paloma91
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posted on June 8, 2006 09:49:58 PM
So I pulled out the old laptop. Dug through piles of stuff and found the wireless network card I bought some time back. Threw it in the laptop. Yep, it works. Ok now to the livingroom and the 6 boxes of old LPs. Get online and start the search. Went to the popsike.com site. Tried to search. . Got an error that there were too many users and to try later. Tried some of their links. Hey! got a hit on 1 of 12 LPs I searched but it took me back to ebay and it was the wrong LP. Time has passed. I tried the site again. Still too many users error.
There has got to be a better way. Maybe I should just put 'em all out at the garage sale for a dollar each and say the heck with it. I am hitting the fridge
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roadsmith
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posted on June 8, 2006 10:04:42 PM
Paloma, I'm in the same fix you're in. All these older records and can't find them on that site. Hate to toss them or donate them because I just KNOW there's a collector out there for them. If you find a better way, please let me know!
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paloma91
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posted on June 8, 2006 10:11:47 PM
Ok Roadie, I'll just keep going here. I think I found another site a few days ago. It was hard running from the livingroom to the computer room with a load of lps and running back. It's too crowded in there! Maybe we can both find an easier way.
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pat1959
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posted on June 9, 2006 07:48:55 AM
Why not just list them in your store? At 3 cents per listing (including gallery) you've only spent 36 cents per year, per album. Collectors will find them, you've made a few bucks and everyone is happy.
I listed a portion of my LP inventory a few months ago -- to test the market -- and well over a dozen have sold. Not a goldmine, but I'm pleased to pack and ship them to someone who will appreciate them.
The few extra dollars are nice, too...
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MAH645
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posted on June 9, 2006 08:29:31 AM
I had put several boxes of LP records in my store back last fall. I sold a whole lot of records even 45's. You will find a lot of collectors who will buy certain artist. Some of what I had had been dumped on me at a Flea Market and brought more than I would have thought it was worth. I even sold set of Readers Digest records. I do the record thing ever now and then just to clear a path to something else.
**********************************
Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
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paloma91
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posted on June 9, 2006 08:37:44 AM
Maybe I should stop trying to research and just list 'em to sell. What do you think? They are all in mint or almost mint condition. These are from 1960's backwards
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pat1959
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posted on June 9, 2006 09:38:39 AM
That's what I was suggesting, Paloma...
The only 'research' I did was on eBay -- current and completed listings -- as those were the only competitive prices I was really interested in. I priced them between the current listings prices (above the lowest and slightly below the highest) with $3.00 as my lowest price. Those for which I could find no competitors I priced at 9.95.
Yes, there are a few true 'money-getters' among those listed in the store, but LP sales are not my niche. So rather than mess with them, pay the AUCTION listing fees and hope for a good price, I'm just happy to have them out of my inventory room and into the hands of those who want and will appreciate them.
Nice thing about listing records is that there is not as much work to post the listing as with antiques and other detailed items. One picture, of the cover, is all I included. Album quality; record condition, cover condition and sleeve, plus the artists/performers and song titles were all that was necessary. Listing went fast and I could knock off about twenty in an afternoon's work.
With about a thousand albums to list it was a nice break from the more detailed listings, and the album sales have paid my eBay and PayPal fees for each month since they were listed. That leaves all of my other items, in that store, as pure gravy!
Go for it! Just put them in your store and that will be the best -- and easiest -- market research you will need to do. If some would have brought more, so what? If some don't sell in a year's time, you've lost a whole 36 cents per album. If they are worth anything, someone will find them and you'll be a few dollars richer!
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on June 9, 2006 12:44:26 PM
Have you considered getting a book and looking them up that way?
You maybe able to get a good book at the library.
I can tell you from my experience that there are some very valuable album out there. I've sold them for $10, $100, $300 & $600 - and I don't have a clue what I'm doing. LOL
I've seen some albums bring $1000's so it's worth a little work if you think you may have something worth selling.
What kind of albums do you have? Rock, Pop, Jazz, Big Band?
[ edited by ladyjewels2000 on Jun 9, 2006 12:45 PM ]
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sthoemke
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posted on June 9, 2006 01:27:14 PM
There's people that still play records???
