WAXED Grading System
At Waxed, we use our own grading system because the traditional Discogs scale has become inconsistent and confusing for many buyers. Condition should be simple, honest, and crystal-clear — so we created a two-axis, star-based grading method that tells you exactly what you’re getting at a glance.
No vague terms. No over-inflated NM. No surprises.
How Our System Works
Every record is graded in two independent categories:
Media Condition 1–5★
How the vinyl itself looks and how it plays — surface quality, groove wear, noise, pops, warps, overall listening experience.
Sleeve Condition 1–5★
How the cover, artwork, and packaging are preserved — ring wear, seam splits, corner wear, stickers, inserts, overall presentation.
The Waxed 5-Star Scale
Used for both Media & Sleeve
| Stars | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5★ | Near-Perfect | Looks exceptionally clean. Media: plays extremely clean with minimal noise. Sleeve: no major wear, no splits, sharp overall condition. |
| 4★ | Excellent | Light, normal signs of use. Media: minor scuffs or very light noise. Sleeve: slight ring wear or small cosmetic flaws. |
| 3★ | Good / Collectible | Noticeable wear but still solid. Media: surface noise, visible marks, but plays through fine. Sleeve: visible wear, light creasing, small splits. |
| 2★ | Worn | Clearly used. Media: noise and marks that impact the experience. Sleeve: heavy ring wear, writing, or larger splits. |
| 1★ | Poor | For collectors only. Plays poorly or sleeve heavily damaged. Always described in detail. |