Grading Guide / Format
All our Vintage/Pre-owned records are inspected before being sold. Please see the grading guide for your reference.
For Brand new/Sealed records, all are presumed to be in Mint/Near Mint condition.
Some pictures shown are for illustration purpose only. Actual product may vary. Kindly refer to grading for a more accurate description of the product.
Format:
Sleeve grade/Media grade/Pressing
ex. NM/EX/USA
Legend:
S - Sealed/Brand new/Mint
NM - Near Mint
EX - Excellent
VG+ - Very Good plus
VG - Very Good
G+ - Good plus
G - Good
F - Fair
P - Poor
*WM - Walmart exclusive
*TG - Target exclusive
BEAR’S DEN RECORDS vinyl grading guide:
Brand new/Sealed (S)
Certainly never been played. Vinyl presumed in mint condition.
Near Mint (NM)
A nearly perfect record. The vinyl and sleeve should show no obvious signs of wear.
Excellent (EX)
Sleeve: Has almost no visible defects.
Vinyl: Has only been played a few times. Very light marks where the vinyl has been in and out of the inner sleeve a few times, or tiny signs of use generally.
Very Good Plus (VG+)
Sleeve: May have light signs of handling, minor bent corners, small tears at the joints of the jacket, etc.
Vinyl: Will show some signs that it was played but has been carefully handled. There may be rubbing when taking out the record, marks on the surface, small scratches, slight stains, etc., but it does not affect playback.
Very Good (VG)
Sleeve: Sleeve/label may have writing, tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time.
Vinyl: Noticeable groove wear and light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail). Faint noise may be heard in the intro, fades, and during quiet passages, but it doesn't overpower music.
Good Plus (G+)
Sleeve: Sleeve may have seam splits, writing, ring wear, or other defects will be present.
Vinyl: Can play without skipping. Significant scratches, surface noise, and groove wear. No complaints due to condition. Non-returnable.
Good (G)
Sleeve: Similar condition with G+ grade but more pronounced. Sleeve may have seam splits, writing, ring wear, or other defects will be present.
Vinyl: There is no guarantee that it will play through without issues. Significant scratches, surface noise, and groove wear. No complaints due to condition. Non-returnable.
Fair (F)
Sleeve: The sleeve barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully split, crinkled, and written upon.
Vinyl: Record skips, repeats and may be badly warped. Record won't play through without skipping or repeating. No complaints due to condition. Non- returnable.
Poor (P)
Sleeve: Sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing.
Vinyl: Record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. No complaints due to condition. Non-returnable. We usually don't sell records with this grade.