RecordLady

Grading Records 

Playing Grading a record would be ideal but it is so hard to listen to every record front and back if you are a collector of records. Some may say they play grade but most only do a visual grade. Only if it is noted that it is play grade then it is otherwise only visually.

The following is the grading system first developed by Goldmine Records.

How to Grade

Look at everything about a record. It's playing surface, it's label, it's edges...under a strong light. Then based on your overall impression give it a grade based on the following criteria:

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.

Other Considerations

Most dealers give a separate grade to the record and it's sleeve or cover. In an ad, a record's grade is listed first, followed by that of the sleeve or the cover.
With Still Sealed (SS) records, let the buyer beware! Unless it'a a U.S. pressing from the last 10-15 years or so. It's too easy to reseal one. Yes, some legitimately never-opened LP's from the 1960's still exist. But if you're looking for a specific pressing, the only way you can know for sure is to open the record.

Also, European Imports are not factory-sealed, so if you see them advertised as sealed, someone other than the manufacturer sealed them.

© 1997 Goldmine Magazine

Ways to build up Sales 

People have different things to build their sales up. Everyone has their own thing that works just for them. Trying it may or may not work for you but don't be disappointed if it doesn't. And at times it is only a matter of time. You can also try more than one at a time and that might work. But never except someone else to do it for you. Or blame some else cause you aren't getting any sales. You make what you put into it.

Only a few ways to help build them...
talk in forums..get yourself noticed.
Make a lens in Squidoo's about your store and what you sell, if any sells are going and so on.
Add your store link in the siggy area that they provide.
Buy from others...get yourself noticed and build your feedback.
Enter contests...get yourself noticed.
Make a banner and get it up, add to your mail or the addy to the store...get yourself noticed.
Join groups in MSN, Yahoo, Topica and everywhere else they have them. Look for the advertising groups that are there for advertising auctions or sites that sell. Put your link in the link area. Send in your address to your store atleast 3 times a week. Get yourself noticed...

What it boils down to is if you want sales...GET YOURSELF NOTICED.

If no one knows you have something They won't look so you have to help them know you are there.

Please checkout the home page of UBidRight. You will find Labor Day Specials. I have a few records that are going for .99 cents until Labor Day. There are alot great deals everywhere on the site. Come join us.

The Vintage Avenue

You will find anything from vintage records to music boxes at times. Ebooks of all different kinds, Oldtime Radio Shows that I have collected through the years on CD MP3 format. At times I will have supplies for the candle and soap maker. Have over 300 fragrances so if you don't find what you are looking for email me or ask here in the blog. Also sell Watkins.  So if you have time browse through the store, you never know what I might have that you would like.