FAQ/About/Policies/Etc

8/15/26 Latest Version

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About 3rd Floor Tapes

Welcome to 3rd Floor Tapes. Whether you found me through eBay, Discogs, a search engine, or a referral from a friend, thanks for stopping by.

My Story

I started 3rd Floor Tapes in 2019. The store ran for a few years, took a hiatus, and relaunched in 2025. Every tape is personally sourced, inspected, graded, photographed, and listed by me. Every step of the process — from sourcing to purchase to final listing — is handled directly, with typically at least 15 minutes of work per item. 

Where My Inventory Comes From

Inventory is sourced from record stores, Discogs, eBay sellers, Bandcamp, and select distributors including Cobraside, Stones Throw, and Tapehead City. 

I don't run this as a way of building a personal collection, though at times I will crack open a fresh tape and hold onto it— my goal is to keep fresh inventory moving through the store on a regular basis.

Artwork and Design Credits

Logo design by Alex Borrego

Additional logo design by Fake Handshake

All artwork and creative content on this site is created by human artists. AI-generated art or content is not used for the store's branding or listings.

Pricing

Prices are reviewed regularly and may change based on current market conditions on platforms like Discogs and eBay, as well as sourcing costs, which can vary from one purchase to the next.

I encourage shopping by overall cost per item rather than judging any single tape's price in isolation — many customers build out a full stack of tapes and find their average cost per item is lower than buying one item at a time.

Shipping Rates (USA)

Order Subtotal

Shipping Cost

$0 – $5.00: $20.00

$5.01 – $9.99: $10.00

$10.00 – $14.99: $9.50

$15.00 – $19.99: $7.50

$20.00+: $6.50

$100+: Free

Shipping & Tracking Issues

Once a package is handed off to USPS, tracking and delivery are out of my hands. If your tracking appears stalled, please reach out to support@3rdfloortapes.com and I'll look into it. In rare cases of extended delays, I'll follow up with USPS directly on your behalf.

Cases and Packaging

Used tapes do not necessarily ship with original cases but I will replace cracked cases when necessary. Product photos are typically taken without the case for better lighting and to show the J-card clearly. I take care in packing every order and do not use packing peanuts or excess filler material.

Condition Grading Guide

Sleeve/Cassette ie VG+/VG

When grading used items, the first part of the grade ("sleeve") refers to the j card itself or slipcase for singles. I don't grade the case on used tapes. If an item is sealed, the "sleeve" part of the grade does refer to the case itself and if there is some kind of noticeable damage to the j card or shell, it is noted. Otherwise, the actual tape itself with sealed items is generally presumed to be mint. 

Mint (M): Sealed or unplayed. 

Near Mint (NM): Minimal to no signs of use; plays and looks excellent.

Very Good Plus (VG+): Plays nearly perfectly and looks very clean.

Very Good (VG): Looks good overall; may have minor shell wear or slight J-card bending. Audio may have minor, infrequent drops.

Good Plus (G+): Shows some wear on the J-card or shell but still sounds great unless otherwise noted.

Good (G): Plays through with mostly good sound; may have some scattered audio issues. Cosmetic condition noted separately if it doesn't match audio quality.

Fair (F): Playable but with noticeable condition issues. Sold rarely and always noted clearly.

Poor (P): Not sold.

CDs are graded primarily on playback quality; cosmetic wear (light scuffs, marks) does not typically affect how a disc plays and is noted separately.

Guarantee

Every item is backed by a 30-day guarantee. If an item arrives with an issue, contact support@3rdfloortapes.com and I'll work with you to make it right. Beyond the 30-day window, defects that surface with normal use will still be handled on a case-by-case basis — just reach out.

Testing Equipment

Tapes are play-tested on vintage and modern cassette equipment, including Sony boombox decks.

Thank You

Whether this is your first order or your thirty-first, thank you for supporting independent music, independent artists, and a small, one-person business.

— Steve