Best way to sell a Record Collection Help
What are my options
There are two main options firstly to sell the items individually, this means you will need to obtain the value of every record and either sell them on line or at a local Record Fair. There are pros and cons to this method which I will list below.
Pros
If you sell them correctly then you are more likely to get more for your records.
Taking them to a record fair can be fun, these events are great for social interaction and meeting people who have a genuine passion for music.
Cons
You will need to put considerable time and effort into selling your records
You will need to research each individual item and grade each record carefully, particularly if you are planning to sell on line.
Sell your collection to a dealer
Your second option is to sell your collection to a dealer, dealers will offer you a percentage of the overall value of the records.again I have listed the pros and cons of this option below.
Pros
You can sell the records quickly without devoting time or effort.
You won’t be left with records that are hard to sell
Cons
You might get less for your collection
Some dealers will try to cherry pick your collection
Best way to sell a record collection near me.
If you decide to sell on line then you won’t need to find local contact but if you either sell to a dealer or sell at a Record Fair then you will require a local contact. www.recordfairsuk lists the majority of events in the UK and gives you contact details for all the organisers. There is normally a few options for record shops in your district but if you have a larger collection then dealers are often happy to travel and visit you at home. When selling at home never allow a dealer to cherry pick this will almost certainly mean you will be left with records that are hard to sell.
What kind of records do you have?
When contacting a dealer if you have a list or a rough idea of the items you have for sale then that makes it a lot easier for them to judge whether your collection is worth buying. One of the most common responses I get when asking what kind of music a caller has is “All sorts!” This is obviously does not help the potential buyer in distinguishing whether your collection is worth visiting. Another essential factor whether a dealer might be interested in buying your records is there condition. This means both the record and the sleeve. The value of a record can vary massively by condition. Take a good look,at your records under a strong light and see if there are marks in the playing surface. Some records can look OK in bad light but when examined under stronger light can show signs of wear. The sleeve is also important if there is creases or tears, marks or staining then this will have a bearing on the value of a record. Also writing on the sleeve or record label can effect the over all value.
Can somebody tell you how much your collection is worth over the phone?
In short the answer is no and this applies to email also. A dealer can give you a rough estimate but ultimately they will need to see your records. This is because there are lots of different versions of the same title and the grading of records can be very subjective. Records only tend to sell for high values if they are in very good order, this means little or no marks on the vinyl and good clean sleeves. A reputable dealer will explain why your records are worth a particular value and will certainly not cherry pick your collection. Another point worth making is some artists are infinitely more saleable because of there desirability. Bands such as Pink Floyd have a large following and there records tend to sell quickly other artists have less attention so might take a little longer to sell. This can affect what a dealer is willing to give you for your collection. The quicker they can sell the records the more they are willing to pay for your records. This is also something to consider if you sell your own records, you can often get left with the slower selling items which can take months even years to sell individually.
Should I make a list?
Although you will need to gather some information before approaching a shop or dealer regarding your record collection it is advisable to ascertain whether your collection has any real value before compiling any comprehensive list. I have often been sent very detailed long lists of records which have little or no real value. If you can put together a rough list of the artists or genres you have then the dealer can dig a little deeper to judge whether your records have any commercial value.
What Records Sell?
There is no real hard and fast rule on how to discover which records or styles of music have any value, but there are areas where there is rarely little or no value to the records. One is the Easy Listening genre, this includes such artists as James Last, Shirley Bassey or Andy Williams, these records sold in vast quantities and are of little interest from a collectors perspective. Some genres are more complicated such as Jazz and Classical, both these genres have lots of records which do not sell for a great deal but have some very collectable exceptions. Early jazz recordings which include big band records can often be found in bargain bins but there are quite a few small group recordings from the 50s and 60s which can sell for three and four figure numbers. In classical there is only a very small percentage of high value records, these tend to be on certain labels and particularly Violin and Cello focused. More consistent genres include Rock, Punk and metal which tend to have a strong collectors following.
Do records lose value?
Like any market, prices can fluctuate and what was once very desirable can begin to decrease in value. If hanging onto your records as a commodity I would certainly keep an eye on the market, to know when the best time for selling has arrived. Just has values reduce some records increase in value, a good example at present is the rise in price of records from the early 90s. Artists such as Alanis Morissette sold in vast quantities on CD but very little on vinyl so can sell for upwards of a £100.
How do I gauge what is a good offer?
Lets say your collection contains around two or three hundred records then you would expect a few to have a reasonable value. maybe there is three or four records which sell for over a hundred pounds and you have another 30 which sell for around £30.00 that still leaves a majority which might only sell for five to ten pounds and some only for £1.00. A dealer will have to draw an average of what your records are worth and as I explained earlier how many will sell quickly and how many might hang around for awhile. A professional record seller will break down your collection and explain how they have come to the amount they offer. Some collections contain a high percentage of collectable records where many have only a small value so don't be to offended if you are only offered a small amount for your collection. The value of records have little bearing on the quality of music and more about there relevance in the collectors market.
Am I ready to part with my record collection?
There is no easy answer to this, records evoke very strong memories and I have experienced some very strong emotions when visiting peoples houses who are contemplating selling there collection. I still remember buying a box of Bebop jazz 78s from a elderly gentleman who had acquired them when he was just 15 years of age, he explained that he was only the custodian and it was time for somebody else to enjoy them. Even stronger emotions are at play when the records are the treasured possessions of a recently deceased loved one, I have visited many homes where a relative is making the difficult decision whether to part with the records. In the end, my advice is to take your time and make sure you are ready to let go.
For more information you can go to www.cannonballrecords.co.uk