Kudos to you. This is not an easy decision to make for most of us collectors and it's even harder as an actual selling process. Perseverance, tenacity and in many cases blood pressure will be tested, believe me. I did something similar few months ago. For me the old parole 'Use it or loose it' still applies in many areas of my life and existence. Over the years you get to accumulate and amass a large number of records that you simply don't end up listening much to, or not at all. It also taught me a valuable lesson that what we believe a value of our collection could or should be, is a lot less in real terms. Having done 2 large-ish Jazz record sales in the past, I learned that whatever you believe your collection is worth, take between 30-50% off in cases of a larger volume sale (less for individual record sales). It also reminded me not to value a record by its potential market price, or flippers and speculators on Discogs etc. but rather its content and what it does for you when listening to it. So I'm now down from 780 to just over 400 after two large sell-offs, and I'm content. All of them now get a decent listening time, instead of collecting dust on my shelves.
I hear you. I sold 8 in last couple of months and the amount of haggling, lowballing etc I had to del with almost made me take them all to the local record shop which would have been like giving them away for free. I am now much more careful when I buy new remasters etc and how many of them, because if you aren't going to keep them long term, selling them is one large pain in the backside!
Great video! Would be cool to hear in a video how it all ended up. The total, the best things, the head aches and so forth. A cool guide for purging 500 of a collection by a collector....
That sounds like a formidable project -- especially when you have a cold! Grading, pricing (minimums, anyway), photographing, describing, listing, printing shipping labels & packing slips, proper packaging (inner and outer sleeves?), tracking, shipping... Makes me hurt all over. Do you ever use Buy It Now or Make Offer -- or is it all strictly auction? When I've sold things on ebay (records, vintage movie posters), I don't offer shipping outside North America (flat rate) and Buy It Now makes payment immediate. Best of luck!
For all those reasons you mention and more - these days I only buy/acquire a record I am 100% sure I will keep long term and actually listen to. Collecting them to sit on the shelf and collect dust isn't me anymore...It was though, in the past, but I learned my lesson the hard way.
Big THANK YOU for doing this. I need to sell about 4 cubes worth of records to justify buying a $1K cartridge at some point in the near future. I keep putting it off, but maybe seeing this process will help me do it. I hope you'll do more videos showing each step as you go. I'm guessing, like me, you have a bunch of shipping boxes to put them in stacked in a utility closet?
I've had a very good experience selling online (eBay and Discogs). The process can be painful but it's the process. I did inherit a big Elvis Presley collection and I tell you dealing with EP people is a nightmare. All the issues you raised I experienced with them time and time again. I don't stock any EP items anymore because the stress and disappointment in humanity is not worth it.
That’s a Beverly Kenney Sings For Johnny Smith in the background. I never heard about her until Ken Micallef did a video featuring her a few years ago. Her story is very tragic and spiked my interest so I searched for her albums and found out that they are extremely scarce. I was able to purchase five nice mint- Japanese pressings complete with the OBIs through Discogs and have enjoyed them all. Good luck with the auction
Best of luck with the remaining titles and the upcoming auction. You could choose to make it less competitive by utilizing the “Buy it Now” feature?! Just a thought…
Good luck with the auctions. I’ve been on eBay since 1998 buying and selling records but in the last 5 or 6 years I quit using eBay for selling. Too many rules and requirements now.
I’m wondering why you feel you don’t get the value you want out of your auctions. Do you start them too low, or do a shortened auction time? I’ve sold tons of records online, and I can’t say I’ve ever sold something and received less than what I wanted it to sell for.
I think you are making a big mistake as you need to able to trace the history of a style or artist. You'll lose the big picture unless it's somebody you don't collect, duplicates, or an outlier era. Folks who do this are usually looking for better sounding gear and on a budget. I don't believe in "gear worship" and I'm worth many millions so I can afford it if I wanted. Those who are willing to sacrifice albums they once liked won't get satisfaction but will be met with regret because stuff gets very tough to find especially if you want it.
![Chris Langan - The Interview THEY Didn't Want You To See - CTMU [Full Version; Timestamps]](/img/n.gif)
Kudos to you. This is not an easy decision to make for most of us collectors and it's even harder as an actual selling process. Perseverance, tenacity and in many cases blood pressure will be tested, believe me.
I did something similar few months ago. For me the old parole 'Use it or loose it' still applies in many areas of my life and existence. Over the years you get to accumulate and amass a large number of records that you simply don't end up listening much to, or not at all.
