You can use Photoshop to avoid buying crap second hand vinyl online

Reddit's REMAIN_IN_LIGHT may or may not have discovered the method, but the user certainly posted the so-called 'industry secret' for all to see.

Writing on the site, he/she said:

"Buying vinyl online, most of [you] know, is sometimes a game of chance. Seller feedback ratings can be deceiving at times, as many sellers who have any kind of issue with a buyer, resulting in a returned record, will often withhold their feedback and cancel a transaction, so it doesn't affect their score. Usually, a long history of positive ratings is a strong indicator, but it never hurts to do some investigating. If you have a copy of PhotoShop (Ps), no matter how archaic, and depending on the supplied photography of the vinyl being sold, you can make much more informed decisions before buying online. It's actually easy..."

It's a handy little trick that hinges on fiddling with the light settings; there's a rough tutorial here.

Check below to see the before and after shots of the demonstration.