FAQ
Everything you need to know before you buy. If you have a question that isn’t answered here, send us a message — we’re real people and we actually respond.
Grading & Condition
What do your condition grades mean?
We grade all records to the Discogs grading standard, which is the most widely used system in the used record industry:
- Mint (M) — Perfect in every way. Unplayed.
- Near Mint (NM) — Nearly perfect. Minimal signs of handling. Will play without any noise.
- Very Good Plus (VG+) — Shows some signs of play but will still sound excellent. May have very light marks that don’t affect sound.
- Very Good (VG) — Clearly played. Surface noise between tracks and during quiet passages. Still enjoyable.
- Good Plus (G+) / Good (G) — Heavily played. Significant surface noise. Worth owning for rarity or display.
When in doubt, we grade conservatively. We’d rather you be pleasantly surprised than disappointed.
Do you clean records before listing them?
Yes. Records are cleaned and inspected before grading. Our condition grades reflect the record after cleaning — not before. If a record still has surface noise after cleaning, that’s reflected in the grade.
Are your records tested/played before listing?
Most records are visually graded under strong light and then played for spot-checking. Records graded VG+ or higher are always played to confirm. If something doesn’t play to its visual grade, we adjust the condition rating down.
What does “VG+” mean in practical terms?
VG+ is the sweet spot for used records. It means the record has been played and loved, but it still sounds excellent on a good turntable. You might see very faint light marks under direct light, but they shouldn’t affect playback. For most listeners, a VG+ record is indistinguishable from new.
Do you grade the sleeves and jackets separately?
Yes. Our product listings note both the record condition and the sleeve/jacket condition separately where they differ. A record can be NM while the sleeve is VG — both will be described in the listing.
Shipping & Packing
How do you ship vinyl records?
We take packing seriously. Every record ships in a poly sleeve inside a rigid cardboard mailer designed specifically for vinyl. LPs are sandwiched between stiffeners and the mailer is marked “Do Not Bend.” Records do not rattle, flex, or arrive damaged when packed properly — and we pack properly.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. We ship worldwide. International shipping rates are calculated at checkout based on destination and weight. We ship via USPS First Class International or Priority Mail International depending on order size.
How long does shipping take?
Domestic US orders typically ship within 1–3 business days and arrive within 3–7 days via USPS. International orders vary by destination — typically 1–3 weeks. Tracking is included on all orders.
What if my record arrives damaged?
It’s rare, but it happens. If your order arrives damaged in transit, contact us immediately with photos of the packaging and the record. We’ll work with you to make it right — refund, replacement, or store credit. We stand behind every order we ship.
Buying & Returns
What is your return policy?
If a record is significantly not as described, we accept returns within 14 days of delivery. Contact us before returning anything so we can sort out the best solution. We don’t accept returns simply because you changed your mind, but we do stand behind our grading. See our full Returns & Refunds policy for details.
Can I put a record on hold?
Short holds are possible for serious buyers — contact us directly. We can’t hold indefinitely since records sell across multiple channels, but if you need 24–48 hours, reach out and we’ll do our best.
Do you buy or trade records?
We’re always interested in quality collections. Send us a message describing what you have and we’ll let you know if it’s a fit. We focus on well-kept records across all the genres we carry — reggae, jazz, soul, hip-hop, rock, metal, classical, and more.
I’m looking for a specific record. Can you help?
Yes — send us your wantlist. We add new inventory regularly and we’re happy to reach out when something on your list comes in. Use our contact page to send your wantlist. The more specific the better — artist, album title, format, condition preference, and any pressing notes if you care about that.
About Irie Mind Records
Where are you located?
How long have you been selling records?
We’ve been selling online since 2016 with 100% positive feedback across thousands of transactions on Discogs and eBay. Before that, years of record store experience in the East Valley.
What genres do you specialize in?
We carry everything: reggae, dub, punk, ska, soul, R&B, hip-hop, metal, rock, pop, electronic, dance, jazz, classical, country, folk, Latin, and gospel. On vinyl, CD, and cassette. We don’t specialize in one genre — we specialize in knowing what’s good across all of them.