It also taught me a valuable lesson that what we believe a value of our collection could or should be, is a lot less in real terms. Having done 2 large-ish Jazz record sales in the past, I learned that whatever you believe your collection is worth, take between 30-50% off in cases of a larger volume sale (less for individual record sales). It also reminded me not to value a record by its potential market price, or flippers and speculators on Discogs etc. but rather its content and what it does for you when listening to it. So I'm now down from 780 to just over 400 after two large sell-offs, and I'm content. All of them now get a decent listening time, instead of collecting dust on my shelves.
I hear you. I sold 8 in last couple of months and the amount of haggling, lowballing etc I had to del with almost made me take them all to the local record shop which would have been like giving them away for free. I am now much more careful when I buy new remasters etc and how many of them, because if you aren't going to keep them long term, selling them is one large pain in the backside!
Thanks for the preview. I look forward to the auction.
Don't blame you for taking this route. You want a smooth process, especially with this volume. I'm in UK. Definitely interested.
Just picked up a copy of Dexter Gordon new sounds in modern music Savoy 10” for $2 at a local shop. Best pickup of my life
I hope/trust you will let us know when you start listing. Thanks.
Great video! Would be cool to hear in a video how it all ended up. The total, the best things, the head aches and so forth. A cool guide for purging 500 of a collection by a collector....
Look forward to the auction.
That sounds like a formidable project -- especially when you have a cold! Grading, pricing (minimums, anyway), photographing, describing, listing, printing shipping labels & packing slips, proper packaging (inner and outer sleeves?), tracking, shipping... Makes me hurt all over. Do you ever use Buy It Now or Make Offer -- or is it all strictly auction? When I've sold things on ebay (records, vintage movie posters), I don't offer shipping outside North America (flat rate) and Buy It Now makes payment immediate. Best of luck!
For all those reasons you mention and more - these days I only buy/acquire a record I am 100% sure I will keep long term and actually listen to. Collecting them to sit on the shelf and collect dust isn't me anymore...It was though, in the past, but I learned my lesson the hard way.
Big THANK YOU for doing this. I need to sell about 4 cubes worth of records to justify buying a $1K cartridge at some point in the near future. I keep putting it off, but maybe seeing this process will help me do it. I hope you'll do more videos showing each step as you go. I'm guessing, like me, you have a bunch of shipping boxes to put them in stacked in a utility closet?
I've had a very good experience selling online (eBay and Discogs). The process can be painful but it's the process. I did inherit a big Elvis Presley collection and I tell you dealing with EP people is a nightmare. All the issues you raised I experienced with them time and time again. I don't stock any EP items anymore because the stress and disappointment in humanity is not worth it.
That’s a Beverly Kenney Sings For Johnny Smith in the background. I never heard about her until Ken Micallef did a video featuring her a few years ago. Her story is very tragic and spiked my interest so I searched for her albums and found out that they are extremely scarce. I was able to purchase five nice mint- Japanese pressings complete with the OBIs through Discogs and have enjoyed them all. Good luck with the auction
Good luck with your sale. I hope it helps you get the turntable you want.
Best of luck with the remaining titles and the upcoming auction. You could choose to make it less competitive by utilizing the “Buy it Now” feature?! Just a thought…
Love Gene Shaw Chris !!! I know his daughter too TP
Good luck with the auctions. I’ve been on eBay since 1998 buying and selling records but in the last 5 or 6 years I quit using eBay for selling. Too many rules and requirements now.
I hope you post your turntable journey.
Fun video, WCB. What turntables are you looking into?
You can do a video discussing Anita O’Day and Beverly Kenney.😊
Have you done a video on the disadvantages of collecting vinyl? Or starting a collection?
Just costs a lot of money
I’m wondering why you feel you don’t get the value you want out of your auctions. Do you start them too low, or do a shortened auction time? I’ve sold tons of records online, and I can’t say I’ve ever sold something and received less than what I wanted it to sell for.
Which turntable do you want?
Can you send a Link to your ebay
Hate the auction format. Hopefully some buy it now's or best offer.
What is your is your EBay handle? Not able to watch this vid rn.
Cbwayo is the handle
Looking forward to it!
eBay is an excellent way to sell.
Get bigger house, problem solved! 😂
Did you ever state your eBay seller handle
I think you are making a big mistake as you need to able to trace the history of a style or artist. You'll lose the big picture unless it's somebody you don't collect, duplicates, or an outlier era. Folks who do this are usually looking for better sounding gear and on a budget. I don't believe in "gear worship" and I'm worth many millions so I can afford it if I wanted. Those who are willing to sacrifice albums they once liked won't get satisfaction but will be met with regret because stuff gets very tough to find especially if you want it.