As I mentioned in the where to find collectibles from the past article, finding record albums is surprisingly easy. Finding them in good condition is usually another matter all together.
If you are buying records for re-purchase keep this in mind, most collectors want their albums, and 45 rpms, to be in mint or near mint condition. This means little cover wear on the albums, and vinyl that is clean and clear of scratches.
There are a couple of exceptions to this. One would be if the record is extremely rare, say, for example, the Beatle's butcher cover. Another would be if the record was so sought after by the collector that condition would not be a factor.
One thing you can certainly count on is the resale price going down considerably as the condition worsens.
A good place to sell vinyl is, of course, eBay. If you are not absolutely sure of the value of your record, comparison shop. Unless you have an item of considerable rarity, you'll usually find other copies for sale on that site. Look at the price. Look at the condition. Then set your sale or auction price.
If your record is of high value and you're auctioning it, you might want to consider putting a reserve price on it. A reserve price is the bidding amount that must be met for your item to sell. If it doesn't meet the reserve, it doesn't sell. The drawback with reserve pricing is that you pay a small fee to eBay if it doesn't sell. In my opinion, a small price to pay for a one of a kind collectable.
If your record does sell, it must be properly packaged for shipping. For LPs, your best bet is to purchase a cardboard box made exclusively for this type of shipping. Internet companies such as Bags Unlimited sell boxes for any type of record shipping, and of course, the more you buy, the better the price. Before you ship, I'd suggest filling the space between the record and cardboard with peanuts (available at Office Depot for one), or crumbled newspaper. A loose record could get damaged or even broken in the mail.
If you're shipping anything of value, it's best to get it insured just in case. It's worth the small fee.
There are other websites exclusive to vinyl sales, but I've alway had the best luck on ebay, so I'd recommend that site. Also, eBay has a store option on site, if you have larger quantities you wish to move. It's relatively easy to sell on eBay. If you haven't done it before (I know most of you have) simply go to the site and they'll walk you through it.
One other thing, if you simply don't trust the internet for selling or, if during a fit of rage, you tossed your PC out of the second story window, there is one other alternative. Check around in your local paper or in your record store, for upcoming record conventions. There aren't as many of them as in the past, but they're still around.
Conventions usually charge dealers by the table, so make sure you have enough product to make it worth your while. Convention shoppers are for the most part knowledgable collectors who will pay the price for the record they want. Do expect some bargaining to take place between buyer and seller, that's part of the game and adds to the fun.
If you can't bear the thought of parting with your vinyl memories, or if you are one of the few whose spouse tolerates stacks of albums lying around, here are some common sense tips on maintaining them.
The most important thing is to keep them out of humid areas. If you must put them down the basement, invest in a dehumidifier, it's worth it.
Secondly, always stack your albums and singles straight up and down on their sides. Stacking the vinyl on top of each other will eventual warp the records. Once a record is warped it is beyond repair. Oh you'll hear of miracle fixes involving irons or ovens. Forget it! Just don't let them warp to begin with.
KMart, and other stores, have plastic containers, for files and such, that work just fine on albums. You really don't want to put them in boxes of 50 or more for one important reason; they're heavy as hell! Try to store them in containers of forty or less and save yourself a hernia.
Cleaning the record is a simple procedure. Find a soft clean cloth. Dampen it with warm water, then gently run it across the vinyl in the direction of the grooves. Then with a dry cloth, dry it off. Repeat this on the record's opposite side. Just remember to keep the water off of the paper label. Do not, under any circumstances, put your records in the dishwasher. And also keep them out of direct sunlight.
When handling the records, just touch the edges and the edges only. The oil from your fingers can damage the record's grooves and also provide a good fingerprint if you just can't stay out of trouble.
If you are still using your old turntable to play your collection, make sure you replace the needle periodically. Yes there are still places that sell them.
Finally, make sure that your albums are in paper sleeve or plastic sleeves (plastic is the best) inside your album cover. They are also available at Bags Unlimited, and other outlets.
Believe it or not, albums are making a comeback of sorts. Though you'll never be able to convince your wife of this, it's true. Sometimes a record company will even release a limited amount of vinyl to go with an artists compact discs.
Many audiophiles swear that vinyl has a fuller, richer sound than compact discs, and they may be right. Whatever the case they are not yet extinct. Whether selling or collecting, enjoy them while you can.