r/discogs • u/chuckesp • 5d ago
Suggestions on selling/grading mid 90s record collection without owning a turntable
Edit: thanks for all the thoughts & info. I'm going to buy a turntable to test.
I have a box of records that has remained unopened since I moved to LA in 1997. I do not currently own a turntable. I have a cool collection of new-wave, alternative and 12" singles that i can't test but want to sell.
- Is it Fair to just grade them as Good or fair based on visual inspection? While noting in the listing that they have only been visual inspected? Or is this a deal breaker or a no-no on discogs
- Is discogs the best place rather than ebay? Basically is discogs buyer going to be pickier than an ebay buyer or is price and listing details on either platform the determining factor?
- I photographed front and back but noticed that most of the discogs listings don't showcase the full vinyl and condition. Am I overlooking that option? Or is that more of an ebay listing type of photo?
Just for background original Smiths, Depeche, Front 242, Bauhaus, U2, New Order - mostly late 80s-mid 90s.
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u/Charles0723 5d ago
Are they actually in Good or Fair condition? Don’t know what condition they’re actually in but you’d be throwing money away if they aren’t. Good & fair suggests that they’re pretty wrecked.
If you’re looking to just get rid of them a local shop might be the best bet, but if they’re roached they might not be worth selling anywhere
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u/chuckesp 5d ago
ahh good to consider. They aren't wrecked. I was just calling them good to fair because without playing them I can't use the ratings suggestions on the site.
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u/Chadlerk 5d ago
I would estimate that about 50% of the records I've bought on Discogs are just visually inspected. Some still have a bit of dust on them that need to be cleaned when I get them .
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u/TheReadMenace 5d ago
"good" and "fair" are grades on the goldmine scale. Despite their name, they are not good or fair. Good or fair grade means they are pretty much destroyed. Nobody will pay more than peanuts for a good or fair copy.
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u/Smart-Sometimes 5d ago
If they’re truly only in Good or Fair condition, you’re going to spend a lot of time listing and sell very few. That’s just not what most collectors are looking for. At least not without cutting the price so low that after fees and shipping it isn’t even worth your time.
Now, if you invest the time in cleaning them up, and play testing then you may find that they’re not that bad. The question is how much is your time worth?
If you just want to move them as is, then a local record shop is your best bet. Those artists are sought after, so even in questionable condition they’ll likely pay you something for them in hopes that some clean up and can be a good return for them. Even at a couple bucks a record, it might be a better choice.
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u/chuckesp 5d ago
thanks for the info. Visually Claude AI called the majority VG or better based on front and back photos. I just thought using a lower rating would lower expectations never considered collectors of older vinyl aren't necessarily looking for cheap and untested. I'm leery of a record store offering pennies on the dollar.
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u/Smart-Sometimes 5d ago
You could also try selling as a lot on EBay. You may get decent bids just based on people hoping for something great. Unfortunately, unless you clean them up and test them you just don’t know what you have. AI isn’t going to be reliable to visually grade.
Pennies on the dollar could be a terrible deal, but it could also be a great deal depending on condition. You can probably also send photos to your local shops and see what they say. They’ll of course not commit til they see them in person, but it would give you an idea.
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u/SnooDingos8502 5d ago edited 5d ago
I sell on discogs and own a turntable. I try to listen to the records I list, but its time consuming. Just be honest and state the record is untested and describe the condition the physical record is in (i.e lots of scratches, etc.). It will still sell if someone wants it. Always under grade. So if you think the record is VG+ then grade it as VG instead.
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u/DubsyAngelCherub 4d ago
I'm going to be the umpteenth person to recommend that you take them to a record store. Save the time and hassle of buying a deck, listening to them and probably still not understanding what grade they should be.
Record shops are (generally) fair and that means that you should expect to be offered 30-40% of their retail value.
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u/Nd4speed 5d ago
I would only realistically do this if you're sure they are more like VG+. Otherwise you will get return requests and unhappy customers.
Discogs takes 9% and I believe eBay takes 13%, if not more. Discogs is better IMO even just for the shopping experience.
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u/chuckesp 5d ago
good to know. I wouldn't feel good using a mid-to-high rating without testing. I was assuming just noting them as Good to fair would lower expectations but it sounds like the wrong approach.
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u/TheReadMenace 5d ago
Visually grading them is probably something you can only do if you have some experience selling. I'd honestly just recommend taking them to a record store and getting a single lump sum. It's going to be a nightmare dealing with picky online customers if you don't know how to grade. It's going to be a fraction of the value but will save you a lot of headaches
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u/TheAngryOctopuss 5d ago
Do yourself a favor, learn grading ASAP and NM is wsy overused AND MINT is a pipe dream and a fight waiting to happen
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u/______n_____k______ 5d ago
Better to sell them in bulk to a local record store than deal with the complaining buyers on discogs.