Selling rare Rock and Beat original pressings
Grope
2,970 Posts
My girlfriend's dad is trying to sell his collection. He asked me to sell some 1000 LPs and 12"s via eBay, but I said no. Don't have the time and patience for serious eBay selling and messing around with real collectors! I don't know what they are looking for!!!
So I went to one of the biggest and best stores in Southern Germany and the owner actually made it out to the small town where my girlfriend's dad lives. He was pleased, cause there are some original Rolling Stones LPs and some other Rock original first pressings: Black Sabbath, The Stooges, etc. In MINT condition.
The records are being sold for at least 250 Euros (325 US Dollars) at his store. He offered 2000 Euros for about 4000 - 5000 LPs and singles. His co-worker tried to offer 1500 Euros, but the owner said the collection is worth 2000!
Strange thing is, he said that he is interested in the collection ("at least 200 LPs would sell immediately"). But offering 2000 Euros is dull! He'd earn AT LEAST 5000 Euros by selling to his regular ustomers.
What am I supposed to do? Sell the originals on eBay? Do I get the same money that old time collectors spend in stores? Should we put ads in newspapers? How can we get more than 2000 Euros without messing with eBay? Record fairs aren't worh a try these days. Not for Stones originals or stuff like The Stooges! We'Re clueless! But I guess it's all about eBay, right?
I'd appreciate any help!
So I went to one of the biggest and best stores in Southern Germany and the owner actually made it out to the small town where my girlfriend's dad lives. He was pleased, cause there are some original Rolling Stones LPs and some other Rock original first pressings: Black Sabbath, The Stooges, etc. In MINT condition.
The records are being sold for at least 250 Euros (325 US Dollars) at his store. He offered 2000 Euros for about 4000 - 5000 LPs and singles. His co-worker tried to offer 1500 Euros, but the owner said the collection is worth 2000!
Strange thing is, he said that he is interested in the collection ("at least 200 LPs would sell immediately"). But offering 2000 Euros is dull! He'd earn AT LEAST 5000 Euros by selling to his regular ustomers.
What am I supposed to do? Sell the originals on eBay? Do I get the same money that old time collectors spend in stores? Should we put ads in newspapers? How can we get more than 2000 Euros without messing with eBay? Record fairs aren't worh a try these days. Not for Stones originals or stuff like The Stooges! We'Re clueless! But I guess it's all about eBay, right?
I'd appreciate any help!
Comments
In my opinion, stores never pay premium for original pressings, etc. They are in the business of making money.
Your best bet it so ebay the mono, first pressings, and raers. The rest can be sold to a shop or other collectors. You might think about auctioning the whole collection on ebay if you have generated a lot of interest and can guarantee bids, but otherwise piece it out.
yah, what jeff said
It's a lot of work. I'd say that there are 500 records that would get some attention. And I'm not sure if Stones collectors buy records on eBay with confidence. I don't even know what is important to Stones fetishists. The catalogue number? The picture covers? German pressings? The owner said that posters are very important to collectors. My girls dad remembers putting original posters from some LPs in a box at his basement. But he doesn't know what condition they are in. Do you get money for ripped posters?
eBay is hard work. Taking all those pictures, writing down numbers and making real condition descriptions. Dealing with payments...
We decided to sell the records directly. My girls dad does not know how to sell on eBay.
When selling the whole collection via eBay, do international bidder buy? The shipping costs would be IMMENSE!
Saying, do it direct but it might take you longer and you will not make as much, guaranteed. But if time and "the hassle of eBay" is a major issue, so be it.
Maybe there are like-minded, deep-pocketed local collectors who can be down though? Ask around.
YOU TELL 'EM CRINK!!!
THAAS RIIIIGHT!!!
Ask who? Newspaper ads? Store owners? Would they tell you?
YES.
Maybe, it's gonna be eBay for the biggies after all. German stores wouldn't buy the leftovers though. Really, they always stress how much they hate 80s vinyl, especially singles. My girlfriends dad need to get rid of all records though. He needs the space!
Maybe you should ask for a percentage?
In fact, I'd get a percentage! But I really don't have the time to deal on eBay. It's enough work to auction 15 record a month on my own behalf. I'd really love to drop the whole collection at once. But I see that it's the worst selling option!
I guess I need to tell him that he should deal with the collection himself, right? He'd get much more money via eBay. And the rest of the collection could just be trashed or auctioned as a whole.