A dubplate, or lathe-cut vinyl record, is made one at a time in real time. Each groove is physically cut into a durable PETG disc using a diamond stylus, with mono and stereo formats available.

How long does production and delivery take?

Standard production without printed artwork typically takes 3–14 business days after all required audio, artwork, order details and production materials have been received in a usable form. Single one-off records may ship sooner depending on production volume and project requirements. Printed center labels, custom jackets and finishing may add up to 1 additional week. Larger runs may need more time; larger runs with artwork may require 1–2 additional weeks. Holiday and high-volume periods may extend these estimates. Shipping transit starts after production is complete and USPS accepts the package.

Refund policy

Returns & Refund Policy

Last Updated: October 26, 2026

Many products and services sold by Lathe Cut Vinyl Records, operated by George W Paulin LLC, are custom-made, customer-specific, individually manufactured, specialty materials, consumable professional tools, precision components, liquids, or services performed specifically for the customer.

Except where required by applicable law or expressly agreed by us in writing, all products and services are FINAL SALE and are not eligible for voluntary returns, exchanges, or refunds.

This policy does not eliminate rights or remedies that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

1. Final Sale

Products and services covered by this policy include, without limitation:

Custom lathe-cut records
7", 10", 12", shaped, specialty, engraved, and other custom records
Record blanks and PETG materials
Diamond cutting styli and stylus shanks
Cutting, cleaning, maintenance, and professional supplies
Anti-static products and liquids, including Anti Static Ooze
Artwork, center labels, jackets, inserts, and printed products
CNC engraving
Audio mastering and premastering
Side Sequencing
Streaming mastering
CD / DDP mastering and production-master services
Rush services
Custom manufacturing
Accessories
Other products and services offered by Lathe Cut Vinyl Records

We do not accept voluntary returns or exchanges because of:

Change of mind or buyer's remorse
Ordering the wrong product, size, quantity, color, option, or configuration
Customer equipment incompatibility
Customer error
Incorrect installation, operation, storage, handling, processing, or use
Changed project requirements
A product no longer being needed
Customer preference after manufacture or delivery
Normal wear or consumption
Subjective dissatisfaction where the product substantially conforms to the product and services actually purchased

Nothing in this policy eliminates rights or remedies that cannot legally be excluded.

2. Custom Products & Services

Custom records, shaped records, artwork, labels, jackets, engraving, picture discs, custom-cut blanks, printed products, and other personalized or customer-specific products are manufactured specifically for the customer.

Once customer-specific production or preparation has begun, voluntary cancellation, return, or exchange may not be possible.

Customer-specific work may include audio preparation, mastering, sequencing, record cutting, engraving, artwork preparation, printing, label application, assembly, custom blank cutting, material preparation, programming, setup, testing, or other production work.

Completed services, Rush-production fees, design or artwork work, audio preparation, custom material preparation, and other labor already performed are non-refundable except where required by law.

A shaped record containing playable grooves remains a custom lathe-cut record and is subject to the same general audio, cutting, manufacturing, playback, variation, defect, and return principles applicable to our standard 7", 10", and 12" lathe-cut records, together with any product-specific specifications.

3. Customer-Supplied Audio, Artwork & Specifications

Customers are responsible for reviewing and submitting the correct audio, artwork, specifications, dimensions, quantities, programs, options, PQ information, track information, and other production materials.

Customer-submitted or customer-approved errors are not manufacturing defects.

This includes, for example:

Incorrect audio, song, version, mix, master, sequencing, or side assignment
Incorrect or incomplete production instructions
Incorrect artwork, spelling, layout, or design
Incorrect customer-selected product, size, quantity, or option
Customer-approved production files or proofs
Customer-supplied or customer-approved dimensions or specifications
Incorrect, incomplete, or conflicting PQ information
Incorrect timestamps, track lists, filenames, metadata, or cue information

The products, quantities, programs, options, and services actually purchased determine what is included in an order.

Supplying additional files, individual songs, PQ sheets, instructions, timestamps, artwork, or other materials does not automatically purchase additional products or services.

Detailed audio, artwork, sequencing, PQ-sheet, runtime, and production requirements are provided through our applicable product pages, FAQ, production instructions, and Terms of Service.

