Grading Guidelines
Each record or CD listing shows two condition ratings: first the condition of the media itself, then the condition of the sleeve. For example, if a record is listed as EX/VG+, the vinyl is in Excellent condition and the sleeve is in Very Good Plus condition.
I use the following descriptions to indicate the condition of the media and the sleeve:
• New (sealed)
The record or CD has never been played and is still factory-sealed. Often also referred to as Mint (M)
• New
The record or CD has never been played but was never factory-sealed. Also commonly referred to as Mint (M).
• EX (Excellent)
The item has been played only a few times and looks almost new, showing virtually no signs of wear.
The sleeve may show very minor imperfections, such as a small mark next to a track title or a small shop sticker, but it should never have creases, seam splits, or any clearly visible damage. Often equivalent to Near Mint (NM)
• VG+ (Very Good Plus)
The item shows light signs of use, but these minor imperfections have no effect on playback. Possible flaws include light scuff marks, superficial hairline scratches, or a slight warp.
Sleeves may show more noticeable wear, such as a small seam split, a written name, lightly bumped corners, or mild ring wear. Labels and sleeves may also show traces of removed stickers, but no major damage.
LPs and CDs may also have cut‑out marks, such as a drill hole, punch hole, saw cut, or clipped corner.
• VG (Very Good)
Wear is more visible, such as light scratches deep enough to feel with a fingernail. Vinyl may have surface noise during playback, especially in quiet passages, intros, and fade‑outs, but the noise should not overpower the music.
Labels and sleeves may show more noticeable defects, such as tape, stickers, seam splits, ring wear, writing, stains, or stamps — but never all of these at once.
Plus and minus variations
Sometimes an item falls between two grades. In those cases, I use a – or +, and occasionally ++.
For example, EX‑ means the record or sleeve is not quite Excellent, but still slightly better than VG+.