Is it worth buying used vinyl records?

Check before you pay

Tick them off as you go:

• The grade, on the Goldmine scale most sellers use: Near Mint looks unplayed; Very Good Plus has only light wear that does not affect playback; Very Good has visible wear and audible surface noise; Good plays through with significant noise.
• Original pressing or reissue: the numbers etched in the run-out groove, near the label, identify the pressing.
• Ask whether it was play-graded (listened to) or only looked at.
• Warps and the cover: ask for a photo of the record flat on a table, and of the cover corners and seams.

Red flags

• "Untested" or "as is" with no grade.
• A stock photo of the album instead of the actual copy.
• "Original" for a famous album, with no run-out details.

Which ones still make sense

• Common albums in Very Good Plus or better: good listening at low prices.
• First pressings: collector prices; check the run-out groove.
• Records sold by the box: cheap, mostly well played.

Sources: Goldmine, "Record Grading 101" (goldminemag.com).