Oh! How I loved my records when I was in college! I listened to them constantly, and I often loaned them to friends. Surely, I thought, my friends would treat them with the same love and respect that I did, and often that was the case. But sadly, my records didn't always come back in the same pristine condition in which I loaned them. Over time, they became scratched, they skipped, and the album covers themselves became as tattered as the record within. I kept them around for years nonetheless, unready and unwilling to part with such meaningful and happy associations of my college days. Maybe you, too, are hanging on to your records because of the fond memories they hold, or perhaps you're thinking your records may be worth something. Here are some guidelines to consider in determining what your records are worth. (CAVEAT: if you don't have a turntable on which to play to them, and if you don't plan to get one, they should be sold, disposed of, or converted to another format that you currently employ, such as C.D.) Don't hang on to your old records simply because you don't know what to do with them. They're taking up precious space, collecting dust, warping, and, saddest of all, not being enjoyed.
So what are your records really worth? I'm sorry to tell you this, but almost every best selling record from any year was pressed in the millions, and used copies usually have no value at all. Generally speaking, the records that people bought most have the least value.
CONDITION IS EVERYTHING! A record without its' jacket has no value at all. Toss it. Records that are scratched and in overall
bad condition generally have no value, unless EXTREMELY rare.
Many people think that the older the record, the more it's worth. This is rarely true. In fact, generally speaking, all popular records manufactured before 1950 have very little value except sentimental value to the owner. There are very few collectors of very old recordings, and most sound museums have already obtained the very old recordings they needed many years ago.
There are lots of guide books out there to tell you what your records are worth, but the cornerstone guide of any record appraiser's library is Jerry Osborne's "Official Guide" which lists the recordings of 50,000 artists. eBay is another way to see what your records are worth. Check "completed listings" to see what records sold for, or follow current auctions to see what people are buying and, equally important, NOT BUYING. If you choose to sell records on eBay, try grouping them in lots in order to attract interest, get a better price, and downsize your collection more quickly.
If you want to get the absolute best price for your records from a dealer, make sure to contact the dealers that specialize exactly in the type(s) of records you're selling (45's, 78's, LP's, Edison cylinders, etc.) and note that there are specialists for every type of category (rock and roll, raggae, soundtracks, jazz, etc.).
For more in-depth information on selling your records, visit
Go Continental - What Are Your Records Really Worth?
Want to DONATE your old records? VVA (Vietnam Veteran's of America) - www.vva.org Tel. (212) 957-8387 will pick up your donations from your home. They accept records, household items and clothing.
Want to REFORMAT old records to CD? Converting a record to C.D. format can be done easily and costs somewhere in the range of $12, (depending on the number of records you choose to convert), but I recommend reformatting only for those very special recordings that can no longer be bought on a CD.......like your grandfather's favorite recording of Russian folk songs. Vik at iPreserve (vik@ipreserve.com) is one of many information/data services who can help.
FRAME IT....Do you have an album that has special meaning to you, has artistic merit, and/or one(s) that you'd like to display? Album frames are available at Urban Outfitters, as well as Target and other frame shops.
I hope you find this information helpful, Dear Readers........and please remember "The best value on obviously used records is not what money they will fetch but the enjoyment you can still get from them - continuing to play them, enjoying the music and remembering the moments."
So dust off those old Frank Sinatra records this Valentine's Day and have a happy and romantic holiday!
As always, be well, be safe, be organized! xxx's,
Nancy
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