 | | | Flaming Groovies LPs 45s Records | | | Maintained by: | | We sell high quality vintage Records (LPs and 45s). Our feedback verifies that we know how to select, care for, grade, describe, and safely deliver great condition recordings. We also sell CDs, memorabilia and other musical items but focus on original pressings of desirable records in top shape.
| |
|
|
| |
| Basically: I don't overgrade. I'm an experienced grader. I don't sell junk. It's as simple as that! Please check my feedback before placing a bid.
| Grading Standards |
I grade conservatively, under the harsh glare of ceiling-mounted SPOTLIGHTS, which show everything. Quality is always guaranteed.
If there are simply two grades given (ex., NM/VG+) grading is Cover / Record.
Records are visually graded, but any questionable records are playgraded. Play quality that is significantly different than the visual grade will be noted, if discovered. I've found that most records play BETTER than the equivalent letter grade, although some kind of surface noise can be found on any record if you listen hard enough.
Significant flaws are always noted. Therefore there should be no unpleasant surprises in the way of cutouts, drillholes, writing, stamps, stickers, tears, water damage or other noteworthy defects that isn't noted in the description or clearly visible in the photos.
I am also now going to start using the 'Mint' grade... sparingly, when it's appropriate. Usually these will be unplayed, but always visually perfect. Anything less will be NM on down, in fact my standard grade will still be NM. I will use 'Mint' only in special circumstances.
All of my upper grades (VG++ to M) are simply shades of the NEAR MINT or EXCELLENT grade. Quality doesn't drop off significantly until I go below VG++.
Term |
Abbreviation |
Explanation |
|---|
| Still Sealed |
SS |
Brand new and perfect unless noted; original FACTORY shrinkwrap
unless noted. See note on the bottom of this page. |
|
|
|
| Mint |
M |
Perfect! I rarely will use this grade.
See the explanation elsewhere on this page. |
| Near Mint |
NM |
Same as M-. Generally this is our top grade. |
| Near Mint Minus |
NM- |
An in-between grade used sparingly, generally only for
very expensive pieces where the difference may be important. |
| Very Good Plus Plus |
VG++ |
Same as others' 'Excellent'. Still basically in the Near Mint range. |
|
|
|
| Very Good Plus |
VG+ |
Still VERY nice, quite satisfactory for most people.
Obsessive types will need to upgrade it sometime though. |
| Very Good |
VG |
'Okay'. Not trashed! ...just not great.
Not really 'very good', but close to it. |
| Very Good Minus |
VG- |
Still not trashed but getting close. Won't skip,
plays acceptably (noise not overwhelming music). |
Good
|
G |
Yeah, okay, THIS is trashed. Still, doesn't skip; plays through. |
|
About Sealed records: unlike some Sellers, I don't believe it's enough to merely state an item as 'sealed'. The covers on sealed records may not be perfect, and the record may appear to be a reseal. For my listings of Sealed records, any time a cover is not Near Mint it will be noted. And if a record looks like it's not a Factory seal, THAT will be noted. Most resealed records that I come across are 'distributor reseals'; these are records that, for a variety of reasons, had to be sealed after they left the factory. They are unused records that almost always prove to be Near Mint when opened. However, standard practice in record collecting is that a Seller can't be held responsible for what is discovered when a sealed record is opened; and once a sealed record is opened, the premium value it holds is gone, making returns problematic. If a problem ever develops in that area, I would have to weigh that standard practice against my ''satisfaction guaranteed' policy. I do offer the option to open sealed records for you, before shipping. That is the only way I could fully guarantee the contants. Please consider it, especially for particularly expensive items.
I'm now grading Styrene records slightly differently. The nature of this material is that it picks up surface scuff marks more readily than vinyl - simply from handling and storage. These marks don't affect the play and aren't nearly as important as the amount of wear, the care (or lack of) taken in playing, and the glossiness of the grooves. I give less weight to surface marks than if it was a vinyl record and base my grade more on these other factors. This seems to be standard practice among more experienced dealers. I may not note that a record is styrene unless it's significant.
On a personal note- I have been selling records by mailorder for 15 years. On eBay since about 1998 and through Goldmine before that. I've probably shipped over 12,000 items. I've never had a returned item due to mis-grading (true!). Also, I've never had to refund for items damaged in transit. Hopefully I'm not being boastful here, but it does seem to be a fact that I'm good at grading and packaging. My feedback profile is your best assurance, please take a moment to look at it.
go to:
MY eBAY STORE
SEE ALL OF OUR CURRENT LISTINGS
AUCTION TERMS AND ORDERING INFO ON OUR 'ABOUT  ' PAGE
ABOUT ONLINE PAYMENTS
SHIPPING RATES
|
|
) 
