Last updated Mar. 5, 2023 by Peter Jakes
When you have a lot of vinyl records that you want to get rid of, there are many different ways for you to sell your vinyl records. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize how easy it is to sell your vinyl records on eBay or Craigslist.
You can also sell them at local record stores or even through Amazon. If you want cash for your records, this article will give you tips on selling them successfully.
Clean the Records
The most important step in selling vinyl records is cleaning them, which is also one of the easiest steps. You can use a soft cloth, record cleaning solution, vacuum cleaner, or a record cleaning machine.
If you’re using a vacuum cleaner, ensure it has no brushes (you’ll want to use your finger) and shuts off automatically when you pick up your records.
Organize and Grade the Records
The second step in the vinyl record-selling process is organizing and grading your records. Again, it is important to do this before you sell them, not after. Again, you can use any system that works for you, but there are two main methods:
- Organize by genre and artist. Grading is more time-consuming with this method, but it’s also more organized and convenient for customers because they know what to expect when they buy from your collection. This method works best if you have a big collection of genres or artists that don’t fit into any particular genre (such as classical music).
- Organize by genre (or genre-specific subgenres). Grade each individual record based on condition so customers can easily find it for specific vinyl albums at your shop or online store.
Evaluate the Demand for Your Vinyl Records
To make sure you’re getting the most money for your records, you’ll need to consider their demand. The more in-demand a record is, the more likely it will be worth selling online.
Here are some things to keep in mind when researching the popularity of a vinyl record:
- The popularity of the artist and album
- The popularity of other albums on that label (or artist’s label)
- The popularity of other music by that artist or band
- If there’s anything special about this particular album (for example, if it was released as part of a limited edition collection)
Create a Sales Listing for Each For Sale Record
Before creating a listing for your vinyl record, you’ll want to check your records against the price guides mentioned above. This will help ensure you get a fair and competitive price with other listings (and doesn’t leave too much money on the table).
Then, all that’s left is to fill out the information in the sales listing form. You’ll need to create a sales listing for each record to sell your records. The listing should include the following:
- Title
- Artist
- Condition (new, used, sealed)
- Price
Set as the Price for Each Record
Research the current market value of the vinyl record. Different sites offer different prices, so it’s important to do your research and decide which is most accurate before setting a price for your records.
Research the value of the vinyl record on eBay. If you plan to sell your records online, this is an excellent site to use when determining how much you can set as their price.
Since eBay has millions of users who use it regularly, it’s likely that someone out there might be searching for a copy of your record just like yours—and if so, they might be willing to pay what you want for it!
In fact, you could even try listing it at several different prices with hopes that someone will bite at one or multiple offers instead (although bear in mind that there’s always risk involved here, too; if no one bites after seeing several different listings from various sellers over time then chances are good enough).
Determine how you’re going to Ship out the Orders.
The last thing you want to do is put your records in the mail and have them lost, damaged, or not arrive at all. Many companies provide record shipping services, but you need to find one with a good reputation that works quickly.
If possible, ask around and see what other people think of the shipping company you’re considering using.
Respond to New Orders as Quickly as Possible
Expediting the process is crucial to keeping customers happy and returning to your store. Once a shopper puts an order in, he or she wants that album in hand ASAP; if you don’t get back to them with an estimated shipping date within 24 hours, they will move on and purchase elsewhere.
Respond to new orders quickly. If someone places an order with you, you must respond asap so they know exactly when their order will be shipped out—and when they can expect it at their doorstep!
Use PayPal or Amazon Payments
Another way to sell vinyl records for cash is to use a third-party payment service. This service will allow you to get paid quickly, easily, and securely through PayPal or Amazon Payments.
If you choose this method for selling your records, you must be sure that the company in question has a trustworthy reputation. You should also ensure that payments are protected by PayPal or Amazon Payments so that if something goes wrong with your transaction, there will be options for recourse.
It’s important to note that the third-party payment system does not guarantee how much money will change hands when using it.
However, it does guarantee safe transactions, which is why we recommend using one over other options, such as selling at flea markets or garage sales where cash isn’t involved, as well as auctions which may take longer than necessary while waiting for bids from potential buyers who might not even exist.
Contact Record Buyers
If you are unsatisfied with the price you received (or have not heard back from the buyer), don’t hesitate to contact them.
Just remember that some people may be busy and may not respond right away, or they may feel like they do not need to respond because they already got their money, and it is your fault if you did not ship it on time.
