Grading

Gradings always Record/CD first and Cover second

Mint (M) Absolutely perfect in every way. Certainly never
been played,
possibly even still sealed.(More on still sealed under
"Other
Considerations"). Should be used sparingly as a grade, If at
all.
Near Mint (NM or M-) A nearly perfect record. Many dealers
won't give a
grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly)that no
record is ever
truly perfect.
The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or
EP sleeve
should have no more than the most minor defects, such as
almost invisible
ring wear or other signs of slight handling.
An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or
other noticeable
similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course,
the same should
be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves
and the like.
Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just
got it home
from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.
Near Mint is the highest price listed in all Goldmine price
guides.
Anything that exceeds this grade, in the opinion of both
buyer and seller,
is worth significantly more than the highest Goldmine book
value.

Very Good Plus (VG+) Generally worth 50 percent of the
Near Mint value.
A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was
played and
otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of
it.
Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have
slight scuffs or
very light scratches that don't affect one's listening
experiences. Slight
warps that do not affect the sound are "OK".
The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it
should be barely
noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by
repeated play.
Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight
wear, lightly
turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may
have slight
signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole,
indentation or
corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a
discount.
In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this
would be Near
Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a
Very Good Plus
record highly acceptable.

Very Good (VG) Generally worth 25 percent of Near Mint
value. Many of the
defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a
VG disc. Surface
noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft
passages and during
a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music
otherwise. Groove
wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches
(deep enough to
feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound.
Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers
(or their
residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves
or LP covers.
However, it will not have all of these problems at the same
time, only two
or three of them.
Goldmine price guides with more than one price will list
Very Good as the
lowest price. This, not the Near Mint price, should be your
guide when
determining how much a record is worth, as that is the price
a dealer will
normally pay you for a Near Mint record.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+) Generally worth 10-15 percent of
the Near Mint
value. Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus
condition can
be put onto a turntable and will play through without
skipping. But it will
have significant surface noise and scratches and visible
groove wear (on a
styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white).
A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the
bottom or on the
spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start
to overwhelm
the object.
It is a common item, you'll probably find another copy in
better shape
eventually. Pass it up. But, if it's something you have been
seeking for
years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to
upgrade.

Poor (P), Fair (F) Generally worth 0-5 percent of the Near
Mint price.
The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through
without
skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged,
split on all
three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP
cover barely
keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split,
crinkled, and
written upon.
Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable,
records in this
condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few
cents each.

Goldmine Grading Standard:

Mint [M]: Absolutely perfect in every way - certainly never played, possibly even still sealed. (More on still sealed below). Should be used sparingly as a grade, if at all.
------------------------------------------------------------
Near Mint [NM or M-]: A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect. The record shows no obvious sign of wear. A 45 rpm sleeve has no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling. An LP jacket has no creases, folds, seam splits or any other noticeable similar defect. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same is true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves, and the like. Basically, Near Mint looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.
------------------------------------------------------------
Very Good Plus [VG+]: Shows some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but is should be barely noticeable. The center hole is not misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turn-up corners, or a slight seam-split. An LP jacket my have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount. In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.
------------------------------------------------------------
Very Good [VG]: Many of the defects found in a VG+ record are more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise is evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during the song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as will light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.
------------------------------------------------------------
Good [G], Good Plus [G+]: Good does not mean bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear. A jacket or sleeve has seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. If it's a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Poor [P], Fair [F]: The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and/or writing. The LP jacket barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, and written upon. Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.

Seller Information

Shipping Costs

Grading

Goldmine Grading Standard:

Return Policy

rap, funk, jazz, soul