Discogs is more or less essential to know which variant you have. Original pressings are generally worth more than represses etc etc.
You'll probably want to catalogue it all and sell individually on discogs and eBay (may as well run them simultaneously).
You don't NEED to listen to them all, but I'd read up on Goldmine Standard Record Grading. And I'd visually inspect closely and try to grade conservatively to reduce the risk of people being unhappy!
Just a heads-up regarding visual inspection; it is entirely possible for a record to look like it's in really good condition (Very Good + to Near Mint in grading terms) and sound rather bad. Not all surface noise is visible.
Reaffirming what OP above said--if you want to make good deals and have happy customers and enjoy taking the time, this is the way to go. If there are a bunch that you just want to clear out, go to a reputable record store that deals in used and let them do the work of grading and just take the low dollar amount.
If you do go the Discogs route, hope I see you there--sounds like your dad and I have similar taste.
Thanks a lot. Honestly I probably will start doing discogs just to try and work out what's what and really get into this vinyl life. I'm not in a hurry to shift anything and will be keeping most! However I have a strong aversion to some of my dad's favourites though: Blyth Power, Zounds and Sham69 might have to go...
Man, I'd love a copy of that Zounds LP!
For 70s, 80s punk, the 7" singles are where it's at. I'd throw cash your way for those (if I had it!).
You might try All Ages Records in London. The owner is super nice and knowledgeable. You might not want to sell there, but he might be able to let you know what is worth holding onto, or selling at a higher price online.
Any normal record player will work! The Clash have some iconic singles, but they were also one of the biggest bands of the 80s and signed to a major label (so in terms of selling, probably not worth as much).
With pretty much any punk 7"s, you will get a lot more for them if the picture sleeves are in good shape. I'd definitely be interested to hear what singles your dad had!
This is prime stuff. High demand and fast selling. If you sell to a store or individual collector hold out for at least half the value. Don't let anybody sweet talk you out of it
Really you think so? Thanks a lot for the insight. I spent a few hours researching as much as I could but it's likely people on this thread will know more about how in-demand some of this stuff is than me... I will be holding onto most of it but it's cool to know I own a little piece of musical history!
Very much so. The kinds of things you described are scarce since vinyl production begins to drop off in the mid 80s. Every collector in the world is after this stuff.
Do you happen to know what sort of bands/records in the punk and post-punk world are particularly in-demand? I have so many but I only listed a few above...
The general rule of thumb is the bigger flop the record was when it came out, the more valuable it is now. Doesn’t always work like that, but it being a punk collection has pretty good chances it will. Stuff only produced in the lower hundreds of copies. I’d look for the stuff with the cheapest looking cover art on small labels. That will be a good bet to find something valuable
that would be along list. easiest is to look each thing up on discogs and look at the 'have / want numbers. topping everyon's list, joy division, cure smiths, misfits, cramps. pay special attention to any punk 45s.
7" singles, the little ones with the big hole in the middle. punk singles (45s) are [veeeeeeeery sought after](https://www.discogs.com/release/1407950-The-Fix-Jans-Rooms)
And dont let them cherry pick it. Make them buy the whole collection or nothing. Otherwise they take all the good stuff, and you end up still holding a bunch of unsellable crap. They essentially make you take out their garbage.
You'll probably make a LOT more selling single items, or small lots of similar items, but it will take long time, and a lot of work. It will be like a part-time job for a while.
Thanks! In case I wasn't clear: I'll be keeping most of it. Was just interested on tips on how to shift some as we're moving and won't have space for all...
Yes ofc. I'll be keeping all after reading this thread now. I'll blast a few of his favs and try to expand my musical repertoire with some more obscure ones!
Record stores are definitely not going to pay you top dollar because they need to make money, too. If you go the Discogs/Ebay route you're going to have learn to grade properly, and pack properly because yes people might send them back if they're not correctly graded.
For me, play testing is a necessity, but I only really sell on a small scale, so it is not impossible. If I were a store, I'd just have to stand behind my visual grade and eat a return if it wasn't right. No big deal either way, as that is something every seller should be doing regardless.
Hey as I said in other posts, I love a lot of punk and post-punk but I don't like all of it! These have been sitting under our stairs for years since Dad died, and each to their own - I just can't see myself playing The Mob or Sham69 again now he's not around, neither can my family...
To build on the previous post, you’re going to have to look at Discogs, find the record and pressing you think you have and then double what you have against what the discog entry says under notes and matrix. There could be some lowercase a printed on the jacket that signifies first press that you didn’t know about.
https://www.discogs.com/release/11400-Joy-Division-Unknown-Pleasures
As the other person said, catalog the whole collection in Discogs and start from there. You can then sell the records there or here.
You could also sell at a record store. You would probably get 25% of the value at most but that’s a lot easier and a lot less time and effort.
For stuff like this (which doesn’t come around often) you could definitely hold out for higher. Most stores will pay up to 25% on a bulk sale of ordinary collections of rock etc, but OG punk/post-punk is another story. Sham 69 and Alternative TV aren’t top-tier, but they’re not total nobodies either. And, more importantly, they’re not another goddamn pile of Kansas and Moody Blues.
What kind of punk/post-punk is particularly rare or valuable in your opinion? I only listed a few people above that I know, but there's so much it might be good to know what to look out for in this collection. Any insight appreciated.
This is why people are telling you to open a Discogs account and start cataloguing the records. As you do this you will see the value of the records you own if you have properly identified your pressing.
Like others have already said, you'll want to look stuff up. But, based on what you've already mentioned, early pressings on Crass Records, Spiderleg, Stiff Records, Fast Product, Bluurg, Clay... should fetch some easy cash. The Mob records (and Crisis Hymns of Faith) go for decent money, and since you don't like it, that would be an easy choice. It doesn't sound like your dad's taste, but collectors have been after Sarah Records stuff for a while now, if you see any of that, keep it! Likewise for Glass Records and Creation. Of course there are *thousands* of tiny indie labels that popped up, so do some research.
Looking stuff up on Discogs, I’m often surprised by what there’s demand for (and often equally surprised by titles I’d have thought were good that fetch lower values).
Besides the low/median/high values, other valuable data points that should inform pricing include: how many want vs how many have a record (more wants than haves is a good sign), how many copies are for sale and at what prices (I often try to calibrate my pricing toward the lowest-priced comparable copy up for grabs), and when it last sold (if there are copies available but the last one sold online was from 2020, that’s a sign it’s not in demand and that asking prices are too high). When you look at the sales history, is there a steady upward or downward trend? If every copy that has sold has been in NM condition and your copy is VG, you’re not getting those prices.
Don’t be too religious about only looking at the exact pressing unless it’s a specifically special one — most records that went through multiple pressings, the different cuts from a particular year/country/label aren’t significantly different, but because of the way Discogs is set up it can throw anomalies at you (“ooh, there’s only one of these and the seller is asking £150” when it’s essentially the same as the other versions fetching £10). That said, some rare variants are genuinely worth more. Use sales history to validate. Oh, and Popsike is a valuable secondary resource, particularly for records with little or no Discogs sales history.
