Grading is how you and Mint Underground describe condition in the same language. Grade the media (the record, disc or tape) and the sleeve/cover (jacket, inlay, case) separately. When in doubt, grade one step lower; we'll confirm every grade in person, and the final offer is based on our inspection.
How we check
- Look at the playing surface under a bright light, tilting it to catch scuffs and scratches.
- Listen if you can. Noise you can hear matters more than marks you can see.
- Check the sleeve or case for seam splits, ring wear, writing, stickers, water damage and missing inserts.
The grades
| Grade | Media (record, disc or tape) | Sleeve / cover |
|---|---|---|
| M (Mint) | Never played, perfect. Usually still sealed. We use it sparingly. | Perfect, no wear at all. Typically still in the original shrink wrap. |
| NM / M- (Near Mint) | Looks and plays like new. Maybe a single faint mark that doesn't affect play. No noise beyond what the pressing has from new. | Crisp and clean. No ring wear, splits, writing or stickers beyond the originals. |
| VG+ (Very Good Plus) | Light signs of play: a few faint scuffs or hairlines. Plays cleanly, maybe a little surface noise in quiet passages. | Light wear: slight corner bumps, faint ring wear or a small crease. Still looks good on a shelf. |
| VG (Very Good) | Visible scuffs and light scratches. Surface noise and the odd click you'll notice, but it plays through without skips. | Obvious wear: ring wear, small seam splits, writing, a sticker or a cut-out mark. |
| G+ / G (Good) | Heavy wear. Constant noise, clicks and pops, but it still plays without skipping. | Heavy wear: large seam splits, tape, heavy writing, staining. |
| F / P (Fair / Poor) | Skips, repeats, warps, cracks or heavy damage. Usually not worth buying unless the title is rare. | Badly torn, water-damaged, missing pieces, or no original cover. |
CDs
- Grade the disc by the playing side. Light hairlines are common and usually don't affect play; deep scratches, disc rot (pinholes or discoloration) or skipping mean VG or lower.
- Grade the booklet, tray card and any obi or slipcase as the "cover". A cracked jewel case is easy to replace, so mention it in notes, but it doesn't lower the grade much.
- Missing booklet or tray card? Say so in notes.
- Promo copies, club editions and discs with drill holes or punch marks should be noted.
Cassettes
- Grade the tape by how it plays: no dropouts, warble or stretched tape for NM/VG+. Wrinkled, stretched or spliced tape is G or lower.
- Check the shell for cracks and that the pads are intact.
- Grade the J-card (insert) and case as the "cover". Fading, tears or a missing J-card should go in notes.
- Sealed tapes can be graded M.
Memorabilia and promo items
- Promo-only CDs, vinyl and cassettes are graded like any other copy. Note any promo stamps, stickers, hole punches or "not for sale" markings.
- Posters, flyers, press kits and displays aren't graded on the M–P scale. Describe them: size, creases and fold lines, pin holes, tape marks, tears, fading, stains and missing pieces.
- Apparel and merch: note size, tag, fading, cracking prints, holes and stains.
- Signed items: tell us who signed, and whether there's a COA or third-party authentication. We may ask for authentication before a final offer.
- Photos help a lot for memorabilia. Email them to sales@mintunderground.com.
Good to know
- Sealed items: tell us whether the seal is the original factory shrink, and note any seal damage.
- Include anything that came with the item: inserts, posters, hype stickers, obi strips, lyric sheets.
- Photos are welcome by email to sales@mintunderground.com. They help us prepare an initial offer, but they don't lock in a price.
Ready to sell? Fill out the Sell Us Your Collection form.