Every record we sell is pre-loved. That's the charm – and it's also why the condition matters. This guide explains the grades you see on our records, so you know exactly what you're getting before you order.
The Goldmine scale
We grade on the Goldmine scale, the standard used by record shops and collectors worldwide – and by Discogs. It runs from Mint (M) at the top to Poor (P) at the bottom. The record and the sleeve are graded separately, so a listing reads like this:
Record: Very Good Plus (VG+) · Sleeve: Very Good (VG)
The grades – and where we sit
| Grade | What it means | At VinylToast |
|---|---|---|
| M Mint | Sealed, never played. | Rare with us – typically still in shrink wrap. |
| NM Near Mint | Looks and plays like new. | A handful of copies. |
| VG+ Very Good Plus | Clearly used but well kept. Light marks may occur, barely audible. | About half of our records. |
| VG Very Good | Visible signs of use: surface marks, light wear. Some crackle in quiet passages, but the music comes first. | The other half. |
| G+ / G Good | Heavy wear, noise throughout – but it plays. | We rarely sell records at this grade. |
| F / P Fair / Poor | For the collection, not for listening. | Not on our shelves. |
In practice, almost every record we sell is VG or VG+. Sleeves vary more – an old cover can be worn even when the vinyl inside is in great shape, so sleeves range from Fair to Mint.
What the sleeve grades look like
Here are real covers from our shelves, one for each grade. The photos are from our product pages.
Mint (M)Still sealed in the original shrink wrap. Unplayed and untouched.
Very Good Plus (VG+)Sharp colours and corners. Only faint wear if you look closely.
Very Good (VG)Clear ring wear on the back and a slightly matt print, but whole and tidy.
Good Plus (G+)Visible ring wear on the front and general yellowing. No splits.
Good (G)A split in the corner, creasing and curling edges. Still protects the record.
Fair (F)Tear on the edge, staining and heavy corner wear. A cover for the record, not for the wall.
Record vs. sleeve
The record grade is what matters most for listening. The sleeve grade is about the cover: corners, edges, seams, ring wear (the circular mark left by the record pressing against the cover over the years), writing, stickers and tape. A VG+ record in a G+ sleeve will usually sound great – it just doesn't look as pretty on the shelf.
VG+ vs. VG on the record
Almost all our records are one of these two grades, so here is the difference up close. These are the label photos from two records on our shelves.
Very Good Plus (VG+)Clean, glossy surface. At most a little dust – hard to avoid on old vinyl.
Very Good (VG)Light surface marks and a small scratch in the top right corner.
Close-up of the VG copyThe small scratch, top right. Typical VG wear.
A single light scratch doesn't automatically make a record VG – it's the overall wear that decides the grade.
How we grade
Every record is graded by hand on the Goldmine scale. Under This copy on each product page, we note what we saw: scratches, label wear, ring wear, writing, price stickers, seam splits. The photos always show the exact copy you get – front, back and label.
Wear on vinyl is hard to catch in a photo, so the grade and the notes are your best guide to how the record will sound.
Good to know
Is crackle normal? A little surface noise is part of old vinyl, especially at VG and in the quiet parts between tracks. It should never drown out the music.
Can a record sound better than it looks? Often, yes. Light hairline marks are usually inaudible. Deep scratches you can feel with a fingernail are another story – check the notes under This copy.
Does cleaning help? Dust and static cause a lot of the crackle. A clean stylus and a dust-free record go a long way – take a look at our accessories.
What if the record isn't as described? Contact us. If a record is in noticeably worse condition than described, we'll find a solution together. You can also return any record within 14 days for any reason. Either way, please contact us before sending anything back, so we can agree on the return – see our refund policy.
Questions about a specific record? Write to us – we're happy to take an extra look.