Second hand record prices rising well over inflation?

You know who really isn't happy about it?
Second Hand Rose

 

I'll take early Rory Gallagher please. And Thank You.

 

yesterday and today butcher cover lewins record paradise in hollywood 1966 $2.69. i asked to buy it he would not sell he said he had to send them all back but he was keeping that one

 

Are they the prices? Or number of items?

 

Whoops pressed enter. I think other than Billy idol, Asia, curiosity, the rest are super expensive here!

 

my requirements are pretty slim, does it have a picture sleeve (not generic),
and is the media in G or VG condition.

if its not 'rare' i dont' care if it plays or not, noise, crackle, pops, etc. i can either digitize it and clean it up or i have it 10x over on CD, from other pressings, countries, digital, etc.

so basically the cheapest price wins. which is usually $1-$5, will post some examples

later
-1

 

AHA, truth revealed. Buying stuff in low grade condition for bargain basement prices. G records are worth maybe 5% of NM.

 

NM and M are a myth, unless its sealed, and
only for items that are $20 and up, and for $50-$200,
and of course for items > $200

actually all of them are in VG, or VG+ condition,
i just don't pay attention to the grade for lesser items.

anyone chasing M and NM better be able to pay high prices,
but that's not what we're talking about here.
=======

here's some listings:

Sample vinyl purchases
======================
Curiosity - Hang On In There Baby (7", Ltd, Promo) £2.25
Tracey Thorn ‎– Night Time EP £2.31
Corvin Dalek - Crystal (12", W/Lbl) £2.31
Fluke - Switch (12") £2.31
Go West - We Close Our Eyes (12", S/Sided, Single, Promo) £2.31
The Impossibles - Delphis (12", W/Lbl) £2.31
Paul Young - I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down (Remixed U.S. Dance Floor Smash) (12", Single) £2.31
ABC - Be Near Me (7", Single) £2.31
ABC - The Night You Murdered Love (7", Single, Pap) £2.31
D*Note - Waiting Hopefully (10", Promo) £2.31
MC Tunes Versus 808 State - The Only Rhyme That Bites (7", Single) £2.31
Various - Empire State (LP) £2.31
Erasure - Love To Hate You (CD, Single) £2.31
Fluke - Philly (12", Promo) £2.31
Cabaret Voltaire - Keep On (12", Single, Promo) £2.31


2060181 Harlequin - The Beauty And The Beast - Sven Vath 12 inch £2.99
2560951 Dreams - Deep Dish Feat. Stevie Nicks 12 inch £1.99
4190769 Two Months Off - Underworld 12 inch £0.99
4464413 Penetrate Deeper - Various (2xlp) £4.49
4596349 Deep Dish - Junk Science (2xLP) £4.49

New Order - Confusion (12") Eur 2.50
Robert Miles - Full Moon (3x12", Promo, Ltd) E7
Project, The (3) - Kick The House (12") E4.50
Moonman - Moonman EP (12", EP) E6.50
Angel* - 1st Voyage (12") E4.00

Shamen, The - Omega Amigo (12") UKP 2.50
Fluke - Out (In Essence) (12") UKP 0.49
808 State - The Extended Pleasure Of Dance EP (12", EP) UKP 1.49
New Order - Regret (2x12", Promo) UKP 4.75
Dave Clarke - No One's Driving (12", Promo) UK 0.99

Talk Talk - Living In Another World (7", Single) E0.95
Kissing The Pink - Never Too Late To Love You (7", Single) E0.95
ABC - The Night You Murdered Love (7", Single) E0.65
Big Country - The Teacher (7", Single, Pap) E0.95
Duran Duran - Is There Something I Should Know? (7", Single) E0.25
Living In A Box - Different Air (7", Single) E0.65
Blancmange - Lose Your Love (7", Single) E1.25
A Flock Of Seagulls - Heartbeat Like A Drum (2x7", Single) E5.00
Big Country - Hold The Heart (7", Single) E0.95