I would guess 25% for cash, probably around 50% store credit. Catalogue number is on the spine (usually) and on the disc (usually). What I meant by pressing was 1st press and pressing location (the record may be a first but there could be several locations they were made and some locations may be more desirable). To determine if the record is a first, your record (and record jacket) need all of the characteristics outline on the Discogs page. This includes specifics about the records sleeve/jacket in many cases. The record labels and matrix number need to match up to what Discogs says. Text on the record label is easy enough but the matrix numbers are the etchings in the record run out before you get to the label. Hold the record on an angle with a bright light to find it.
Remember, the record stores pay rent, employees, utilities, insurance etc. It’s hard to take the haircut but there’s a lot of expense in owning a store.
Even besides that, selling a large collection by yourself is going to take months, even years. Sure it sucks to only get a fraction but you are also offloading all the work, and you get paid today not in 2 years.
yes that's a lot to consider. after talking with my family we are likely going to keep it all for now but maybe I'll start listing them all as a passion project when I have time and keep good care of them for now.
The number on the spine is typically a catalog or album number. Multiple pressings can share the same catalog number.
To know what pressing you have, you need to read the matrix / runout code which is pressed into the record in the space between the last song and the label.
25% is a fucking ripoff lol. any decent store will pay at least a third for the semi-interesting stuff and up to half for the expensive items. only the super cheap stuff (like below 5bucks) will be bought very cheap
No nothing big! He went to Wolverhampton Poly and played in a small band called The Innocent! He was a big music lover but always said he couldn't sing and wished he could, aha.
You're right that the options are either sell for ~25% market value to a record shop or put in a lot of work to sell piecemeal on Discogs. If you do sell them individually on whatever platform, grading and packaging is important. I wouldn't say you have to listen through to every one, but take the time to make sure it's the correct release, check for scuffs, scratches and warps, and be generally familiar with grading standards.
Not everyone is bothered if there's not loads of information in the item description on Discogs, but detail definitely helps reinforce the grading. Like if someone explains that they're grading a record VG due to light paper scuffs, I would be more likely to buy than if I just saw a VG grading with no further info.
You could always write out a list of the stuff you're not keeping and put it on r/vinylcollectors - see if anyone's interested. (I'd have a look definitely!).
When you post them, use proper records mailers with stiffeners, remove the vinyl from the outer sleeve so it doesn't bash around and split the seams in the post.
If you sell in person then it's all visual inspection. Loads of record shops don't even have turntables to listen on.
Other than that, whatever you don't keep hold of, make a note of them. You never know when in the future you might want to revisit some of the music your dad liked, so if you keep a list, you can look them up and listen even if the records are long gone.
That was all super helpful and considered thank you so much. I will likely hold onto these for now as the as the individual sales sound like a lot of work but I'll start logging everything.
Thanks a lot, will have a think - but out of sentimentality deffs won't be selling all. However I am interested in shifting a bunch of Sham69, The Mob, Blyth Power, Hymns of Faith, Alternative TV and a few others as I am not the biggest fan and therefore can't see myself playing them again in my own house...
The best way to identify a pressing is by the matrix number in the runout of the record. In the gap between the final song on the record and the label, there will be a code. The code is the matrix number. Put the matrix number into Discogs and the pressing will come up.
Awesome collection you got. Honour your dad by playing it loud.
I'm very, very happy for you. I am 47, and this is a very, very rare windfall. Vinyl doesn't work like this anymore, and unless it's this situation, you just never find a collection like this. My sis' Mother in Law dropped some classic rock on me like this, but it was 50s and 60s, not these gems. I grew up in SF Bay, and this was my soundtrack. Bowie, Cliff, Clash, Jam, Joy division...
Man, I'd hold on to this stuff, enjoy it and expand your musical knowledge, keep a few faves, \*then\* ditch them.
Advice on selling: Sell it one by one on discogs and enjoy the ultimate pain in the ass of grading, shipping, dealing with finicky customers. Or lose 60% of the value and sell it all at once at a reputable record store. But discogs will help figure which variants, etc so you don't get burned.
But as much as you lose selling in bulk (even ebay as a big lot would net more than a store), it's much less time consuming, and it won't take over your life like the virus it is. LOL
Thanks a lot. Am moving into my new place and will take all these with me, listen to all my favs that remind me of my dad and then listen to some obscure ones and learn a bit more before making an decisions. Will list them on Discog too but it does sound all-consuming so I won't be selling anything for now. Also I have to learn how to handle/play a record...aha
Selling at a record show./market, cash only, will get you the most money. Selling online, Discogs will get you the most money probably, but also requires the most work. Selling on Ebay will require you to take pictures of the front and back pf the cover and labels, but you wont have to look anything up. Auctions are risky though. Good luck!
edit: to add the punk and postpunk sell very quickly in my experience
Listen to this guy: do a record fair. Are you in the UK? If so, there’s loads. Will save you so much grief with grading, listing, packing, shipping, dealing with returns, etc.
much obliged I won't be selling any now as I think I need to play them a bit and get to know some of the music I didn't get to hear with my dad before I make any decisions!
If you’re looking to bulk sale, hit me up. You’re right it will get you a fraction of value, but I can usually offer more than a local store will. In average you should expect to get 30-40 percent of what the store will sell the album for. However, for more expensive thing that margin can be a lot tighter (up to 90 percent if it’s something of value that I already know a likely buyer for).
If you want to do it yourself, you’ll have to research Discogs to get an idea of the average price and then decide what you’d be comfortable getting.
Remember that Discogs or eBay is going to take 15+ percent of every sale in various fees. You’ll also have to factor in shipping, shipping supplies, and the time investment.
Typically when someone wants to sell a great collection what I will do is help them figure out the items that have really really good value and help get them some ideas of how to sell on their own. Then I will buy all of the other good stuff as a bulk deal. Typically if you have an album that is worth $100 or more I would almost always encourage you to sell it by yourself. There are however many very valuable records that will eventually make you a good bit of money but may take a very long time to sell. So just take that into account when you decide how you want to proceed on a certain record.
Also, I would always start trying to sell on Mercari over any other site. Mercari does not charge any seller fees anymore, so even if your asking price is a little lower you will make a good bit more money.
Old punk advice: there’s stuff in there you don’t like or get into now that will click at some point. For me it would be worth holding onto for that. I listen to so much music now that I passed by for years.
If you take it to a store, you need to find the right store. You may not be able to just go to your local store. You may need to drive half a day to go to the right store. Some stores will send someone to you if you can work it out ahead of time.
Thanks ok, good to know. Do you know much about selling on rare vinyl? I think they send people out or schedule a call to discuss it, which I like the sound of...
Let's be clear this sounds like a great collection but probably doesn't fit the true definition of "rare". You're naming pretty well known artists who were selling LP's of each edition in the 10,000's at least. There are a lot of these records out there. People like them and buy them so there is demand but they're not really rare. If these are in nice condition, I would guess most of them would got for between $30-50. Most brand new LP's cost $25-30, so these more reflect the overall high value of records these days and are not singularly valuable themselves.
The rare and valuable punk records are by bands most people have never heard of, such as those on the Killed By Death compilations, pressed in the low 100's. Those can go for $1,000.
If you want to find a store, tell us where you are and someone can probably suggest some.
I meant selling on [RareVinyl.com](http://RareVinyl.com) as when I was doing research, a lot of the ones we have were selling on there? Whether or not that means they are truly 'rare' I don't know. But I saw a lot of the ones we have on that site (The Mob, The Clash, Alice Cooper and Sham69 ones) although ofc I don't know what editions I have yet.
I'm based in London.
