“Near Mint” is the most abused phrase in record selling. Half the records described as NM online would fail a dealer’s inspection in seconds. Grading exists to protect both sides of a sale — and learning to grade properly is the single most useful skill a vinyl collector can have. This guide explains the Goldmine standard that the entire market uses, and how we apply it to every record in our vinyl vault.
The Goldmine scale
The American price-guide publisher Goldmine established the grading language the whole market speaks. From best to worst:
- Mint (M) — perfect, factory-new, unplayed. Honestly graded Mint records are extremely rare; treat the claim with suspicion on anything second-hand.
- Near Mint (NM) — nearly perfect. No obvious marks, full gloss, played rarely if ever. A record that looks like it came home from the shop and sat in the sleeve.
- Very Good Plus (VG+) — light surface marks that do not affect play, slight loss of gloss. A well-cared-for record that has been played and enjoyed. Most honestly-graded second-hand records live here.
- Very Good (VG) — visible wear, light scratches, some surface noise. Still a satisfying listen; the price should reflect it.
- Good (G) — significant wear and noise, plays through without skipping. Filler copies unless rare.
- Poor (P) / Fair (F) — damaged, heavily scratched, possibly skipping. Collector value only, and only for rarities.
Records are graded in shorthand like “VG/VG+” — the first grade is the vinyl, the second the sleeve. A rare test pressing in a plain sleeve grades differently from a commercial release, which we explain in our test pressing guide.
How to inspect a record
- Light first. Hold the vinyl under a bright lamp at an angle. Tilt slowly and watch for hairlines (light, in the direction of the grooves) versus scratches (deeper, often audible).
- Check the run-out and label. Matrix numbers identify pressings — crucial for spotting first presses and genuine white labels and promos.
- Play-grade anything expensive. Visual grading catches maybe half the truth. Play the quietest passages — intros, run-outs — where surface noise shows up first.
- Grade the sleeve separately. Ring wear, seam splits, cut-outs and writing all drop the grade. Japanese pressings with their obi strips intact command premiums precisely because completeness is rare.
Why grading standards protect you
Every record we sell is inspected under strong light and graded conservatively — when a record sits between grades, we grade down and price accordingly, and our FAQ explains the condition policy in plain words. That discipline matters most on high-value pieces: a two-grade overstatement on a rare pressing can be a hundred euros of imaginary value.
Whether you buy from us or anywhere else: ask how a record was graded, ask for photos of the actual item, and treat “Mint” from a stranger as a claim to verify, not a fact. Then go enjoy the music — that part of the hobby never needed grading.