How Much Are My Records Worth?
There are a number of great resources that make vinyl collecting so much easier than it was when I was a teen. I will share every one that I currently lean on and explain how each of them help me. First up: Discogs Whether you're digging through crates, at a local estate sale, or think you've found a rare gem on OfferUp, you'll need a dependable source to rely on to make sure you're not being overcharged. You'll also need to learn what information identifies the specific pressing of the album that you've found. 1. Identify The Release. The Catalog Number is the first piece of information that I look for. It can usually be found on the sleeve or will be pressed on the inner ring of the album. The Barcode Number is the next thing to look at. If those options aren't available, other things that can identify the release are the label that it's on, the track titles of the release, etc.
2. Head to Discogs. Download the free Discogs app and scan the Barcode Number. If that's not an option, enter the Catalog Number, Barcode Number, or any other information found into the search bar on their website. 3. Determine The Condition Of The Album. You're not going to pay the price of a Mint album if what you've found has surface scratches are you? If you're unfamiliar with how to do that, learn the Goldmine Standard. It's what Discogs leans on. It's a universally-accepted guideline with levels that range from Mint (perfect) to Poor (badly damaged). 4. Locate Prices In The Statistics Section. If you're on a laptop, the Statistics heading will be on your right-hand side. If you're on a mobile device, you'll need to scroll down a bit. Click on Last Sold Date to view sales data which will include the average price it sold for. If you’re using the app, this information will be labeled as Sales History.