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SS = Still Sealed: Record is still factory/label sealed in its original plastic shrink.
 
M = Mint: Record is flawless like it has just been opened. Never been played or item is still sealed. Cover and any extra items included such as lyric-sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition with no visible signs of wear at all. I never use this term for used items but I will use it for records that originally came unsealed by label and are actually new and unplayed.
 
NM = Near Mint: The record is like new with no obvious surface marks and has been played/audio tested one or two times. Cover and contents are nearly perfect and one or two hardly visible imperfections or insignificant marks on cover might be present.
 
EX (+/-) = Excellent: Record shows very few signs of being played and might have minor and insignificant signs of use like hairline, particles of dust or a couple of finger marks. Surface area is clean and shiny and there is unnoticeable to zero lessening in sound quality. Cover and contents might have slight wear and/or creasing. I use the plus and minus symbols in this grading category, to better describe the condition of each item.
 
VG+ = Very Good Plus: Record has been played quite a few times but there is no significant deterioration in sound quality, despite visible surface marks like light scratches and/or light scuffs. Records of this grading are still in very good condition and have no heavy scratches or major defects. Some ticks or pops might be present at play but no skips allowed in this category. The cover has obvious signs of use/wear like a slight mark from removed price tag, some corner wear and ‘acceptable’ creasing but no major defects like seam/spine splits, tears, cuts or discoloration.
 
VG = Very Good: Record has been played many times but there is no major deterioration in sound quality despite noticeable surface marks and occasional light scratch or visible scuffing. Surface area is not too shiny and clean. Noticeable wear, price tag marks and/or small tear are obvious on cover or contents but still no major defects. 
 
VG- = G = Good: Sound quality has noticeably deteriorated, perhaps with some distortion and mild scratches. Cover and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits, discoloration etc but in general terms record is still acceptable. I rarely to never list records of this grading category but if item is extremely rare to only suit collection-filling purposes.
 
FAIR/POOR: I never list records of these grading categories or any less than VG.