I think the last time I've even seen a record player was about 20 years ago!
The going rate for LPs at the flea market is about 50 cents each.
Maybe if you have the Beatles or Elvis or Led Zeppelin, those might sell alright.
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paloma91
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posted on June 9, 2006 02:17:52 PM
There are approx 50+ records in boxes in my livingroom. I started with the box closest to me last night. I tried looking up 12 and got burned out trying to find something on them last night. I will try to library but I think the online prices or sales would be the most current. Don't you think? Albums are not my area of expertise. When I started out with "smalls" I used books and found that the prices were way off since the market changes so much. I just use them now for reference to see what I have. I think books on record albums are going to be the same.
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myfavorites4u
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posted on June 9, 2006 02:59:05 PM
The books are only good for identifying a rare record. But, even then, the going price is usually whatever someone on Ebay is willing to pay.
I just look mine up to see if a dozen are already listed and if they have any bids or not. I have thousands of records to list and 90% of mine get listed in groups of 10 to 20 by artist.
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paloma91
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posted on June 9, 2006 03:11:05 PM
How do you store these things while waiting for them to sell? I know you're not supposed to lay them down flat. I have them in open boxes all standing up. I can't llve with boxes all over my livingroom floor. Any hints you can give me?
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irked
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posted on June 9, 2006 03:15:45 PM
Good question, I always heard the opposite stand them upright not leaning etc. Have I been doing it wrong all these years?
**************
I married my wife for her looks...but not the
ones she's been giving me lately!
[ edited by irked on Jun 9, 2006 03:16 PM ]
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pat1959
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posted on June 9, 2006 03:53:35 PM
Irked is correct. Stand them upright, not laying down.
I use sturdy plastic "milk" cartons. These sturdy cartons can be purchased at Wal-Mart for only a few dollars. Cardboard boxes tend to collapse, or sag, and warp of the albums becomes a problem. I store mine in categories, with artists in alpha order.
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fenix03
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posted on June 9, 2006 04:23:42 PM
Paloma - try subcribing to Marketplace research for a day if you don't regularly use it. You can search back for up to 3 months and see how many listings there have been for the title, what the sell thru rate was and what the average sale price was. I ended up with a couple hundred records of my moms left over from garage sales and MR saved me a ton on listing fees. I knew what to list at auction and what was a goos start price. what to stick in the store and what to use as frisbees because even at .99 they never sold. 
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
People put their hand on the bible, and swear to uphold the constitution. They do not put their hand on the constitution, and swear to uphold the bible.
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myfavorites4u
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posted on June 9, 2006 04:58:49 PM
I have mine stored in boxes (packed tightly to keep them straight) by artist. I have a storage building with nothing but records in it. I can't wait to get them sold!
It started out with about 1400 that were mine from as far back as the 1960s. Then, I came across a used record store that was selling out so I bought his stock which included 7000 more lps, several hundred 78s, 6000 8 tracks and over 20,000 45's.
Just sorting them was a nightmare. Now, i find it is so much easier to list other things (and to ship them) that I only get a few of these listed at a time and I'm paying for storage for them to just sit. I plan on listing nothing but records for the entire month of September (waiting for it to cool off before making trips to and from storage on a daily basis). Until then, I'll just get a few up here and there as I can.
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myfavorites4u
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posted on June 9, 2006 05:01:44 PM
I'm not sure if I'll ever list the 8 tracks and the 78s. I'm just trying to get all these lps out of the way.
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roadsmith
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posted on June 9, 2006 07:12:29 PM
Fenix: I tried to find Marketplace Research but couldn't. Can you steer me in that direction, please?
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paloma91
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posted on June 9, 2006 07:23:05 PM
Looks like Myfavorite, Roadie and I are doing the same things. I just want to get these sold. THanks for the tips on storing them. I think I'd need too many milk carton boxes. I'll figure out something.
Marketplace Research? I'd like to know about it too. I hope it's not for powersellers only (grumble grumble)
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myfavorites4u
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posted on June 10, 2006 01:01:48 AM
Terapeak (msp) has one that is cheaper, but you can find Market Place Research under manage subscriptions in My Ebay.
