valuing LPs

Anthillmob

Dave2112 wrote:

Hi

I've been selling a few vinyl albums and singles, sometimes on their own but if they're not worth much then grouping them together into a "similar bundle" like all the same artist/genre etc. I use cardboard backed envelopes from Staples - you can get a decent size for singles and one that's just a little larger than necessary for albums. They aren't cheap but then I add that to the postage and package charge and explain in the advert. So far no ones minded. After all if they know the total price when bidding that's what they should concentrate on ???

Also weigh everything and check the postal price before advertising - vinyl is heavy and it's easy to underestimate the cost.

As for finding out what they're worth - do a search on Ebay as that sometimes throws up interesting numbers - I've some items that might be valued at "£3" but when searching for them it turns out there are 10's on Ebay with hardly any selling....if they do then with fees it's not worth the time to list....

ive looked up all my records and sorted them into piles with regards to current auctions. i dont have many that are getting anything but have a handful that are so i might make something.

looking at lp's the average cost of a single album is around the £2.50 mark. im gonna sell 3 double albums in one bundle so im guessing times £2.50 by 6 and balls to the packaging.

1 large jiffy bag with 1 7" single cost me £1.49 including postage though i didnt put any cardboard in it.

Alanb

Anthillmob wrote:

i write DO NOT BEND all over items. ive got 2 pink floyd albums that are worth a bit if one of them had the posters and stickers with it (got it for 50p in a booty) and if another was on a different label it would be worth a few bob. ill keep hold of them.

someone is selling Now 4 for £102 or something last time i looked because its ultra rare on cd.

why do i never get rare items?

i have to package a potatoe im selling on ebay soon. you just wouldnt believe what some people buy. and its had 7 bids! i havent quite figured out how to package it but have some cardboard so may fashion a box.

Try using a washing powder tablet box for your potato, they're indestructable. :rotfl: :rotfl:

sarahlouise210

I am wondering if the Lp`s may have suffered somewhat being stored in the airing cupboard ???

iwanttosave_2

They were fine lastime I checked a few months back, they are actually being kept in the cupboard above it where the cold water tank is, I just call it the airing cupboard out of habit

sarahlouise210

iwanttosave wrote:

They were fine lastime I checked a few months back, they are actually being kept in the cupboard above it where the cold water tank is, I just call it the airing cupboard out of habit

aha .....just wondered!! How marvelous it must be to have cupboards. Our house has none ..consequently we have "stuff" everywhere!

iwanttosave_2

we still have stuff everywhere, just trying to get rid of some stuff so I can replace it with more stuff :rotfl:

Contains_Mild_Peril

Dave2112 wrote:

As for finding out what they're worth - do a search on Ebay as that sometimes throws up interesting numbers - I've some items that might be valued at "£3" but when searching for them it turns out there are 10's on Ebay with hardly any selling....if they do then with fees it's not worth the time to list....

If £3 is the value, that is generally what customers (at least in theory) are willing to pay. Since p&p for LPs is normally about £2.50, that means they would be unlikely to bid much more than 50p on ebay!

seabiscuit_2

i use these mailers to send records:

http://search.ebay.co.uk//search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=vinyl+mailers

you can get cardboard inserts to stiffen them even more but I found they are normally fine if you stick do not bend all over them (but have heard in foreign countries to try to write it in their language as a Italian postman bent a record in half to post it in a letterbox)

snax

It would be possible to ramble on and on for ages here, as the topic is complex and varied as well as subjective in appraisal - however here are a few thoughts. [ still longwinded though]
If you are selling LP's and other vinyl and hope to bring in some cash there are some closely observed parameters that need to be kept in mind....

Generally do not give your buyer a reason to haggle or expect a lower price - scratched records with torn sleeves are a waste of time - nobody wants them - dump them!

VINYL

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1. The vinyl as much as possible must be flawless ... no scratches/scores whatever ... turns a £10+ record into a £1 or less 'frisbee'.
2. The pasted on label in the center of the vinyl must be as pristine as possible [both sides]... no scratches/scores/flaking edges/gouges and definitely no names or initials written in ink!! Spindle marks, where the record has been waggled about over the metal spindle on the record player causing visible scoring around the hole centre is also a no-no.
3. Warping [now't to do wiv startrek!] is not acceptable. Usually caused over a period of time the vinyl can become bent, curved or generally mis-shapen due to poor storage conditions. [place one end of a biro into the centre hole and keeping the record level hold the other end against a flat, smooth worktop and gently 'spin' the disc. Any 'dips' or 'bumps' as it spins will show the severity of warping].
4. 'Mint' condition means just that - no visible evidence of play or wear, no handling or packaging 'roughing' of any part of the vinyl [repeated slipping of a record in and out of its inner sleeve, can over time cause surface abrasion or 'skating' as can clumsy cleaning of dust and fingerprint residue]. The surface of the record should retain its original lustre and 'shine'.

