With all those dusty vinyl records you have been collecting for so long, maybe, now it’s time that you sell them. But, here’s the catch, you don’t know where to start. With an increased demand for this type of music, many people are jumping on the bandwagon and making money from their old albums. Here’s all the information you must have in the back of your head.
Condition Matters
Condition is an essential factor in the vinyl industry. Obviously, new records are a must for sellers because they will get you the most money if priced accordingly. A list of condition codes can be used to identify how well your record was taken care of and where it belongs.
S = Sealed. The album is preserved in the original packaging.
M = Mint. The album is in perfect condition but has been taken out from its packaging.
NM = Near Mint. The record runs perfectly but has a slight scratch or so.
E = Excellent. The records depict being played earlier with minimal impact on its sound
VG+ = Very Good Plus. Only professional listeners can identify the impacts on sound quality.
Condition determines what you may receive if items are sold later on. Good quality records fetch high prices from collectors and aficionados alike. At the same time, cheaper albums would not go as quickly at all. Try keeping this idea close by anytime you’re selling your vinyl around.
Mono vs. Stereo
Mono albums, which have all components of a song coming out of both speakers, are often nostalgic for buyers in the vinyl market. Some people prefer mono records because they feel that it makes them more immersive and personal to hear everything going on with the music. Others might disagree and say that stereo sound is just as good or better. The reason is having some songs come from one side instead of two sides like you would get in a classic record player.
Check Out: Top 10 Songs From The 80s You Must Have On Your Playlist.
Original Pressings vs. Reissues
Original pressings usually have a lower number of albums printed and are more valuable. Reissues, however, do not hold as much value because they were released later on in their release cycle. One way to tell the first-pressing edition would be by looking at the side of record labels (usually located near where “Recorded for” might say). If there’s no mention of how many copies were made during this initial run, then what you hold is a rare record from decades ago.
Know Where to Sell
Selling vinyl records is a complex process. You have to know what you’re doing and where’s best for sale as well. Stores like Discogs will fetch less money than selling on sites like eBay. Your vinyl will reach more people worldwide looking for different types of albums with various rarity levels. When negotiating prices, you should expect any potential buyer would be enticed by nostalgia from their childhood or something they can’t find elsewhere. It’s because not many sellers offer older releases anymore, so there might even be buyers willing to pay higher prices just out of curiosity if nothing catches their eye first.
Let us know any other tips on how to sell vinyl records. Leave your comments down below.
