People do not 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 gather dust in the farthest corner of the closet and get them out only during repair and relocation. But some of these things can be sold to someone who really appreciates them. For example, old vinyl records.
Previously, a whole pile of them was stored in each house: songs by Alla Pugacheva, Vyacheslav Malezhik, Valery Leontyev, 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 electronic media. And only the decrepit, as a rule, already inoperative player, and the collection of old vinyl remind of past times.
But those who carefully preserved the records can now earn on their sale. A lot of people are ready to purchase them. Among them are both collectors and lovers of real sound.
So, how and where to sell used vinyl records ?
The struggle between analog and digital sound
But we will begin, perhaps, with why people hunt for vinyl. Everything is clear with such a category as collectors: 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 simply part of the exhibition.
But there are people who prefer to listen to music on such a medium. Compared to the compressed digital format, on vinyl media the sound is richer, brighter, and it has more depth. Cassettes also lose in this competition, as they have significantly reduced the range of reproduced frequencies.
Digital formats are much more convenient: by compressing files on a single medium, you can store a large amount of music. They are compact, comfortable and not damaged when playing. That is why they are leading the market today.
But a smaller part of the population - connoisseurs of rich and deep sound - remained faithful to vinyl. Their army is replenished at the expense of individual representatives of the younger generation. Today we can safely say that digital media did not fully triumph, just as the film industry could not completely replace the theater.
Now back to the question of where and how it is profitable to sell records. Moreover, there are quite a lot of sales outlets, and all of them deserve attention.
Commission shop
In every, even the smallest city, there is a commission shop where various goods are accepted for sale — books, equipment, interior items, dishes, things, etc. Old USSR vinyl records and foreign performers are also accepted.
This method of marketing is attractive because of its quick implementation: if there are people who appreciate this product in your village, they will buy it 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 do not want to delve into the topic and you need to quickly turn in all the available records, this is the best option. Fast, cheap, no nerves.
Swap meet
In large cities there are various flea markets and collapses. And if you make an effort, then the product 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 minimal knowledge about the prices and potential costs of each record. Secondly, there is no guarantee that there is a buyer, while you will definitely spend your own time. Thirdly, the market is a very special place where sellers coexist with homeless people, marginals, asocial personalities, plus put up with all the vagaries of the weather.
The advantages include higher profits and, at least, an interesting experience.
A music shop
Since many music lovers are interested in buying vinyl records, there are correspondingly retail outlets where these products are 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 in all over the country.
In the vinyl record store, goods are often taken for sale - especially rare and valuable items. They will offer a good price for them. But it’s not profitable to sell large-circulation copies here - the cost will not be higher than in 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 inspected, rare ones will be identified and the approximate market value will be called. After visiting the vinyl record store, you can independently display your goods on online platforms or leave them 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 Web 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 goods on sale in thematic sections in 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 how much you can sell. Then you just have to wait, as the implementation period can be very long.
Of the minuses of this method, a high risk of collision with scammers can be noted: they monitor all ads in order to find a gullible simpleton.
Specialized sites for the purchase / sale of vinyl
There are also little-known specialized sites where you can buy or sell a rare specimen - 33ob.ru and similar resources. Here live those who are well-versed in the matter and have the most extensive knowledge on the topic.
Such a site offers the highest prices, but only for a worthwhile item. The disadvantage of such resources is the obligatory registration, a commission from the sale is also taken, or the advertisement itself will be paid.
In general, in order to sell records here, you need to have something truly rare and interesting in your collection.
The price of old Soviet and foreign records
The price of vinyl records depends on several important factors. These include:
- Date of issue. The older, the more expensive. But sometimes the old artist was later released in an additional print run - this reduces the cost.
- A rare instance. The record was published in a small edition, which makes it exclusive. Collectors hunt for such things, and they are always expensive.
- The country where the recording was made. Domestic carriers of the Soviet period do not have much value, while among vinyl with foreign performers you can find an interesting copy. Those records that entered the country bypassing the Iron Curtain are especially valued.
- Condition. It is almost impossible to sell records with a serious defect, but if there are scuffs and scratches on it that have little effect on the frequency of the sound, then the buyer can still demand a discount even for a rare thing.
- Playback speed. Other things being equal, a plate with a high speed of turnover costs more.
The price of vinyl records in retail sales can range from 500 to several thousand rubles. If we talk about collectible overvalued and rare items, then they cost tens of thousands of dollars.
How to find out the condition of the goods
For the convenience of customers, special notations were invented that will help to understand the condition of the carrier without a visual inspection:
- Mint - vinyl is new, never played. The designation “SS” may be present here - the packaging is not opened.
- NM - the record is almost new; it has been tapped several times. Packaging without damage and scuffs, vinyl surface in perfect condition.
- Ex is in excellent condition. Small defects are allowed on the surface of the medium that do not affect the sound quality (rustling and light crackling are not considered sound errors). Packaging - in good condition, slight creases in the corners are acceptable, but all seams are intact.
- G is in good condition. Packaging looks bad - scuffs, tears, dirty and greasy stains, etc. There are a lot of scratches on the vinyl, but you can play it.
- F / P - poor condition. The only reason to buy this item is its collectible value. Not suitable for listening.
Pre-sale preparation
Before deciding where to sell used vinyl records, you need to bring them in decent form. In other words, pre-sale preparation is needed. All of them need to be sorted out, make sure that the packaging corresponds to the content. Then you need to wipe the envelopes from dust and glue - this will give them a more presentable look.
It is better not to touch the surface of the vinyl - dust when wiping leaves traces, and this delicate procedure should be left to those who understand this topic.
Particular attention should be paid to compiling a list of the collection - name of the plate, producer, year of publication, circulation. This will help facilitate dialogue with the seller in buying up or save time when submitting an advertisement.
So, now you know how and where to sell used vinyl records. And how much you earn on this depends only on whether there are any items in your collection that are of value.