How can I turn my old LPs into cold cash?

I've got 4 boxes of LPs from the 60's, 70's and early 80's, maybe 300 lbs in all. Who wants them? Audiophiles? How can I unload them for cash?

Hi iseller-2009,

What are LPs? :D

Seriously, depending on the artist, some people will spend a lot of money on them. I heard there are a lot of serious collectors over in the UK. Sell them online. Check how much each piece goes in the market before listing, don't give them away for free. :) You may also consider converting them into cds or mp3s before putting them up for sale.

Take care of them and keep them in the best condition possible. These things increase their value over time (as they become more 'antique') and it will be easier to sell if they are still playable. :)

Cheers!

As Irene has said, if the titles are right then you can get some good cash from collectors these days. eBay would be my marketplace of choice, the place is crawling with collectors of all sorts.

If you were going to auction titles, then for something like this I would be suggesting a 10 day format to increase viewing time for potential buyers, but if you can get a good grasp on values, then you could consider just setting a price and waiting for the market to come to you.

Maybe you could make them into purses! Have a look at this site.

Link hidden: Login to view

I've sold about 400 45s and LPs on eBay. For me, 45s sold the best. Remember, most collectors don't want regular albums sold at the record store. They want hard to find stuff. They want first press stuff. You can find out info about your LPs from the push marks on the vinyl close to the label, if its not available on the label.

Beatles: You won't get much more than 20$ if that for a very good condition Beatles album. The White album with all photos attached and in excellent to near mint will fetch you about 20$.

1st press Beatles 45s will fetch in the thousands and 1st press LPs in the hundreds. If you have a sealed Beatles album, they will fetch a lot more.
Beatles albums from Japan fetch a lot too.

Elvis 1st or 2nd press do well but his albums which sold in the millions not much as they are easy to find.

Most rock albums from the 70s and 80s wont fetch much. But certain genres might, like some punk rock stuff.

Guthrie albums if vintage and not recuts will fetch a good price.

I found hundreds of 45s on the side of the road and it was fun as hell to listen to them on my phonograph. I had an Elvis 45 2nd press Mystery Train which I sold for about 70$ but the fun part was listening to it. It sounded like I was in the recording studio. This is part of the reason they are so sought after. The sound is great. It was fun listening to Little Richard too.

Further: Rate your albums/45s based on poor, Fair, good, very good, Excellent near mint and mint. Don't list as mint unless the album is sealed in original store wrapper. Sometimes Excellent is listed as VG+. Rate the cover and album separate. Use the acronyms G for good VG very good excellent as EXC or VG+

Don't list any poor albums unless you know its extremely rare.

Take each album and hold it up to a light to look for scratches. The rating system is online so you can refer to that.

A scratch or two can be listed as excellent and many scratches(superficial) that do not effect playability as VG very good.

Near mint is that. No scratches. Maybe a small blemish but that's it. Near mint is considered the best rating on eBay in most cases.

And forget about 78rpm albums. There is no market at least when I was selling.

Maybe you could make them into purses! Have a look at this site.

Link hidden: Login to view

Is that a new niche market I smell there Maureen?

: )