SLEEVE/COVER

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1. Just a list of no's basically - all common sense ...... No tears/rips/scratches/scores/marks/blemishes/graphiti or any other defacement ... spills & stains/cigarette burns/sellotape/glue etc
2. The inner sleeve must be pristine and without fault, even a plain white paper one.
[depending on the age of the record a certain amount of 'yellowing' especially around the edges, may be expected]
3. The outer sleeve is as important, if not more so, than the vinyl, in some cases, so the same conditions for vinyl apply to the record sleeve as well.
Repeated slipping and sliding of a record on and off a shelf over a period will cause 'edge wear' [ the storage edge, usually the bottom, will become worn and roughened unless it has been protected in a plastic sleeve]. This is usually accompanied by 'pinching' where the record spine or title edge has been repeatedly finger 'pinched' as it was gripped and pulled of the shelf..... baaaaaddddd!!
4. 'Creasing' where there are visible folds or creases, however slight, will adversly affect the value.... usually caused by poor handling . [This is actual damage to the card fibre's] ..... baaaaaddddd!!
5. Ring wear - where there is a visible imprint or stamp of the vinyl record showing through to the surface of the sleeve, almost always caused by storing records in a pile , one on top of the other - the sleeves card fibre's become compressed ... baaaaaddddd!!!!
6. Seam split - where the outer edges of the sleeve has become worn and weakened [edge wear] and will eventually start to split - this is usually remedied by the evidence of 30 year old sellotape !!! - The edges can also perish as the glue becomes weakened over time and the sleeve will split apart..... baaaaaddddd!!

These are the basic conditions you must satisfy if you want to sell at a decent price - anything not meeting these standards should be knocked out at a car-boot for a quid-a-go, anything left give to a charity shop or jumble collection ...... unless ...... you have a record which is rare/genuinely collectable - then it's a bit of cat and mouse as there is a trade off between collectability and condition ... a £100 album can be worth only £15-£20 if there is suface scratching, edge ware and a small slight crease on 1 corner.

It is also vital that any and all inserts are present ..... posters/lyric sheets/picture sleeves/cut-outs/stickered sleeves intact etc [all in mint condition for best prices of course]
Also vital for a seller is to know which issue or version of a record they have .... most early or 1st issue records are highly sought after and some not inconsiderable research is required sometimes to identify a particular issue. Beatles records are a perfect example of this and how collectors have caused havoc with valuations over the years as they decide what merits a more valuable price tag than another version. Generally though 1st issue in mint condition is what is required by both seller and buyer.
Gatefold or flipback sleeves are mostly valued higher than ordinary ones.
Double albums [not compilations] generally are worth double at car boots for sellers. [not always though - be prepared to haggle]
Coloured vinyl is worth more than bog standard black - though not a lot more as it was mostly a fad [introduced by the record companies in the 80's to get us to buy more records] and isn't that hard to find - more desirable than collectable.
Same goes pretty much for picture discs although some are quite rare and therefore valuable. They must have the original card backing/plastic sleeve/stickers etc to get good money though.
A dealer in my experience will offer 1/3 of the value of a record [1/3 cost, 1/3 overheads, 1/3 profit] - some times upto 1/2 for a rarity.
I've never sold on ebay and probably never will- to much of a risk - albums don't fit through a letterbox ...will the postie try and make it? - will the buyer swap your mint condition for his less than perfect one... and then return it for a refund? -or claim it was damaged in the post...when they damaged it themselves after regretting the purchase? too much to chance

If you want to pm me if you consider that you have a valuable piece, I can most likely help you track down a valuation, although it has to be said that you don't always receive what it is worth - in that case you'd need to decide if you want to sell !

Regards
S.

Contains_Mild_Peril

I usually find double albums at car boot sales about 1.5 x the price of single ones. That said, most of the albums I look at are bog standard, mediocre condition, 50p-£1.50 ones rather than collectors' items.