Ultravox - Visions In Blue (12", Single, Promo) UKP 7.00
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax (12") UKP 2.00
Blue Mercedes - Love Is The Gun (Street Latin Wolff 3 Mix) (12", Single) UKP 2.00
Blue Mercedes - Love Is The Gun (12") UKP 3.00
Fashion - Love Shadow (2x12", Single, Ltd) UKP 4.00

Simple Minds - Promised You A Miracle / Book Of Brilliant Things (Simple Minds Live) (7", Single) UKP 1.49
Simple Minds - Ballad Of The Streets (7", Single, Sil) UKP 1.49
Neil Arthur - One Day, One Time (7", Single) UKP 1.49
Jane Kennaway - Year 2000 (7") UKP 1.49
Pet Shop Boys - It's Alright (7", Single) UKP 1.49
Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money) (7", Single) UKP 1.49


Ultravox - All Fall Down / Dreams? (7", Single) UKP 1.50
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes (7", Single) UKP 1.50
Heaven 17 - Trouble (7", Single) UKP 1.50
Frazier Chorus - Nothing (Chad Jackson Remixes) (12", Promo, W/Lbl) UKP 2.50
Frazier Chorus - Nothing (Paul Oakenfold Mixes) (12", W/Lbl) UKP 2.50

Frazier Chorus - Dream Kitchen (7", Single) UKP 1.00
Blancmange - That's Love, That It Is (7", Single, Sil) UKP 1.00
Ultravox - Dancing With Tears In My Eyes (7", Single, Gat) UKP 1.00
New Order - True Faith (7", Single) UKP 4.99

Heaven 17 - Designing Heaven (2x12", Promo) UKP 1.50
Thomas Dolby - Dissidents (12", Single) UKP 3.00
Neil Arthur - One Day, One Time (12", Promo) UKP 2.00
Arcadia (3) - The Promise (7", Single) UKP 1.50

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes (7", Single) UKP 1.49
Heaven 17 - Temptation (7", Single) UKP 1.49
Thompson Twins - You Take Me Up (7", Single, Blu) UKP 1.49
Big Country - One Great Thing (7", Single, Inj) UKP 1.49
Blue Mercedes - Love Is The Gun (7", Single, Sil) UKP 1.40
Big Country - East Of Eden (7", Single, Sil) UKP 1.49

Big Country - Save Me (7", Single, sil) UKP 2.22
Duran Duran - Skin Trade (7", Single) UKP 1.27
Duran Duran - The Reflex (7", Blu) UKP 2.50
Ultravox - Hymn (7", Single, Blu) UKP 1.53
Duran Duran - The Wild Boys (7", Single, Pur) UKP 5.27
Pet Shop Boys - Opportunities (Let's Make Lots Of Money) (7", Single) UKP 1.50

The Danse Society - Say It Again (2x7", Single, Ltd) UKP 4.00
Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder - Be My Lover Now (7", Single) UKP 3.00
The Fixx - Red Skies (7", Pic) UKP 3.00
Heaven 17 - Temptation (Brothers In Rhythm Remix) (7", Single) UKP 3.00
Talk Talk - Today • It's So Serious (7", Single, Kno) UKP 3.00

Kissing The Pink - Love Lasts Forever (12", Pic) UKP 1.45
Midge Ure - Answers To Nothing (12", Single) UKP 1.75
Simple Minds - Alive & Kicking (12", Single, Gol) UKP 2.99
Living In A Box - Different Air (12", Maxi, Pic) UKP 2.49

Kraftwerk - Computer Love (7", Single, Pus) (EMI - EMI 5207) €4.00
Kraftwerk - Musique Non Stop (7", Single) (Kling Klang, EMI - 1C 006 20 1508 7) €4.00

Thomas Dolby - Dissidents (7", Single) UKP 1.50
Ultravox - All Stood Still (7", Single, Pic) UKP 1.50
The Power Station - Get It On (7", Single) UKP 1.25
The Power Station - Some Like It Hot (7", Single) UKP 1.50
Blue Mercedes - See Want Must Have (7", Single) UKP 1.25