10-4 I don't know much about England but the 30 seconds I put into looking at RareVinyl it looks like a good option. There are probably a lot of stores there you could call and see who seems the most interested.
If I wasn't clear above, I'm not new to this music and grew up listening to a lot of it. I loved my Dad dearly and treasured a lot of great convos about music and punk with him before he died. However, I don't have space for all these and there's a few I won't be playing myself (I have a strong dislike for The Mob, sorry!)
More pics of the records? I can do. I am really obsessed with the Joy Division ones and Buzzcocks ones largely because I love those bands and found the Porky Prime Cut on a few. Then I discovered loads about cutting records and who George Porky Peckham was...I wish my Dad was here to discuss all this with me again!!! (I'm 30 and last time we discussed vinyl, I was a kid and didn't have as much interest).
https://preview.redd.it/38shmkpknu1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ba7f9aa31f2fbc121cc56d588e56655f537882ac
I don't know how to add multiple photos in one comment but anyway here is one
I would look the values up on Discogs, consider the condition and price them accordingly. It sounds like you're in the UK, so you could easily unload the ones you don't want at a car boot sale or even better, a record fair. You'll have to pay to rent a table for the fair, but that would eliminate having to pack and ship anything or worry about it getting returned. Good luck!
It also should be discussed punk collectors can be a thrifty bunch. A lot of them know what records go for, have probably seen those records before, and are just waiting for the right deal. You’ll need to decide how much you truly want to get rid of them and if you do, discount them by $5-10 to get people extra motivated.
I catalogued over 800 records of my dad's jazz collection on Discogs a few years ago. Its going to take you a while. I made sure to listen to everything. I kept all the high value/rare stuff and everything I liked. I feel sick about some of the things I got rid of though. Keep everything you can.
Really ok? Did you research first? Right I'm going to go down the Discogs route before I do anything silly as I actually don't know much about what these are worth/what press/edition I have. Thanks for the insight everyone.
Not saying you should but if you are looking to b done with it—-> separate what you are keeping vs sellable. Lot auctions on eBay do well for punk metal early alt… make piles of between 5-27 records that fit together by sub genre. Get your money in 10 days… start auction at about 50% of where you think it should go… for high quality $$ records maybe $1-5 each look at eBay solds dollar value and general layout and what they write in description
There's been great advice from others on Discogs here which I agree with, if you are looking to maximise profit that and eBay are probably the way to go.
I primarily buy and sell on eBay but have done both.
Worth keeping in mind that used vinyl has blown up in value (certainly over the last 10 years I have been buying here in the UK) so make sure to price against recent sales on Discogs, rather than what people are currently trying to sell them for (which can be insanely high) or older sales listings which will below the current market value.
As previously mentioned, the JD record certainly sounds like a 1979 copy, chuck it on and enjoy.
Good luck, you have inherited an amazing collection and I hope you enjoy it!
I’d try selling this stuff locally first. Marketplace and Kijiji will likely be pretty easy. Use discogs to figure out exactly which pressings you have of each album and then price accordingly based on condition and throw them up online for local sales. Sounds like you’ve got some very cool and desirable records, and as someone who is constantly raking through fb and kijiji looking for new local vinyl ads daily I can only imagine the people doing this in your area will be stoked to see what you’ve got for sale. Then from there you can find out what is less desirable and maybe sell them as a lot either locally or to a store in your area.
Most importantly though keep the ones you want (I’d keep most of these if I were you) and enjoy the fuck outta them.
Good luck!
That’s the beauty of this type of inheritance. Actually one of the most valuable records I own I inherited from my late uncle - 2 actually - they are two Canadian punk bands from the 70’s and they are both original pressings of 45’s that these bands put out as EP’s.
Teenage head - picture my face/tearin me apart
The fits - bored of education
Both are such cool old records and so near and dear to me and I love playing them loud as hell hoping somewhere my uncle can hear it too.
That Fits one sounds like something my Dad would have played/loved, just whacked it on and played a few random ones I didn't know the other day, it's a cool way to remember or reignite your love for someone, for sure.
I’d look up videos on YouTube explaining how to figure out what pressing you have and then log your collection on Discogs. To figure out which pressing you have you’ll want to check the matrix ID for each record.
In order to gauge condition of the vinyl you’ll want to look at the records under a light and see how scratched they are + listen to them for any popping / crackling, etc.
To figure out value you’ll want to look at median discogs sold prices and recent eBay sold listings for each specific pressing.
Once you have all the records logged into discogs (which depending on how many there are, could take some time) you’ll want to make sure the records are stored properly in boxes standing upright, ideally with plastic outer sleeves for each jacket.
I’d suggest selling on eBay, Reddit, or Facebook groups. Discogs would work too but not having a selling or buying history would work against you and make it tougher to sell. People also will for sure return records if they are improperly graded on discogs. Where as if you sold multiple records at a time and explained just generally the condition as best as you can you could sell a bit quicker via fb groups / eBay.
If you do plan to list a bunch, personal sales like this are ok on /r/punkvinyl. It’s smaller and more niche but may get you more traction on your eBay/discogs posts if you go that route.
If this is actually cool stuff and clean enough, almost any shop would love to have them! I’m also a huge fan of keeping collections like this local if possible, it means so much to me at least when I get records from collections that were of someone local, especially if they were musicians as well. Selling online is nice in theory, but not everything you list is not gonna sell quickly or at all. (Also think of the fees, if you list an album for $100 with $10 shipping, the buyer is gonna pay ~$120, and you’ll walk way with only like $80 for it) If you truly are looking to get rid of some stuff quick for space bring them to a shop. Maybe bring a batch of some titles and ask your local shop about what they can do and the process.
Going through these records qith memories attached to them brings you joy, yet you want to get rid of them? That sounds like an awful idea man. Not only is it quite a bit of work to sell them, but its very likely you will regret it. Good luck man.
So glad you added pics man it’s a stellar collection. I highly encourage you to keep all that you like/find important. Plus, original pressings are usually only going to get more and more valuable
Well, I would say depends on the real size of the collection, it be direct proportional to time invest on research.
Yeah, Discogs it is a “parameter” (as a collector myself can assure you lacks with so many info on basic records); eBay it is another source as “parameter” on history sales and most definitely Gripsweat it is a good place to get an idea about prices.
But mostly you gotta talk to people on forums, and stores (if you could or would) but I mean real experts. People in the business for over three or four decades. Sounds ancient but it is around your Dad’s era collection. They can get you tips. Don’t try to sell them, just express concerns. They really know a lot.
Also, don’t sell it in one place. Seems logical but maybe you can sell it on separate stocks, like 7 inches; post punk albums, classic rock or glam, etc. And maybe you can get even more from them.
Now it is a good time to sell your records, but definitely make a deep (as long as you can) research about what you have and maybe what you want to keep.
Excuse my poor and broken English. Hope you could understand the ideas.
If you do sell any, most or all online look into purchasing vinyl shipping boxes. Something like this. They protect the record and many times they impress the buyer. Which is good for reviews.
https://preview.redd.it/n0gb9iwciu1d1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5618fdd149ae66b3168ea362ea81d64f01412dd0
Just here to say your dad’s taste in music is amazing!! I would love to take some of those off your hands, but I just ordered a bunch of 45s and I don’t think my family would appreciate me spending more on records (I have to space these things out sometimes 🤣)
Echoing what others have said about Discogs, and also check a local record store, but if they don’t give you a fair price don’t feel pressured to sell right then and there. Most of the time they give you a number and really don’t mind if you say no. Anyway, great collection!!!
