How do I check a record store’s grading practices and collection buying history?

Grading drives trust in a record store. Pick a range of records across price tags and play-test or inspect them closely, noting scratches, warping and sleeve wear. If your grade is often lower than the sticker, customers may notice too. Ask how returns and complaints have been handled.

Next, look at buying history. Ask for records of collection purchases: who sold, what was in them, how the store paid and what sold afterwards. Good records show whether the owner buys wisely and whether the stock turns. Ask about any large collections still unsorted in the back.

Ask who does the buying and grading, and whether those skills are written down or kept in the owner’s head. If the owner is the expert, consider how you would learn. Discuss with your accountant how stock is recorded, and whether prior purchases were reflected correctly in the statements. Pay attention to the store’s reputation among local collectors too. Spend an afternoon in the shop and listen to how customers talk about prices and grades, and whether they bring records to sell. Reputation with sellers is what keeps good collections coming through the door. Ask too whether the store buys from the public at the counter, and how it decides what to offer sellers.

Key takeaways

• Grade a sample yourself and compare with the store’s marks.
• Review collection purchase records and what happened to each lot.
• Find out whether grading skill belongs to the owner alone.