How We Grade

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=159 style="border-right: 1px solid #555555;" BGCOLOR="#444444" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>We're only Human!</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>And, no,</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>We don't know everything </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>there is to know</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>about</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Everything </B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>"Beauty," it's been said, "is in the eye of the beholder."</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>For reference, Our unabashed ictionary</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>defines "Expert"</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>as follows: (ex-spurt)</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>"EX" = a has been</B></I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>and a "SPURT" is a DRIP</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>under PRESSURE</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B> </B></I></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=448 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#CCCCCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>Shelf  Gratification</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Records, Books, Antiques, Collectibles,Videos, DJ/KJ and Emcee Services, </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>1880 US Hwy 64 East</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Pittsboro, North Carolina  27312</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>919 - 542 - 9946</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>We're Committed to helping you enjoy your-shelf</B></I></div> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="04258020.png" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>How We Grade</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>    Grading anything is a highly subjective thing,  and we try to take a very critical eye when grading the products we sell (some of us are absolutely </B><I><B>anal</B></I><B> about it.)  Items coming in to inventory are carefully inspected by at least three members of our staff - more, usually - and a final grade isn't given until we are </B><I><B><U>all </U></B></I><I><B> </B></I><B>confidently in agreement about that grade - about the </B><B>only</B><B> time </B><I><B>The Boss</B></I><B> </B><I><B><U>isn't</U></B></I><B>  </B><B>always </B><B>right.   Pricing research isn't done until we've firmly established the </B><I><B>real</B></I><B> condition of an item, because we believe that knowing what an item </B><I><B>can</B></I><B> be worth </B><I><B>will</B></I><B> influence the grading process.  While the grading terms on this page apply specifically to our records - the "grading committee" procedure and the critical cuts apply to </B><I><B>all</B></I><B> of our merchandise. </B></div> <div> <B>   We use the term </B><I><B>"Mint"</B></I><B>  (or "Fine" "As New" or whatever term applies) quite sparingly,  the only way we'll use it, is when the condition of an item is so strikingly special that we can't avoid it.  We seldom use this term on Albums; even on Albums that are apparently Still Sealed - because with all the technological advances being made it's getting harder and harder to spot those that have been </B><I><B><U>re-</U></B></I><B>sealed.  (And, yes one will slip by us from time to time.)  Not only that, but there are records with manufacturing defects that slipped by the quality control people at the factories, that won't play properly even if they are </B><I><B>legitimately</B></I><B> Still Sealed.  If we determine, to the best of our ability, that a record has </B><I><B>never been opened</B></I><B> we will </B><I><B><U>not</U></B></I><B> play-grade that record before we ship it.  Records that are sold as Still Sealed are </B><I><B>neither returnable nor refundable.</B></I><B>  If you want us to play-grade that Still Sealed record before we ship it, we will, but you </B><I><B><U>must </U></B></I><B> </B><B>say so - </B><I><B><U>in writing</U></B></I><I><B> - </B></I><I><B><U>after</U></B></I><I><B>  </B></I><B>you've completed the puchase, </B><I><B>and </B></I><I><B><U>accept the fact  </U></B></I><B>t</B><B>h</B><B>at it won't be "Still Sealed" any more and you now own it!</B></div> <div> <B>"Mint -" (Mint Minus, Near Mint) is the term we prefer for records which, because they have been opened, we know have been played, even though they may look pristine.   </B></div> <div> <B>"</B><B>Very Good ++</B><B>" is the term we use for discs or covers which are close to "M-" but perhaps aren't quite as shiny, or may have a minor scuff from being slid in and out of a cover with no liner.</B></div> <div> <B>Each lesser grade in the classifications signifies further defect, such as more of those minor scratches, scuffs, or other defects that don't affect play.  </B></div> <div> <B>Records that are graded "fair" may have significant surface wear or scratching that may or may not affect the overall quality of the sound.  </B></div> <div> <B>We don't like to sell anything that is in less than Good condition; but, on occassion, the rarity of an item or it's uniqueness will justify offering it to our customers - as is, and usually at a substantial discount.  We say </B><I><B>usually</B></I><B> because if we found fragments of the original stone tablets of Ten Commandments that Moses threw down and broke, you can bet your butt we'd try to make a buck!!!!!!!!!!!!</B></div> <div> <B>Because our inventory currently exceeds 100,000 records and we add records to that inventory almost daily, we may not play-grade each record as it comes in- but we do throughly clean and play-grade each record before it is sold and/or shipped out.  If we do find a lesser quality between eye and ear we'll adjust the grade (and the price) accordingly and notify you promptly of the difference.  If you decide to cancel an order at that time, we'll certainly understand.  It is for this reason that we prefer not to have a shopping cart on the site - it wouldn't be fair to our customers, and it would be a major inconvenience to all concerned to ship out and return ship any item, to adjust debits and credits, payments and refunds, when a simple "test before shipping" can make all the difference.  </B></div> <div> <B>We want you to be shelf-satisfied with your purchase;  if your opinion of the condition of a record is significantly different from ours, we'll work out a compromise, a store credit, or a refund.  Since shipping costs are included in many of our prices, we can't make a 100% money-back guarantee.</B></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330033" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B><U>Click here to go </U></B></FONT><A HREF="recordings.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Records, and other Audio"><B><U>Back to Records</U></B></A><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330033" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>or use your browser's "back" button </B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=159 style=" border-left: 1px solid #555555;" BGCOLOR="#330033" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>We make wide use of the internet, and other sources to establish the "fair market value" of our items . . .</B></div> <div> <B>Some of those Sources are:</B></div> <div> <B>Kovell's </B></div> <div> <B>Goldmine</B></div> <div> <B>Jerry Osborne's Jelly-Roll Productions</B></div> <div> <B>(Editor-Publisher of Rock 'n' Records)</B></div> <div> <B>Warman's </B></div> <div> <B>Sotheby's</B></div> <div> <B>We've even used the Antiques Roadshow!!!</B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=-4 style=" border-top: 18px solid #555555; 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