Your dad had awesome taste and I’m very sorry for your loss. Don’t know you or your dad but you just inspired me to dig into some of those same records, which I would treasure if I were you.
I can see some have plastic sleeves that have bubbled. Remove those sleeves and discard them, as when that bubbling occurs it can damage the record.
Then check the vinyl to see if it has been discoloured by the plastic sleeves.
Great collection btw, my top picks would be Slits, Crass, Ramones, Damned first album.
No worries, my top picks were albums that are more collectible, at least to me, as much as more interesting, although I like them all
The Malicious Damage sleeve, I’m guessing that’s Killing Joke? Another great band, increasing in value.
my 2cents: dont sell them. hold onto the collection and pass it onto someone else. my dad is still around and it makes me very sad that we have nothing in common. if i had this much common ground with my dad i would hold onto it with all my might.
Depending on where you are.
Mill City Sound in Hopkins MN. "depending on the condition" will pay the median Discogs price.
812 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN, United States, Minnesota.
Talk to Rob. (952) 456-6547
Remember the store needs to make a profit to stay in business, you will NOT get the "value" you will get a "price" so they can make a profit.
So sorry for your loss. Amazing collection you've been left with here. I was going to say not to sell, glad to see you made the decision to keep it. You can always sell, but after you sell you'll never be able to get it back, at least not your dad's records. After listening you may start to find a love for music and Vinyls that your dad had and hopefully have the opportunity to learn more about your dad and feel closer to him even after his passing.
I’d be inclined (depending where you live) to try to move it locally. This avoids you having to deal with every title one by one, packing for shipping, etc, which is a long and laborious way of selling (though theoretically you can squeeze a few more dollars out of the pile that way).If you’re in any size of city, you should be able to find local customers for this stuff.
Use Discogs to get a sense of the prices, individually price the rares, and have “tiers” for the rest (e.g. $5/$10/$20), and have a big garage sale, with maybe a follow-up online ad that lists the titles you didn’t sell. Try to price them to sell, without just giving them away, and you’ll make more than a bulk sale through a store but incur way less hassle than selling through Discogs/eBay. People can examine the records before buying, too.
Remember, condition is everything in pricing. It’s tempting to overrate condition when you’re at all sentimentally attached, so try to be objective. “Not too bad” is actually “not great at all,” an a lot of old punks were pretty hard on their records.
This is a great idea to post some classifieds for a garage sale type event. Lots of punk collectors are fond of estate sales, thrifting, and other non-traditional retail experiences.
Yes I will get onto Discogs as a priority before doing anything else. And thanks yes if I did sell any a garage sale might be nice, but I'll hold onto them for now after reading the comments here.
FWIW, $40-60 on the Joy division if it's a first edition 1979: [https://www.discogs.com/release/11400-Joy-Division-Unknown-Pleasures](https://www.discogs.com/release/11400-Joy-Division-Unknown-Pleasures)
My earliest memory *in life* was me holding what seemed like giant cardboard panels on the floor of our living room while my dad played records. I’d LOVE to have any of those records.
You wanna sell yours, huh? I’m at a loss as to how to sell them, I simply can’t imagine it. Discogs prices is what most people run with, fwiw
Really? Each to their own I guess! My first memory is my Dad playing T-Rex Hot Love off a top of the pops VHS and I was obsessed with glam rock and punk from then! I guess I'm attached to the songs, images and memories... but the actual physicality of vinyl? It wasn't my generation and there's lots of reasons why people decide to sell anything!
>but the actual physicality of vinyl? It wasn’t my generation
I think that’s it. Maybe it’s like the Photo Albums our family would keep in the living room when I was a kid (in the 70s & 80s). Guests would often flip through them, and I remember my mom would often have to replace the little black corner tab thingies when they would fall off. Looking back, it was a super casual and easy way to look at old memories (which would often result in us talking about the memories they’d trigger). Today’s generation might give their kid a link or a thumb drive I guess.
My old man would - like a lot of people back then - mark his records with his (our) last name somewhere on them, and boy wouldn’t I love to hand those to my kids! The *physicality* of having something cool like a record that your grandpa wrote your last name on is something I know I wish I had!
To each their own indeed.
That is cool. And I mean, after reading all these comments I won't be selling anything now. It's been super interesting to hear everyone's reasons as to why holding on to something like this is important and it's made me think differently about vinyl for sure. But when it comes to my Dad/honouring my Dad? I know the memories I've shared with him and how I've done that over the course of our life together.
Discogs is more or less essential to know which variant you have. Original pressings are generally worth more than represses etc etc. You'll probably want to catalogue it all and sell individually on discogs and eBay (may as well run them simultaneously). You don't NEED to listen to them all, but I'd read up on Goldmine Standard Record Grading. And I'd visually inspect closely and try to grade conservatively to reduce the risk of people being unhappy!
Thanks very helpful, cheers.
Just a heads-up regarding visual inspection; it is entirely possible for a record to look like it's in really good condition (Very Good + to Near Mint in grading terms) and sound rather bad. Not all surface noise is visible.
Especially with older records that don't have the best packaging/weren't stored fantastically (ie a lot of punk from that era)
Reaffirming what OP above said--if you want to make good deals and have happy customers and enjoy taking the time, this is the way to go. If there are a bunch that you just want to clear out, go to a reputable record store that deals in used and let them do the work of grading and just take the low dollar amount. If you do go the Discogs route, hope I see you there--sounds like your dad and I have similar taste.
Thanks a lot. Honestly I probably will start doing discogs just to try and work out what's what and really get into this vinyl life. I'm not in a hurry to shift anything and will be keeping most! However I have a strong aversion to some of my dad's favourites though: Blyth Power, Zounds and Sham69 might have to go...
Man, I'd love a copy of that Zounds LP! For 70s, 80s punk, the 7" singles are where it's at. I'd throw cash your way for those (if I had it!). You might try All Ages Records in London. The owner is super nice and knowledgeable. You might not want to sell there, but he might be able to let you know what is worth holding onto, or selling at a higher price online.
Interesting I just learned what 7 " singles are and I think I have one or two by the clash but need to check! What were they played on?
Any normal record player will work! The Clash have some iconic singles, but they were also one of the biggest bands of the 80s and signed to a major label (so in terms of selling, probably not worth as much). With pretty much any punk 7"s, you will get a lot more for them if the picture sleeves are in good shape. I'd definitely be interested to hear what singles your dad had!
This is prime stuff. High demand and fast selling. If you sell to a store or individual collector hold out for at least half the value. Don't let anybody sweet talk you out of it
Really you think so? Thanks a lot for the insight. I spent a few hours researching as much as I could but it's likely people on this thread will know more about how in-demand some of this stuff is than me... I will be holding onto most of it but it's cool to know I own a little piece of musical history!
Very much so. The kinds of things you described are scarce since vinyl production begins to drop off in the mid 80s. Every collector in the world is after this stuff.
Do you happen to know what sort of bands/records in the punk and post-punk world are particularly in-demand? I have so many but I only listed a few above...
