IMPORTANT: FAQ/RULES/POLICIES

6/25/26 Latest Version

Reviews and Endorsements Blog

FAQ/RULES/POLICIES/RANTS/GRADING/ETC

***ALL CAPS IS NOT ME YELLING- IT'S JUST EASIER TO TYPE WITH A STYLUS ON A PHONE IN ALL CAPS. PLEASE DON'T MISINTERPRET MY TONE AS ANYTHING BUT GRATEFUL!<3😁 ✌️***

PRICES ARE ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

IF YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNT, LOAD UP A CART, AND DON'T PLACE THE ORDER, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS WILL SHOW UP ON MY END AS AN "ABANDONED CHECKOUT."

SOMETIMES THIS LEADS ME TO RE-RESEARCH A PRICE. I MAY REALIZE I HAVE THE ITEM PRICED TOO LOW. I MAY ALSO REALIZE I HAVE THE ITEM PRICED TOO HIGH AND LOWER IT IF I THINK THIS MIGHT HELP WITH THE SALE. EITHER WAY, YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY "SHOWING THE DEALER YOUR CARDS" WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SEEING A SIGNIFICANT ORDER IN THE ABANDONED CHECKOUTS IS INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL AND ANXIETY INDUCING DUE TO THE DAY TO DAY NATURE OF THIS JOB. FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, IT IS NOT PERSONAL, BUT IN THESE INSTANCES, YOU MAY SEE AN INCREASE IN PRICE THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THE ITEM.

[WHEN I DO RAISE PRICES IN THESE INSTANCES I WILL NEVER RAISE A PRICE BEYOND A FAIR "GOING RATE" ON DISCOGS OR EBAY. (TO ANGRY REDDIT GUY JOE KENNEY- ME ADJUSTING THE PRICE ON THE TAPES YOU WERE LOOKING AT AT THE TIME YOU WERE LOOKING AT THEM WAS COINCIDENCE. THERE IS NOTHING ON MY SIDE SHOWING WHAT SOMEONE IS LOOKING AT UNLESS THE CARD IS "ABANDONED." THE TAPES WERE ADJUSTED FROM $9.50 TO $12.50, THE PRICE I PAID FOR THEM.)]

IF YOU ARE A CHILD UNDER 18- PLEASE DO NOT ORDER FROM ME. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PARENTS PURCHASE A GIFT CARD FOR YOU AND USE THE GIFT CARD TO PLACE YOUR ORDER WITH PARENTAL CONSENT. 

PLEASE DON'T "CREATE AN ACCOUNT" HERE UNLESS YOU ARE MAKING A PURCHASE. MY MAILING LIST IS CURRENTLY UNDER 250. EVERY TIME IT GOES OVER 250 MAILCHIMP TRIES TO CHARGE ME $ TO SEND EMAILS. MY EMAILS ARE NOTHING FANCY AND ARE DIRECTED TOWARD MY REGULARS. IT'S NOT AS IF I AM GOING TO SELL YOUR DATA. I DELETE ANY NEW ACCOUNTS THAT DO NOT MAKE A PURCHASE. PLEASE JUST SAVE US BOTH THE TIME AND DON'T ENTER YOUR INFO UNLESS YOU'RE PLACING AN ORDER. THANK YOU!!!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: WHEN YOU GO OUT FOR DINNER OR DRINKS, YOU ARE SPENDING MONEY THAT YOU WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN. HERE, YOU ARE BUYING GOODS (ASSETS) AT FAIR PRICES THAT WILL RETAIN VALUE. THESE CAN LATER BE SOLD BY YOU IF NEEDED. THIS IS A BENEFIT OF BUYING ASSETS, EVEN SMALL ONES. NOT ONLY ARE YOU INVESTING IN MY BUSINESS BUT YOU ARE INVESTING IN YOURSELF. THESE HOLD VALUE ON YOUR BALANCE SHEET. EVERYTHING I BUY COSTS MONEY. I DON'T HAVE A CONSISTENT INVENTORY SOURCE- IT TAKES WORK TO STRATEGICALLY SPEND MY MONEY SO THAT YOU WILL HAVE A REASON TO SPEND YOUR MONEY. I DON'T SELL YOU TAPES I BOUGHT FROM THRIFT STORES. I AM NOT THAT KIND OF LUCKY. 🤣