4. Reporting an Incorrect or Defective Product

If you believe we shipped the incorrect product or that an order contains a manufacturing defect for which Lathe Cut Vinyl Records is responsible, please contact us within 7 calendar days of delivery.

Contacting us does not automatically authorize a return.

Because our products are generally final sale, products may only be returned when Lathe Cut Vinyl Records specifically authorizes the return in writing for inspection, testing, or evaluation of a reported issue.

We may request reasonable documentation necessary to evaluate the claim, including:

Order information
Photographs
Video or audio recordings
Measurements
Photographs of packaging and shipping materials
Equipment or setup information
Playback-system information
Customer-submitted source files
PQ sheets or production instructions
Photographs of labels, containers, blanks, styli, or other affected components
Other information reasonably relevant to the reported issue

Customers should stop using, cutting, installing, modifying, engraving, printing, drilling, machining, processing, mixing, consuming, applying, or otherwise altering a product after discovering a suspected defect when continued use could prevent us from determining its original condition or the cause of the reported problem.

We may request inspection, testing, measurement, playback, or return of an affected product before approving a remedy.

Authorized Return Deadline

If a return is authorized, the affected product must be shipped back to us within 7 calendar days of the date return authorization is issued, unless we agree otherwise in writing.

Return authorization applies only to the specific product or products identified by Lathe Cut Vinyl Records. Authorization to return one product does not authorize return of an entire order.

Failure to ship an authorized return within the stated return period may result in the return authorization being closed and may prevent us from verifying the reported condition, except where otherwise required by applicable law.

Receipt of a returned product does not constitute acceptance of a defect, approval of a refund, or admission of responsibility.

Returned products may be inspected, tested, played, measured, photographed, or otherwise reasonably evaluated before a remedy is determined.

Return Shipping Costs

Unless otherwise required by applicable law or expressly agreed by Lathe Cut Vinyl Records in writing, the customer is initially responsible for the cost of shipping a product to us for an authorized inspection, testing, or evaluation.

USPS Media Mail is our standard authorized return-shipping method for eligible records and qualifying media. Customers should not purchase Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, or other expedited return services expecting reimbursement unless we expressly approve those services in writing.

Products that are not eligible for USPS Media Mail must be returned using an appropriate shipping method authorized by Lathe Cut Vinyl Records.

If our inspection confirms a manufacturing defect or shipping error for which Lathe Cut Vinyl Records is responsible, we will reimburse reasonable authorized return-shipping costs, provide a prepaid return method, or otherwise provide the remedy required by applicable law.

If the reported issue is not confirmed to be a manufacturing defect or error for which Lathe Cut Vinyl Records is responsible, return shipping and any cost of shipping the inspected product back to the customer remain the customer's responsibility to the extent permitted by law.

When an inspected product is eligible for USPS Media Mail, return shipment to the customer will ordinarily use that service. The customer must arrange payment of applicable return postage before dispatch unless another arrangement is agreed in writing or required by law.

Lathe Cut Vinyl Records will not automatically discard, destroy, or retain ownership of a customer's returned product merely because return postage remains unpaid. Unresolved return arrangements will be handled subject to applicable law.

Return Condition & Original Packaging

Any product authorized for return must be returned in substantially the same condition in which it was received, except for handling reasonably necessary to identify the reported issue.

Original packaging is required for any authorized return, except where applicable law requires otherwise. The customer must retain and return the original product packaging and protective materials. We may also require all records, sleeves, jackets, inserts, containers, caps, accessories, components, labels and other supplied materials, or the complete affected project, when needed for inspection and comparison. Our written return authorization will specify what must be returned.

After a suspected issue has been identified, original packaging should not be discarded, materially altered, written on, cut, torn, crushed, or otherwise damaged. Products must be securely packaged for return shipment to prevent additional damage during transit.

Products that have been further used, cut, engraved, drilled, printed, installed, modified, disassembled, damaged, contaminated, processed, mixed, substantially consumed, or otherwise materially altered after discovery of the reported issue may prevent us from determining the product's original condition or the cause of the reported issue.

Missing, discarded, or materially damaged original packaging may prevent verification of shipping damage or product condition and may affect our ability to approve a voluntary return, carrier claim, exchange, credit, or other remedy.

