Nice VG  but sleeve cover does have damage.  Please e-mail me with any questions.

Mint (M)

Mint records are incredibly rare, and oftentimes the most surefire way to know it’s Mint is if it’s still sealed. Even so, there are strange exceptions where a record gets compromised while sealed up.

In order for a record to receive a Mint rating, both the record and sleeve must be in absolutely perfect condition. It’s technically possible for a record that’s been played to be in Mint condition, but it would require the absolute best record player (with a fresh cartridge and needle), and for the seller to take pristine care of it.

It likely could not be played more than a few times. Even with the best equipment and treatment, most used records are not in Mint condition, which is why it’s so rare to see the rating (and also why they’re often priced astronomically high).

Near Mint (NM OR M-)

Since Mint records are few and far between, Near Mint or M- records are oftentimes the highest rating you’ll find inside a store. Many sellers don’t ever rate above Near Mint in order to play it safe.

NM records have no visible wear and tear, no writing, stickers, or other markers can appear on the labels of NM records. If a label is pressed off-center, a record is no longer NM, there can be absolutely no crease wear, surface noise, or ring wear.

So basically, Near Mint records are practically perfect, and at many stores, they’re the highest rating on the shelves. For that reason, they go for much higher prices even if the recording itself is more commonly found. Used records can be Near Mint, but they must be meticulously taken care of, and even the most caring collector is unable to keep most records Near Mint if you’re actively playing them.

Very Good Plus (VG+) or Excellent (E)

A Very Good Plus or Excellent record is a high-grade record with great playback, that may have minor signs of wear.

Oftentimes, the only thing separating a VG+ record from an NM rating are small signs of handling, perhaps light discoloration on the cover, gentle ring wear, or light scuffs. 

The signs of wear on VG+ or E records generally don’t affect the sound quality itself, it’s largely cosmetic. So you may find a record with no noticeable groove wear that plays beautifully, but the VG+ cover has a cut-out marking thus taking it down a notch from NM or M.

Very Good (VG)

Very Good records tend to have more noticeable imperfections, and because of that oftentimes sell for no more than 25 percent of a VG record.

Given the bargain, VG records can be a great investment on a recording you haven’t found in better condition. VG records may have some light audible scratches during a song’s intro, or softer style musical styles, but the noise is typically not compromised enough to overpower your listening experience. 

The labels of VG records can sometimes include minor writing, tape, or stickers, but if you’re stocking a jukebox or unconcerned about a pristine label, then that may not be a dealbreaker.

You may also find more noticeable seam splits, spindle marks, and scuffs on a VG record, but they are generally still a solid listening experience if you wanna pull out the lyric sheet and croon along.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+) or Very Good Minus (VG–)

Records that fall under the G, G+, or VG- umbrella often come pretty cheap, at roughly 10 to 15 percent of what their Near Mint counterparts cost. A G record often has significant surface noise, ring wear, groove wear, oftentimes a missing or marked-up inner sleeve.

There may be cut-out holes in the label, seam splits that are noticeable to the naked eye, and in some cases large writing – such as radio station letters (meant to prevent theft).

However, if you haven’t found a better copy, most G, G+, or VG- copies still can play through without skipping. So if it’s a rare record or something by a band you love, it’s likely worth the purchase, particularly given the low prices.

Poor (P), Fair (F) and Good Minus (G-)

Poor (P), Fair (F), and Good Minus records are typically what you find in the bargain bin. They often sell for pennies, ranging from 0 to 5 percent of the Near Mint price tag, and the sound quality is negligible at best.

These records tend to be cracked, visibly warped, major scuffs, and massive discoloration, scribbling, and damage done to the label.

They often skip or repeat when played, which makes the listening experience a slog. In most cases, even the rarest records barely sell if they fall in this category since in most cases they’re unlistenable.

Still, there are always exceptions, and people have many different reasons for collecting vinyl records.