Do We Buy Records?

Without a doubt, the number one question we get is either "Do you buy records" or "We have records we don't want, will you take them".  Well, here's the honest, bottom line situation.

Donating records to us: If you have records you want to get rid of (you're not looking to sell them) we will take them. Often someone has passed away, someone is moving, or someone has moved. Or someone gave up on vinyl decades ago and now has all CD's or mp3s, and they just don't want the records in the way. Believe me, we get it. They take up a lot of room and in quantity they're heavy! If you just want to get them out of your hair feel free to bring them in.  Just pop in when we're open, or message us on Facebook (best way to contact) or give a call or email, and we can arrange to meet you at the store just about any day.  For donations you don't need to sort or clean anything, and we don't care what they are. Now, to be brutally honest 95% of the records people give us we can't sell in the store. If you're one of our customers you know the records we sell are nearly perfect.  A record with a scratch than can be felt with the light touch of a fingernail is rejected from coming in the store. So these 95% of records either wind up at one of our "dollar album" days, or they go direct to recycling.  Which means we're getting rid of them responsibly and you don't have to deal with them.  If you've got piles of them to clean out - like a basement full - we'll even come and get them. So if Grandpa passed away and left a pile of albums you don't want to deal with, we'll handle it for you.

Selling records to us: We rarely buy records. Simply because it usually turns out that the largest percentage of what folks want to sell, we don't need (see above). However, we will give you something for your records if you have records that are titles and artists we actually want, and they're in near perfect condition. Now, realize that 99% of the albums in our store sell for $5 each.  So, even if you come in with a record you looked up on eBay or Discogs and think it's worth $40, if it's in our store, it's $5. Simply because we don't cater to collectors and we try to keep music affordable for people who want to listen to them. And even a Beatles or Bob Dylan album is going to wind up in a dollar box on Dollar Album Day if it's scratchy.  Out of that $5 that we sell a record for .34 cents goes to the State for sales tax, and .15 cents covers the sleeve it's in.  Of course we have (small) overhead in store rent and advertising, etc. So if you come in with a box of music we can use and it's real nice, we're going to give you a dollar an album, maybe two for something especially desirable.  If we're buying, we're picky (unlike if you're just donating). Things we won't buy: Childrens records, classical, box sets (like Readers Digest sets of mood music, big band music, Christmas music, etc), Christmas records, oldies that are NOT the original performers, K-Tel and Ronco records or most country, etc. We'll take these, but we won't pay anything for them.  What WILL we buy? Rock and roll, virtually any - classic rock, oldies, heavy metal, from the 50's to 90's, reissues, etc. Jazz (Not big bands), blues, pop, *some*country.  We don't usually buy any 45's as condition becomes a factor and most of what's out there is so common we already have them.  BUT, if you have a big boxful, or several boxfuls and especially if they're in sleeves we'd be inclined to flip you a few bucks for them simply because I personally collect 45's for my own enjoyment and if you've got a quantity of nice condition 45's, I'm interested.

We don't buy ANY 78's. But see paragraph one above. We'll take them if you want to donate them.  We generally don't have them in the store - just a few now and then.  They basically have no market potential unless you have something rare (which is rare - obviously) and is in very nice condition (which with 78's is even more unlikely).

Do you buy record players? This is also a common question, and like with records, if you want to get rid of a player, we'll take it. Rarely are they worth money to us.  To resell one, it has to be gone through and made to work well and reliably. For example, say you have a typical 50's or 60's record player that's been in the attic for 40 years. It's likely going to need a new cartridge and needle ($25 - $50) and very likely a new idler wheel (this is the rubber and metal wheel that transfers power between the motor and the record platter which will cost from $35 - $75 to have rebuilt) and will have a couple hours time (at $20 an hour) into it to clean and lube the internals, and more than that if it's a changer (that you stack records on) and (especially if it has tubes in it) it's going to need capacitors in the power supply at a cost of $14-20 each, and there are usually three).  So, best case scenario we have to put $50 - $100 into an old record player before we can sell it to a customer. So, we rarely pay much if anything for one.  But we take 'em, and see if we can save them. I've been repairing them since the 70's.

About eBay and Discogs: Now and again someone stops in looking to sell some records and know what "they're getting for them on eBay, or Discogs".  Remember, these are world-wide services offering records to buyers everywhere on the planet. We're a store in Bovey, we sell records to people who want to listen to them, and occasionally people who are glad to get a record for a reasonable price, rather than paying a collectors premium, plus shipping, to get it on eBay.  When you look at an online value, remember a few things: Look at COMPLETED auctions.  Auctions that have actually been completed and closed. Then you can see what they actually sold for.  A seller can list anything and post any price they want, that doesn't mean they will ever sell it for that. I've been watching on ebay, an Elvis Christmas Album on Pickwick that has a buy it now price of $5,000.000 on it.  It will never sell. But people see that listing and think it's worth that, or certainly more than the dollar we might pay for it. It's not new, or any special or oddball pressing. It's worth about five bucks. There's also a Linda Ronstadt "Living in the USA" album listed for $231.00. It's worth about 5 bucks tops. It's nothing special. It's been opened and it's a "cutout" with a saw cut in the bottom edge, showing us it was even marked down as overstock in the music store it came from.  You might find more reasonable sellers getting $10 for this album. Maybe $5. If you want to get $5 or $10 for it, more power too you and we're more than happy if you choose to list it on eBay.  But condition is everything, one one reason why I don't sell records online.  Are you REALLY expert enough to tell if a record is VG++ (that's "very good with two pluses:" or if it's actually M- or M-- (that's Mint minus, or minus minus) believe me, I've seen friends who sell online have records returned because the buyer decided the grading was 1/2 or 1/4 point off. Then they get a refund, and you not only lose your selling price but the cost for return shipping and some seller fees.  Most of the records in our store, if we had to, we'd grade as VG+ simply because we're being conservative. Our customers insist they're better than that. But we strive for VG+ or better.  Here's the official GOLDMINE definition of a VG+ record:
"A good description of a VG+ record is “except for a couple minor things, this would be Near Mint.” Most collectors, especially those who want to play their records, will be happy with a VG+ record, especially if it toward the high end of the grade (sometimes called VG++ or E+). VG+ records may show some slight signs of wear, including light scuffs or very light scratches that do not affect the listening experience. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are OK. Minor signs of handling are OK, too, such as telltale marks around the center hole, but repeated playing has not misshapen the hole. There may be some very light ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable."
Goldmine Magazine was for decades the definitive magazine published twice a month for record collectors - with articles but most importantly with thousands upon thousands of ads for people buying and selling records all over the world. Their record grading chart has been the standard for probably 50 years.  They're still publishing, but with the invention of the internet most record selling and buying happens online.  I bought and sold records via Goldmine starting back in 1976. Having the store is a LOT more fun.

For eBay you have to photograph and write a listing, and be prepared to accept payment via various methods.  And you have to be prepared to pack and ship them safely and efficiently. If you want to do it as a business, you can get a system going and many do it successfully. It's not worth it if you have a box of your Son's or Dad's albums he left behind when he moved out or passed away. And we're not gonna take your records and try to sell them for piles of cash online. We sell them in the store or take them to recycling.  Same with Discogs. When you look at the value column, be sure to notice the high and low price, don't just look at the high and think your record is worth that. And again, on Discogs you're selling to the world, not your friends and neighbors.

So, message us on Facebook, send an email, or give us a call 218-259-2985 if you have records to find a new home for.  Look at us as a record adoption agency!