How to Protect Records when Submitting them to Audio Media Grading
Grading a record is traditionally performed by individual sellers, rating the condition of the vinyl and the record jacket, which can be two separate grades or a collective grade of both the vinyl and cover. Using standards defined by the community, records are graded from Mint to Poor, with the Goldmine Grading Guide being the most recognized standard. Most sellers are honest and fair when grading records, but opinions about a record’s condition can vary, which can be frustrating for buyers who disagree with the seller’s grade.
One solution comes from Audio Media Grading (AMG), which offers independent grading and archiving services for records, CDs, cassettes, 8-tracks, and more. Their team of experts authenticate and grade each item to provide an unbiased, professional opinion about its condition.
When it comes to high-end or limited-edition records, some vinyl fans are viewing these items as purely collectibles or commodities that will increase in value over time. Companies such as AMG have emerged, offering professional services, including grading, slabbing, and protecting these records in the same way as comic books and sports and trading cards.
The debate among record collectors, of course, is that this service means that you can no longer spin those records without breaking the frames. However, for those collecting records as either an investment or those who have a record they want to preserve, this is an option whose popularity is only growing.
We are well-versed in grading companies for comics and cards, but to find out more about the process for slabbing vinyl, we submitted two records to Audio Media Grading, and came up with the following guideline and observations for those interested in submitting their own records or other music formats to Audio Media Grading.
The overall process is pretty straightforward.
- Create an AMG account.
- Follow the online steps, selecting how you want the record displayed and various services. After you have made your selections and paid for the service, you’ll get a link to print your packing slip.
- Don’t forget to include the packing slip in your shipment to AMG so they can keep your order organized.
When submitting records to All Media Grading, in most cases, you must mail them to AMG. BCW offers several products to keep your items safe during shipping, including Record Bags, Record Mailers, and Record Pads.
Here are the supplies we recommend to keep your records in the same condition when they arrive at AMG as when they left your home.
RECORD BAGS
The first step is to insert your record in a BCW Record Bag. Record bags have a flap covering the open end and a resealable strip. By comparison, record sleeves are open on one side. Record bags are slightly smaller than record sleeves and fit perfectly inside record mailers. Bags prevent record jackets from scuffing against the cardboard mailer during shipping and keeps dust or other contaminates from damaging the cover or the record. Bags also keep the record and jacket securely in place. Some sellers and buyers prefer to slip the vinyl and its inner sleeve in a bag outside of the jacket. This can prevent any damage to the jacket caused by the vinyl shifting in transit.
BCW Record Bags for 12-inch records are available in two sizes. Snug Fit Bags measure 12 5/8 x 12 5/8 plus the flap. This size is best for single LPs.
Our larger Resealable 12-Inch Record Bags are 12 ¾ x 12 ¾ plus the flap. They are best for double LPs and other thick record jackets.
To ship 45 RPM singles, enclose them in BCW 7-Inch Record Bags.
MAILERS and PADS
After placing the record in a bag, insert the record into a sturdy BCW Record Mailer. For 12-inch records, the BCW Deluxe 12-inch Record Mailer is recommended, as its crush-resistant border provides multiple layers of cardboard to protect the record if it happens to get mishandled during shipping. The Deluxe 12-inch Record Mailer can hold seven single LPs. If you ship less than 7 records, the records can be sandwiched between BCW 12-inch Record Pads, filling the extra space and adding more protection.
The BCW 7-Inch Record Mailer can hold one to ten records. If you have less than 10 records enclosed, you can fill extra space and add more protection with 7-inch Records Pads.
WHAT WE DISCOVERED
After diving into the personal music collection of our Music Category Manager Jeremy Bonfiglio, we shipped both an LP and 7-inch record to AMG using the process above.
After AMG experts graded the records, they shipped the slabbed records back to us. The process took about a month from when we sent the items to when they were returned.
The first observation was the care the AMG shipping team took to protect these items. The slabs were bagged, bubble-wrapped, in a thick envelope, and packaged in an oversized box filled with packing peanuts. It was impressive.
We submitted an Elvis Costello 7-inch, Tear Off Your Own Head (It’s A Doll Revolution), which was encased in a slab sized for a 12-inch record with a clear, inset border centering the 7-inch record in the slab.
We also sent a Record Store Day release, the U2 Songs of Innocence album, which is a double LP. It was too thick to fit in a standard AMG slab, so it was placed in an acrylic frame. When ordering the AMG services, we selected the option to add keyhole mounts so the slab can easily be displayed on a wall, as pictured above.
Both records came back with expected high grades, a hologram sticker and a unique serial number on the back of the header. You can look up your items by using this number on the AMG website to see details of the record, the grade, and photos. To view that information, visit AudioMediaGrading.com and enter the number on the sticker in the Hologram Serial Search field. Here are the Elvis Costello 7-inch record results and the U2 double LP. Both records also received an AMG Statement of Archival certificate, which shares similar details on the website.
While slabbing a piece of cherished vinyl may not be for everyone, we found that the process was simple and can be rewarding. Jeremy now has another way to display these pieces of his collection, and an independent grade that can only help validate the condition of these items if he chooses to sell them in the future.
For those interested in learning more, visit AudioMediaGrading.com. To purchase any of the BCW products listed above, visit bcwsupplies.com/music.