Vinyl Condition Guide

At Alia's Vinyl Frontier, every used record is carefully inspected and graded before it's listed. We use the industry-standard Goldmine grading scale so you always know exactly what you're getting.

New records are listed as Brand-New and Factory Sealed or New, Unsealed. Used records are graded on the scale below.

Mint (M)

Perfect in every way. Never played, often still sealed. Absolutely no signs of handling or wear. This grade is rarely used, as even factory-sealed records can have slight pressing imperfections.

Near Mint (NM or M-)

Nearly perfect. The record shows no signs of play and has been handled with great care. The sleeve is crisp and clean with no seam splits, writing, or ring wear. This is the highest grade we regularly assign to used records.

Very Good Plus (VG+)

Shows some signs of play but will play perfectly with no skipping. Light scuffs may be visible under direct light but will not affect playback. The sleeve may have minor wear — slight ring wear, a small crease, or a price sticker — but is otherwise clean and intact.

This is our most common grade for quality used records.

Very Good (VG)

Noticeable marks and light scratches visible under direct light. May produce some surface noise between tracks or during quiet passages. The sleeve may show ring wear, seam splits, or writing. Still a good listening copy at a great price.

Good (G) / Good Plus (G+)

Heavy wear throughout. Will play with significant surface noise and possible skipping. The sleeve is heavily worn. Recommended only for display or as a placeholder until a better copy is found.

Poor (P)

Severely damaged. May not play at all. Listed only for collectors seeking a specific pressing for display purposes.

Condition Notes We Use

Brand-New and Factory Sealed — Unopened, never played
New, Unsealed — New but opened; unplayed
Play-tested — We played it to verify condition
Cover Wear — Sleeve has visible wear; record may be better
No Original Jacket — Record only, no sleeve included
Surface Noise — Audible noise during playback noted in listing
Writing on Label — Ink or marker on the record label
Missing Insert — Original lyric sheet or booklet not included

Have questions about a specific listing? Contact us before you buy — we're happy to give you more detail on any record in our inventory.