Records and the machines that play them are two different markets. Vinyl is graded on a standard scale and it is the playing surface, not the sleeve, that sets the price — though a split seam or ring wear will still move it. Turntables and cassette decks are repaired routinely, and the usual faults are perished belts, dried grease and worn styli, all of which are cheap consumables rather than real damage.
Before you write it off
Clean a record before you grade it. A great deal of what sounds like damage is dust and static in the groove, and a proper wet clean lifts it. Grade the playing surface under a bright light held at an angle, and grade the sleeve separately. On decks, a belt costs a few pounds and is the single most common reason a turntable ‘does not work’.
What a defect actually costs you
WishThrift grades run New with Tags, Like New, Good, Fair and For Parts. Fair is roughly 45% of the working price and covers heavy use or a described fault; For Parts is roughly 25% and covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen. Grades are seller-declared — nobody inspects them for you — so an honest grade plus a clear photograph of the defect is what actually closes the sale. All five grades explained.
Across the 8 guides below, For Parts prices run from about £1 at the low end to £75 at the top, against £3 to £300 for the same items in sound condition. Those are guide figures in sterling; WishThrift lists in your local currency and does not convert for you.
Every vinyl, cds & players guide
- Damaged CD Collection
- Broken Cassette Player
- Damaged Cassette Tapes
- Damaged Rare Vinyl
- Broken Record Player
- Broken Turntable
- Incomplete Vinyl Box Set
- Damaged Vinyl Records
Frequently asked questions
How do I grade a scratched record?
Clean it first — much of what sounds like damage is dust and static in the groove. Then grade the playing surface under a bright light held at an angle, and grade the sleeve separately. Play-grade it if you can, and say that you have.
Is a turntable that does not spin broken?
Usually not. A perished drive belt is the most common cause by a wide margin and costs a few pounds. Dried grease and a worn stylus account for most of the rest. Check the belt before you describe the deck as faulty.
Listing is free and there is no commission. Neither side pays a buyer-protection fee either — create a free account to list yours, or browse the full faulty and damaged index.
See also: all selling guides · what things are worth · condition grades · faulty and damaged index.