VG+ Vinyl with Deep, Audible Scratches?

Discussion in 'Marketplace Discussions' started by warpedwing, Jul 11, 2020.

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  1. warpedwing

    warpedwing Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Astoria, NY
    I am somewhat new to buying vinyl online. I've had pretty good luck so far, but I just received a copy of On the Beach by Neil Young that was graded as VG+ both on the disc and the sleeve. Note said "solid copy. Handwritten name on cover and inner sleeve." I'm not that bothered by that as I am more interested in a good playing copy.

    I receive the disc and I notice that the corner is cut and there's also a name written on the record label itself. OK, fine. I'm not even upset by this, so long as it sounds good. I give it a play, and I notice 2 or 3 deep, audible scratches on both sides of the record. This I'm not happy about. Photos attached. Forgive the dust, I hadn't cleaned it yet, and now I probably won't bother.

    So, am I right in saying that this copy is not a VG+? Should I send it back? I've not had to do this before so any advice would be warmly welcomed. Thank you.

    Imgur
     
  2. Gaslight

    Gaslight ⎧⚍⎫⚑

    Location:
    Northeast USA
    Grading is always tricky but as a seller myself, if that plays like it looks then that's a VG to me - maybe even G+. But more importantly it should have been mentioned in the listing as audible.

    VG+, for me, is a playable copy. Looks used with some surface noise but nothing overpowering. Once it overpowers the music that falls into VG/G+ territory.
     
  3. My Home Townes

    My Home Townes Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montclair, NJ
    By forum standards, which are pretty universal, the condition of the record is Good as there are “scratches that produce noise.” A VG+ record is an “excellent condition record that plays well.”

    Take no hesitation is returning and getting a refund for the record. It is an unfortunate, but necessary, part of buying records online.
     
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  4. warpedwing

    warpedwing Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Astoria, NY
    My Home Townes likes this.
  5. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Yeah just politely state the LP does not meet your satisfaction on the condition and leave out exactly why. I take it the writing on the cover was mentioned but the writing on the label not?

    VG+ is the highest rick grade there is. I try and avoid it and if I am going to rick it I need a lot of pictures and see other records from the same seller, and of course, feedback is a big deal. On The Beach is not rare enough to not demand a NM or NM- condition for $25 or so. A true VG+ $16 tops.

    I am curious what this LP cost?
     
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  6. warpedwing

    warpedwing Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Astoria, NY
    Yes, it said writing on cover, but didn't mention writing on inner sleeve or label, and it didn't mention any scratches.

    What does "rick" mean? I'm not familiar with that term.

    This record was $25.
     
  7. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Typo, "risk" it. It's a very abused grade, and so it is a high risk I meant.

    Yes, for $25 you should not have bothered with a copy that has writing on the cover. Cut or saw mark on the jacket is ok if LP is NM- or around. Or VG++ stated as very close to NM.

    Good lesson learned, now you know VG+ can be pretty trashed by some sellers.
     
  8. warpedwing

    warpedwing Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    Astoria, NY
    Ah, gotcha. Yes, I guess it's used as a catch-all grade. I've had good luck so far, but perhaps I'll be more careful next time. At least the seller was amenable to the return without argument.
     
  9. Captain Paul

    Captain Paul Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    I think your VG+ description is a bit off. VG+ shouldn’t really have any surface noise. That’s for a VG record and lower:

    How To Grade Items
     
  10. Gaslight

    Gaslight ⎧⚍⎫⚑

    Location:
    Northeast USA
    Vinyl is going to have surface noise - depends if it's in near silent / very light or distracting.
     
  11. Wally Swift

    Wally Swift Yo-Yoing where I will...

    Location:
    Brooklyn New York
    VG+ is [to me] occasional surface noise that is not overpowering. If that long scratch in the OP's pic can be felt then it shouldn't even be sold unless it's really rare.
     
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  12. Captain Paul

    Captain Paul Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    I think it also depends on the type of surface noise. If it’s in the form of a scratch and can be clearly heard even during normal sounding passages then it isn’t VG+.
     
  13. Captain Paul

    Captain Paul Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    Also, VG+ is generally supposed to be very close to NM with only few minor flaws that keep it from being so.
     
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  14. Gaslight

    Gaslight ⎧⚍⎫⚑

    Location:
    Northeast USA
    Agreed on that and that goes back to the OP's comments. A big scratch that does a pop every rotation is going to be distracting.
     
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  15. Man at C&A

    Man at C&A Senior Member

    Location:
    England
    Going by the photos, that record is nowhere VG+ and if that long scratch clicks every time it goes round the record is pretty much ruined.
     
  16. greelywinger

    greelywinger Osmondia

    Location:
    Dayton, Ohio USA
    This is why when I'm considering buying from a Discogs seller for the first time, I ask questions on an album they have for sale.
    Usually VG+ records come 2 different ways...
    The seller who overgrades...Says VG+ (but is actually VG/VG-)
    The seller who undergrades...Says VG+ (but is closer to NM)
    Luckily I've have a few Discogs sellers that fall into the later category.

    Darryl
     
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  17. Captain Paul

    Captain Paul Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    The good sellers fall into the latter category and the bad sellers fall into the former. I always check the feedback and many would give a neutral rating saying it was rated higher than it should be. Those sellers I avoid.
     
  18. greelywinger

    greelywinger Osmondia

    Location:
    Dayton, Ohio USA
    Luckily my local shop falls into the latter category.

    Darryl
     
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