I've used Discogs for years now.

I've bought many items - mostly LPs - via the site and have only ever had two issues with items being far removed from their stated condition. I got refunds from PayPal in both instances. Discogs also removed the negative feedback from one of the sellers (the other didn't leave any).

Just like eBay, you need to look at the feedback left for the seller of anything you intend to buy AND the seller's response to that feedback. Two sides to every story.

Most sellers will confirm their stated condition for an item; few of them have actually downgraded Ed their own rating after I've asked them to check. I've then changed my mind about buying tat copy and looked elsewhere.

I've bought items from around the world via Discogs, although my purchases from the USA have dwindled since the postage costs rose dramatically after an edict from Trump.

I've!so read something in here about difficulties in cataloguing collections. The Discogs system could not be more helpful or comprehensive. It does mean you have to expend some time and effort in identifying what you actually have in hand and matching it with the same item on Discogs. It's that simple. If you item is recent enough to have a barcode, then the Eiscogs app will allow you to zap that barcode and add the item to your coll3ctiin list within Discogs.

Your collection can then be viewed in any sequence you wish…most recently added, high-to-low value, low-to-high, by artist, by album, by year, by format …it's massively useful.

Your collection can also be downloaded as a CSV file and stored as a spreadsheet. Many insurers will accept this as a value rating should the worst happen to your collection.

Are there rogue traders in there? Most likely…but show me on online platform without rip-off merchants. The vast, vast majority of sellers, though, are fellow music lovers. Don't let those on here - who have ignored seller ratings for the one purchase they've ever made from Discogs - make you think that's the site is a den of thieves.

They're completely wrong.

Oh…and the comments about the forum being full of opinionated idiots…just show me one forum on the whole internet where things are any different. I avoid forums everywhere like the plague for that very reason.

My bottom line is that I cannot recommend Discogs highly enough. Ignore the nay-sayers.