# Pricing vinyl record albums **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340 "2009-08-22T20:58:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/1 "2009-08-22T20:58:01Z")
I just recently moved to a new residence and and in packing rediscovered a huge box of my vinyl record albums. I would like to get rid of them but have no idea how to price them. Are there any experts on here, or anyone that can direct me to some place online that would help me? I hope this is in the right forum. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/2 "2009-08-22T22:20:55Z")
You’re best guide is to look online. Several things factor in. 1. Is the lp available on tape or CD? If not it can be in pretty bad condition and still sell (within reason of course) 1. What does the cover and inside dust cover look like? Album art can be worth more than the record itself. 2. Finally check out online peer2peer sources. Many vinyl LPs are bootlegged all over the net and already are in mp3 format (In otherwords someone had it and made a digital recording of it), so that would lower the value quite a lot I’ve been to [Dave’s Records](http://www.davesrecordschicago.com/sell.html) which I like to look around. I have a few odd albums like Olivia Newton-John’s first band called “Toomarrow.” And a new-wavish type group called “States” which I love, but they were cut out LPs in the cut out bin, but they are in good shape. A buddy of mine who had access to some equipment made some decent mp3s of these for me. If you LP is in good condition and you have the right equipment you can get a very good sounding (I was surprised at how well it sounded) of the vinyl record. ---
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/3 "2009-08-22T22:30:10Z")
Thanks for the info. I don’t have any illusions that I am going to make a ton of money on them. They’re just vintage 70’s albums. I have replaced many with CDs. I was just hoping to find someone who collects this kind of thing. I am sure they are all in excellent condition (well, except maybe not the teenybopper ones). I will check out your suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/4 "2009-08-23T04:26:15Z")
If you’re interested, PM me and I’ll give you my brother address. He’s a collector and knows a lot about vinyl and would help you price them. [GEMM](http://gemm.com/) is a good place to compare prices, too. It’s an online conglomeration of record stores. You’ll find the most money in rare pressings and foreign stuff. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/5 "2009-08-23T06:42:32Z")
> [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](#): > > They’re just vintage 70’s albums. I have replaced many with CDs. Probably not worth very much at all, esp. if they’re available in newer formats. Depending on the artist, if they’re in mint condition they might be worth something to a collector. But unless you have something very rare or out of print then you’ll be lucky to get 10-25 cents apiece for any of them. Recently I did sell several Santana LPs to a record store for 50¢ apiece, which was a lot more than normal. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/6 "2009-08-23T18:38:59Z")
You may want to check out eBay and/or Amazon. If so remember sometimes a lot will sell better than one lp. For instance, if you have 10 vinyls by the Beach Boys they may not sell if you set them up one at time, but if you sell them as a “lot” you may be able to push them through. ---
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/7 "2009-08-23T18:51:49Z")
I was thinking of checking out craigslist to see the interest there. At least from the information I have gotten from you guys I’ll have a ballpark figure of what to expect. None of it would be considered collectible I don’t believe. Vintage 70’s rock is all. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/8 "2009-08-23T18:54:05Z")
> [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](#): > > I was thinking of checking out craigslist to see the interest there. At least from the information I have gotten from you guys I’ll have a ballpark figure of what to expect. > > None of it would be considered collectible I don’t believe. Vintage 70’s rock is all. In that case, don’t expect to get more than a £1 each for them. ---
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/9 "2009-08-23T18:55:52Z")
Sorry, but what’s that in dollars? I am not hoping to make big bucks. Just thought I might be able to contribute to someone’s collection. I have very little storage space in my new place. ---
**Author:** ![Henjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/51bf81/32.png) [@Henjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henjin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/10 "2009-08-25T14:30:50Z")
This is kind of a weird question, but does anyone know if there’s a market for 70’s Japanese pop/folk LPs in the US? Heh. I got like 2 boxes of them from a friend… Either way, I actually found some good stuff mixed in w/ the old J-Pop. Best thing I found was a Japanese first pressing (special red vinyl edition) of The Beatles’ Let It Be. As far as my untrained eye can tell, it’s in excellent condition. Includes the liner notes and intact ‘obi.’ I saw what I think was the same record on Ebay for over $100, but I was wondering if any Dopers could give me a better idea of how much it might be worth. I also have 3 other good condition Japanese pressings of other Beatles records, though they’re not red vinyl… Also, when I told my friend about it, he said I should bring it to Japan when I visit and sell it there. He says there’s a good LP market there, but somehow I feel like selling it in the US would be better… It’s more rare here as an import, no? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/11 "2009-08-26T02:22:31Z")
> [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](#): > > Sorry, but what’s that in dollars? > > I am not hoping to make big bucks. Just thought I might be able to contribute to someone’s collection. I have very little storage space in my new place. One British pound is currently worth about $1.63 American. If **fuzzypickles’** post is any indication, you’ll be more likely to get a sixth of that at most. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pricing-vinyl-record-albums/507340/12 "2009-08-27T13:00:49Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > One British pound is currently worth about $1.63 American. If **fuzzypickles’** post is any indication, you’ll be more likely to get a sixth of that at most. At a car-boot sale, you’d get a £1 an LP easily, as long as you waited for the right person for each LP.