Simple Minds - Stand By Love (7", Single, Ltd, Num) UKP 2.49
Simple Minds - Ballad Of The Streets (12", EP) UKP 2.99
Wang Chung - Don't Be My Enemy (5", Pic) UKP 2.99
Simple Minds - Sanctify Yourself (Extended Mix) (12", Single) UKP 1.99
Ultravox - Lament (Extended Mix) (12", Single, Pos) UKP 3.99
Big Country - Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys) (12") UKP 4.49
ABC - The Look Of Love (Special Remix) (12", Promo) UKP 2.99

Living In A Box - Room In Your Heart (7", Single) UKP 1.09
Santa Cruz - Heaven Only Knows (10", EP, Ltd) UKP 1.99
Thompson Twins - Make Believe (Lets Pretend) (12") UKP 2.99
Ian McCulloch - Lover, Lover, Lover (12") UKP 2.49
Syntax (4) - Bliss (12") UKP 1.99
The Danse Society - Say It Again (2x12", Maxi, Ltd, Gat) UKP 4.49
Scritti Politti - Cupid & Psyche 85 (LP, Album, Emb) UK4.99
Boxcar - Universal Hymn (The Prankster Mixes) (12") UKP 3.49
Depeche Mode - It's No Good (Club 69 Mixes) (12", Promo, Unofficial, W/Lbl) UKP 2.99

Kissing The Pink - The Last Film (2x7", Single) UKP 1.00
Ultravox - The Voice (7", Single, Sil) UKP 1.00
The Fixx - Red Skies (7", Single, Red) UKP 1.00
Heaven 17 - ..(And That's No Lie) (7", Single) UKP 1.00
ABC - Poison Arrow (7", Single, Red) UKP 1.00
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Run The World (7", Single, Lar) UKP 1.00
Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind (7", Single) UKP 1.00

New Order - Confusion (12", Single) EUR 2.00
Blancmange - Don't Tell Me (12", Maxi) E2.50
Audioweb - Into My World (12") E3.00
Ultravox - Hymn (7", Single) E2.00

Go West - We Close Our Eyes (Total Overhang Club Mix) (12", Maxi) E2.99
Thompson Twins - Don't Mess With Doctor Dream (7", Single) E1.99
Thompson Twins - Doctor! Doctor! (12", Single) E1.99
Go West - The King Of Wishful Thinking (12") E1.99
Wang Chung - Wake Up, Stop Dreaming (Edit Version) (7", Single) E2.99
Blue Mercedes - See Want Must Have (12", Single) E2.99
Living In A Box - Blow The House Down (12", Maxi) E1.50
Ultravox - Vienna (7", Single) E0.40
A Flock Of Seagulls - Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) (7", Single) E1.10

Haircut One Hundred - Nobody's Fool (7", Single) UKP 1.80
Go West - Don't Look Down (The Sequel) (7", Single, Ltd, Gat) UKP 1.40
Cabaret Voltaire - The Dream Ticket (12") UKP 3.00
Pet Shop Boys - Liberation (7", Single, Jukebox) UKP 1.50

Sample order
=============
BT - Love, Peace And Grease - Issue 1.0_Love (12", Promo)
Label perfecto
Cat#: SAM3111
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.00

BT - Love, Peace And Grease - Issue 3.0 Grease (12", Promo)
Label perfecto
Cat#: SAM3112
Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.00

TC'95* - Just Get Up And Dance (12")
Label planet Four Communications
Cat#: PFRT20
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.00

MC Tunes Versus 808 State - Tunes Splits The Atom (12", Single)
Label:ZTT, ZTT
Cat#: ZANG 6T, 9031-72425-0
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.00

D*Note - Waiting Hopefully (12")
Label:VC Recordings, VC Recordings
Cat#: VCRT 21, 724389434569
Media Condition: Good Plus (G+)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.00

Level 42 - Forever Now / All Over You (12", Single)
Label:RCA, RCA
Cat#: 74321 19027-1, 74321190271
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.00

BT - Love, Peace And Grease (12", Single)
Label perfecto, Perfecto
Cat#: PERF153T, 3984-20868-0
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.00

