CD Condition Grading

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[Almost finished.  Still have a little more to go, but I need to save it for another day/weekend. (Jan. 31, 2015)]
Discogs recommends/requires the use of the Goldmine grading standard in their marketplace, however I like to have a more detailed grading system and to grade all parts of the disc - front insert (FI), rear insert (RI), and disc(s) (D).

My interpretation of the Goldmine ratings as they would apply to CDs and as I will use them in Discogs as required in the listing process is as follows:

M	Mint condition - Equivalent to SS rating.  This will only apply to still sealed CDs that don't have a smashed case, cutout, or other defect noticeable through the cellophane wrap that has or might have damaged the inserts.  There might be minor crack(s) in the case (not affecting the inserts), but if so, this will be noted in the item description.  See additional notes about my "SS" grade below.
NM	Near Mint condition - Equivalent to an A+ rating.  Applies to CD(s)/inserts that look as good as new with no readily noticeable defects.
VG+	Very Good+ condition - Equivalent to an A or A- rating.  Applies to CD(s)/inserts that are in Excellent to E+ condition.  Disc will only have a couple barely noticeable marks at most.  Cutouts of any kind will not make this grade.  There may be a minor indentation or two from the jewel case, but nothing too bad.  Inserts that have any king of writing or ink marks or other noticeable imperfection such as sticker residue or a small tear will typically not make this grade.
VG	Very Good condition - Equivalent to a B+ or B rating.  CD(s) have some light scratches, but still in relatively small numbers.  Inserts might have indentations from jewel case and other small imperfections that will be mentioned in the item description.  Typically, a disc that has been successfully scratch cleaned and looks real good will not get a grade higher than this.  Very good condition inserts with a cutout or writing/ink marks of any kind will typically start out at this grade or lower.
G+	Good+ condition - Equivalent to a B- or C+ rating.  CD(s) have a medium number of light scratches and/or scuffs, but nothing that affects playback.  CD should still rip well without error on the higher settings of common CD ripping programs*.  Inserts may have cutouts and have minor writing and indentations, but still look relatively decent.
G	Good condition - CD(s) have a lot of small scratches and scuffs, but still guaranteed to play without error on most modern CD players.  May start to get errors from CD ripping programs on the higher quality settings, but should still rip fine on the lower quality settings (i.e. burst mode, etc.)*.  Inserts may have cutouts, writing, and/or indentations from the jewel case, and may have small traces of sticker residue from old price tags, or a lot of wear marks from being taken in/out of the jewel case at lot.  This is equivalent to a C rating.
F	Fair condition - This is what will be considered to be pawn shop quality - lots of scratches and scuffs, but still plays without error on at least one of my portable anti-skip technology CD players at home.  However, it might skip on older or more sensitive players, and is not guaranteed to rip without errors.  I'll typically never try to sell Tier 4 or Tier 5 CDs in this condition.  I'll probably try to scratch clean Tier 3 or higher CDs in this condition to try to raise their condition up to VG or VG+.  If for some reason I am uncomfortable with any attempt at scratch cleaning and want to leave the disc in its current scratched up state while attempting to sell it (at significantly reduced prices) because of its rarity, I will typically also provide a CDR backup copy for perfect playback and digital file ripping.  Inserts in this condition may have any of the defects
P	Poor condition - I'll typically never attempt to sell an item in this condition, as it will probably be reserved for defective (skipping) CDs.  The only exception might be if it's a very rare CD with decent condition inserts that a scratch cleaning attempt failed to fix.  Less affluent collector types might want it for their collection (rather than not having it at all).  I will always include a CDR backup copy for perfect playback and digital file ripping.

*Note about CD ripping - The successful ripping of CDs on the highest program settings may be dependent on more than just the condition of the disc.  In many cases, older computers running older operating systems might run into more difficulty getting error free rip sessions than newer computers with modern processors and plenty of spare RAM.  I say this only because this was my experience when I first started ripping CDs and converting to MP3, and later to FLAC.  The first machine I used, which was running Windows XP and was probably underpowered with not enough RAM, had a lot of issues getting hung up on multiple tracks on many of my generally VG or higher condition CDs, which is a problem I almost never have now with the current computer I use that was bought a few years ago and is running Windows 7.  So my comments about probably of error rates in ripping are not to be construed as a guarantee that all discs I sell that are in G+ and higher condition will be able to rip successfully without any errors.  While I have some basic literacy in digital file conversion, I am by no means an audiophile to the degree that many of these power bloggers on high-tech audio forums are.  The only guarantee I will make for all of the CDs I sell is that they will play without skipping on modern CD players, and will generally be in the condition they are described according to these two grading scales.


My grading system, which will be indicated in the item comments is as follows:

SS	Still Sealed: I will typically only leave CDs with cellophane wrapping that look like they are in their original factory packaging in a sealed condition for selling.  CDs with only shrink wrap, which is much easier for dishonest sellers to do themselves, will typically be opened to verify their condition and for at least one test for perfect playback.  I've received a few shrink wrapped CDs in my years that were obviously opened and then re-wrapped, so I don't like taking chances with those.
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
F

I do all of my insert and disc grading under a 300W gooseneck halogen lamp (light shines up and down rather than only up), which is the best light source I currently own and probably cannot be found for purchase anymore.  (Thank you global warming wackos!)  If you are trading CDs with me, please find the best light source you can - preferrably 100+W incandescent bulb(s) that are not very high above your head - to verify the condition of your items before you relate them to me.  Thanks!

Any further questions? - If so, please email me.

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