Where to sell used vinyl records? How to profitably sell records

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

People don't like to part with old things. For years we have been storing items that have not been used in everyday life for a long time. They collect dust in the farthest corner of the closet and they are taken out only during repairs and moving. But some of these things can be sold to someone who really appreciates them. For example, old vinyl records.

Earlier, every house kept a whole stack of them: songs by Alla Pugacheva, Vyacheslav Malezhik, Valery Leontiev, as well as rarer copies with foreign music - The Beatles, Queen, ABBA and many other performers. But the time has come for cassette recorders, and then for electronic media. And only a decrepit, as a rule, already non-working player, and a collection of old vinyl are reminiscent of bygone times.

But those who carefully preserved records can now earn money by selling them. A lot of people are willing to buy them. Among them there are both collectors and lovers of real sound.

So, how and where to sell used vinyl records?

Analog versus digital audio struggle

But let's start with why people hunt for vinyl. With a category likeCollectors understand everything: someone collects stamps, someone collects badges and medals, and there are those who acquire rare copies of records. Very often they are not even unpacked, and they are just part of the exhibition.

But there are also people who prefer to listen to music on this medium. Compared to compressed digital, the sound is richer, brighter, and has more depth on vinyl. Cassettes also lose in this competition, as they have a significantly reduced frequency range.

Digital formats are much more convenient: by compressing files on one medium, you can store a large amount of music. They are compact, convenient and do not get damaged during playback. That is why they are leading the market today.

But a smaller part of the population - connoisseurs of juicy and deep sound - remained true to vinyl. Their army is replenished by individual representatives of the younger generation. Today we can safely say that digital media has not completely won, as the film industry has not been able to completely replace the theater.

Now let's get back to the question of where and how to profitably sell records. Moreover, there are quite a few sales outlets, and all of them deserve attention.

Consignment shop

In every, even the smallest city, there is a commission shop that accepts various goods for sale - books, equipment, interior items, dishes, things, etc. They also accept old vinyl records of the USSR and foreignperformers.

This method of sale is attractive due to its quick sale: if there are connoisseurs of this product in your locality, then it will be bought very quickly. Of the minuses - the price. Here they offer 10-15 rubles. per copy, rarely where the cost reaches 50 rubles.

Nevertheless, if you don't want to delve into the topic and need to quickly turn in all available records, this is the best option. Fast, cheap, no nerves.

Flea market

In major cities there are various flea markets and stalls. And if you make an effort, then the goods can be sold there. They work, as a rule, on a day off, so even a working person has the opportunity to do the selling himself.

Here the price is much higher - 60-200 rubles. But there are also disadvantages. First, you need at least a minimal knowledge of the prices and potential value of each record. Secondly, there is no guarantee that there will be a buyer, while you will definitely spend your own time. Thirdly, the market is a very special place where sellers coexist with homeless people, outcasts, asocial individuals, plus put up with all the vagaries of the weather.

Pros include higher profits and at least an interesting experience.

Music Store

Since a lot of music lovers are interested in buying vinyl records, there are outlets where these products are available in a huge assortment. These are various music stores, for example, in Moscow - Sound Barrier, Vinyl Time, Phonograph, in St. Petersburg -"Vinyl", "Record", "Recordmed" and many others, both in these cities and throughout the country.

Vinyl record stores often sell goods - especially rare and valuable items. They will offer a good price for them here. But selling large-circulation copies is not profitable here - the cost will not be higher than in a banal buying.

Nevertheless, this is a very good option for those who are completely unaware of the prices of old vinyl. Here the entire collection will be examined, rare ones will be identified and the approximate market value will be announced. After visiting the vinyl record store, you can independently display your product on Internet sites or leave it for sale.

The main disadvantage of this method is the loss of time during the trip, the long implementation period, as well as the low probability of having a valuable rarity.

Internet sites

On the Internet today you can buy and sell absolutely everything. And if you are looking for where to sell used vinyl records, then you can turn to the help of such trading platforms as Yula, Avito or Ozone. They have specialized sections with this category of goods. You can also try to put the product up for sale in thematic sections on social networks.

In order to place an ad, you need to take a couple of photos and set a price, and, therefore, understand what and for how much you can sell. Then you just need to wait, as the implementation period can be very long.

Of the minuses of this method, a high risk of collision can be notedwith scammers: they monitor all ads in order to find a gullible simpleton.

Dedicated sites for buying/selling vinyl

There are also little-known specialized sites where you can buy or sell a rare copy - 33ob.ru and similar resources. Those who are well versed in the matter and have the most extensive knowledge on the topic live here.

This site offers the highest prices, but only for the real thing. The disadvantage of such resources is mandatory registration, a commission is also taken from the sale, or the ad itself will be paid.

In general, in order to sell records here, you need to have something really rare and interesting in your collection.

Price for old Soviet and foreign records

The price of vinyl records depends on several important factors. These include:

1. Release date. The older, the more expensive. But sometimes the old artist was later released in an additional edition - this reduces the cost.
2. A rare specimen. The phonograph record was published in a small edition, which makes it exclusive. Collectors are after these things, and they are always expensive.
3. Country where recording was made. Domestic carriers of the Soviet period are not of great value, while among the vinyl with foreign performers you can find an interesting specimen. Those records that entered the country bypassing the Iron Curtain are especially valued.
4. Condition. Records with a serious defect to sellalmost impossible, but if it has scuffs and scratches that have little effect on the sound frequency, the buyer can still demand a discount even for a rare item.
5. Playback speed. All other things being equal, a record with a high turnover rate is worth more.

The price of vinyl records in retail can range from 500 to several thousand rubles. If we talk about collectible super-valuable and rare items, then they cost tens of thousands of dollars.

How to know the condition of the goods

For the convenience of customers, special symbols have been invented that will help you understand the condition of the media without visual inspection:

• Mint - new vinyl, never played. The designation "SS" may also be present here - the package has not been opened.
• NM - the record is almost new, listened to several times. Packaging without damage or scuffs, vinyl surface in perfect condition.
• Ex – excellent condition. Small defects are allowed on the surface of the media, which do not affect the sound quality (rustles and light crackles are not considered sound errors). Packaging is in good condition, slight creases in the corners are acceptable, but all seams are intact.
• G - good condition. The packaging looks bad - scuffs, tears, dirty and greasy spots, etc. The vinyl has a lot of scratches, but it is playable.
• F/P - bad condition. The only reason to buy this item is its collectible value. Unlistenable.

Presalepreparation

Before you decide where to sell used vinyl records, you need to make them look decent. In other words, you need pre-sale preparation. All of them need to be sorted out, to make sure that the packaging corresponds to the content. Then you need to wipe the envelopes from dust and glue them - this will give them a more presentable look.

It is better not to touch the surface of the vinyl - the dust leaves marks when wiped, and this delicate procedure should be left to those who understand this topic.

Special attention should be paid to compiling a list of the collection - the name of the record, manufacturer, year of publication, circulation. This will help facilitate the dialogue with the seller in the purchase or save time when submitting an ad.

So now you know how and where to sell used vinyl records. And how much you earn from this depends only on whether there are instances of value in your collection.