These return-condition requirements do not eliminate rights or remedies that cannot legally be limited or excluded.

5. Remedies for Verified Errors or Defects

Custom orders are final sale. If we verify a manufacturing defect or error attributable to Lathe Cut Vinyl Records, our first remedy is replacement, correction, repair or re-performance of the affected item or service. A monetary refund is offered only if we elect to provide one or applicable law requires it.

Contact us before sending anything back. Original packaging is required for any authorized return, except where applicable law requires otherwise. We may also require the complete affected project, including all records, sleeves, jackets, labels and supplied components, for inspection and comparison. Our written return authorization will specify what must be returned. A return authorization, receipt or inspection does not itself approve a refund or establish that a defect is our responsibility.

A verified issue affecting one product, side, program, component or service does not automatically establish that unaffected portions of the order are defective. Where permitted by law, the remedy may be limited to the affected portion.

Nothing in this section limits rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted. Authorized return deadlines and return-shipping procedures in Section 4 continue to apply.

6. Lathe-Cut Records

Lathe-cut records are individually manufactured physical products and may differ from mass-produced pressed records and from digital source playback.

This section applies to our standard 7", 10", and 12" records as well as shaped records and other playable lathe-cut formats unless a product-specific term expressly states otherwise.

Reasonable characteristics and variations associated with the lathe-cut manufacturing process are not necessarily manufacturing defects.

Playback can be affected by the customer's turntable, cartridge, stylus, tonearm setup, tracking force, anti-skate, source audio, playback equipment, record geometry, and other playback conditions.

A playback problem occurring only on particular equipment does not by itself establish a manufacturing defect.

We may request testing on another properly operating playback system when reasonably necessary to evaluate a playback-related claim.

Customer-submitted or customer-approved audio problems, incorrect versions, side assignments, source distortion, excessive limiting or compression, clipping, excessive runtime, phase relationships, or other conditions contained in customer production materials are not manufacturing defects attributable to Lathe Cut Vinyl Records.

Groove Fragility, Handling & Playback Damage

Lathe-cut records contain delicate, individually manufactured grooves that can be permanently damaged by improper handling, playback, cleaning, or storage.

Groove damage may occur after delivery, including during the first playback. Scratches, groove deformation, contamination, improper cleaning, physical contact with the playing surface, and incorrect playback equipment setup can affect normal playback.

Customers are responsible for properly handling, storing, cleaning, and playing their records using suitable equipment in proper operating condition.

For example, a worn, damaged, contaminated, or improperly adjusted playback stylus may slide or skate across a record, scratching or damaging the grooves. The resulting damage may cause skipping, repeating, distortion, or other playback problems during subsequent playback, even when the record was originally manufactured correctly.

Improper tracking force, anti-skate adjustment, cartridge alignment, damaged playback styli, and other customer-controlled playback conditions may also contribute to groove damage.

Damage caused after delivery by improper customer handling, playback equipment, cleaning, storage, modification, or misuse is not a manufacturing defect attributable to Lathe Cut Vinyl Records.

A scratch or other physical abnormality does not, by itself, establish whether the condition originated during manufacturing, shipping, or subsequent customer handling.

Skipping, Repeating & Playback Complaints

A reported skip, repeat, distortion, or other isolated playback problem does not automatically establish a manufacturing defect or entitlement to a complimentary replacement.

The location, severity, frequency, reproducibility, and cause of a reported playback problem must be evaluated in context.

A single isolated skip may result from playback equipment, record contamination, groove damage, customer-supplied audio, or a manufacturing irregularity.

An isolated skip may still constitute a manufacturing defect when appropriate inspection and testing establish that it resulted from our manufacturing process and materially affects normal playback.

Customers reporting playback problems may be asked to provide video or audio documentation, photographs, turntable and cartridge information, tracking-force and anti-skate settings, and other information reasonably relevant to the issue.

Customer-submitted recordings or videos may assist our evaluation but do not necessarily establish the physical cause of a playback problem.

Microscopic Groove Inspection & Playback Testing

Where reasonably necessary, Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may require an affected record to be returned for physical inspection, microscopic groove examination, and playback testing before determining whether a manufacturing defect exists.