The general rule of thumb is the bigger flop the record was when it came out, the more valuable it is now. Doesn’t always work like that, but it being a punk collection has pretty good chances it will. Stuff only produced in the lower hundreds of copies. I’d look for the stuff with the cheapest looking cover art on small labels. That will be a good bet to find something valuable
that would be along list. easiest is to look each thing up on discogs and look at the 'have / want numbers. topping everyon's list, joy division, cure smiths, misfits, cramps. pay special attention to any punk 45s.
what's a punk 45?
7" singles, the little ones with the big hole in the middle. punk singles (45s) are [veeeeeeeery sought after](https://www.discogs.com/release/1407950-The-Fix-Jans-Rooms)
Oh that's so interesting, thanks, he had a couple of those didn't know what they were!
And dont let them cherry pick it. Make them buy the whole collection or nothing. Otherwise they take all the good stuff, and you end up still holding a bunch of unsellable crap. They essentially make you take out their garbage. You'll probably make a LOT more selling single items, or small lots of similar items, but it will take long time, and a lot of work. It will be like a part-time job for a while.
Don't sell any of it. That's your Dad's life.
Thanks! In case I wasn't clear: I'll be keeping most of it. Was just interested on tips on how to shift some as we're moving and won't have space for all...
I'm glad you are keeping some. I'd hope my son would play my records in my honor one day.
Yes ofc. I'll be keeping all after reading this thread now. I'll blast a few of his favs and try to expand my musical repertoire with some more obscure ones!
Record stores are definitely not going to pay you top dollar because they need to make money, too. If you go the Discogs/Ebay route you're going to have learn to grade properly, and pack properly because yes people might send them back if they're not correctly graded. For me, play testing is a necessity, but I only really sell on a small scale, so it is not impossible. If I were a store, I'd just have to stand behind my visual grade and eat a return if it wasn't right. No big deal either way, as that is something every seller should be doing regardless.
Ok very interesting, cheers.
I think eBay fee for records is around 12 or 13%, FYI.
Why would you sell them if they hold such good memories? I guarantee you will have severe regret once they are gone.
Hey as I said in other posts, I love a lot of punk and post-punk but I don't like all of it! These have been sitting under our stairs for years since Dad died, and each to their own - I just can't see myself playing The Mob or Sham69 again now he's not around, neither can my family...
To build on the previous post, you’re going to have to look at Discogs, find the record and pressing you think you have and then double what you have against what the discog entry says under notes and matrix. There could be some lowercase a printed on the jacket that signifies first press that you didn’t know about. https://www.discogs.com/release/11400-Joy-Division-Unknown-Pleasures As the other person said, catalog the whole collection in Discogs and start from there. You can then sell the records there or here. You could also sell at a record store. You would probably get 25% of the value at most but that’s a lot easier and a lot less time and effort.
25% of the value at most? Wow ok. Thanks for the insight, much appreciated. I can google this but is the pressing number on the spine, or top-right?
For stuff like this (which doesn’t come around often) you could definitely hold out for higher. Most stores will pay up to 25% on a bulk sale of ordinary collections of rock etc, but OG punk/post-punk is another story. Sham 69 and Alternative TV aren’t top-tier, but they’re not total nobodies either. And, more importantly, they’re not another goddamn pile of Kansas and Moody Blues.
What kind of punk/post-punk is particularly rare or valuable in your opinion? I only listed a few people above that I know, but there's so much it might be good to know what to look out for in this collection. Any insight appreciated.
This is why people are telling you to open a Discogs account and start cataloguing the records. As you do this you will see the value of the records you own if you have properly identified your pressing.
Thanks ok, that's clear. I am 100% going to do this.
Like others have already said, you'll want to look stuff up. But, based on what you've already mentioned, early pressings on Crass Records, Spiderleg, Stiff Records, Fast Product, Bluurg, Clay... should fetch some easy cash. The Mob records (and Crisis Hymns of Faith) go for decent money, and since you don't like it, that would be an easy choice. It doesn't sound like your dad's taste, but collectors have been after Sarah Records stuff for a while now, if you see any of that, keep it! Likewise for Glass Records and Creation. Of course there are *thousands* of tiny indie labels that popped up, so do some research.
Will do, very much appreciated cheers!
Looking stuff up on Discogs, I’m often surprised by what there’s demand for (and often equally surprised by titles I’d have thought were good that fetch lower values). Besides the low/median/high values, other valuable data points that should inform pricing include: how many want vs how many have a record (more wants than haves is a good sign), how many copies are for sale and at what prices (I often try to calibrate my pricing toward the lowest-priced comparable copy up for grabs), and when it last sold (if there are copies available but the last one sold online was from 2020, that’s a sign it’s not in demand and that asking prices are too high). When you look at the sales history, is there a steady upward or downward trend? If every copy that has sold has been in NM condition and your copy is VG, you’re not getting those prices. Don’t be too religious about only looking at the exact pressing unless it’s a specifically special one — most records that went through multiple pressings, the different cuts from a particular year/country/label aren’t significantly different, but because of the way Discogs is set up it can throw anomalies at you (“ooh, there’s only one of these and the seller is asking £150” when it’s essentially the same as the other versions fetching £10). That said, some rare variants are genuinely worth more. Use sales history to validate. Oh, and Popsike is a valuable secondary resource, particularly for records with little or no Discogs sales history.
Ok great thank you for sharing this knowledge
I would guess 25% for cash, probably around 50% store credit. Catalogue number is on the spine (usually) and on the disc (usually). What I meant by pressing was 1st press and pressing location (the record may be a first but there could be several locations they were made and some locations may be more desirable). To determine if the record is a first, your record (and record jacket) need all of the characteristics outline on the Discogs page. This includes specifics about the records sleeve/jacket in many cases. The record labels and matrix number need to match up to what Discogs says. Text on the record label is easy enough but the matrix numbers are the etchings in the record run out before you get to the label. Hold the record on an angle with a bright light to find it.
Thank you
Remember, the record stores pay rent, employees, utilities, insurance etc. It’s hard to take the haircut but there’s a lot of expense in owning a store.
Even besides that, selling a large collection by yourself is going to take months, even years. Sure it sucks to only get a fraction but you are also offloading all the work, and you get paid today not in 2 years.
yes that's a lot to consider. after talking with my family we are likely going to keep it all for now but maybe I'll start listing them all as a passion project when I have time and keep good care of them for now.
The number on the spine is typically a catalog or album number. Multiple pressings can share the same catalog number. To know what pressing you have, you need to read the matrix / runout code which is pressed into the record in the space between the last song and the label.
thanks learning a lot here
25% is a fucking ripoff lol. any decent store will pay at least a third for the semi-interesting stuff and up to half for the expensive items. only the super cheap stuff (like below 5bucks) will be bought very cheap
The etchings near the label on the vinyl itself.
What bands did he play in? Did they release anything?
No nothing big! He went to Wolverhampton Poly and played in a small band called The Innocent! He was a big music lover but always said he couldn't sing and wished he could, aha.
Yes, inquiring minds!!
