Crate digging: 9 tips for finding the best records at flea markets and record shops

Hours spent going through crates, flicking past sleeve after sleeve, until you finally hold the one record you've been hunting for months: for many collectors, crate digging is the best part of the vinyl hobby. Flea market, record fair or second-hand shop – go in prepared and you'll find more gems and buy fewer duds. Here are our nine most important tips.

1. Go with a list – and still leave room for chance

A short wish list on your phone keeps you on track at packed crates: artists, labels, pressings you're still missing. At the same time, digging thrives on chance. So set aside a fixed budget for impulse buys – the best finds are often records you'd never heard of before.

2. It pays to be early

At flea markets and record fairs, the most interesting crates are often picked through in the first hour. Come early and you get the widest choice, and usually the most relaxed sellers too. Towards the end of the day, on the other hand, prices are easier to talk down – both strategies have their appeal.

3. Judge the condition properly

Slide the record carefully out of its sleeve and tilt it against the light. Fine hairlines are usually harmless; deep scratches you can feel with a fingernail can almost always be heard. Also look out for:

• Warps: lay the record flat on your hand and look at it from the side. Slightly warped records often still play, badly bent ones don't.
• Dust and fingerprints: these can be cleaned off – they're no reason to leave a good record behind.
• Label and run-out groove: wear around the centre hole shows how often a record has been played.

4. Know the grading terms

Many sellers grade condition by the Goldmine standard: Mint (M), Near Mint (NM), Very Good Plus (VG+), Very Good (VG), Good (G). As a rule of thumb, from VG+ upwards a record is usually a pleasure to play, while VG has audible signs of use. The sleeve, by the way, is graded separately.

5. Check the pressing

Classics in particular often come in dozens of editions. The matrix number in the run-out groove, the label design and the details on the back tell you which pressing you're holding. A database app on your phone helps you check quickly – so you can spot first pressings and avoid overpriced reissues.

6. Listen before you buy – on the spot if you can

The best condition check is your ear. Many record shops have a turntable for listening; flea markets usually don't. A portable, battery-powered turntable solves that: put the record on, headphones on, and after two minutes you know whether the crackle and hiss are within reason. Ask the seller first – most are happy to have customers who listen carefully.

The Coturn CT-TWO is built for exactly these moments: about 2.5 cm flat, up to 20 hours of battery life, and a headphone output or Bluetooth (aptX & AAC). It fits in your backpack and comes along on every dig.

7. Haggle fairly

Haggling is part of the flea market, but keep it reasonable. Buy several records from one seller and you'll almost always get a bundle price. Base your offer on the condition rather than just knocking the price down – it goes down better and builds contacts that pay off on your next visit.

8. Bring the right kit

• a sturdy bag or crate that keeps records upright
• a few spare inner sleeves for records with a torn sleeve
• a microfibre cloth for a quick dust check
• cash in small notes
• headphones and – if you have one – a portable turntable

To keep the turntable protected on the go, a padded cover like the Coturn Case, with an inner pocket for puck, brush and cable, is worth having.

9. Look after your finds at home

Second-hand records should be cleaned before they're first played – that spares your stylus and lets you hear the record as it's meant to sound. Then they go into fresh inner sleeves and stand upright on the shelf, out of the sun and away from the radiator.

The bottom line: good preparation, open ears

Crate digging is a mix of patience, knowledge and luck. If you can judge condition, recognise pressings and listen to records on the spot, you'll make far fewer bad buys – and have more budget left for the real finds. See you at the next crate.