Look, then listen
Inspect the vinyl in good light, tilting it to reveal marks. Play it when possible: a visible scratch may be quiet, while a less obvious mark may click. Say whether your grade comes from visual inspection, playback or both.
- Mint (M): perfect condition. A sealed sleeve alone does not establish that the record inside is Mint.
- Near Mint (NM): nearly perfect, with no obvious wear and playback close to new.
- Very Good Plus (VG+): light wear that does not significantly affect listening.
- Very Good (VG): audible surface noise and visible wear, without overwhelming the music.
- Good / Good Plus (G/G+): substantial wear and noise, but the record should play through without skipping.
- Fair / Poor (F/P): serious damage; the record may skip or repeat, or be cracked or badly warped.
Give the sleeve its own line
Look for seam splits, ring wear, creased corners, water stains, writing and stickers. Describe the problem and where it is. “Two-centimetre split on the top edge” tells a buyer more than “some wear”.
Check the original inner sleeve, lyric sheet, poster and any other inserts separately. Photograph what is present and note what is missing. Do not average the record and sleeve into one grade.
Let the condition guide the comparison
When pricing, compare sold copies of the same pressing in the same grade. There is no single percentage that reliably converts every Near Mint price to VG+. In samla.ai, keep the two grades, photos and playback notes with the record, so your next listing starts with what you actually know.
Can I grade a record from a photograph?
Photos help document visible wear, but they cannot establish playback quality. Inspect and play the record when possible.
What if I am between two grades?
Use the more conservative grade and describe the wear. Clear notes help a buyer make their own assessment.
