Contemplating vinyl, How hard is it to get LPs?

There is no definitive way to evaluate a used LP other than to clean and play it. I'm sure all of us have several LPs that look bad but play extremely well and other LPs that look pristine and play poorly. Generally speaking, though, ratty covers and scratched, dirty vinyl, worn holes and worn labels around the hole indicate abuse. Remember that light surface scuffs from sliding the record out of the sleeve is typical and doesn't affect the sound. Scratches that catch your fingernail when you slide your nail over it will "pop" when played. Get some sort of guarantee from the seller if possible, or at least get the seller to work with you. A good wet cleaning system can rejuvenate vinyl to a surprising degree and is almost a must.

Phild is correct that ratings are very subjective and inconsistent. Using "Goldmine" magazine standards, I've seen some dealers mark a record as "Mint Minus" when I would have given it a "Good Plus" which is kinda rough.

If you buy alot of used LPs, it's inevitable that some will be worn or otherwise unsatisfactory. Even taking the bad with the good, used LPs are a great value and, with reasonably good play-back equipment, sound better and are more rewarding than a comparable CD. (Even my non-audiophile girlfriend can plainly hear the sonic superiority of an LP over a CD when a high quality recording is played back in both formats.)

Welcome back to analog!

Jim