THE COLLECTOR • Official Record Condition Guide
Our grading policy follows the globally recognized Goldmine Standard, ensuring complete transparency and absolute trust for every item in our catalog. Each product is strictly evaluated both visually (under strong light) and through audio play-testing.
Mint (M)
Vinyl / Media: Absolutely perfect and pristine in every single way. Unplayed, untouched, and completely free of any surface marks or groove wear.
Sleeve / Cover: Totally flawless with no creases, ring wear, or seam splits. Usually factory sealed or brand new.
Near Mint (NM or M-)
Vinyl / Media: Shiny, glossy, and nearly perfect. It might have been played once or twice, but shows no visible signs of wear or handling. Excellent audio playback.
Sleeve / Cover: Looks like it was just brought home from a new record store. No creases, folds, cut-outs, or noticeable defects.
Excellent (EX)
Vinyl / Media: Exceptionally clean second-hand condition. Shows negligible signs of use, such as very faint paper scuffs that do not affect the playback or sound clarity.
Sleeve / Cover: Well-preserved with only microscopic corner wear, keeping its high visual appeal intact.
Very Good Plus (VG+)
Vinyl / Media: Highly satisfying for serious collectors. Shows minor signs of handling and slight surface scuffs or hairlines, but plays beautifully with minimal to no background noise.
Sleeve / Cover: Shows light wear or slight ring indentation, possibly tiny dings at the corners, but remains structurally solid and clean.
Very Good (VG)
Vinyl / Media: A solid and enjoyable play copy. Visible signs of age and handling are present (light scratches, scuffs). Surface noise or occasional pops can be heard during quiet passages but will never overpower the music.
Sleeve / Cover: Worn and used. May feature mild seam splitting, noticeable ring wear, small price stickers, or discrete writing on the cardboard.
Good (G) / Good Plus (G+)
Vinyl / Media: Heavily played and shows significant visible wear. It plays all the way through without skipping, but features consistent background noise, clicking, and surface hiss.
Sleeve / Cover: Battered condition with large seam splits, tape repairs, heavy scuffing, or faded artwork. Serves as a perfect temporary filler copy.
Poor (P) / Fair (F)
Vinyl / Media: Badly damaged, deeply scratched, or cracked. Expect constant skipping, heavy repeating loops, or massive sound distortion.
Sleeve / Cover: Severe tearing, water damage, or heavily stained. Only sold if the item carries extreme historical value.