Our evaluation may include:

Microscopic examination of the record surface and grooves
Inspection for scratches, groove deformation, contamination, and physical damage
Examination of possible cutting or manufacturing irregularities
Playback testing on properly functioning equipment
Comparison with customer-supplied audio files
Review of the location, frequency, and reproducibility of reported playback problems
Photographic or video documentation of relevant findings

Microscopic examination may help identify the nature of physical damage or manufacturing irregularities. However, such examination cannot always establish exactly when, where, or how a particular scratch or other condition occurred.

We may consider all reasonably available evidence when determining whether the reported condition is attributable to manufacturing, shipping, customer handling, playback equipment, or another cause.

If inspection establishes that the reported playback problem resulted from customer-caused damage, improper playback equipment, or another condition outside our responsibility, a complimentary replacement will generally not be provided.

If the record plays as intended during our inspection and testing and no attributable manufacturing defect is established, a complimentary replacement will generally not be provided.

If inspection confirms a manufacturing defect attributable to Lathe Cut Vinyl Records that materially affects normal playback, we will provide an appropriate remedy consistent with this policy and applicable law.

Return authorization, return deadlines, shipping costs, and reimbursement are governed by Section 4 of this policy.

Track Separation, Sequencing, Silence & Groove Bands

Lathe cutting is a physical manufacturing process. A lathe-cut record is not a bit-for-bit, visually identical, or mechanically exact reproduction of a digital audio file.

The customer controls the musical program. Lathe Cut Vinyl Records controls the physical execution of the cut.

For standard record production, customers supplying completed Side A and Side B files establish the song order, audible gaps, silence, fades, overlaps, crossfades, and transitions contained within those completed side files.

When completed Side A and Side B files contain customer-created silence, low-level sections, fades, gaps, or other identifiable transitions, Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may use those customer-established locations as references for physical groove-band placement.

We do not randomly relocate the customer's musical track boundaries. However, the exact physical position, width, visibility, spacing, and execution of groove bands remain technical production decisions based upon the submitted audio, available recording area, runtime, cutting level, groove pitch, groove density, and other physical requirements of the cut.

Customers should generally provide approximately two seconds of silence or sufficiently low-level audio where a conventional visible track separation is desired in a completed side file.

This is a production guideline and does not establish an exact physical groove specification.

Audible silence and visible groove bands are separate characteristics.

For example, a customer-created ten-second silent section may remain ten seconds in the audio while the physical visible groove band within or around that transition is substantially shorter.

Likewise, a crossfade, overlap, seamless transition, or continuously audible section may receive a limited visible division or no clearly visible band where that is technically appropriate.

The presence or duration of digital silence does not require a groove band of the same duration or physical width.

Visible groove bands, groove spacing, cutting level, groove geometry, and physical track placement may vary as audio is transferred from digital source material to a physical disc.

These characteristics are not guaranteed to correspond exactly to digital playback, timestamps, visual waveforms, PQ information, computer displays, or customer expectations.

The width, exact position, visibility, spacing, or absence of a groove band is not, by itself, evidence of an audio or manufacturing defect.

Standard Physical Track Layout

Our standard physical lathe-cut layout is generally up to 5 physical track sections per side with up to 4 visible groove bands between those sections.

If a completed side contains more than five songs, all of the songs may remain in the supplied audio program while Lathe Cut Vinyl Records selects up to four customer-created transition locations that work best technically for visible physical groove bands.

As a result, two or more adjacent songs may share one physical track section even though they remain separate songs in the audio.

This does not delete, combine, reorder, or otherwise change the underlying songs merely because a visible band is not placed at every song boundary.

Where technically feasible, Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may choose to provide an additional physical division, including for example six physical track sections with five visible bands.

Any such additional division is discretionary and does not create a guarantee, entitlement, specification, or precedent for the same or future orders.

Completed Side Files vs. Individual Song Files

Customers who provide completed Side A and Side B files are responsible for the musical sequencing and transitions already contained in those files.

Lathe Cut Vinyl Records reviews the completed side program and determines the appropriate physical banding and cutting approach consistent with the submitted audio and services purchased.

Customers who provide individual song files requiring assembly into Side A and Side B must purchase Side Sequencing or another expressly agreed sequencing service.

Submission of individual song files alone does not include free Side Sequencing and does not authorize Lathe Cut Vinyl Records to redesign or assemble the customer's musical program as an included production service.

