The first step in selling vinyl records is deciding whether the records will be sold in person or over the Internet. Next, the records need to be researched to determine their rarity and demand and to set a base price. When selling in person, the records will need to be taken around to various dealers and stores or displayed at a record fair. For Internet sales, the records need a rating based on quality, a description, and pictures.
Vinyl records can be sold in person to a record dealer, music shop, or at a record selling fair. Selling vinyl records in person is a lot less work. The records can be taken to a potential dealer and the interested party can look over the collection and play the records to check their condition.
Before selling vinyl records on the Internet, however, the records need to be rated based on the quality of the records and covers. Most rating systems break the quality into four levels, such as good, fair, poor, and bad. A record that has no scratches, a pristine cover and plays beautifully would be considered in good quality. Records with slightly damaged covers, some scratches and minor warped sound quality would have a fair or poor rating. Vinyl records that have several scratches, cosmetic damage to the cover and a noticeably poor sound would be rated bad.
The next step in selling vinyl records on the Internet is to write a description and take pictures of the records and covers from the front and back. Descriptions should include the artist, album title, name of the production company, size and speed of the record, and a date. In addition, the description should include the rating, a rating explanation and a description of any blemishes. It is best to be honest about the condition of records to avoid any conflicts or returns later.
Whether selling vinyl records in person or on the Internet, it is a good idea to research each record to determine if it is rare and in demand. This will also help determine a starting price. Record research can be done by simply typing the name of the record into an Internet search engine, searching through the inventory of online record music stores or online guides for record prices. If the record is not readily available at online music stores or is not listed at any record guides, then the record may be rare. Based on the research, availability, and condition, a price can be set.
The best way to sell records over the Internet is using auction sites or record selling websites. Once a reputable site has been selected, the seller should post the pictures, description, the price and also any shipping costs. If there is no Internet interest in the record or the price the seller values the record at is considered high, the record could be sold in person to a store, dealer, or at a fair.