Buyers can
1. pay cheap without playing and take a chance
2. pay high from those reputed sellers who grade upon actual playing
3. buy at record stores where you can play them
For sellers can
1. only visually grade and sell cheap
2. spend time to clean, play, and then give grades, and sell high
If you buy records unseen/unplayed, however grades might they have, set your expectation not too high. For example, for bulk LPs I buy from ebay, I would consider only half of VG records are playable without hurting the cartridge (and my ears).
1. pay cheap without playing and take a chance
2. pay high from those reputed sellers who grade upon actual playing
3. buy at record stores where you can play them
For sellers can
1. only visually grade and sell cheap
2. spend time to clean, play, and then give grades, and sell high
If you buy records unseen/unplayed, however grades might they have, set your expectation not too high. For example, for bulk LPs I buy from ebay, I would consider only half of VG records are playable without hurting the cartridge (and my ears).