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paloma91
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posted on June 10, 2006 02:23:34 AM
I found a site that may be more helpful. When I did a search, it even showed ebay's listings for the lp I was searching for. Try musicstack.com
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magneticattractions
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posted on June 10, 2006 06:48:42 AM
Anyone care to share where the cheapest place is to get the boxes to ship these in? Thanks.
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roadsmith
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posted on June 10, 2006 08:02:04 AM
NEW pizza boxes. When I sold very old 78s, I first checked with our pizza place, and they wanted 45 cents per new box. In a nearby town was a big-box supplier of foods and restaurant supplies, and I got packages of them for about 30 cents each. The large size is perfect for LPs, one of the smaller sizes is perfect for 78s.
Our postal clerks never gave me any fuss about the writing on the outside of the boxes. Just be sure to use some padding around the records inside. Never had a complaint, everything got there beautifully.
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paloma91
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posted on June 10, 2006 09:21:31 AM
I''m going to ask our local roundtable next week. I hope they don't charge me too much Roadie, maybe I should try the city of SF for the same kind of supplier.
Just found a of online source which averages out to about 76 cents per box. I haven't used them. Can't recommend
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/14_x14_x1_75_corrugated_pizza_box/245CPB14.html
Here's another one:
http://www.uline.com/ProductDetail.asp?model=S-8342
[ edited by paloma91 on Jun 10, 2006 10:36 AM ]
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irked
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posted on June 10, 2006 09:31:31 AM
Talking about albums, do they ship media mail or not. I have a bunch to sell also but just haven't gotten around to it. I know CD and tapes do go media mail just curious.
**************
I married my wife for her looks...but not the
ones she's been giving me lately!
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myfavorites4u
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posted on June 10, 2006 10:26:40 AM
All recorded media can be shipped media mail.
I turn the pizza boxes inside out before folding them together. They do make perfect mailing boxes. Some on the music board complains about it, but I'm not selling true collectors records...just records for listening and I wrap them in a plastic bag to keep them stacked neatly before sealing the box.
I also have some lp mailers that I use for individual listings. You can get them from suppliers on ebay about as cheaply as anywhere else.
Good luck everyone...they are not an easy sell (as a rule) and are a lot of work to describe, photograph and pack. I just love old records so it started out as a labor of love but quickly turned into a nightmare. I never should have bought out the record store! lol
I'm getting better though. Someone near me was selling 2500 last month and the ending price was only $400. I didn't even try to bid. I just want to sell these and move on. With XM radio and Sirius there's more of a decreasing demand for these every day.
[ edited by myfavorites4u on Jun 10, 2006 10:28 AM ]
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roadsmith
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posted on June 10, 2006 10:29:32 AM
Heads up, people. There's a two-night sold-out retrospective of Judy Garland's 1961 Carnegie Hall concert coming up in New York City soon. There's a two-LP set of her concert in 1961 which has never been out of print, I heard this morning. If you have some Judy Garland records, they might do even better right now. (Wish I had some.) And I'll bet that two-LP set would sell nicely.
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myfavorites4u
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posted on June 10, 2006 10:47:08 AM
Thanks. I'll go to the storage building tomorrow and get mine. I have several 2 lp sets so maybe I have that one.
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paloma91
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posted on June 11, 2006 08:27:19 PM
Well, All of you LP sellers: How many LPs did you finally get listed today? How was the pizza box search?
I just finished listing LPs. I stopped by the local Round Table pizza establishment and asked if I could buy 10 boxes. The manager wasn't there and he felt he needed to ask the manager but agreed to give me 2 pizza boxes. WHOOPEE.
I ran into an ebayer I know. He said he tried selling LPs on ebay and gave up. Said it wasn't worth it. Oh my! I'm going to give it a try. If this doesn't work - next stop- G. Sale
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roadsmith
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posted on June 11, 2006 09:10:17 PM
I finally remembered where I bought the pizza boxes in bulk--Smart & Final. Check them if you have one in your area. Or--in any city of any size, there's usually a restaurant supply store, which should have them.
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