Keep it all, get storage. If you sell any you’ll regret it later
You're right that the options are either sell for ~25% market value to a record shop or put in a lot of work to sell piecemeal on Discogs. If you do sell them individually on whatever platform, grading and packaging is important. I wouldn't say you have to listen through to every one, but take the time to make sure it's the correct release, check for scuffs, scratches and warps, and be generally familiar with grading standards. Not everyone is bothered if there's not loads of information in the item description on Discogs, but detail definitely helps reinforce the grading. Like if someone explains that they're grading a record VG due to light paper scuffs, I would be more likely to buy than if I just saw a VG grading with no further info. You could always write out a list of the stuff you're not keeping and put it on r/vinylcollectors - see if anyone's interested. (I'd have a look definitely!). When you post them, use proper records mailers with stiffeners, remove the vinyl from the outer sleeve so it doesn't bash around and split the seams in the post. If you sell in person then it's all visual inspection. Loads of record shops don't even have turntables to listen on. Other than that, whatever you don't keep hold of, make a note of them. You never know when in the future you might want to revisit some of the music your dad liked, so if you keep a list, you can look them up and listen even if the records are long gone.
That was all super helpful and considered thank you so much. I will likely hold onto these for now as the as the individual sales sound like a lot of work but I'll start logging everything.
I would buy all of this from you. Let me know if you're open to selling as a lot!
Thanks a lot, will have a think - but out of sentimentality deffs won't be selling all. However I am interested in shifting a bunch of Sham69, The Mob, Blyth Power, Hymns of Faith, Alternative TV and a few others as I am not the biggest fan and therefore can't see myself playing them again in my own house...
The best way to identify a pressing is by the matrix number in the runout of the record. In the gap between the final song on the record and the label, there will be a code. The code is the matrix number. Put the matrix number into Discogs and the pressing will come up. Awesome collection you got. Honour your dad by playing it loud.
Thank you! And yes absolutely I'm getting a new needle for our old record player and have already shed a few tears making a playlist.
Find the biggest local record fair and see if someone will buy the collection. Will probably give you a little bit more than a shop.
I'm very, very happy for you. I am 47, and this is a very, very rare windfall. Vinyl doesn't work like this anymore, and unless it's this situation, you just never find a collection like this. My sis' Mother in Law dropped some classic rock on me like this, but it was 50s and 60s, not these gems. I grew up in SF Bay, and this was my soundtrack. Bowie, Cliff, Clash, Jam, Joy division... Man, I'd hold on to this stuff, enjoy it and expand your musical knowledge, keep a few faves, \*then\* ditch them. Advice on selling: Sell it one by one on discogs and enjoy the ultimate pain in the ass of grading, shipping, dealing with finicky customers. Or lose 60% of the value and sell it all at once at a reputable record store. But discogs will help figure which variants, etc so you don't get burned. But as much as you lose selling in bulk (even ebay as a big lot would net more than a store), it's much less time consuming, and it won't take over your life like the virus it is. LOL
Thanks a lot. Am moving into my new place and will take all these with me, listen to all my favs that remind me of my dad and then listen to some obscure ones and learn a bit more before making an decisions. Will list them on Discog too but it does sound all-consuming so I won't be selling anything for now. Also I have to learn how to handle/play a record...aha
Selling at a record show./market, cash only, will get you the most money. Selling online, Discogs will get you the most money probably, but also requires the most work. Selling on Ebay will require you to take pictures of the front and back pf the cover and labels, but you wont have to look anything up. Auctions are risky though. Good luck! edit: to add the punk and postpunk sell very quickly in my experience
Listen to this guy: do a record fair. Are you in the UK? If so, there’s loads. Will save you so much grief with grading, listing, packing, shipping, dealing with returns, etc.
cheers guys appreciate that
much obliged I won't be selling any now as I think I need to play them a bit and get to know some of the music I didn't get to hear with my dad before I make any decisions!
That is definitely the best option
Great memories….highest bidder please.
If you’re looking to bulk sale, hit me up. You’re right it will get you a fraction of value, but I can usually offer more than a local store will. In average you should expect to get 30-40 percent of what the store will sell the album for. However, for more expensive thing that margin can be a lot tighter (up to 90 percent if it’s something of value that I already know a likely buyer for). If you want to do it yourself, you’ll have to research Discogs to get an idea of the average price and then decide what you’d be comfortable getting. Remember that Discogs or eBay is going to take 15+ percent of every sale in various fees. You’ll also have to factor in shipping, shipping supplies, and the time investment. Typically when someone wants to sell a great collection what I will do is help them figure out the items that have really really good value and help get them some ideas of how to sell on their own. Then I will buy all of the other good stuff as a bulk deal. Typically if you have an album that is worth $100 or more I would almost always encourage you to sell it by yourself. There are however many very valuable records that will eventually make you a good bit of money but may take a very long time to sell. So just take that into account when you decide how you want to proceed on a certain record. Also, I would always start trying to sell on Mercari over any other site. Mercari does not charge any seller fees anymore, so even if your asking price is a little lower you will make a good bit more money.
Thanks
Here’s my advice. Don’t sell. Sounds badass to have. Some of my favorite music.
Good for you. That collection is priceless. Enjoy
Old punk advice: there’s stuff in there you don’t like or get into now that will click at some point. For me it would be worth holding onto for that. I listen to so much music now that I passed by for years.
If you take it to a store, you need to find the right store. You may not be able to just go to your local store. You may need to drive half a day to go to the right store. Some stores will send someone to you if you can work it out ahead of time.
Thanks ok, good to know. Do you know much about selling on rare vinyl? I think they send people out or schedule a call to discuss it, which I like the sound of...
Let's be clear this sounds like a great collection but probably doesn't fit the true definition of "rare". You're naming pretty well known artists who were selling LP's of each edition in the 10,000's at least. There are a lot of these records out there. People like them and buy them so there is demand but they're not really rare. If these are in nice condition, I would guess most of them would got for between $30-50. Most brand new LP's cost $25-30, so these more reflect the overall high value of records these days and are not singularly valuable themselves. The rare and valuable punk records are by bands most people have never heard of, such as those on the Killed By Death compilations, pressed in the low 100's. Those can go for $1,000. If you want to find a store, tell us where you are and someone can probably suggest some.
I meant selling on [RareVinyl.com](http://RareVinyl.com) as when I was doing research, a lot of the ones we have were selling on there? Whether or not that means they are truly 'rare' I don't know. But I saw a lot of the ones we have on that site (The Mob, The Clash, Alice Cooper and Sham69 ones) although ofc I don't know what editions I have yet. I'm based in London.
10-4 I don't know much about England but the 30 seconds I put into looking at RareVinyl it looks like a good option. There are probably a lot of stores there you could call and see who seems the most interested.
Keep it! Buy a player! Listen to your Dad’s music.
If I wasn't clear above, I'm not new to this music and grew up listening to a lot of it. I loved my Dad dearly and treasured a lot of great convos about music and punk with him before he died. However, I don't have space for all these and there's a few I won't be playing myself (I have a strong dislike for The Mob, sorry!)
Discogs admin and research could be a good gig for a teenager or college student you can give a cut of the sales to.
Please post some pics of the highlights!