THE CUSTOMERS THAT BENEFIT THEMSELVES AND ME THE MOST ARE THOSE THAT BUY A VARIETY, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO SHOP BY AVERAGE COST PER ITEM, RATHER THAN BY INDIVIDUAL PRICE TAG. (IE- ANGRY ABOUT A $20 TAPE? ADD 7 TAPES AT $5 EACH. THAT'S JUST $7.69/TAPE AFTER SHIPPING.)

THE LAST TIME I SPENT A BUNCH OF MONEY (TO ME, THIS MEANS $250) AT A RECORD STORE MY COST PER ITEM WAS $9.50, EVEN AFTER RAIDING THE CD $1 BIN, AND THAT DIDN'T INVOLVE SHIPPING. THE SAME STORE USED TO SELL TAPES ONLINE FOR NO LESS THAN $5 EACH. IF YOU'RE ON A BUDGET, OR IF NOT, YOU CAN DEFINITELY GET YOUR COST PER ITEM UNDER $5 AFTER SHIPPING WHILE SHOPPING WITH ME. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT "NEW" ITEMS YOU SEE HERE THAT I GET FROM A DISTRIBUTOR ARE USUALLY PRICED LESS THAN I PAID FOR THEM. THESE ARE REFERRED TO AS LOSS-LEADERS. I BUY THESE IN HOPES YOU'LL ALSO BUY SOME THINGS THAT I PAID LESS FOR. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I MAKE MONEY. A LOT OF MAJOR RECORD STORES HAVE AN INFINITE MONEY GLITCH IN THAT THEY PAY "CUSTOMERS" PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR FOR DVDs, RECORDS, TAPES AND CDs, AND SELL THEM FOR MUCH MORE. THE MARGINS ALLOW THEM TO PAY RENT, PAY EMPLOYEES, AND KEEP RECORDS THAT COST $30 AT WHOLESALE ON THE SHELF FOR $40 EVEN WHEN THE GOING DISCOGS RATE HAS DROPPED TO $15. THIS IS WHY YOU RARELY SEE A "SALE" AT YOUR FAVORITE RECORD STORE. MY ADVANTAGE IS I AM JUST ONE PERSON. I CAN MAKE SACRIFICES AND LIVE FRUGALLY IN ORDER TO GET YOU GREAT DEALS EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT MAKING STACKS OF MONEY. ✌️

I HAVE TRIED TO EXECUTE A $10 ORDER MINIMUM ON AN HONOR SYSTEM. DUE TO TOO MANY PEOPLE IGNORING THIS RECENTLY, I HAD TO ADJUST PRICING ON SHIPPING. (THIS SHOULD NOT AFFECT ANY OF MY REGULARS IN ANY WAY.) PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I TAKE A LOSS ON TIME AND MONEY ON SMALLER ORDERS. I DON'T DO THIS TO GET RICH BUT I AM ALSO DAY-TO-DAY AND THIS BUSINESS COULD GO UNDER IN A WEEK OR IN 10 YEARS. THAT DEPENDS ON YOU AS MUCH AS ME! (SEE: BRICK AND MORTAR CLUB)

I UNDERSTAND IF YOU ONLY SEE ONE TAPE YOU LIKE AND IT IS ONLY $3.50. THIS JUST ISN'T THAT TYPE OF OPERATION. THERE ARE 10,000 SELLERS ON DISCOGS WHO WOULD LOVE TO SELL YOU THAT TAPE. I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR TAPES FOR THIS SITE AND FOR THE BUSINESS BUT PLEASE DON'T SUPPORT IF IT IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR YOU.