Fluke - Absurd (Promo 01) (12", Promo)
Label:Circa
Cat#: YRTDJ 126
Media Condition: Good Plus (G+)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.00

Big Country - Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys) (12", Ltd)
Label:Mercury, Mercury
Cat#: BIGCR 612, 872 2231
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.00

Blancmange - That's Love, That It Is (12", Advance, Single)
Label:London Records
Cat#: BLANX 6
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Generic
View Release Page £1.00

Jan Johnston - Silent Words (2x12", Promo)
Label perfecto
Cat#: PERF16TP
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.50

Trisco - Ultra (2x12")
Label positiva
Cat#: 12TIVD-177
Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £1.50

Quincy Jones - Back On The Block (12")
Label:Qwest Records, Qwest Records
Cat#: W0047T, W 0047 (T)
Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Generic
View Release Page £1.75

Fluke - Squirt (12", Single)
Label:Circa, Circa, Virgin, Virgin
Cat#: YRT127, YRT 127, 724389455762, 7243 8 94557 6 2
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £2.00

BT - Remember (12", MP)
Label perfecto, Perfecto
Cat#: PERF160T, 3984224410
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £2.00
about $2.74
+shipping Unavailable in United States

Amber - Sexual (12")
Label:Substance Records, Ministry Of Sound
Cat#: SUBS2T
Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £2.00

Absolutely Fabulous - Absolutely Fabulous (12", Single)
Label:Spaghetti Recordings, Spaghetti Recordings
Cat#: 12R 6382, 7243 8 81426 6 3
Media Condition: Good Plus (G+)
Sleeve Condition: Generic
View Release Page £2.00

Fluke - Electric Guitar (12", Single)
Label:Circa, Circa
Cat#: YRT 104, 7243 8 91958 6 6
Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £2.25

808 State - In Yer Face (12", Single)
Label:ZTT, ZTT
Cat#: ZANG 14T, 9031-73575-0
Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £2.50

Pet Shop Boys - Heart (12", Nei)
Label parlophone, Parlophone
Cat#: 12R 6177, 12R6177
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £2.50


808 State Featuring Bjork* - Ooops (12", Single)
Label:ZTT, ZTT
Cat#: ZANG 19T, 9031-74257-0
Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £2.75


Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasuredome (12")
Label:ZTT, ZTT
Cat#: FGTH2T, 4509-94473-0
Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve Condition: Good Plus (G+)
View Release Page £2.75

Everything But The Girl - Walking Wounded (12")
Label:Virgin, Virgin
Cat#: VST 1577, 7243 8 93487 6 7
Media Condition: Very Good (VG)
Sleeve Condition: Very Good (VG)
View Release Page £3.00

=====

I have yet to see high prices for the vast majority of items.

I plan on purchasing at least 3000-4000 more items in the upcoming
year or so. The vast majority will be around the $1-$3 mark.



later
-1

 

No amount of (boring) lists will back up your claim that NM records are a myth. I have records I purchased 35 years ago that are NM, and have records in my collection that are from the 50s in NM condition.

 

Next time please just cut and paste all of Discogs. Thanks.

 

I'm not sure that 'low grade' condition is the only reason for the low prices!

 

Wow. With all due respect, I find this fascinating, in that its pretty much the opposite of what I'd expect a vinyl collector to want to do. I totally respect that this is your way of collecting and Im not disparaging it al all. Is it because you can run these through software that gets rid of scratches etc when you turn them into digital files? If this is the case why aren't you collecting the digital files in the first place? You're just going to end up with a houseful of G/VG vinyl that you don't play and can't move on.

 

I don't doubt you have lots of NM records but they are difficult to find out in the wild. There are certainly NM records out there.

