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Thinking about selling Vinyl collection - long

I am a new member, but have been lurking here for over 5 years now. I've been long debating whether or not to get back into using my LPs again - but don't think that I'm really up for the hassle. I am going to catalogue them after we get back from a short trip to NE to see our son in graduate school. I'm not looking forward to the cataloging - if memory serves I have somewhere north of 500 or so LPs. I started collecting circa 1968 - rock, folk, jazz, celtic, fusion - etc.

I went to work after college for Audio Associates in Arlington,VA - had many good TTs - Rabco, Thorens 125w/SME - etc. - Just don't listen to LPs anymore - I doubt if any are below average in condition - some - like Hendrix Electric Ladyland import and French Stones set might have been played once.

So my question is this - what's the best way to sell them after I come up with the list of what I have?

Thanks for the advice - and for all the info and fun I've had over the years reading here!
kencrouch
kublakhan
717 posts
 
I had 1000 records I wanted to sell once and some of them were rare-ish, going for up to $50 per LP on ebay. When I brought a box of twenty good ones to a store (Amoeba in Hollywood) they only wanted about 4 of them and offered around $2 each.

If you want to get the most money, you have to sell individually those that are somewhat rare, here or on ebay. Then you can separate the more common ones in small lots by artist or genre. The best way to check value is to search ebay for past auctions.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
I was in a similar situation two years ago. We were moving and while preparing my lps for the move I realized they had been in the same closet, nearly untouched, for twelve years!
I knew they would just go into a closet in the new house so I decided to dell them. I auctioned them off here instead of ebay. It wasn't for the money as much as it was finding them a good home where they might get used. I separated them into lots of ten to fifteen by artist or genre. The average price was around $5 each with one batch going for nearly $12 per album. Oh yeah, I kept fifty or so that had too much sentimental value. They haven't been listened to since.
Good luck whatever you decide.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,934 posts
 
If they are in good condition, and are good pressings, you might be surprised what some less common titles or special pressings might go for on ebay.

I'd spend some time looking at prices for these on ebay and sell those that have value individually and put the rest in a lot or lots. If you don't have time, find someone who collects and ask them to help identify any diamonds in the rough more quickly with you.
kencrouch OP
10 posts
 
Thanks for the suggestions - I just spent about 8 hours going through and listing them on Excel and ended up with 490 or so titles. I've decided to list them first as a group here on A'gon in the next couple of days and e-mail a listing to anyone interested in the whole lot.

Thanks again
ken
maineiac
649 posts
 
You or I must be crazy because you can't see why you should keep those great LPs and I can't imagine being without vinyl. It sounds like you have a very nice collection, the money you would get for them wouldn't come close to the enjoyment you could have with a modest LP cleaning system and a decent playback system isn't too much of a hassle.
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