USED RECORD GRADING- What's the Problems?

When I buy on-line I always just go into it knowing the grading is going to be off by one or two grades. So, a MN- will be a VG+ or VG, etc. I price accordingly. If the price is acceptable for the lowered grade, I'll buy it. That said, I don't buy true collectors records. Most stuff I buy cost less than $20 ea., so I'm never out any significant money if the grading is way off the mark.

Honestly, I have a bigger issue with new $30 -$40+ records that have noise or defects.

When I sell an album as near mint it means that the record next to it on the shelf is mint. Isn’t that right?

all over the map...but in general I appreciate a play grade also...acknowledged that setup and subjective assessment are present as w visual grading...

i grit my teeth on scraping , less so ticks and pops....

just got an unopened MFSL Rock of Ages that has some really rough patches and disc one has a ski jump warp.....hard for seller to know....$32..... oh well....

I use Mint only for sealed records. That does not mean that the record inside has no flaws, as noted by tomic601. On sealed recrods of value, I offer buyers the option of having me open it after they buy it. If the record is not MINT, then I give them options. So far, no one has taken me up on that offer. 

Occasionally I will use Mint- for a record that has obviously not been played or is perfect, but opened.

NM for me is a grade I will give records that are virtually flawless. They may have a few very light and hard to see sleeve micro-lines. It should play dead quiet or with just a few light tics which could be inner sleeve dust or even static. 

I granulate my gradings from there and offer a visual grade and a play grade because they often differ wildly for various reasons.  

@tomic601,

What is the "scraping" you mention? Is it cue-burn or groove wear? I am always adjusting the language I use to describe sonic and visual flaws. 

Thanks in advance.