The details matter
Grading guide
A little wear can tell a story. The grade helps you decide which copy belongs in your collection; the condition notes fill in the detail.
Two grades, one record
Media and sleeve are described separately. A clean record can live in a worn sleeve, so read both grades and any comments before buying.
This guide explains the familiar Goldmine-style terms used by Discogs. A sample is a useful listen, not a guarantee of every moment of playback.
The grades at a glance
- M · Mint — an exceptional, flawless copy with no evidence of use.
- NM · Near Mint — almost pristine, with no obvious wear.
- VG+ · Very Good Plus — light signs of careful use; minor cosmetic wear.
- VG · Very Good — more visible wear and audible surface noise may be present.
- G+ / G · Good Plus / Good — substantial wear and noise; read the notes closely.
- F / P · Fair / Poor — serious defects; usually a collection filler rather than a clean listening copy.
Sleeves & the small print
Sleeve wear can include scuffs, ring wear, writing or split seams. Specific comments matter as much as the short grade.
A generic sleeve is a replacement or non-release-specific cover. “No cover” means no sleeve is supplied; an ungraded sleeve does not imply Mint condition.