Is there a market for old music nowadays?

[user9430961]

I’m downsizing my music collection, and I easily have over 500 vinyl albums, 45's records, cassettes, and CDs (combined).

Yet I don’t want to sell my music to a consignment store, as I want to keep better tabs of my music. I don’t have enough items to make it worth my while to set up a spot at a swap meet or have a garage sale. Yet since my music is mainly jazz and pop music, I know only a limited amount of people would be interested in my music. However I’m not ready to give it to my local thrift store as of yet, as I would like to try my luck at selling it online. I don’t want to try to become an Amazon seller (because I have heard it could be very costly to do business with Amazon), yet I had heard from my sister-in-law that I should use Ebay to sell my music. Ideally, I would like to sell each item for $1 to $2 (at the most) + whatever it costs for shipping materials and shipping.

Now with that being said, I just wanted to check with the group hear to see what your suggestions are before making up my mind.

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Cormac135]

I'd be willing to take it off your hands as long as you pay for post and package.

To be serious, if all you want is $1-2 an item, you'd be better just taking them to an old vinyl record shop and seeing what they'd give you, i'm guessing it would be a bit less than a dollar an item though.

The other option is selling them in a bundle on Ebay to that one buyer who will also come and collect them, it's the post and packaging that's the killer.

 

[rareboy]

If they are rare or interesting albums, you might do it on eBay...otherwise there is likely going to be very limited interest.

I would think that even some smal swap meets might help you unload some of these if they are attended by people who still might play vinyl.

 

[peeonme]

frankfrank a fellow Juber deals in vinyls. You might want to pm him.

 

[pat grimshaw]

How old is your old music?

 

[NotHardUp1]

frankfrank a fellow Juber deals in vinyls. You might want to pm him.

This. I was going to also recommend contacting him. He hasn't posted just here in the last week or two, but has posted recently. If you PM him, perhaps his profile is set up to notify him of JUB emails and he'll get word right away. He already travels nationally in his collecting and selling, so maybe he'll be willing to come see to to a) help you assess, and b) buys some off you.

Another member, Lex, has worked in close proximity to vinyl sales, and he could also help advise you. Lex posted as recently as last week.

Miadu (sp?) is yet another who is very knowledgeable in all things Jazz, but he has not been on in some time.

Best to you.

 

[rareboy]

Too bad that I am knowledgeable in most thing Jizz.

I guess that wouldn't help in this case.

 

[sshears]

Too bad that I am knowledgeable in most thing Jizz.

I guess that wouldn't help in this case.

...LMAO

- Well, I would like to know how old the jazz music is as well...?

 

[G-Lexington]

It’s really tough to speak in generalities, but I sort of have to. Here’s the general overview.

Cassettes are the lowest on the totem pole. There IS a small dedicated fanbase, but they’re very particular about what they want. If you have indie rock or edgier dance stuff on Wax Trax, that can be worth something. Most other genres generally aren’t worth much at all.

CDs bottomed out but are rebounding slightly. Your jazz stuff is probably worth more than your pop. Any sign of disc “rot” or deep scratch work will negate any worth, though.

45s (and 12” singles) are a bit of a niche in the vinyl world (of which I’m a member) - most people are more interested in LPs. Jazz does very well if it’s the classic stuff, like the 60s stuff on Blue Note.

Condition on everything is key. Original sleeves and cases are a must. 45s do better with picture sleeves in whatever condition, but plain sleeves are OK for them.

“Value” basically comes down to supply and demand. One 45 by a particular artist could be worth $50...and another by the same artist could be worth 50 cents. Your odds of hoodwinking someone into paying $50 for a 50 cent record are basically nil.

Selling a music collection isn’t easy. You’ll maximize your take by selling it yourself online...but you’ll also have to ship it all yourself, and stay on top of sales, and deal with idiots who will ask you meaningless questions and try to buy your most valuable stuff for next to nothing. In addition, if you’ve never sold anything online, you’ll be starting from zero, and many buyers will shy away from anybody with no seller history.

Your best bet is probably selling your collection to a large(r) record store that deals with used product. You will get less than it’s worth - by at least 50% - but then again, you’ll be done in one transaction.

If you want to DM me a list of what you have, I can at least give you a vague idea if anything in the collection might be worth anything.

Lex

 

[NotHardUp1]

See? Lex is a regular authority. You're getting stellar advice.

 

[user9430961]

Hello Guys,

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your help, suggestions, and comments. Based on what you all have shared, I have some homework and thinking to do.

Thanks a MILLION. Your help is so greatly appreciated.