But about the only ones I put a NM grade on are the ones that I bought new and played for the first time. After all the only place a NM record has to go is down. One shaky hand dropping the needle, one fumbly slide back into the inner sleeve or unexpected, undetected particles falling from the air onto the pristine vinyl and we're at VG+ or VG. I just automatically give any used record I play and hear no SN a VG+ grade based on it's used status. I suppose I could be a little too cautious in that regard. But on the other hand I've gotten records I'd visually grade no better than VG and cleaned them up and play graded them VG+. More often than not I'll give it a VVG grade (I know there is no official grade like that but for personal reference it tells me that it plays very well but not perfectly) for fear that I might have missed something. If I hear any sort of SN (including a random isolated pop) it is automatically a VG record. The problem with the VG grade is that it covers so much ground from almost perfect sound to significant SN. Thus I use VVG, VG, and VG- to divide my VG records into 3 conditions.

The honest truth is that if you use the standard M, NM, VG+, VG, G+, F, P grading scale used in the United States, adhering to each definition correctly almost all the records that are playable are really VG. The problem is that because there isn't an official grade for "almost no issues" most people trying to sell records on Ebay or Discogs avoid using VG and fudge with a VG+ or even a NM grade. So I just automatically assume that VG+ means higher end VG. I suppose this is why here at the SH forum they use a VG++ and VG+, to make that distinction.

 

There are millions of near mint records out there.
That's not the issue.

Are they cheap? depends, maybe from artists that no one cares about.
maybe from lesser known groups. maybe hidden in some secret store.

how much did you pay for them, and list them out.

then we'll see what you're talking about.

i have a lot of NM records too, but i have pay $20, $50 or $100 or more for them.

have they gone up in price, i don't know?
============================
here are some used and new ones i have:

Pet Shop Boys - Relentless
Pet Shop Boys – Relentless 3xcolored 12
$300 - NM

Kraftwerk - Trans Europe Express / Numbers / Musique Non Stop / Homecomputer
Box, Comp, Promo + 4x12"
$150 - NM

Kraftwerk - Minimum-Maximum
4xLP, Album, Eng + Box
Sealed $150 - NM-M

Björk - Isobel
2x12", Maxi, Promo
$250 - NM

Cabaret Voltaire - Plasticity
2xLP, Album
$150 - NM

Underworld - Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future
Box, S/Edition + LP, Album + 12", S/Sided, Num, TP
$350 - M - Sealed, but i opened it

New Order - Singles
4xLP, Comp, RM + Box
$150 - M -Sealed but i opened it

ABC - The Box Inside The Box
Box, Album, Comp, Ltd, Sig + LP, Album + LP, Album $250 - M - sealed but i opened it

Cabaret Voltaire - The Conversation
4xLP, Album
$75 - NM

Simple Minds - The Vinyl Collection 79-84
Box, Comp, Dlx, RM, 180 + LP, Album, RE + LP, Albu
$75 - M - sealed

New Order - Music Complete
Box, Dlx + 2xLP, Album, Cle + 12", M/Print, Yel +
$150 - M - sealed but i opened it

Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair (2014 Stereo Mix)
LP, Album, RE, RM, 180
$250 - Still sealed - M

Manic Street Preachers - Cooking - Cleaning - Flower Arranging: Journal For Plague Lovers Remixes
2x12", Comp, Ltd, Promo, W/Lbl
$150 - NM

Kraftwerk - Electric Cafe (Edicion Española)
LP, Album, Gat
$100 - NM

Björk - Human Behaviour (Remixes Dimitri)
12", Maxi, Promo
$300 - NM

Pet Shop Boys - Go West (Unauthorized Bootleg Remixes)
12", TP
$150 - NM

New Order - Brotherhood
LP, Album, Metallic sleeve
Factory FACT 150
1986 UK
$150 - NM

==========
for most of them, there was only 1 copy available,
so i didn't really care what the price was.

could i have found them cheaper? in better condition?

probably not.

the oldest record i have in NM, is something i will be ordering
soon. so its not just records from the last 30-40 years.

later
-1

 

I guess I just don't understand what these lists of random records are supposed to prove one way or the other?

