About Intoxica

Gradings

We want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase, so we painstakingly grade each record and sleeve that we sell. Although our grades are industry standard, here’s exactly what we think they mean:

Vinyl Gradings

Our grading system is the same used by most record stores. If you’re unfamiliar with it, here are descriptions of each grade:

NewThe record is brand new and has never been played. 
Still SealedRecord is in it’s original seal and has not been played.
MintMint (as new). In perfect condition. 
EX Excellent. Also known as M-: Mint minus or Near Mint. A near perfect record. The record may have been played but shows no signs of use or wear. It will play perfectly.
EX-Excellent Minus: The record shows only very minor signs of use, or very minor lessening in sound quality. 
VG+Very Good Plus The record has been used but well cared for, with minor signs of use that do not affect the sound quality, the record will play very cleanly. In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be EX-
VGVery Good: The record has been played regularly and is showing signs of wear. Defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song’s intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, with light scratches that will affect the sound. 
VG- Very Good Minus: Significant wear and marks, occasional noticeable surface noise. 
G+ Good Plus: The record has been played many times, the sound quality has noticeable deteriorated and has pops or crackles due to surface scratches and wear. Or it may simply be a poor pressing – see above. Will be intrusive if the music is quiet, but will play. 

In the record world, ‘Good’ is not good! From here on down (Poor), we’re talking about a record that is not playable, because it may jump, stick etc. Only of use as a collection filler. Unless the Record is insanely rare, we don’t stock such items.

Sleeve Gradings

Any issues with sleeves, labels, inserts, posters etc are detailed in the individual description of each listing.

If no grading is given, then the record will come in a Generic paper sleeve. A sleeve that is graded as “generic” needs no further grading, as a generic sleeve generally adds little value to the item and can be easily replaced.

NewNew
MintAs new condition. In perfect condition. The sleeve should appear to never had a record in it.
EXPractically as new, clean. No writing, no ring wear, no splits, it has been used, but handled carefully. The cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits, or other noticeable similar defects. 
EX-As above, BUT include very minor blemishes and/or wear. 
VG+Can include minor creasing, visible ring wear, minor splits, very minor spindle marks, edge wear, small writing on sleeve. Basically normal wear and tear from careful handling, but no damage to the visual beauty of the sleeve. In general, if not for a couple of minor things wrong with it, this would be EX-
VGSleeve wear is beginning to detract from cover art. Can include creasing and/or seam splits (but not sleeve separation), noticeable spindle wear,  staining and/or ring wear, tape or stickers still attached or their residue. However, it will not have all these issues at the same time.
VG- Very Good Minus Significant wear, can include major creasing and/or seam splits (but not sleeve separation), noticeable spindle wear, major staining and/or ring wear, tape or stickers still attached or their residue.
G+: The sleeve deterioration is bad. Can include sleeve separation, part of sleeve missing, major tears, water damage, writing and major creasing.

Other Quality Issues

In addition to the grades we give the vinyl and sleeve, we may also include additional quality information, abbreviated as follows:

CO / COC: cut out / cut out corner – A cut out is usually either a rectangular clipping from the edge of the sleeve or a corner of the sleeve cut off.  Generally done in the late 1960s and 1970s to denote the LP is out of print
Correction Fluid: Tippex etc
DH: drill hole a Hole Punch of 5/6mm diameter 
bc / obc: on back cover
fc / ofc: on front cover
Matrix Number: The run-out groove code. It can identify which pressing the record is.
POC punched out centre – the centre has been removed from the 45
RW: ring wear – circular wear on the sleeve
Sellotape / tape: clear sticky tape ie scotch tape etc.
sm: small
SOC: stamp on cover
SOL: stamp on label
S/T: self titled
STOC: sticker on cover
STOL: sticker on label
TOFC: tear on front cover
TOBC: tear on back cover
TOL: tear on label
V.: very
WOC: writing on cover/ written on cover
WOL/XOL/#OL: writing on label/ X on label/ number on label

Professionally Cleaned

All our records are cleaned with our Loricraft Audio Professional Record Cleaner

We Buy Vinyl

We are interested in buying 20th Century vinyl records – both LPs and 7”/45 singles, either complete collections or individual records. The styles and eras we buy are Jazz to Soul to 1960s Psychedelia and Beat to Punk and New Wave to Rhythm & Blues to 1960s Reggae to Progressive Rock and most points inbetween.
We don’t buy Country & Western, Easy Listening, Classical, Metal, House/Hip Hop, major Pop Chart Artists (Elton John, Bing Crosby, The Carpenters etc) or 78s.

If you have specific records, or an entire collection or if you’re just unsure of what you have got, a quick phone call or email will help – we can advise and you can decide. If you wish, send us a list of the records by email and we’ll take a look. Please contact us via phone on +44 20 7419 4740 or email

Before we see the records we can only estimate their value, but once we see them we can make a firm offer. The offer will be determined by the condition of the vinyl and sleeve. Please contact us before posting or visiting us with your records. If you send them via post, we will reimburse postage. If we return records where necessary, it will be at our expense.

If you do post records, we recommend good packaging and insurance.

If it is a large collection we can arrange viewing at your premises, if that is more convenient. Please keep in mind we are based in London.

Insurance Valuations

We do valuations for insurance purposes. For example, if you are initially insuring your collection or making an insurance claim, we can help you determine the true value. Intoxica has worked with most major UK Insurance Companies over the last 25 years and is recognised as an Approved Valuation Intermediary.

Please contact us via post or email for the cost estimates for this service. Please note that since we are based in London, travelling to view a collection incurs extra costs.

Contact us via phone on +44 20 7419 4740 or email