If individual files requiring assembly are submitted without the necessary sequencing service, production may be paused until the customer supplies completed production-ready side files or purchases the applicable service.

PQ Sheets, Timestamps & Track Information

For multi-track mastering, sequencing, and other applicable multi-track audio services, customers are responsible for providing accurate PQ information as required by our production instructions.

PQ sheets, track lists, timestamps, cue sheets, filenames, artwork, email instructions, and similar information communicate the intended musical program and production structure.

They do not, by themselves, establish an exact physical groove-band position, width, revolution count, radial location, or other microscopic cutting specification unless Lathe Cut Vinyl Records expressly accepts such a specification and tolerance in writing.

Where submitted audio, PQ information, filenames, track lists, artwork, timestamps, order notes, or other instructions conflict, Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may pause production and request clarification.

Where the intended program can reasonably be determined from the available materials and services purchased, we may instead proceed using reasonable professional and technical judgment.

We are not required to identify or resolve every inconsistency before production where the submitted materials are reasonably usable for the products and services purchased.

Our identification, correction, or clarification of one discrepancy does not create an obligation to discover or warn the customer about every other potential discrepancy in the submitted materials.

7. Included Side Premastering, Side Sequencing & Vinyl Mastering

Included Whole-Side Premastering

Completed Side A and Side B programs may receive basic whole-side audio preparation necessary for physical cutting.

This may include reasonable whole-side gain adjustment, filtering, frequency management, bass management, stereo or phase management, dynamics management, or other preparation appropriate to the physical cutting process.

Included whole-side premastering is not per-song mastering.

For example, if one song contained within a completed side file is quieter than another song, included Side Premastering does not require us to independently normalize, compress, EQ, or increase the level of that individual song.

Relative differences contained within a customer-supplied completed side may therefore remain in the finished record.

Side Sequencing

Side Sequencing is a separate paid service intended for customers supplying individual songs that require assembly into completed record sides.

The customer must supply the required song files and accurate track order, side assignments, and applicable PQ information.

Side Sequencing may establish conventional song placement and separation and produce completed side programs suitable for normal whole-side production preparation.

Side Sequencing does not itself include independent per-song normalization, EQ, compression, tonal correction, restoration, or other per-song mastering unless expressly included in another purchased service.

Per-Song Vinyl Mastering

Vinyl Mastering is a separate paid audio service involving individual evaluation and processing of applicable songs before or as part of preparation for vinyl.

Depending upon the source material, processing may include gain adjustment, normalization, filtering, frequency management, dynamics processing, bass management, stereo or phase adjustment, sibilance or high-frequency management, or other reasonable processing.

Vinyl Mastering may improve song-to-song consistency but does not guarantee identical perceived loudness, LUFS, peak level, tonal balance, dynamics, or physical cutting level among different songs.

Buying Vinyl Mastering does not make Lathe Cut Vinyl Records responsible for customer-created song order, transition timing, silence duration, gaps, crossfades, overlaps, or other musical sequencing contained in a completed side unless Side Sequencing or another applicable service was also purchased.

8. Physical Cutting Decisions & Manufacturing Variation

Program length, cutting level, source dynamics, limiting, compression, bass, stereo information, phase relationships, high-frequency content, track count, physical bands, and available recording area affect how a record can be cut.

Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may make reasonable technical adjustments to groove pitch, spacing, cutting level, band spacing, filtering, or other production parameters necessary to manufacture the record and protect the cutting system.

Digital LUFS values, waveform appearance, peak measurements, or another digital measurement do not establish an exact physical cutting level, groove width, groove pitch, or physical layout.

Each lathe-cut record is individually cut. Reasonable copy-to-copy variation may occur in cutting level, perceived level, groove geometry, groove spacing, visible bands, surface appearance, surface noise, frequency response, or distortion characteristics.

A sample, test copy, first copy, previous order, or another copy from the same program does not establish that every subsequent individually cut record will be physically or sonically identical.

Reasonable manufacturing variation does not by itself constitute a manufacturing defect.

9. Shaped & Specialty Records

A shaped record with playable grooves is still a lathe-cut record and is subject to the same general cutting, audio, playback, and manufacturing rules as our standard record products.

