Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
how to sell the record collection
Old 05-22-2019, 09:42 AM   #1
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,877
how to sell the record collection

With interest in vinyl records up, this seems like a good time to sell those I bought decades ago in the pre-digital era. Most I've managed to keep in near mint condition, and there are a few MFSL issues. For the best price I am tempted to sell them indivdually (ebay or similar) but the packaging and shipping process described at various sites seems tedious. I"d love to hear the experiences and recommendations of others who sold off their records.
GrayHare is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 05-22-2019, 09:49 AM   #2
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
SumDay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,862
35+ years ago a relative died, and we were given some records. This was pre-internet, so I listed them in a vinyl records magazine. I didn't know diddly about packing & shipping, so ended up refunding all the money we got for those broken records with pictures printed on the vinyl. So heed the warnings about shipping.

Whenever I go to estate sales, I see the same folks flipping through the vinyl boxes. Maybe list them on Craigslist (not my favorite) or Facebook Marketplace, along with a link to a list of what you have and then collectors can contact you? Or search the ones you think are valuable on eBay and the choose the CLOSED auctions to see what they sold for.

I'm sure there's a vinyl online forum. Might be a good place to get info on what's worth selling and what's Salvation Army material.

Just a few ideas off the top of my failing brain.

Good luck - some of them go for big bucks.
__________________
FIRE Class of 2018 @ 61

Old men and women sit in the shade of trees they planted long ago
SumDay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2019, 09:52 AM   #3
Moderator
braumeister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,199
Most cities seem to have at least one or two local shops that buy and sell vinyl records. That would be by far the simplest solution.
__________________
I thought growing old would take longer.
braumeister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2019, 09:56 AM   #4
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
SumDay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,862
Quote:
Originally Posted by braumeister View Post
Most cities seem to have at least one or two local shops that buy and sell vinyl records. That would be by far the simplest solution.
Duh, I forget brick & mortar even exist.
__________________
FIRE Class of 2018 @ 61

Old men and women sit in the shade of trees they planted long ago
SumDay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2019, 10:34 AM   #5
Full time employment: Posting here.
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 511
Are you trying to maximize your ROI or simply to de-clutter? If it's the latter, then offering the collection to a local vinyl store is the easiest way to be rid them. If you want to get the most for each album, or at least the ones you think are in demand, then eBay or possibly another forum specializing in LPs, is the way to go. But, shipping something fragile like an LP will be expensive and time consuming and may result in more than a few returns.


If it were me, I'd post something on Craigslist and FB Marketplace and see what kind of offers I received. The listings are free and you may get an idea of the value of your collection. That is where I start all of my selling now. Leakage from eBay and PayPal fees runs ~13%, so I can drop my asking price by 10%-15% and still come out about even if I can sell locally. And no shipping!

Edit to add -- I am selling stuff that is declining in value and that I no longer need, so I'm coming at this from the "every $$ I make is positive and it's out of the house" perspective.
NoiseBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2019, 11:28 AM   #6
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,877
Decluttering is part of the reason, but it seems reasonable to individually sell the more valuable records. Recommendations online suggest obtaining special cardboard mailers, and then cutting slabs of foam to cushion each side. If that has been successful for others I'll be encouraged to try it.
GrayHare is offline   Reply With Quote
how to sell the record collection
Old 05-22-2019, 12:02 PM   #7
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Lawn chair in Texas
Posts: 14,183
how to sell the record collection

My vinyl collection is old, and though I personally took decent care, and mostly in fair/good condition, after 40-60 years of BSR Mini-changers with a penny taped to the tone arm, drunken roommates, etc. Need to “rip” a few more of the older, rarer ones, but will likely offload if/when I move/downsize.
__________________
Have Funds, Will Retire

...not doing anything of true substance...
HFWR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2019, 02:10 PM   #8
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,282
I went online, eBay craigslist and flipped through the records at a shop or two. I learned most of mine were not worth much but a few were worth about $5 to the merchant. My goal was to make sure I wasn’t selling something really valuable. My due diligence at least made me feel there was nothing of great value, unfortunately.
savory is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2019, 02:11 PM   #9
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Big_Hitter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
Quote:
Originally Posted by GrayHare View Post
With interest in vinyl records up, this seems like a good time to sell those I bought decades ago in the pre-digital era. Most I've managed to keep in near mint condition, and there are a few MFSL issues. For the best price I am tempted to sell them indivdually (ebay or similar) but the packaging and shipping process described at various sites seems tedious. I"d love to hear the experiences and recommendations of others who sold off their records.
I may be interested in buying some from you. Do you have a catalog?
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
Big_Hitter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-22-2019, 02:13 PM   #10
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Big_Hitter's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Les Bois
Posts: 5,761
Quote:
Originally Posted by braumeister View Post
Most cities seem to have at least one or two local shops that buy and sell vinyl records. That would be by far the simplest solution.
that will at least provide a baseline - kind of like taking your car to carmax
__________________
You can't be a retirement plan actuary without a retirement plan, otherwise you lose all credibility...
Big_Hitter is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Looking for advice on best way to sell moderate size Lionel toy train collection prototype Other topics 6 07-23-2012 11:20 AM
Awesome vintage pinup collection calmloki Other topics 34 04-27-2009 04:41 PM
Advice for selling a record collection - 78's from the 20's? ERD50 Life after FIRE 14 04-02-2008 08:36 PM
Unbelievably Rude Collection Call........:( FinanceDude Other topics 15 03-31-2008 07:07 AM
Nice finance EBook collection Olav23 FIRE and Money 2 07-01-2007 06:17 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:46 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.