Selling records to make money

In fact, the autograph might be more valuable than the record itself. This website uses cookies to improve your experience, but you may opt out if you wish. A few additional things to note here. I saw what she was holding—some of the biggest albums of the 80s—and the overconfident look in her eyes told me this wouldn’t go well.

Show less Ask a Question Related Articles References. If you have a lot of old vinyl records, you probably want to get rid of them while making some extra money. Selling your records online, rather than in stores, helps you reach a larger number of potential buyers. To have the best chance at earning the most money from selling your records, you should first grade the quality of your record, then decide which website to sell through and create an informative product listing, and then ship the record to the buyer selling records to make money a timely fashion. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Together, they cited information from 8 references.

The most valuable records in the world

Selling Vinyl Records. What was once one of the most innovative and exciting websites on the Internet in the late s, eBay has lost some of its luster over the past decade. Most vinyl collectors live and die by a grading system for vinyl records. Many like to use the Goldmine grading system , which looks like this:. This grading system is in place for the record itself and the album jacket. When you look at the record under bright light, do you see any scuffs or scratches? Perhaps if the album has never been opened, you can get away with Mint.

Why Are Vinyl Records Still Popular?

Show less Ask a Question Related Articles References. If you have a lot of old vinyl records, you probably want to get rid of them while making some extra money.

Selling your records online, rather than in stores, helps you reach a larger number of potential buyers. To have the best chance at earning the most money from selling your records, you should first grade the quality of your record, then decide which website to sell through and create an informative product listing, and then ship the record to the buyer in a timely fashion. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Together, they cited information from 8 references. Categories: Selling. Log in Facebook Loading Google Loading Civic Loading No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Article Edit. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Co-authored by wikiHow Staff Updated: August 28, Learn more Play the record from start to finish.

Unless you know the record has never been opened and is in mint condition and you want to keep it that waya good way to start judging the quality of your record is to play it through to detect any defects. Listen for any skipping, popping or hissing that impairs the quality of the music.

Look at the record sitting on the turntable to see if there is any warping, possibly from heat damage. This will mean that the record has a slight wave to it, and is not a straight line when looked at from its. Warping will also distort the sound quality of the record.

Look at the record under strong lighting. Using a light source with a high brightness level, like a halogen light bulb or even natural direct sunlight will help illuminate any scratches, dirt, dust or markings on the record. Clean dust off of the records. Use one side of the brush to sweep the dust outwards towards you. Brush very gently, otherwise you risk scratching the record. Use a brush specifically made for vinyl records. These are designed with anti-static protection because static electricity can warp the sound and damage the record.

Rate your album using the Goldmine standard. This rating system is used by record buyers and sellers worldwide to communicate the quality of the record and album jacket. Near Mint means an album has been opened but contains no scratches, warping, dirt or dust. G means the record has suffered wear and tear that will be apparent when you start playing. P and F mean the buyer should expect problems when listening, but usually these albums are not worth buying or selling.

Discover and verify the editions of your records. You might be holding a rare or limited album pressing and not even know it! You may find that someone you know, or a nearby record store clerk, will know how to assess your records and discover this information.

Ask them for help if you trust their knowledge. You can also enter online forums like the Discogs Marketplace Help Forum, to talk to experienced buyers and sellers who can help you properly assess your records. Sell on eBay if you have a bundle of records. Users also use PayPal to make their payments, and PayPal has their own charges with each transaction. Sell on Discogs if you have high-quality records.

Discogs is like eBay because you can create an account and sell items, and buyers can leave you reviews and rate your service. However, this website is entirely about selling music, so guaranteeing the quality of your product is important in helping you compete with other listings.

You can set your price or allow buyers the option of making you an offer. Sell on Amazon Marketplace if you have rare records. There is a fee depending on how much you sell. An individual seller is only charged. Sell on Craigslist if you want to earn cash quickly. On Craigslist—an online site that allows you to post advertisements for many things—you can list and sell items for free. However, Craigslist is organized by local cities, so your potential buyers are limited to your nearby area.

Customers contact you by a listed email or phone number, or an automated Craigslist email address. Selling this way does require more scrutiny on your part as to who you selling records to make money to. This can help you avoid anybody who might have criminal motives. Research other websites to find one that suits your needs. There are countless numbers of websites that allow you to list and sell vinyl records. A lot of them are variations on the format of eBay and Discogs, but they offer different fees that may be better for you.

Do you think record obsessives or casual music fans will be interested in what you have to sell? Look for websites that facilitate selling your records to who will most want to buy. Decide on a reasonable price. Based on what you learned while grading your record, you should know how much it is worth.

Websites like PopSike and CollectorsFrenzy keep records of how much specific records sold for on eBay auctions from the last several years. This is useful in learning how much people were willing to pay for certain records. Searching the Discogs Sales History can also help you discover past sale prices.

Factor in the rarity of your record. Here is where it is important to know if you have a rare record, like a first pressing or limited edition cover. Take multiple attractive photos to post with your listing. Make sure the record is well-lit and the photo is clear.

Take enough photos to capture all of the features of the album: the front and back cover, the record itself, and any inside booklet.

Upload all of these photos so buyers feel that you are communicating honestly with. Include photos of any imperfections in your description.

If there is a scratch, take a picture. If the album booklet is missing a few pages, take a photo that shows the damage. If you are selling multiple albums in a lot or bundle, take photos for every record. Write a thorough and informative product listing. Every sales listing will have space for you to write out a description of what you are selling.

Be sure to list the condition it is in, note any special editions or covers included, and if there is any damage list each defect in. List the artist, the album name, the issue date of the album, the record’s condition, and any damages… list everything you know about the album. Even if you have some of this information listed in the title of the listing, list it again just to make sure the information is not missed by the reader. Label your listing correctly and thoroughly.

This helps buyers find your listing. If you are selling a lot or bundle, include that in the description. Wait for buyers to make an offer. For example, if Amazon is too competitive, you could try eBay or Craigslist.

Ship the record in a box. Do not try to fit your record—even if it is a 45 rpm record, which is 7 inches wide—in a mailing envelope, because it may be broken during shipment and delivery. You can purchase shipping boxes of appropriate size at your local post office or packing stores, such as UPS and FedEx.

You can also purchase the packing tape you will need at those stores. Pack your record with bubble wrap. There will likely be some extra space in your box.

Ship the record on time. Most websites promise an item will be delivered within a certain time. Standard shipping usually takes about a week. If you are genuinely unable to visit the post office and ship your item within a day or two of having sold the record, communicate this to the buyer. Most people will likely be understanding, and be able to wait.

Thrifting VINYL RECORDS to Sell on eBay and BEST Sourcing TIPS for BIG PROFITS with Thrift School

Condition is highly important in the world of vinyl records. Reissues are re-releases of an older vinyl album. Do you know the difference between mono albums and stereo albums? Show this post too true afrojazz. That’s like asking a doctor to give you a colonoscopy over the phone. They have great training, and an easy-to-use interface. Vinyl records not worth much? Doing so could be difficult in some situations, especially if you were buying the record online.