Custom shapes and custom orders may use dimensions, playable areas, center locations, decorative areas, engraving areas, edge profiles, or other physical specifications different from our standard 7", 10", or 12" products.

Product-page or written custom-order specifications determine the intended general configuration.

Unless an exact dimensional tolerance has been expressly accepted by Lathe Cut Vinyl Records in writing, stated dimensions are nominal production dimensions rather than precision metrology specifications.

Reasonable dimensional, edge, surface, machining, cutting, centering, and cosmetic variation associated with individually fabricated products does not by itself constitute a manufacturing defect.

10. PETG VR Record Blanks & Other Blank Materials

Record blanks and PETG materials are individually manufactured, cut, handled, packaged, and transported physical materials intended for specialized record manufacturing applications.

Unless an exact tolerance is expressly stated on the applicable product page or accepted by Lathe Cut Vinyl Records in writing, advertised diameter, thickness, center-hole dimensions, and other measurements are nominal dimensions and may have reasonable manufacturing variation.

Reasonable cosmetic or manufacturing characteristics may include minor surface marks, hairline scratches, scuffs, edge marks, machining marks, polishing variation, small nicks, protective-film marks, handling marks, minor dimensional variation, or similar characteristics that do not materially prevent the blank from being used for its intended purpose.

Such characteristics do not by themselves constitute a manufacturing defect.

A blank is not guaranteed to remain cosmetically perfect after shipping, unpacking, film removal, handling, cleaning, cutting, machining, drilling, engraving, printing, heating, clamping, storage, or other customer-controlled processing.

Customers are responsible for confirming that a blank's material, dimensions, thickness, diameter, center hole, equipment compatibility, cutting process, stylus, settings, heating method, and other characteristics are appropriate for their equipment and intended process before use.

Lathe Cut Vinyl Records does not control the customer's cutting machine, stylus, heat, pressure, cutting angle, groove geometry, suction, lubrication, handling, storage, processing, or other operating conditions.

Damage or unsatisfactory results arising from customer equipment, setup, machining, cutting, processing, handling, storage, or other customer-controlled conditions are not manufacturing defects attributable to Lathe Cut Vinyl Records.

Customers should inspect blanks before removing protective film or beginning cutting, machining, engraving, printing, drilling, or other irreversible processing where reasonably possible.

11. Diamond Cutting Styli, Shanks & Precision Tools

Diamond cutting styli, shanks, and related precision components are specialized professional tools.

Their performance and service life depend on many conditions outside our control, including cutting material, disc cleanliness, cutting angle, stylus alignment, heating, pressure, groove depth, equipment condition, operator technique, vibration, handling, storage, and other operating conditions.

No particular stylus life, number of records, number of cutting hours, sonic result, groove appearance, or performance outcome is guaranteed unless an express written warranty for that specific product states otherwise.

Minor cosmetic characteristics, machining marks, dimensional variation, surface marks, or other characteristics that do not materially prevent the tool from performing its intended function are not necessarily manufacturing defects.

Customers are responsible for confirming compatibility with their cutting system, holder, shank configuration, heating system, cutting material, and intended process before installation or use.

Installation, alignment, modification, heating, cutting, or use can permanently change or damage a precision stylus.

A stylus or precision component that has been installed or used may require additional evaluation to determine whether a reported condition existed at delivery or resulted from installation, equipment, setup, or use.

Customers who believe a new stylus or component arrived damaged or materially defective should stop using it and contact us within the applicable claim period.

12. Anti Static Ooze, Liquids, Cleaning & Maintenance Products

Anti Static Ooze and other liquid, cleaning, anti-static, maintenance, or consumable products are specialty products whose results depend upon application, amount used, material compatibility, equipment, environmental conditions, storage, handling, and other circumstances outside our control.

Customers must review and follow the applicable product-page instructions, label instructions, warnings, usage information, and any other instructions provided with the product.

Where appropriate, customers should test compatibility before broad or irreversible application.

Unless expressly stated otherwise for a particular product, we do not guarantee universal compatibility with every record material, cutting material, stylus, cartridge, machine, finish, coating, plastic, metal, electronic component, surface, cleaning process, or other material or equipment.

The customer is responsible for determining whether the product is appropriate for the customer's intended equipment, material, surface, and application.

