Vinyl sales albums have staged the ultimate coup in the digital age, with a thirty-fold increase in sales since 2006. In 2020, 27.5 million LPs were sold in the United States and made up 27% of total album sales, which is not bad for an old-timer. If you have an LP collection or inherited one, they might be of value, and you may want to test the marketplace.
If you want to sell your vinyl records, start with online retail platforms such as eBay, Discogs, and Etsy. You can support music stores via their online vinyl sales, such as Eil, Amoeba, and Dusty Grooves. Alternatively, use local flea markets or Craigslist and Facebook.
There is a magic that happens when you play an LP or hold it in your hand that can’t match virtually, and the world seems to agree. LPS is making a comeback of stellar proportions, and you may want to take advantage of this iconic medium’s trajectory. Here are some ways you can sell your vinyl records in 2021.
Why Are Vinyl Records Valuable?
Vinyl is just circular discs of polyvinyl chloride with grooves stretched into their surface, so what makes vinyl so popular and sometimes valuable? There is nothing that quite matches a vinyl recording’s warmth and purity in many music lover’s opinions.
The sound communicated by the needle and groove delivers a stereo sound that many music lovers believe matches the original far more realistically than in digital formats. Most digital forms of music are compressed files that sacrifice a measure of sound quality.
The joy and value of vinyl lie in that LPs may appreciate substantial value over the years, especially if they are in mint condition, unlike digital or CD formats. Early LPs that suffered repressions, such as Queen and Elvis Presley, can command staggering figures from collectors. Rare recordings of jazz artists are also highly sought after and are often the only recording format of some of the old-time music legends.
Before You Sell: Know Your Vinyl’s Value
Music history is rife with unscrupulous dealers finding iconic vinyl in yard sales and second-hand stores, where the owners have no idea of the value of the LPs. You must conduct your research before you sell your vinyl to avoid being ‘fleeced by collectors. You can research the value of your vinyl online at sites such as:
- eBay tracks listings of vinyl sold that match your collection.
- Popsike.com tracks eBay sales over time and is an excellent resource to find your LPs value.
- Music Stack allows you to search by artist and track or title and offers a price history.
- Value Your Music gives vinyl prices by auction figures.
Alternatively, you may use vinyl price guides such as:
- Goldmine Record Album Price Guide is a popular resource for collectors and vinyl sellers alike.
- Mighty John’s Record Appraisal Guide by John Marshall features the value of more than a million records with a sleeve price guide for easy matches.”
- Osborne Price Guides are also an excellent resource and include guidelines specific to individual artists such as Elvis or the Beatles.
Online Retail Platforms
eBay
eBay allows vinyl owners to sell directly to buyers at a set price or use the auction format for more valuable editions. eBay charges a 10% fee, but you can recoup the percentage loss by increasing your price or lay the onus on your buyers to cover shipping costs. Sellers and buyers may conduct sales through Paypal’s secure portal.
Discogs
Discogs are a top-rated site for all things Vinyl and have a large and dedicated following. There is a detailed record database where sellers and buyers may keep track of their collections. You may create a list with photos and video to set your vinyl off to a great reception as a seller. You also have the option of having the buyer pay for shipping expenses. Discog takes an 8% fee on sales and uses Paypal for transactions.
Music Stack
Music Stack caters towards fewer commercial sales of rare LPs and out-of-print CDs for collectors. They have an enormous database but cater to a more selective consumer and don’t boast high volume sales. They average their sales as one album sale per month out of 1000 listings, so be prepared for a more curated experience.
They have a reputation for high quality and rare editions and are a good option for higher-priced listings. They charge an 8% commission on sales and a wide variety of payment options, including Paypal, Skrill, bank transfer, and money order.
Etsy
Etsy offers a niche of vinyl sellers and has the advantage of an impressive user base. Etsy is a handy way to get your vinyl out to a sizable possible pool of buyers. Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee and a 5% transaction and payment fees when your record sells.
Online Record Stores
Many bricks and mortar record shops found a lifeline in offering online sales to the public. It seems that more and more stores are finding online platforms to showcase their wares and reach a greater buying audience. Whether stores will move towards an online presence entirely remains to be seen.
Here are some options if you are planning to sell your LP online in 2021:
Amoeba
Amoeba Music has built up a reputation for quality LPs sales for over twenty years. Based in Berkeley, San Francisco, Amoeba offers a wide range of Vinyl to suit all music tastes with an inventory that changes daily. Amoeba offers ½ to ⅔ of the resale value of a vinyl or store credit as payment for mint collectibles.
Eil
Eil has been a trusted name as an online platform for new, used, and rare collectible Vinyl. Established in 1985, Eil is based in Kent in the UK but has an impressive reach in America, Japan, Germany, France, Mexico, and many more. Eil offers a great selection of vinyl in over 100 countries and rates 4.5 stars on Trustpilot.
Dusty Groove
Chicago based Dusty Groove has been offering a great selection of records for over 20 years. They offer competitive prices for rare collectibles and vintage vinyl records. Dusty Groove specializes in vinyl records, LPs, 7″ and 12″ singles, and a particular interest in Jazz and Soul collections.
Vinyl Me, Please
Vinyl Me Please has been around since 2013 and is a music company that operates as a record of the ninth club and an online record store and music magazine. VMP has an impressive reach and retails in over forty countries globally, with a 100,000 strong customer base. VMP offers great collectibles and vinyl collections over multiple genres, focusing on classics, Rap, and Hip Hop.
Online Collectors
You may find a buyer for your vinyl through searches for collectors online. You may approach established collectors online directly by isolating potential buyers through specialties such as:
- Era
- Record size or RPM
- Photo sleeves
- Artist
- Band
- Record type: Acetate/shellac/vinyl
You can broaden your search to include collectors that don’t necessarily focus on vinyl but are enthusiasts in your LP’s particular era or artist. For example, a Beatles enthusiast may be receptive to offers of collectible vinyl for their collection.
Local Sales
Local sales have the added advantage of cutting out the middleman commissions and extras such as shipping costs. You may connect with local enthusiasts on your Facebook groups or participate in local vinyl enthusiast gatherings and markets. Swap meets and flea markets are also great options to sell your vinyl.
You may use sales platforms to reach local vinyl enthusiasts such as:
- Craigslist
- Facebook Marketplace
- Local classifieds
Conclusion
It’s not only the quality of sound unique to vinyl pressings but also the physical process of playing vinyl tracks that make vinyl such a memorable experience. Records can last for decades if taken care of. No other music experience offers such a tactile interplay, which people often miss in the age of digital recordings.
If you have a vinyl collection, you have plenty of options to find a suitable buyer, and with the popularity of vinyl increases each year, you might want to hold on to your valuable ones.