Sold Date: April 13, 2014
Start Date: April 6, 2014
Final Price: £11.49 (GBP)
Bid Count: 6
Seller Feedback: 253
Buyer Feedback: 43

Original U.K. 1993 Gatefold Sleeve MUTE 12” pressing of Depeche Mode’s ‘Walking In My Shoes’ single (Catalogue Reference: MUTE Records L12 BONG 22).  This features an ‘Extended Twelve Inch Mix’ as the A-Side coupled with a ‘Random Carpet Mix’, ‘Anandamidic Mix’ and ‘Ambient Whale Mix’.  To be honest you’d think this was an album the way the package is constructed.  The vinyl is stored in a thick card inner sleeve (as well as it being a gatefold package) and alternating sections of the sleeve are laminated and un-laminated (really quite fancy).  I’d think this might have been played ONCE and to be honest it isn’t immediately obvious that it has ever been played (if you look for spindle marks around the spindle hole or evidence that a needle has hit the run-in groove).  Under an intense light there are a couple of hairline marks on each side but this does essentially look like a new piece of vinyl.  The vinyl is conservatively graded as being in EXCELLENT+ condition.  It will be very hard to find a superior copy!  As noted above the sleeve is quite sophisticated so I’ll grade the gatefold sleeve and inner sleeve separately.  The first thing I should note above the gatefold sleeve is that it still retains a Virgin price sticker (God they bring back memories).  Like the vinyl it isn’t really far away from looking like new and it certainly has a ‘like new’ sheen to it (which is what you can also say about the inner sleeve).  Three of the corners have received knocks with the knock to the top right-hand corner having resulted in the corner bending in slightly.  There is one crease in the spine which is where it has presumably sat in a rack at some point and there is the odd, isolated loss of print around the very exposed edges of the sleeve (you see this a lot with sleeves which are predominately black).  Needless to say the inside of the gatefold is immaculate and there isn’t really anything else to say about the sleeve.  If someone handed it to you and said that they’d just brought it you’d believe them.  The sleeve is also graded as being in EXCELLENT+ condition.  The inner repeats the same story as the vinyl and the sleeve namely that it hasn’t been handled much.  Unsurprisingly the vinyl has left a light impression in the cardboard but this doesn’t extend to actual bends or creases.  There is a tiny crease near the opening edge where the cardboard has been gripped between the fingertips whilst the vinyl is removed (it really is tiny).  There is one spot where the print has been lost on the edge of the sleeve.  It measures about 3mm.  There is nothing else to say and the inner is also graded as being in EXCELLENT+ condition.

Condition

VINYL – EXCELLENT+

Inner SLEEVE – EXCELLENT+

Gatefold SLEEVE – EXCELLENT+

Final Remarks

Overall this isn’t far away from looking like new and all the constituent parts are a whisker away from near mint grades.  Please check my other auctions for a rare cassette single of Depeche Mode’s ‘A Question of Lust’ as well as other Pop & Rock collectables in similarly immaculate condition.  Save me as a favourite seller as there is plenty more where this came from!

General Conditions & Information

I have been a collector for in excess of 15 years now and regard myself as a conservative grader.  I know from experience that there is nothing worse than buying an item which is described with superlatives only for it to arrive and look like it has been scrapped along the floor (!).  As a rule I don’t submit anything to auction which I wouldn’t be happy receiving myself.  I endeavour to be accurate with my grading and all items are graded under an intense light.  Please take a look through my feedback as I’d like to think it speaks for itself. 

Returns Policy

If you are not entirely happy with your purchase then please contact me within 7 days of receipt.  The buyer is expected to meet the return postage costs.

Payment Methods

Domestic buyers can pay via Cheque, PayPal or Postal Order.  Overseas buyers are always welcome and are required to pay via PayPal.  Payment is expected within 7 days of auction end unless otherwise agreed.

Postage Costs

I have had to bring my service in-line with changes to Royal Mail Terms and Conditions effective of April 2013.  Previously items sent via standard post were automatically covered up to the value of £46.00 however, standard postage now only covers items up to the value of £20.00.  Items with an opening value >£20.00 will include domestic Signed For postage costs automatically.  Items with an opening value <=£20.00 and which complete with a value <=£20.00 will continue to be dispatched via standard post unless otherwise agreed (i.e. the buyer indicates a preference otherwise).  Items which have an opening value <=£20.00 but whose final value is >£20.00 will be subject to enhanced postage costs in order to cover the extra insurance which is required.  I hope this is as straightforward as I can make it?  Ultimately, please don’t make payment until you’ve received an invoice from me and if you aren’t happy with the invoice you receive then I’m always open to discussion.  Buyers should be aware that both Ebay and PayPal take a % of postage charges (i.e. they are higher than I’d ideally want them to be).

Multiple purchases will be subject to consolidated postage costs.  I will contact you at the end of the auction to confirm these costs.

Proof of postage is always obtained and retained.

Overseas Buyers

As noted above Overseas buyers are welcome.  If you want me to investigate potential postage costs in advance of the auction’s end then please feel free to contact me.