If that happens, give them a day or two and try again. Some buyers will be happy to talk with sellers who follow up after receiving their record(s), especially if things do not go as planned on their end (like shipping).
Selling vinyl records price guide.
There’s no single price guide for records, but there are a few basic ways to determine values. Your best bet is to look at the record labels themselves: they’ll tell you what year the record was produced (which will help you figure out if it’s valuable), and they’ll have information on where to send the record if you want to sell it.
Some companies also include their own “value guide.” If this is the case, take it with a grain of salt: these guides may include prices from the 70s and 80s, which won’t help you much in determining the value of your vinyl today.
Best places to sell vinyl records online
Tower Records: This site is very popular among young people because it’s easy to use and the prices are fair. They also make it easy to get paid quickly by setting up an account that automatically deposits payments into your bank account when you reach $100.
eBay: eBay has been around for decades and has a massive following among record sellers and consumers who love to find rare finds. The fees are high if you choose the auction format but lower if you opt for the buy-it-now option.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sell my records for cash?
If you don’t have a pawn shop nearby, many online options exist to buy used records. If you have an extensive collection or want to get rid of albums in bulk, this can be a great way to get paid quickly for all your records.
Some websites will send someone over to pick up records from you and give you cash on the spot. You’ll get paid well through these sites, but it will be more work than selling to a pawn shop or online marketplace.
These sites can be good if you’re looking for something easy but aren’t sure how much your vinyl is worth.
How do I find out how much my vinyl records are worth?
To use an aggregator, you’ll want to head to eBay and search for the record title. You can also use Amazon’s “Sold Listings” feature in the same way—search for the record title and then search through their “Completed Listings” feature to find out how much similar copies sold in the past. A final option is Discogs—you can search through their database and see what similar copies have also been selling there.
What are 45 records worth?
A collection of 45s is like a stock portfolio because it’s made up of instruments that may be traded separately from the whole. On the other hand, records are unlike stocks because they’re not publicly traded, and their values aren’t as strictly defined.
Nonetheless, there are ways for collectors to figure out what each of their records is worth.
What is the rarest 45 record?
At first glance, it might seem obvious: the rarest 45 records would be those with the most limited pressings. However, that’s not always the case—sometimes, a record can be extremely rare for other reasons.
For example, many songs were only released as singles, meaning the likelihood of finding a copy of that single is extremely low. Some records were pressed in small numbers, to begin with, but in addition to that, there was another factor that made them hard to find.
For example, many records were pressed as promotional pieces and never actually sold to consumers. These factors can conspire to make a rare record based on its scarcity alone, so it’s important to look at all aspects of the record before declaring it a winner.
Are my records worth anything?
Suppose you’re wondering whether your record collection is worth something. In that case, you can find out by taking them to an antique shop or flea market which buys used items from customers, looking online for local record stores of various sizes, or checking with collectors clubs.
But be aware that many collectors’ items aren’t actually worth anything even if you were able to find someone who wanted them; some items get bought up by collectors because they want them for their own collections.
How do I find out how much my vinyl records are worth?
Here’s an overview of how to read different grades:
Mint (M): The record looks like it has just been taken off the store shelf. It is shiny, clean, and without any blemishes. Even the labels are generally in mint condition—clean and crisp without any writing on them or tears in the paper.
Near Mint (NM): There may be some minor signs of wear on the record, but they should be so slight that they will only be noticed upon close inspection. For example, there could be barely noticeable scuffs or fingerprints on the vinyl surface.
Very Good Plus (VG+): This is where most vintage records fall when they come into stores to sell or trade. The record will have been handled several times over the years but will not have been abused or stored improperly so that it suffers from serious deterioration issues like
Summary
Know how to sell records
Several companies offer services to help you sell your vinyl records online. Here are the most popular:
- eBay and Amazon are two big marketplaces where you can list your records for sale. Both sites have a large user base, but Amazon tends to have more buyers than eBay. If you’re looking for an easy way to get rid of some old albums, these are good choices.
- Discogs is a specialized database that focuses on record collecting. It’s more expensive than eBay or Amazon (usually around 10% commission) but has a much smaller audience, so there’s less competition from other sellers listing similar products at lower prices. You’ll need to create an account before posting anything here; again, we recommend using our guide above to get started with this method!
- Recordmecca is similar in some ways to Discogs—it charges higher fees per item listed than its competitors’ fees, too—but Recordmecca also offers its own “Top 20” rankings system based on sales volume each month, which could help bring more attention.
By following these steps, you can sell your vinyl records for cash in no time. You can also check out our blog post on how to make money selling stuff online.
