly. It’s a two-way street.
Lot of karens here (not you).
The number one issue is that supposedly premium products are being sold by manufacturers who know full well there is nothing premium about it at all, and that the product is subject to the same (rather high-ish) failure rate as the budget priced product.
They do so because there are plenty of fools eager to buy them. They may complain later, they may do a return, but they will buy the next one and the one after regardless. And the massive sales margin made on these supposed premium products makes the failure rate costs trivial.
So don't have the expectation. It's just going to cause frustration. This is a grift, if you buy in, expect to be shafted.
They can't up the quality. Not possible on the equipment available, and there are no viable replacements.
Second, it is my opinion that anyone buying such a product should be well able to afford some basics. As I mentioned, the right manual cleaner, the right brush, the clean stylus, and even consideration of humidity in the home.
I make no apology for stating that defects of the kind cited are all too often easily remedied, and in many cases are not at all the fault of the record. Ever notice that records get noiser when the stylus is past it's prime? Or when there is a layer of gunk on the stylus?
Chad does not market to discerning vinyl consumers. For the most part, he markets a false promise to those afflicted with FOMO, limited range of repertiore and the money to burn.
Look at how 'discerning vinyl expert' Mike 45 turned from gushing over MOFI vinyl to trashing them overnight, when a false promise collided with his fantasy.
And I don't know that OP knows how to clean a record. Most people don't. He has a very good turntable, but an entry level cart worth much less than the record in question, which can be an indicator.
My point still remains - please, consider whether the record can be easily cleaned up or if the environment/stylus is the contributing factor.
Some may laugh at the environmental point, but if every record buyer returned at the rate Mather does, the environmental impact would be notable. There is something about considering social responsibility and balancing that with the entitlement. It's a fucking record.
My final point in all this - Chad is crystal clear about his return policy for non-U.S. orders. Damn, he even makes buyers tick off a fucking box with bold lettering to state that the buyer has read and acknowledges the terms.
Basically that means - buyer beware, and the risk is on the buyer. If the FOMO is so bad, you accept the conditions and any risk it may entail.
You can't change the terms afterwards - and while it may be claimed to be a premium product, and priced as a premium product, it is far from it. We all know it. It's run on the same machines, by the same people, with the same QC as any other. The credit card company will ultimately decline the chargeback.