Improper application, excessive application, mixing with another substance, contamination, use on an incompatible material, failure to follow applicable instructions, improper storage, or other customer-controlled use is not a manufacturing defect.

Opened or used liquid and consumable products are generally not eligible for voluntary return because their condition, contamination, quantity, storage, and handling can no longer be independently verified.

This does not eliminate a customer's rights regarding a verified defect, shipping error, materially leaking container, or another remedy that cannot legally be excluded.

A customer claiming leakage, container failure, or shipping damage should retain the container, closure, remaining contents, shipping box, shipping label, and internal packaging and report the issue within 7 calendar days of delivery.

A temporary change in viscosity, settling, separation, or appearance following transportation or temperature exposure does not by itself establish a defect where the product remains suitable for its intended use and any applicable product instructions have been followed.

13. Artwork, Printing, Labels & Jackets

Lathe Cut Vinyl Records is primarily an audio and physical-record production business. Our artwork, printing, labels, jackets, and related products are small-run production services and are not represented as commercial color-critical prepress services unless expressly stated otherwise.

Printed color may vary from a customer's monitor, phone, printer, previous print, digital file, or another production run.

Unless expressly purchased and accepted in writing, services do not include calibrated proofs, Pantone or spot-color matching, professional color grading, repeated physical proofs, or exact color matching.

Artwork may be reasonably scaled, positioned, cropped, or otherwise prepared to fit the applicable product.

Tip-on and hand-applied printed components may exhibit reasonable minor variation including alignment differences, trimming differences, small bubbles, air pockets, wrinkles, edge lifting, curling, bending, adhesive variation, or other characteristics associated with hand application and small-run production.

Reasonable cosmetic variation that does not materially prevent the product from functioning or substantially conforming to the purchased configuration does not by itself constitute a manufacturing defect.

14. CNC Engraving

CNC engraving is a physical machining process and may differ from the digital source artwork.

Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may reasonably scale, position, orient, mirror, invert, simplify, convert, or otherwise prepare submitted artwork for the applicable physical engraving process.

Line width, depth, texture, edge appearance, positioning, surface appearance, and other physical characteristics may vary according to material, artwork, toolpath, machining conditions, and the physical product.

Unless separately purchased or expressly agreed, CNC engraving does not include repeated prototypes, test engravings, test fits, or unlimited revisions.

Reasonable differences between a digital design and the physical engraving do not by themselves constitute a manufacturing defect.

15. Audio, Mastering & Professional Services

Audio services are professional services applied to the particular source materials supplied by the customer.

Purchasing one service does not automatically include another service.

For example, Side Premastering, Side Sequencing, per-song Vinyl Mastering, Streaming Mastering, CD / DDP mastering, restoration, editing, artwork, physical cutting, and other services are separate unless the applicable product expressly states otherwise.

Audio services do not guarantee a particular subjective artistic result, commercial result, chart performance, streaming result, perceived loudness, LUFS value, frequency balance, or compatibility with every playback system.

A customer's later preference for a different mix, master, sequence, EQ, dynamics, loudness, transition, or creative direction does not by itself establish that the purchased service was defective.

Where a customer supplies a revised or different mix after mastering or other audio work has been performed, additional paid work may be required.

Unless expressly included in the purchased service, Lathe Cut Vinyl Records is not responsible for remixing, restoration, forensic audio analysis, creative production, song selection, sequence redesign, customer timing correction, or subjective-intent verification.

16. Production-Ready Materials & Customer Approval

Where submitted audio, artwork, PQ information, or other production materials appear reasonably usable for the products and services purchased, Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may proceed with production without contacting the customer for additional confirmation or approval.

Our normal production process is not a pre-production proofreading service, creative-review service, forensic file-inspection service, or unlimited customer-approval process.

The fact that we notice, question, correct, or request clarification regarding one issue does not create an obligation to discover or warn the customer about every other possible issue contained in the submitted materials.

17. Shipping Damage

Shipping damage is different from a manufacturing defect.

Customers reporting apparent shipping damage should retain the affected product and all original packaging and contact us within 7 calendar days of delivery.

Shipping-damage claims may require photographs of the outer box, shipping label, internal packaging, protective materials, and affected product.

