Vinyl records grading scale

The generally recognized grading scale was established by Goldmine and a complete version of it can be found at the link below. According to that scale a grade of VG+ for the vinyl, as opposed to the cover, would meet your listening criteria. However, my experience in buying many records in auctions is that most records which are graded VG+ by sellers in fact are overgraded and do have playback issues. There even are many sellers out there, including some with great feedback records, who grade records as mint- or near mint which still have audible problems. The bottom line is that you have to know your seller in order to know what you are getting. The only caveat to that is that the risk is a bit lower for 80's/90's pressings of common records.

http://www.recordcollectorsguild.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=17&page=1

" substantially noise free (tic/pops) records? "
Regardless of the best rating, Some albums you will find good, but mostly will have this Tic/Pop regardless unless you use a powerful vacuume based album cleaner... They can turn mud into a gem if you know what your doing.. and if you want to get serious on really good vinyl, this is your best tool to buy, although somewhat expensive to implement on the starting gate.

Guys, thanks very much for your quick responses. John/Arahl thanks for the links to the grading scale. That is exactly what I was hoping to find so that I can have an Idea of what each grade should represent.
I am very aware of the necesarily subjective nature of this process and the fact that most gradings will be a bit overstated. I am sure I will develope a feel for them after a few purchases I just want to narrow down the learning curve in terms not getting to many really bad ones.
My main concern is really noise when playing them more than visual marks wich in many ocassions do not affect playback.
Yeah, I put on my analog rig a Loricraft since inception which I consider mandatory some kind of decent RCM.
Any other comments with respect to cutt-off point for records from your experiences; or any other savy advices?
Thanks...

I would say that ebay seller typically visual grade only and even then, its often in a pretty dim light. I would consider most records to be overgraded by one grade. VG+ really is VG, etc. and M- IS the lowest I would go. Most importantly, if you are paying a premium price, they should be play graded. Just my $0.02.

This is a very sticky and subjective issue. The most important thing, as Arahl indicates, is to know your seller. The good ones will honor your returns if the record is not up to grade. But, as Undertow, suggests, the difference between an excellent LP and a poor one may be a matter of your own cleaning.
There is no absolute answer to your question as it depends on what you are willing to pay etc. A VG+, pre digital, reissue LP for $20 may be a very good deal compared to spending $300 for a NM- version of the same record as an orignal issue,... or maybe not. It depends on what you want.
Welcome to the world of analog collecting. It requires a substantial investment of effort into understanding labels, quality of reissues, remasterings and searching for what you are interested in, otherwise I would recommend investing in digital.