 

i am collecting digital files.

however, there are tons of remixes, singles, edits, that are vinyl only, and will never be digital.

i have 6000+ items now (including cds).
========
methods

1) do i have the US, and UK (if thats where they originate) versions of their albums
2) get all the US, UK cd's for groups and CD singles
3) get all the US, UK cassettes for the groups
4) get all the US, UK 12 inch singles
5) get all the US, UK 7 inch singles
6) get all the special limited edition, poster sleeves, colored vinyl, and picture discs
7) get all the re-issues, on vinyl, cd, cassette
8) get foreign variants, starting with Germany, France, and other European countries
9) get all the 'other' related releases, DVDs, laserdiscs, VHD, CED, VHS, UMD, reel to reel, 8 track tapes if available.

I already have 95% of the main releases from categories 1,2,4

now i'm working on all the rest of them.

i have about 20+ main groups that i'm trying to fill out all the gaps with all of them,

that's why the list is so long.

later
-1

 

that you can easily buy records for cheap if you want to.

i see nothing about vinyl prices increasing.

it has no impact on buying records that are supposedly NM or M.

later
-1

 

Can you please stop posting list like this?

 

you are buying , what most stores, toss in the green dumpster=the sample order

 

From this and the other lists you've provided that is one amazing collection you are building!

 

I won an auction on eBay a couple of months ago for a pressing of the VU/Nico album with the banana sticker still attached and the sticker on the back covering Eric Emerson torso for what I thought was a good price. It was comparable to what I would have paid five years ago. It was from the late actor Howard Hesseman’s record collection.

My take on this is that due to the pandemic there was so much disposable income available and prices went through the roof. Now with inflation being the way it is you see items taking longer to sell and/or not selling what it would have sold last year at this time.

The bottom line is one needs to be judicious about what one buys. I would love to buy a copy of Gov’t Mule, Dose on vinyl which I have seen going for $1500 and up. I have seen it for as low as $350.00 a couple of weeks ago and passed on it because I just do not think it will maintain its value and I don’t want it that badly. I bought the first Kiss album without Kissing Time and know I can always sell it for more than what I paid for it. The same thought process went into my purchase of Springsteen’s, Born To Run Script cover.

 

I don't count particles/debris in the grade of an album. Brand new records right out of the sleeve usually have some kind of debris on them, and all of it comes with a clean, or even just a brushing.

 

One point I do want to make while I generally agree with you, that if a record is so caked with dust/hair/fingerprints/etc that you can’t see the surface very well, I don’t think it should be able to be graded “VG++++, close to NM!” Because can you really give such a high grade if you can’t even fully see what you’re looking at? I’ve bought more than a few records lately where they were described as “NM” or “VG++, only a couple minor paper scuffs” and then when I clean them, they’re absolutely COVERED in hairlines and are maybe VG at best. And that’s not even taking into account things like groove wear that aren’t always visible and can only be detected on playback. I guess my point is, sellers have gotten awfully ballsy grading extremely dirty records very highly.

 

Most things cost more than they did 10 years ago. Factor in many more people are buying old records while the supply of old records cannot be replenished. Old records get played, lost, destroyed in fires, floods, dropped etc. and yes used records cost a lot more. This same post has been spewed for decades. These prices you long for from 10 years ago? there were two guys next to you whining about the prices while you thought you were getting a great deal.

 

You said what I wasn’t sure how to. The amount of times I buy a brand new sealed record and play it and it actually plays NM are few and far between, especially with non audiophile, standard release type stuff. I can’t imagine it being any different during the time when records were being mass produced that the issues I have now would have been any better. I even open sealed vintage records pretty often, and excluding warping in my grading since that kind of thing can’t really be considered a condition problem if the record has been sealed 50-60 years, most of what I get is VG+ at best. I primarily buy sealed vintage LPs because I can’t stand groove wear and it’s way more common than people think. Sometimes the only reasonable way to get a nice playing copy of a 60s rock record is to find a sealed copy. NM records definitely exist, but they’re far rarer than even people in this thread are acting.

Even just last night I opened a sealed original UK pressing of Badfinger - Wish You Were Here. The record would grade G, F, or even P, because the first 3 tracks at some point were exposed to heat and melted. I won’t even bother playing the record. Unfortunate, but it happens.