What Are Used Records — and What Should You Know Before Buying Them?

Used records are vinyl LPs, 45s, 12-inch singles, CDs, and other physical formats that have been owned, played, or stored by someone before you. Dusty Groove — a Chicago record store that also sells online — describes itself as carrying both new and used LPs, 45s, vinyl records, and CDs, and it buys used records and CDs from the public. If you're considering buying used, the main things to weigh are condition, price, and rarity: a used copy can be far cheaper than a new one, but it can also be scratched, warped, or missing its original sleeve.

How used differs from new

The distinction is ownership history, not format. A "new" record is an unplayed copy from the original pressing or a reissue; a "used" copy has passed through at least one owner. Dusty Groove's catalog separates these explicitly — its navigation lists "Used Items," "Used CDs," "Used LPs," "Used 12-inch," "Used 7-inch," and "Used Books" as distinct categories alongside new arrivals and new releases.

That separation matters because the two carry different risks and different value:

A used copy isn't automatically the cheaper or worse option. An out-of-print jazz, soul, or funk title may only exist used, and a clean original pressing can be worth more than any current reissue.

Condition grades and what they mean

Used record listings rely on shorthand grades. The common scale runs roughly from worst to best:

• G / G+ (Good) — playable but noisy; surface noise, scratches, or scuffs likely audible. Usually a filler copy.
• VG (Very Good) — noticeable wear, some noise, but plays through. Often the budget tier.
• VG+ (Very Good Plus) — light wear, minor surface noise, no serious defects. The most common "solid used copy" grade.
• NM / M- (Near Mint) — looks and plays close to new, with at most trivial signs of handling.
• M (Mint) — sealed or unplayed. Rarely applied to genuinely used stock.

Grades usually cover the record and the sleeve separately, since a clean disc can sit in a worn jacket. When you see a single grade, check whether it refers to the vinyl, the cover, or both.

What to check before you buy

For an in-person purchase, inspect and, where possible, play:

1. The playing surface — tilt the record under light. Fine hairlines are usually harmless; deep scratches you can feel with a fingernail will tick or skip.
2. Flatness — sight down the edge of the disc. A visible warp can cause tracking problems, especially on the first and last tracks.
3. The sleeve — seam splits, ring wear, water damage, cut-out holes, and writing all affect value, even when the disc is clean.
4. The inner sleeve — original printed inner sleeves and inserts (posters, booklets) are part of a complete copy and are often missing.
5. Labels — writing, stickers, or peeling labels reduce value and can signal a former radio or library copy.

For an online purchase, you can't inspect the item, so you rely on the seller's description. Look for a stated grade for both disc and cover, a note on any specific defects, and — for collectible titles — details like pressing plant, catalog number, and country of manufacture. Dusty Groove's own buying page states it pays top prices for older jazz, soul, funk, hip hop, and other genres "in good shape," which tells you condition is the gate for what a store will accept and, by extension, what it will resell.

Where used-record value comes from

Price on a used record is driven by scarcity and desirability, not age alone:

• Out-of-print status — titles never reissued or long unavailable on the format.
• Pressing details — first pressings, original mono vs. stereo, specific mastering or pressing plants.
• Label and region — certain jazz, soul, funk, Latin, and Brazilian labels and non-US pressings carry collector premiums.
• Completeness — original inner sleeve, insert, poster, or obi strip.
• Condition — the same title can span a wide price range from a noisy VG player copy to a clean NM original.

Because of this, a used record can be a bargain or a significant purchase. The grade and pressing details are what separate the two.

Practical buying notes

• Ask for the grade of the disc and the cover separately if the listing gives only one.
• For anything expensive, confirm the return policy before buying — condition disputes are the most common problem with used stock.
• Expect that "used" covers everything from a near-mint original to a well-loved player copy; the grade, not the word "used," tells you which you're getting.
• If you're selling, condition determines whether a store will buy at all and how much it will pay — Dusty Groove's stated criteria are genre and "good shape."

Used records are simply pre-owned physical copies, and the entire buying decision comes down to three questions: what condition is it in, how rare is this particular pressing, and does the price match both.