25+ Vinyl records that have seen better days: 'There are only 100 vinyls of this album and the postal service broke mine in half'

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Mar 28, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

You know that old saying, "You sound like a broken record?" It means that a person is repeating themself too much, just like a skipping record that can't get past that tiny scratch into the vinyl. That's just one way to damage a record, though, as these people found out. 

The "broken record" sentiment unfortunately applies to these vinyl albums that have seen better days! Some of them simply couldn't handle the United States Postal system. Those boxes get thrown around constantly, so it's no wonder that a fragile album would struggle to make it to you in one piece. Many record shippers wrap them in crazy amounts of bubble wrap to ensure they arrive intact. It can be done! But clearly not everyone ships their merchandise that way. 

Some people even bought limited-edition pressings of records. With some albums, only 100 or 500 records will be pressed, often with a cool color variant or a special album insert included. But once that album is pressed, it's finished forever! If that record breaks in the mail, you're just out of luck, because there isn't going to be an extra album to replace it. 

Check out some vinyl record accidents that'll make you appreciate your own favorite albums even more. Then, read about this daughter who got a $400 revenge on her father after getting tired of his demands for her to be his personal chauffeur: '[She] drives him to the most expensive restaurant in town.'

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  • 01
    There are only 100 vinyls of this album and the postal service broke mine in half 8 TRITONE PARADOX DIABARHA (EATER OF SHEEP I LYSERGIO ERGNO4
    via u/Mahkda
  • 02

    Completely wasteful

    Today 8:24 AM There's a pile of wet records in the parking lot of my work Imao
    via u/Ienjoyyourmomsb***
  • 03

    Not this being a $4 album...

    Ouch TREET 068 BERT& ERNIC 447 JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR A ROCK OPERA 4. STERLO F LO SVEP BM Viny! $3.99
    via u/greenbean2112

    Someone's toddler had a field day with this one. 

  • 04

    Did an animal get into this? Was this mailed with a live squirrel inside?

    Guess my vinyl I ordered didn't have a sweet trip shipping over here... OSCO Che colati World, S
    via u/AgentTyTy
  • 05
    Exmilitary bowl. This record would have easily been worth several hundreds of dollars Death Grips Ex Monary E A T Exmilitary
    via u/[deleted]
  • 06

    This is a cute way to display stickers... but that record is done for

    E Etsy : ☑ TON R SWEET REVENGE Ex Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge - Sticker Set - Etsy Visit >
    via u/[deleted]
  • 07

    Once some records are pressed, they're never made again

    Someone at USPS tried to fold my package with a rare record inside it, $100 gone and now one less of them in the world SIDE A
    via u/ComaKino

    It's incidents like this that feel extra tragic, since there's just no way to replace it. 

  • 08
    strongermonster Follow Mar 17 me and coworker: okay. we're getting rid of a ton of old records. they're sorted into price piles, you just need to write down the price and stick them to the record sleeve. if it doesn't have a sleeve, do not stick it to the vinyl bit, because the adhesive gunks up the grooves and affects how they play. okay? new guy: yeah man! us checking up on him 20 minutes later: EXPT opers CAPITOL CAPITO A RESISTERED TRADE MA абло разпро au! out him: i did not put stickers on
    via u/SgtUm
  • 09

    Timber!

    Can someone help me clean this up?
    via u/Peatrick33
  • 10

    Bad bad kitty

    Found my cat had on a load of records Had to bin most of the covers, about 30 mostly 70s soul & funk as they had soaked it up. Fffs Chicago Gangsters GangsterLove
    via u/popcornbevin
  • 11

    It's a cool decoration now

    warped vinyl I just found out this subreddit existed and years ago I left one of my Scott Hamilton vinyl's on top of my old house's fireplace and it warped and is now completely smooth. I'm kind of obsessed with it and use it now as a wall decoration. I got another one to still be able to listen to lol
    via u/anakinship
  • 12

    Would this work?

    For songs I don't like Scratched out track Transfer groove
    via u/DJVinylJerk
  • 13
    Thought I scored upon finding this at the thrift store near work. Why on earth would you do this to a good record ch STEREO ATLANTIC ONE acefulness
    via u/Gilblitz112
  • 14

    That looks like an expensive fall

    My shelf fell HE LONDON 2013 RMITS Wake up Mr. Dressup! It's ti stim do yr A We Thank RETUR
    via u/Turbulent_Eagle5901

    Let's hope these records survived their tumble!

  • 15

    Did they just toss the record in a box, no sleeve, no packaging at all?!

    RCA VICTOR Won a rare record auction on eBay, this is how it arrived and without a cover
    via u/Whats_Opera_Doc
  • 16

    Grab the duster

    the doggy hair makes the sound crisp i heard EVICTROLA
    via u/SayNoMayo
  • 17

    This is the way Cookie Monster eats cookies

    T TELEFUNKEN Dist 78M Derby 0.05 Nom nom
    via u/Consistent-Pass9543
  • 18

    This is cute marketing...

    It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere
    via u/TGTX

    Let's hope it's marketing and not just someone trying to get aesthetic pictures of records that are now unplayable. 

  • 19

    Can't Help Falling [In Love]

    I just tripped and smashed both of my new Elvis Presley records. I hadn't even played them yet! SPECIAL PRICE 2 RECORD SET BUD 447 Plan Te 2:55 DAY NOW Burt Bacharach PRESLEY RCA SUSPICIOUS MINDS ELVIS PRESLEY GOLD SANDARD GB-1322 EREO 422
    via u/Ambrosem123
  • 20

    It has a "Certified Frustration Free" stamp

    What a out. move. Can't even pull it 31-623
    via u/JonCeini

    So that did not live up to it's guarantee! Good news though: this person reports that they got it replaced within 48 hours. 

  • 21
    Serving $100 burgers on real vinyl albums ЭРАС SMASH
    via u/datan0ir
  • 22
    The Bends indeed HEAD the bends
    via u/RusskiBayonet
  • 23

    What a beautiful color variant, too bad it's in shambles

    Thanks, USPS, you're the best! Got this steaming pile yesterday. y performed by Billy Wes Charlie Brissette and Vanessa Coffey n: Ross Shotland and Michala alenne Steven Wild Producer Catherine 13
    via u/glowingskullz
  • 24

    This record may have had some time in the sun

    Thanks LaserShip, you're the best.
    via u/thebrendan312
  • 25

    Yo dawg, I heard you like records

    DIY record holder I posted this in r/vinyl and someone commented this subreddit (which I didn't know existed until now). Just a good way to repurpose thrift store finds you don't really want anymore or care about. Used a 45 for the back but it only lets me post 1 photo. dion CHEAP TRICK ALL SUP
    via u/Simply_BT

    So I got you this record holder made from a record to hold your records. 

    Honestly, it looks fragile! 

  • 26

    Looks like this person lives in the middle of nowhere

    Tight TET
    via u/Thelocust337

    If only the mail carrier had thought to just… leave it on the ground beside the mailbox. If only!

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Music packages broken vinyl records records mail vinyl scratch
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