A SMALL ORDER TAKES ALMOST AS MUCH TIME AS A LARGE ORDER. IT TAKES ABOUT 15 MINUTES PER ITEM FROM START TO FINISH TO LIST A SINGLE ITEM ON THIS SITE. (THAT'S SEARCHING FOR, BUYING, UNPACKING, INSPECTING, GRADING, REPAIRING FELT PADS, REWINDING, PHOTOGRAPHING, PHOTO EDITING, PRICE RESEARCHING, MANUALLY TYPING INTO A DOCUMENT, ENTERING INFO MANUALLY INTO A TEMPLATE, UPLOADING THE PHOTOS TO THE SITE, AND LISTING THE ITEM LIVE. THAT'S JUST THE LISTING PROCESS. THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY OF THE OTHER ENDLESS MARKETING AND OPERATIONS TIME INVOLVED. I LOVE IT BUT PLEASE TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THE WORK LITERALLY DOES NOT END!🤣) 

SHIPPING RATES (USA)

$0-5 SHIPPING: $20

$5.01-9.99: $10

$10-$19.99: $9.50

$20+: $6.50

$75+: FREE

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS BUSINESS CANNOT SURVIVE DOING SMALL ORDERS. I DON'T MEAN TO BE GREEDY OR SNOBBY. THIS IS A 60-70 HOUR/WEEK JOB AND IF I DID ONLY $10 ORDERS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THERE IS INVENTORY COST, LABOR AND A $10 ORDER DOES NOT MEAN $10 PROFIT. 

SUPPORT @ 3RDFLOORTAPES.COM TO REACH STEVE. PLEASE ALLOW 24 HRS FOR A RESPONSE. 

MUST BE 18+ TO ORDER OR HAVE A GIFT CARD, WHICH YOU CAN HAVE YOUR PARENTS PURCHASE ON YOUR BEHALF. 

Please understand that this is probably the smallest business you will ever deal with! I want your money to go a long way and will do my best to help with that!

*ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED FOR 30 DAYS, I may have some trouble shooting questions but JUST EMAIL ME AND LET ME KNOW IF SOMETHING SUCKS! I WILL DO MY BEST TO FIX IT!

Occasional Site Errors

Occasionally there there may be an inconsistency or pricing error on the site. (For instance, I just found a heading that said "free shipping on $99+" which was supposed to say $75+) In these instances if you see something, please email me at support@3rdfloortapes.com and I will reward you for your help!

Re: Cases/jewel cases

Yes the tapes and CDs all come with cases! I take pictures without the case because I am bad at photography and this seems to minimize glare. You can also see the j card more clearly.

I will do my best to send tapes out in nice looking cases. I cannot guarantee that every case will arrive without cracking but I pack things well and I will never send you packing peanuts or excess trash. I recycle all my shipping and try to leave as little waste as possible.

On Grading

I grade tapes pretty harshly; CDs a bit more loose because they'll still play flawless with visible damage in many cases.

I've thrown out a lot of recently purchased tape inventory because the tapes were irreparable. You won't see me calling something mint if it isn't sealed, as I've seen another online cassette store do.

I only grade the jewel case when considering a sealed tape. I traveled so much for 4 years that some of my sealed tapes have cracked cases. It happens. Otherwise I will be shipping everything, CDs and tapes, with uncracked cases whenever possible.

Of course, these are all just my opinions regarding these grades you are more than welcome to apply your own grade based on the photos. If you need me to play test something specific please just let me know! I listen to as many of them as possible but it is a lot of tapes to keep up with.

Anyway. Here's my version of a grading system:

Mint (M) is sealed or never played. PERFECT.

Near Mint (NM) is generally only given to something owned by me originally. However there are times, looking at the item, that based on the lack of wear to the felt pad and to the tape in general, that it can be considered NM.