Liquid-product leakage claims may also require photographs of the container, closure, remaining contents, and any leakage within the package.

Where necessary to evaluate a shipping-damage claim, Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may request an authorized return for physical inspection, measurement, microscopic examination, or playback testing.

Carrier claims and insurance remain subject to the applicable carrier's eligibility, documentation, inspection, and filing requirements.

Additional shipping terms are provided in our Shipping & Delivery Policy.

18. Customer Equipment & Compatibility

Customers are responsible for determining that purchased products are appropriate for their equipment and intended application unless we expressly agree in writing to provide a specific compatibility determination.

This includes compatibility involving turntables, cartridges, playback styli, cutting lathes, cutter heads, cutting styli, stylus holders, heating systems, record materials, blank dimensions, cleaning methods, maintenance products, software, hardware, and other equipment.

General product information, recommendations, technical discussions, or examples do not constitute a guarantee of compatibility with every system or application.

Damage caused by incompatible equipment, incorrect setup, improper installation, misuse, modification, processing, or operation is not a manufacturing defect attributable to Lathe Cut Vinyl Records.

19. Gift Cards

Gift cards are not returnable or redeemable for cash except where required by applicable law.

Gift-card codes should be treated like cash. Customers are responsible for protecting gift-card information after delivery.

Unauthorized use, transfer, disclosure, loss, or theft of a gift-card code after proper delivery does not by itself require replacement or refund, except where attributable to Lathe Cut Vinyl Records or otherwise required by law.

We may investigate or temporarily restrict redemption where fraud, unauthorized payment activity, chargebacks, or misuse is reasonably suspected.

Any expiration, fee, redemption, or other gift-card condition is subject to applicable law and the terms presented with the gift card.

20. Chargebacks & Payment Disputes

Customers should contact Lathe Cut Vinyl Records regarding a product or service concern so the issue can be reasonably evaluated under this policy.

A payment dispute or chargeback does not itself establish that an order was unauthorized, defective, not received, not as described, or eligible for a refund.

Where a payment dispute or chargeback is filed, Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may provide relevant business records to the payment processor, card issuer, financial institution, platform, carrier, insurer, or other party evaluating the claim.

Relevant records may include order information, customer communications, production instructions, submitted files, PQ information, approvals, fulfillment records, tracking, delivery information, applicable policies, production records, photographs, or other reasonably relevant evidence available to us.

For playback-related disputes, relevant evidence may also include microscopic groove photographs, inspection notes, playback-test results, customer-provided videos, equipment information, and comparisons with submitted source audio.

21. Product Inspection Does Not Guarantee Perfection

Inspection, testing, playback, or quality-control procedures are intended to identify material production problems reasonably observable during normal production.

They do not constitute a guarantee that every physical product will be cosmetically perfect, dimensionally identical, microscopically identical, or free from every minor characteristic associated with manufacturing, handling, packaging, or transportation.

The appropriate defect standard is whether the affected product materially fails to conform to the ordered product, approved production program, applicable product specifications, or services actually purchased because of an error or manufacturing failure attributable to Lathe Cut Vinyl Records.

22. Policy Relationship

This Returns & Refund Policy should be read together with our:

Terms of Service
Shipping & Delivery Policy
Applicable FAQ provisions
Applicable product and collection-page terms
Applicable product instructions and safety information
Applicable checkout information
Applicable custom invoices and written agreements

These documents are intended to operate together and should be interpreted consistently where reasonably possible.

Where an order-specific written agreement expressly modifies a particular term, that expressly modified term applies to that order without otherwise waiving the remaining applicable policies.

Nothing in this policy eliminates rights or remedies that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

23. Policy Updates

Lathe Cut Vinyl Records may update this policy as our products, services, materials, production methods, and business practices change.

The version applicable when an order is placed generally governs that order unless applicable law requires otherwise or a later modification is expressly agreed in writing.

The "Last Updated" date identifies the current published version.

24. Contact

Questions regarding a return, reported defect, incorrect item, shipping damage, or other product concern should be sent to:

George W Paulin LLC
d/b/a Lathe Cut Vinyl Records
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
info@lathecutvinylrecords.com

Please include the applicable order information and a clear description of the reported issue so we can determine what additional information, inspection, testing, or other evaluation may reasonably be necessary.