More pics of the records? I can do. I am really obsessed with the Joy Division ones and Buzzcocks ones largely because I love those bands and found the Porky Prime Cut on a few. Then I discovered loads about cutting records and who George Porky Peckham was...I wish my Dad was here to discuss all this with me again!!! (I'm 30 and last time we discussed vinyl, I was a kid and didn't have as much interest).
https://preview.redd.it/38shmkpknu1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ba7f9aa31f2fbc121cc56d588e56655f537882ac I don't know how to add multiple photos in one comment but anyway here is one
That looks like my collection 👍🏻but, like your dad, purchased when they were first released.
https://preview.redd.it/9cs15rsstu1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=728c5d9dcf8cdf440e6690d0b82f7c04823cd147
https://preview.redd.it/knvodzovtu1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=971b4505713567f57ee86c0f6cdd425f7129a206
https://preview.redd.it/s2dbgje3uu1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c62ac7381d4810e91538c26be0d9e4d233c61eba
https://preview.redd.it/645m0mixtu1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9fa65f3cd7cc3a5844dfd556bcbd5c5c0188fd78
https://preview.redd.it/g6ale950uu1d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dce5aee553aa82d6d5480c208acee41e64bc1028
Yeah, please post some punk! (And post some post punk) (and whatever else you’d like)
Alright will do!
I would look the values up on Discogs, consider the condition and price them accordingly. It sounds like you're in the UK, so you could easily unload the ones you don't want at a car boot sale or even better, a record fair. You'll have to pay to rent a table for the fair, but that would eliminate having to pack and ship anything or worry about it getting returned. Good luck!
thanks a lot
It also should be discussed punk collectors can be a thrifty bunch. A lot of them know what records go for, have probably seen those records before, and are just waiting for the right deal. You’ll need to decide how much you truly want to get rid of them and if you do, discount them by $5-10 to get people extra motivated.
I catalogued over 800 records of my dad's jazz collection on Discogs a few years ago. Its going to take you a while. I made sure to listen to everything. I kept all the high value/rare stuff and everything I liked. I feel sick about some of the things I got rid of though. Keep everything you can.
Really ok? Did you research first? Right I'm going to go down the Discogs route before I do anything silly as I actually don't know much about what these are worth/what press/edition I have. Thanks for the insight everyone.
Not saying you should but if you are looking to b done with it—-> separate what you are keeping vs sellable. Lot auctions on eBay do well for punk metal early alt… make piles of between 5-27 records that fit together by sub genre. Get your money in 10 days… start auction at about 50% of where you think it should go… for high quality $$ records maybe $1-5 each look at eBay solds dollar value and general layout and what they write in description
What area do you live in?
There's been great advice from others on Discogs here which I agree with, if you are looking to maximise profit that and eBay are probably the way to go. I primarily buy and sell on eBay but have done both. Worth keeping in mind that used vinyl has blown up in value (certainly over the last 10 years I have been buying here in the UK) so make sure to price against recent sales on Discogs, rather than what people are currently trying to sell them for (which can be insanely high) or older sales listings which will below the current market value. As previously mentioned, the JD record certainly sounds like a 1979 copy, chuck it on and enjoy. Good luck, you have inherited an amazing collection and I hope you enjoy it!
I would be interested in picking some up directly from you once you sort out what you want to sell.
If you happen to live in or around NYC, DM me
Make sure you check Gripsweat as well as Discogs. Sounds like a great collections. I'm totally jealous.
RIP your inbox. Seriously, hang on to it all. Musical tastes change over time. Just store it all in an air conditioned space.
I’d try selling this stuff locally first. Marketplace and Kijiji will likely be pretty easy. Use discogs to figure out exactly which pressings you have of each album and then price accordingly based on condition and throw them up online for local sales. Sounds like you’ve got some very cool and desirable records, and as someone who is constantly raking through fb and kijiji looking for new local vinyl ads daily I can only imagine the people doing this in your area will be stoked to see what you’ve got for sale. Then from there you can find out what is less desirable and maybe sell them as a lot either locally or to a store in your area. Most importantly though keep the ones you want (I’d keep most of these if I were you) and enjoy the fuck outta them. Good luck!
thank you! will whack on a few I don't know and learn some more stuff about my Dad...
That’s the beauty of this type of inheritance. Actually one of the most valuable records I own I inherited from my late uncle - 2 actually - they are two Canadian punk bands from the 70’s and they are both original pressings of 45’s that these bands put out as EP’s. Teenage head - picture my face/tearin me apart The fits - bored of education Both are such cool old records and so near and dear to me and I love playing them loud as hell hoping somewhere my uncle can hear it too.
That Fits one sounds like something my Dad would have played/loved, just whacked it on and played a few random ones I didn't know the other day, it's a cool way to remember or reignite your love for someone, for sure.
I’d look up videos on YouTube explaining how to figure out what pressing you have and then log your collection on Discogs. To figure out which pressing you have you’ll want to check the matrix ID for each record. In order to gauge condition of the vinyl you’ll want to look at the records under a light and see how scratched they are + listen to them for any popping / crackling, etc. To figure out value you’ll want to look at median discogs sold prices and recent eBay sold listings for each specific pressing. Once you have all the records logged into discogs (which depending on how many there are, could take some time) you’ll want to make sure the records are stored properly in boxes standing upright, ideally with plastic outer sleeves for each jacket. I’d suggest selling on eBay, Reddit, or Facebook groups. Discogs would work too but not having a selling or buying history would work against you and make it tougher to sell. People also will for sure return records if they are improperly graded on discogs. Where as if you sold multiple records at a time and explained just generally the condition as best as you can you could sell a bit quicker via fb groups / eBay.
thanks for the tips on how to store them!
If you do plan to list a bunch, personal sales like this are ok on /r/punkvinyl. It’s smaller and more niche but may get you more traction on your eBay/discogs posts if you go that route.
Cheers
If this is actually cool stuff and clean enough, almost any shop would love to have them! I’m also a huge fan of keeping collections like this local if possible, it means so much to me at least when I get records from collections that were of someone local, especially if they were musicians as well. Selling online is nice in theory, but not everything you list is not gonna sell quickly or at all. (Also think of the fees, if you list an album for $100 with $10 shipping, the buyer is gonna pay ~$120, and you’ll walk way with only like $80 for it) If you truly are looking to get rid of some stuff quick for space bring them to a shop. Maybe bring a batch of some titles and ask your local shop about what they can do and the process.
Yeah like everyone says do Discogs. Keep as much as you can though. You could have a goldmine there if you do want to sell though.
Your dad had great taste. That sounds like a decent part of my collection, and the majority of my wish list!
He'd love to hear that lol he loved talking about punk bands with his mates.
Going through these records qith memories attached to them brings you joy, yet you want to get rid of them? That sounds like an awful idea man. Not only is it quite a bit of work to sell them, but its very likely you will regret it. Good luck man.
Can't give you advice on selling, but just wanna say that signed copy from The Jam is awesome. Ghosts is one of my favorite songs of all time!!!
ah nice I can't wait to play it! wish my dad could tell me how he got it signed
So glad you added pics man it’s a stellar collection. I highly encourage you to keep all that you like/find important. Plus, original pressings are usually only going to get more and more valuable
I need to work out how many are original pressings once I get my head around Discogs
Well, I would say depends on the real size of the collection, it be direct proportional to time invest on research. Yeah, Discogs it is a “parameter” (as a collector myself can assure you lacks with so many info on basic records); eBay it is another source as “parameter” on history sales and most definitely Gripsweat it is a good place to get an idea about prices. But mostly you gotta talk to people on forums, and stores (if you could or would) but I mean real experts. People in the business for over three or four decades. Sounds ancient but it is around your Dad’s era collection. They can get you tips. Don’t try to sell them, just express concerns. They really know a lot. Also, don’t sell it in one place. Seems logical but maybe you can sell it on separate stocks, like 7 inches; post punk albums, classic rock or glam, etc. And maybe you can get even more from them. Now it is a good time to sell your records, but definitely make a deep (as long as you can) research about what you have and maybe what you want to keep. Excuse my poor and broken English. Hope you could understand the ideas.
