I think it's important for a seller to provide an overview of how they grade and price records, because ultimately, grading on discogs and other buying platforms is the wild wild west.
Let's get the honest truth out there. Most records sold are overgraded. It took me a while to gain sufficient perspective to feel comfortable writing on this topic for the benefit of others, but here it goes. In my experience, well over half of NM vinyl listed on this platform is only VG+, and maybe 15% of NM vinyl listed is only VG. Just as bad, i'd say at least half of VG+ vinyl listed is only VG. Basically, if strict goldmine standard is used, on average records are about a grade class overgraded for both vinyl and sleeve. What that means is, properly graded NM and VG+ vinyl, especially for older records, is significantly more rare than what listings on this and other selling platforms would suggest. There just aren't many copies in that condition that still exist in the world. While that sounds depressing, it doesn't have to be, because a properly graded VG vinyl is actually a very enjoyable copy, and there is nothing to be ashamed of in properly graded VG vinyls. In fact most of what i listen to is VG (strict goldmine graded), and i enjoy them nearly as much as a perfect copy. Of course, everyone has their own opinion on this, but when it comes to rare killer records, having a VERY GOOD copy is almost as sweet as a near perfect copy, and also extremely rare. So why, then, do NM vinyls sell for so much more if the listening pleasure is only modestly lower? Well, i guess because of how much more rare they are in general, and everyone is confused about what they're getting if they buy VG or VG+ copies online, so for buyers with enough capital, I guess there's a market for that. But what you'll find here, is i grade very strictly, strict goldmine graded let's say, which means that a VG copy is exactly that..a VERY GOOD copy. meaning, you're going to enjoy the heck out of listening to it. It's not perfect, but as i said it's modestly less enjoyable, which isn't much. As i mentioned, properly graded VG records (which others would call conservatively graded) are primary what i listen to, and i enjoy the heck out of them.
The other thing all of the above means, is my prices may seem high for VG copies i am selling, relative to other copies for sale. One reason is what i have been discussing above, which is that a lot of vinyl for sale is overgraded, frequently meaningfully so, and so the pricing difference isn't as stark as it might seem. But the other reason is, for grail-class killer rare records, a properly graded VERY GOOD copy is a true gem, which provides a very unique and enjoyable experience for a lifetime of listening, and is becoming more rare with each passing year. I encourage you to source other copies, more cheaply, if they are available and you feel confident in the grading. What i'm selling are kick-ass, rare albums, at a price that in my opinion is appropriate over time, and if the main purpose my store serves is to help you track down cheaper copies of kick-ass rare albums that you buy elsewhere, i have absolutely no problem with that. In other words, check what else is available before you buy from me, and check carefully, and i encourage you to buy elsewhere if you feel the value proposition is better. I am not playing games with my pricing, and i'm also not selling very rare but average records.
I only sell what i believe to be awesome stuff, and i'm pricing them based on a combination of their relative scarcity and degree of awesomeness. If you look at my listings on the desktop site rather than mobile, and look more closely at the absolute number of haves, wants, the have-to-want ratio, and the listener rating (adjusting for ratings sandbaggers), you'll see there's an internal logic to my pricing that is informed meaningfully by that information, along with a few other adjustments. i am ignoring past sale prices, because past sale prices have been an absolutely horrendous indicator of fair future pricing. What stands for great, rare music is of course entirely subjective, but what i'm certain of is the market currently has it wrong, as it almost always does. If you look at the history of rare record pricing over the last decade, it's laughable just how wrong the market has been. Ask yourself, what were most of these records selling for five to ten years ago? So was the market pricing right five to ten years ago? No, it was totally wrong! I'd argue the price of killer grail-class records has been and still is very low, rather than my prices being very high. I view the majority of albums i'm selling as national treasures, and part of our global cultural history, and there is a huge under-awareness of them by the majority of turntable owners and music lovers around the world.
Moving on to sleeve grading, let's just say that i'm extremely conservative about this, and also don't care nearly as much about this. Let me explain. What is the primary reason of buying a kick-ass, rare record? To listen to it of course! And how much does the sleeve have to do with that? Basically nothing! So i have my own thoughts on how much sleeve quality matters relative to vinyl quality. As long as a sleeve is in a relatively respectable condition, quite frankly it doesn't change how much i enjoy the record--in other words, it's nearly all about how it sounds. Because, it is to be played! Why buy a record you're afraid to touch or play? i just don't get it. Quite honestly, some of the records i enjoy least, relative to what i paid for them, are the ones with legitimately superb condition sleeves which basically just add stress to my life because they cost a lot more and add minimal additional enjoyment, in fact mostly just add stress because i'm terrified of damaging them.
If we're being honest with ourselves, most sleeves of rare vintage records, if a little beat up but still respectable, tend to have a certain charm to them. They have a history to them, and they tell a story. So in short, you'll find that i'm very conservative in sleeve grading, but also think a properly graded VG sleeve provides nearly the same enjoyment as a NM sleeve, because of the charm and the reduced stress. In other words, if i sell you a VG/VG record, i expect that you will enjoy the heck out of playing it, and the sleeve condition will be very reasonable. Keep in mind, it's just the sleeve, and it's almost entirely the condition of the record that matters, as long as the sleeve is legible and isn't growing legs and about to infect your household with some weird record guy fungus.
Ok, shipping. I'm going to comment on this the least, but i really mean what i'm about to say. Nothing causes me to lose respect for a seller more than lack of care in the shipping of rare records. I have seen everything that works, and doesn't work. I know what needs to be done. I only pack bullet proof. I will take back any record that gets damaged in shipping. But it probably won't, unless it gets run over by a truck, because i pack bullet proof.
And now, it's time to let the music play!
Originally Posted by Progatron
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