Sold Date: May 29, 2014
Start Date: May 22, 2014
Final Price: $26.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 9
Seller Feedback: 4533
Buyer Feedback: 7

Product Description

Up for bid is a vintage 1st pressing vinyl edition of the 1978 Casablanca Records' self-titled solo release from KISS's Gene Simmons. This LP comes complete with all original inserts including the poster, merchandise sheet, and custom inner sleeve. Best of all, the outer jacket still has its original factory shrink wrap covering most of the surface with the obvious exception of the open end. While this LP comes complete with all original inserts, it is not free of imperfections, so please note the following details: The vinyl is not new or free of imperfections but it is a quality used record nonetheless. Let me clarify, however, that I am not a professional record collector, so my estimation of an LP's condition is that of a seasoned but amateur collector. I enjoy collecting vinyl, and I've certainly had experience over the years but I am by far no expert. Since I do not profess qualifications to professionally assess records, please bear that in mind when reading my description. For a helpful reference, I use the Goldmine Record Grading 101 guide that can be accessed via the Internet at the following web address: 

Please consult this helpful set of standards for a clearer understanding of how I have arrived at the assessments I have given each of the LPs in my current listings.

In my humble estimation, this Gene Simmons LP rates as being in VG/VG CONDITION (vinyl/jacket ratings in that order). The vinyl record looks nice considering its age, but it does show blemishes in places. These imperfections, however, do not cause skipping or excessive noise. Furthermore, the labels look really nice with no major flaws. All said the condition of the vinyl aligns most closely with the Goldmine rating of VERY GOOD CONDITION.

As for the cover or jacket of the LP, it looks good too but shows light wear. The jacket shows typical bumps at the corners and storage wear--particularly at the bottom right and left corners of the LP cover. Nonetheless, the overall sheen of the cover is still quite nice given it has remained mostly encased in its original factory shrink wrap. Please note, however, that despite the presence of the original factory shrink wrap the cover shows wear in places. I've spent quite a few years collecting KISS LPs, and I have found that the outer jackets for the KISS solo albums were easy to show wear. Bearing that in mind, this particular Gene Simmons LP has held up well considering its age. I've provided several pictures so buyers can judge the condition for themselves. In my non-professional opinion, the jacket rates as being in VERY GOOD CONDITION; however, I'll leave the final determination to buyers who can make that call by consulting the accompanying pictures. 

Finally, for those interested in the condition of the inserts, please note the following: the poster has never been used; however, the rear side of the top right corner has some sort of blemish showing (again on the rear side, so it's not noticeable on the front image). Also, on the rear side there is a weird imprint of Peter Criss's face--I'm not sure how this occurred as it happened under the watch of a previous owner. Like the aforementioned corner blemish, this "Catman" imprint is on the rear side of the poster, so it does not affect the main front image. As for the merchandise insert, it has never been used and thus looks nice. It's only flaw is some dulling from age; otherwise, still very nice. Finally, the inner sleeve is present and vibrantly colored but like most of these vintage pieces there is some separation occurring at the bottom and side seams. Also, the corners have some creasing (again this is typical for inner sleeves). 

The LP shown is the EXACT piece up for sale. Please examine the pictures carefully and let me know if you have any questions. I'm just a fan and collector like many of you, so I don't want any buyer to be disappointed with an item I have sold. Finally, please feel free to check out my other auctions as I am currently offering some great RARE KISS items. I'll happily combine shipping charges for buyers who win more than one auction (provided said items can fit in one package). I hope to earn your business! Happy bidding!!

Shipping Policies and Procedures

Please use eBay's shipping calculator to obtain an estimate of shipping costs for a particular item or contact me and request that I provide a shipping quote. Too often buyers are bidding with little awareness of the shipping costs and then deciding not to pay upon finding out the shipping fee. This typically happens with international buyers who have not investigated shipping costs beforehand. Please understand that I DO NOT inflate shipping rates or charge handling fees. In fact, I usually lose money on shipping because I do not charge for packing materials. Buyers only pay the exact estimated shipping costs and nothing more. Therefore, when bidding consider the weight and size of an item before determining that a shipping estimate is too high. I provide the shipping calculator for this very reason.

I pride myself on serving fellow eBayers quickly and professionally. I make every effort to ship items within 12-24 hours of receiving payment. In rare exceptions (such as over weekends or holidays), it might take a maximum of 48 hours to ship an item once payment has been received. I want all buyers to receive their merchandise as quickly as possible because as a fellow eBayer I also appreciate sellers who ship items expediently. This being said, domestic buyers who choose slow shipping options such as Media Mail or Parcel Post must realize and expect items to take longer to arrive. Therefore, please don't negatively affect my "shipping time" rating by docking me unfairly. Likewise for international buyers; I make every effort to get international shipments in the mail immediately because of the time it takes for items to reach their destination. Please be aware, however, that once an item leaves the USA I have little to no control over time of delivery or even tracking information. Some countries have slower customs processes than others, such as Canada for example, and there is simply nothing I can do to change that. Again, when leaving feedback, please bear these factors in mind. I strive for 5-star feedback, and if I fail to perform I should earn less than  a 5-star rating. However, I also want my ratings to accurately and fairly reflect my performance and not conditions that are beyond my control.

Returns Policy

As I rule, I generally do not accept returns. I buy and sell on eBay as a hobby, so I do not have cash reserves to cover buyer's remorse and repeated returns. However, in the event I make a mistake or unwittingly misrepresent an item, I will happily accept a return and do what is necessary to make things right in the eyes of the buyer. While mistakes aren't the norm for me, I am human and thus prone to the rare unintentional lapse. However, I ask that buyers are judicious in reviewing any auction listing and ask questions if they are uncertain about an item's condition, publication information, or contents. Likewise, I provide plenty of pictures of the exact items up for sale, so please review those closely in advance of placing bids.