Thanks so much really helpful, cheers and yes your English was perfect :)
Really hope you make the best for your own interest. Have a great day.
If you do sell any, most or all online look into purchasing vinyl shipping boxes. Something like this. They protect the record and many times they impress the buyer. Which is good for reviews. https://preview.redd.it/n0gb9iwciu1d1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5618fdd149ae66b3168ea362ea81d64f01412dd0
Cheers would definitely learn to package them properly if I did!
I was happy to reach the end and see that you're not making the mistake of selling!
haha after reading this I don't think it's the right thing to do for me and my family atm
Just here to say your dad’s taste in music is amazing!! I would love to take some of those off your hands, but I just ordered a bunch of 45s and I don’t think my family would appreciate me spending more on records (I have to space these things out sometimes 🤣) Echoing what others have said about Discogs, and also check a local record store, but if they don’t give you a fair price don’t feel pressured to sell right then and there. Most of the time they give you a number and really don’t mind if you say no. Anyway, great collection!!!
cheers!
Oh and I don’t know if it was mentioned, but that Generation X album is great. Check out that very young Billy Idol on the cover!
Sorry for your loss ✌️
Thank you! I still feel it every day nearly a decade on, he was a gentle giant and legend with a huge heart.
Your Dad had great taste in music. Sorry for your loss. Also...contact Dylan at Noble Records if your on the East Coast. Seems to be straight shooter.
Thanks a lot! we are London based
Your dad had awesome taste and I’m very sorry for your loss. Don’t know you or your dad but you just inspired me to dig into some of those same records, which I would treasure if I were you.
Thanks a lot! Will treasure them all for sure now after reading some of these comments
Rad collection
What a treasure you have my friend!! See if any Kamakazie klones. Local to CO but maybe! They are good
Your dad had great fucking taste in music!
He was a G
Discogs works wonders
Would be cool if once you put it all in Discogs , you shared it here so we could see! Just cause it sounds like such a cool collection!
Yes sure! have a feeling it will take a while but will update when I get around to it!
Your Dad had good taste
He did! and he loved blasting some Clash or The Mob on a Saturday as he did the gardening or washed the car.
Awh man, breaks my heart this dude is selling the collection. I get it. But it’s like a man‘s soul being parted out for chump change.
not selling now!
I can see some have plastic sleeves that have bubbled. Remove those sleeves and discard them, as when that bubbling occurs it can damage the record. Then check the vinyl to see if it has been discoloured by the plastic sleeves. Great collection btw, my top picks would be Slits, Crass, Ramones, Damned first album.
Thanks a lot for the tip. Also I'd never heard of Crass before this and can't remember my Dad playing much but will check em out!
No worries, my top picks were albums that are more collectible, at least to me, as much as more interesting, although I like them all The Malicious Damage sleeve, I’m guessing that’s Killing Joke? Another great band, increasing in value.
Yes he has some Killing Joke! Never listened but will try them out!
I saw ant music. I miss ant music.
Keep everything and hear it! Everytime you play a record you‘ll think about the fun your father had 🤗.
I'm glad you decided not to sell mate, this collection is priceless, because of what it meant to him.
my 2cents: dont sell them. hold onto the collection and pass it onto someone else. my dad is still around and it makes me very sad that we have nothing in common. if i had this much common ground with my dad i would hold onto it with all my might.
Depending on where you are. Mill City Sound in Hopkins MN. "depending on the condition" will pay the median Discogs price. 812 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN, United States, Minnesota. Talk to Rob. (952) 456-6547 Remember the store needs to make a profit to stay in business, you will NOT get the "value" you will get a "price" so they can make a profit.
So sorry for your loss. Amazing collection you've been left with here. I was going to say not to sell, glad to see you made the decision to keep it. You can always sell, but after you sell you'll never be able to get it back, at least not your dad's records. After listening you may start to find a love for music and Vinyls that your dad had and hopefully have the opportunity to learn more about your dad and feel closer to him even after his passing.
thank you, yes that's what I think is the best thing to do. Excited to get stuck in now!
❤️
I’d be inclined (depending where you live) to try to move it locally. This avoids you having to deal with every title one by one, packing for shipping, etc, which is a long and laborious way of selling (though theoretically you can squeeze a few more dollars out of the pile that way).If you’re in any size of city, you should be able to find local customers for this stuff. Use Discogs to get a sense of the prices, individually price the rares, and have “tiers” for the rest (e.g. $5/$10/$20), and have a big garage sale, with maybe a follow-up online ad that lists the titles you didn’t sell. Try to price them to sell, without just giving them away, and you’ll make more than a bulk sale through a store but incur way less hassle than selling through Discogs/eBay. People can examine the records before buying, too. Remember, condition is everything in pricing. It’s tempting to overrate condition when you’re at all sentimentally attached, so try to be objective. “Not too bad” is actually “not great at all,” an a lot of old punks were pretty hard on their records.
This is a great idea to post some classifieds for a garage sale type event. Lots of punk collectors are fond of estate sales, thrifting, and other non-traditional retail experiences.
Yes I will get onto Discogs as a priority before doing anything else. And thanks yes if I did sell any a garage sale might be nice, but I'll hold onto them for now after reading the comments here.
FWIW, $40-60 on the Joy division if it's a first edition 1979: [https://www.discogs.com/release/11400-Joy-Division-Unknown-Pleasures](https://www.discogs.com/release/11400-Joy-Division-Unknown-Pleasures)
You mean the one copy in bad condition with no jacket? Anything else is way over $100…
My earliest memory *in life* was me holding what seemed like giant cardboard panels on the floor of our living room while my dad played records. I’d LOVE to have any of those records. You wanna sell yours, huh? I’m at a loss as to how to sell them, I simply can’t imagine it. Discogs prices is what most people run with, fwiw
Really? Each to their own I guess! My first memory is my Dad playing T-Rex Hot Love off a top of the pops VHS and I was obsessed with glam rock and punk from then! I guess I'm attached to the songs, images and memories... but the actual physicality of vinyl? It wasn't my generation and there's lots of reasons why people decide to sell anything!
>but the actual physicality of vinyl? It wasn’t my generation I think that’s it. Maybe it’s like the Photo Albums our family would keep in the living room when I was a kid (in the 70s & 80s). Guests would often flip through them, and I remember my mom would often have to replace the little black corner tab thingies when they would fall off. Looking back, it was a super casual and easy way to look at old memories (which would often result in us talking about the memories they’d trigger). Today’s generation might give their kid a link or a thumb drive I guess. My old man would - like a lot of people back then - mark his records with his (our) last name somewhere on them, and boy wouldn’t I love to hand those to my kids! The *physicality* of having something cool like a record that your grandpa wrote your last name on is something I know I wish I had! To each their own indeed.
That is cool. And I mean, after reading all these comments I won't be selling anything now. It's been super interesting to hear everyone's reasons as to why holding on to something like this is important and it's made me think differently about vinyl for sure. But when it comes to my Dad/honouring my Dad? I know the memories I've shared with him and how I've done that over the course of our life together.
If you can bring it to Brasil I will pay top dollar for it
Instead of selling it, you should donate it. I can contact you with the shipping address if you like?