Very Good Plus (VG+) To me, a VG+ is a perfect tape. It isn't mint but it will play nearly perfect and look very nice. It will have a certain sheen that a VG will not have.

Very Good (VG) will look good but may have some lettering rubbing off on the shell or some bend to the j card. The audio may drop at moments but nothing major.

Good Plus (G+) will look worn but will still sound great, unless noted. J cards may show wear and tear but the cover should look nice. The inner card may have damage. The cassette shell may have slight grime or faded print.

CDs: CDs will show heavy marks but will play FLAWLESS.

Good (G) will still play through, sound mostly great, may have slight scattered audio issues, but I haven't personally deemed it unlistenable and it might look ugly. I generally note if something sounds spectacular but looks ugly and the other way around.

CDs: CDs will look near disastrous but the disc will play perfect. Generally I will only list something like this if the case/booklet/art etc are in really nice shape. 

Fair (F) will not be great. I try not to sell Fair. Sometimes I may sell ugly tapes that play good. To me, Fair does not play. A fair J Card will look not great.

CDs: I won't sell a CD in Fair condition because it will likely skip.

Poor (P) These I already threw in the trash. 

Do you test tapes on good equipment?

I play test my tapes on a vintage Sony Sports Boom box. My backup is a modern Sony cassette boom box, and my backup backup is another 90s Sony boom box. I used to have fancy decks but had to lose them a few years back.

I love 90s plastic Aiwa cassette players. I have one of those too.

Who does the site logo?

Alex Borrego is a Las Vegas artist who was a tape customer of mine in 2020 and now designs the logos for my site. He's fucking incredible. You can follow him on Instagram at @brownyuio and support all his endeavors!

 

"Where do you get your tapes from?"

 

A variety of places but for specifics, here is exactly where everything is coming from:

 

Chicago Record Stores:

 

Reckless Records 

 

Laurie's Planet Of Sound

 

Wholesale Distribution:

 

Cobraside Distribution 

 

Online Store:

 

Undigabledigs.com

 

Discogs Sellers:

 

Redscroll Records 

 

GenerationRecords 

 

Magnolia.Mtn 

 

FreeRangeDJ 

 

MaxDraco

 

eBay: 

 

Marensfolks 

 

Repus-627 

 

Jabe-N-Shan 

 

Shel_3597 

 

Midwestlibrary 

 

Secretlakellc2 

 

Timflore_0 

 

quest1977 

 

bigwesj 

 

jececollectibles 

 

oldnevernew 

 

swoley_mammoth 

 

ftcbay 

 

tragr_6640 

 

retroxpressthrift 

 

mikmichfari 

 

rheishman1 

 

attictreasuresestates 

 

metalpartsmaker 

 

sowardsc 

 

dollys*fleamarket 

 

Stach Family Reclaimed Treasures 

 

rigasa 

 

midnightskull 

 

vintage9tee 

 

jordaramire-56 

 

hellcatacescollectibles 

 

8831brad 

 

krinklebine237 

 

sheepmansheep

 

eurekaevan

 

Artists I Support Directly Through Bandcamp 

 

The Moon Goons

 

Moritat

 

Chelsea Bridge

 

Names Divine

 

Moses Rockwell and Plain Old Mike 

 

Impulsive Hearts

 

Las Nubes

 

Dermabrasion 

 

Dusty Turrets 

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I'll post info about tapes down here too. I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR GAVING READ THIS FAR!!!

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TAPE INFO:

AR: Indicates the cassette was manufactured by Allied Record Company. 

SR: Indicates the cassette was manufactured by Specialty Records Corporation. 

Not related to tape type: Neither "AR" nor "SR" refers to the tape's formulation (e.g., Normal, Chrome, Metal). 

Not related to noise reduction: Neither code indicates the use of Dolby SR noise reduction, a professional audio system. 

Plant codes: These codes are simply identifiers for different production facilities, similar to how different pressing plants for vinyl records might leave their mark