Spot-on grading: “Mint” really means “mint.”

Over ten years of grading nearly a million albums, Shuga Records has developed a consistent – and conservative – method for objectively grading the condition of everything we sell. All recordings are visually inspected under high-intensity lights, using our customized grading system.

Sealed Mint (M): When someone says something’s “Mint condition,” this is what they’re talking about. The album is sealed in its original packaging and has never been played. Period.

Mint (M-): This is the highest grade for records that have been played. The album is in excellent condition and shows no visible signs of wear or damage that will affect sound quality.

VG++: The condition is very good, but there may be slight ring or cover wear, the cover may have minor seam splitting or the vinyl may have light visual marks. There could be slight surface sound.

VG+: While wear may be visible on the cover or vinyl, the record should play without skipping or repeating.

VG and below: Let’s be honest: sound quality is low and the cover may be in very poor shape. We only sell albums rated VG+ and above unless a record is so rare that its presence in the collection transcends the poor quality of the vinyl or cover.

Note: Our custom grading system is not based on the Goldmine system.