The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour 146515727246
Product: The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour | SKU: 146515727246 | SRO Records | Austin, Texas USA

How We Grade Records (and Why It Matters)

Vinyl record grading is part science, a ton of experience, and frankly knowing when not to lie to yourself. A significant part, for us, is to grade conservatively – yet low – if you want happy customers. What do I mean by that? If a record is open, and fantastic – and I mean magnificent in quality – we call it EX or Excellent (EX), so most of the time a buyer is going to receive an album that is often Near Mint or NM. At SRO Records, we grade conservatively, clearly, and consistently, because nothing kills trust faster than optimistic grading. This guide explains exactly what our grades mean, how we arrive at them, and where we draw the line on what we’ll sell online.

A Quick Word About Grading Reality

All grading is subjective, but not all grading is honest. We visually inspect every record under strong light and play-grade anything remotely valuable that raises questions. We talk about our testing gear – it’s pretty nice, state of the art early 70’s gear for the most part.

If a record looks borderline, we grade it down, not up. Our goal is simple: when you open a package from SRO Records, the record should look as good or better than you expected, not worse.

Goldmine vs. eBay Grading – Why We Follow eBay Standards

The Goldmine grading system is widely referenced in the vinyl collecting world and serves as a helpful baseline, but in practice it often leads to optimistic interpretations, especially online. At SRO Records, we follow eBay’s grading standards, which tend to be more conservative and more closely aligned with buyer expectations in real-world transactions.

In our experience, what Goldmine might call Near Mint is frequently closer to Excellent once a record is actually handled and played. There’s just too much wiggle room between VG and VG+. Using eBay’s definitions allows us to grade more consistently, reduce surprises, and ensure that records arrive looking and playing at least as good as described, not worse.

SEALED / MINT (M)

Vinyl
Factory sealed. Vinyl is assumed to be mint but unverified until opened. As with any sealed record, pressing defects are possible – we don’t play sealed records.

Sleeve
Sleeve condition is graded strictly by what is visible through the shrink wrap. Cut corners, saw marks, or shrink tears are noted.

Important: “Sealed” does not automatically mean perfect. It means unopened.

NEAR MINT (NM)

Vinyl

  • Nearly flawless with no obvious marks
  • Extremely faint sleeve scuffs may be present
  • Hairlines visible only under strong light
  • Plays quietly with no distracting noise

Sleeve
Appears new, clean, and well cared for. No major creases, ring wear, or writing.

NM is the closest thing to “new” you’ll find without shrink wrap.

EXCELLENT (EX)

Vinyl

  • Bright and glossy with light surface wear
  • Minor scuffs or hairlines
  • Nothing that affects play
  • Plays very well with minimal background noise

Sleeve

  • Light creases
  • Minor edge wear
  • Very small corner dings

Artwork remains clean and presentable.

EX records are strong players and great daily listeners.

VERY GOOD PLUS (VG+)

Vinyl

  • Visible scuffs and hairlines
  • Some surface noise during quiet passages
  • No major playback issues – music still dominates

Sleeve

  • Creases
  • Corner dings
  • Edge or seam wear
  • Chipping or aging from acidic inner sleeves

Still fully intact and displayable.

The SRO Records Line in the Sand

Here’s where we get opinionated – because experience matters.

Anything below VG+, unless it’s rare, unusual, or historically important, does not get sold online. Period. What’s the point?

  • We do not ultrasonically clean rough copies
  • We do not photograph records from flattering angles
  • We do not pretend condition is better than it is

Those records go into:

  • $10 boxes at record shows
  • $1 boxes when they deserve a second life
  • Occasionally a crate labeled “Make a Planter Out of This”

Someone will enjoy it. It just doesn’t belong in an online listing.

VERY GOOD (VG)

Vinyl

  • Dull appearance with many hairlines and scuffs
  • Persistent surface noise
  • Plays through without skipping

Sleeve

  • Seam splits
  • Moderate ring wear
  • General rough handling

VG records are playable but far from pristine.

GOOD PLUS (G+)

Vinyl

  • Numerous marks and scratches
  • Significant noise
  • Pops and crackle throughout

Music usually overpowers the flaws – usually.

Sleeve

  • Heavy wear
  • Seam splits
  • Possible water damage

GOOD (G)

Vinyl
Copious, unforgettable marks. Skipping or repeating is likely.

Sleeve
Heavy ring wear, large seam splits, or water damage.

This is a placeholder copy at best.

FAIR (F)

Vinyl
It’s round. That’s the nicest thing we can say. Skipper gonna skip.

Sleeve
Whatever is left of the original sleeve.

Final Thoughts on Grading

We grade records the way we’d want them graded if we were buying them. No hype. No optimism. No games.

If you ever have questions about a specific listing, we’re happy to answer them before or after purchase. We do make mistakes, and sometimes our turntable tracks a record better than other people’s turntables. If something is wrong, return it for a 100% refund – no questions asked.

That’s how record stores used to work. We’re just doing it online now.