Where Can I Sell My Vinyl Records Near Me or Online? 8 Best Places

Vinyl records may be things of the past, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a market today.

There are plenty of vinyl enthusiasts out there who will gladly pay the right price to fill in their collection or get a unique piece they’ve been dying to have.

If you’re ready to part ways with your old vinyl records or just really want to sell them to get the cash you know you can get from them, then this guide should help you along the way.

First, you should know a few important things before selling that can help you determine the right prices, whether you want to sell your records separately or as a collection.

Then, I’ll introduce you to a few of the best local and online spots to find buyers for your vinyls.

Step 1: Understand Your Collection and Its Selling Points

The most important step of selling vinyl records is knowing what you have. You can’t expect to sell your collection for top dollar if you don’t know what makes it worth its value.

Here’s what you should consider before selling:

Condition

Condition is sometimes even more important than a record’s edition or artist.

A record that’s never been opened or has been opened but is in mint condition is going to be worth much more than one that’s been scratched, faded, or has other noticeable problems.

It’s crucial to list the condition honestly when you go to sell, too, so you don’t wind up with disappointed customers, negative feedback, or refunds, depending on where you sell your records.

Demand

Demand for any collectible can fluctuate over time, and the same holds true with vinyl records.

The more people want an item, the higher you can price it, generally. Lower demand usually warrants a lower price tag.

Similarly, how many copies of an album floating around will affect its demand.

The fewer copies made, the less there are to go around, which can make that particular album worth more than others.

Included Items

Do your records come with their original sleeves or any other items that originally came with them?

For example, some limited-edition albums might have also included a band poster, lyrics sheets, music sheets, or even a signed photo of the artist.

Any albums that maintained their original form with all included items tend to be worth more than those with missing items.

Editions and Pressings

Vinyl records were often made in different editions, which usually indicate different timeframes in which they were released.

First editions tend to be the most coveted and, therefore, worth the most, as they’re considered the “originals.”

However, depending on the album, there may have only been a limited number of a second or third edition made, so they could have high values, too.

Pressing refers the manufacturing process of vinyl albums.

Original presses were the ones originally made by the manufacturer, whereas non-original presses were anything made after, usually from a copy.

Original presses are the most challenging to find and, therefore, hold more value than others.

You can typically tell if a record is an original press by looking at its number on the spine.

Generally, the lower the number the better, but this will vary depending on the record company.

You can use Discogs to search for each title in your collection. It’ll tell you the year it was made to help you determine original pressings.

Rarities

There’s nothing like having a rare album in your collection – and you may not even know it’s there until you start researching!

That’s why it’s incredibly important to go through your album collection piece by piece and jot down all information you find.

You could have a limited-edition or a special release that you didn’t know was anything special, yet it could be worth hundreds to thousands more than other albums from the same artist.

Step 2: Understand Value and Pricing

Value and pricing are the trickiest aspects of selling anything that can be considered collectors’ items, including vinyl records.

The market can fluctuate at any time depending on supply and demand, so it’s important to keep an eye on what your collection and its pieces are selling for over time before you just jump in and sell.

By keeping track of trends, you may learn when prices are about to rise or dip, which could help you understand when you should try to sell.

Unfortunately, you may not always get the price you want from a vinyl record.

Your final price will depend mostly on the factors we outlined above, like condition and rarity, but it’s still helpful to pay attention to the current market and what collectors are looking for.

To do this, you can use a site like WhatSellsBest.

This site lets you search your item to see what it’s selling for on eBay, in auction houses, and across other selling websites to get an idea of what you might be able to price each of your vinyl records for.

ValueYourMusic also lets you search each title to find its most recent selling prices.

Discogs also offers a free research tool for valuing your collection, and it even lets you choose different editions of your vinyls to get the most accurate prices.

I’d personally use a combination of these tools to get the most precise selling range for each of your vinyl records.

Reddit can also be an excellent source when it comes to unique collections of items. A lot of collectors hang out here to discuss their collections and values.

Try r/vinyl and r/VinylCollectors to ask other experts about pricing.

Step 3: Know Where to Sell Old Records Locally and Online

So, who buys vinyl records online or locally? You can sell your vinyl collection to the following places for cash:

CD and LP

This website is specifically for buying and selling used CDs and vinyl records, and it lets members sell their collections to reach its large audience.

It’s free to set up your shop on the site and list your items.

Others can search for records and, when they buy from your shop, CD and LP process the payment and send it your way after you ship everything.

CD and LP even has a seller guarantee that helps keep you safe from fraudulent transactions.

Discogs

Discogs is a site for music lovers to find new music they’ll love, explore the greatest hits, and even buy and sell their music.

The Discogs Marketplace is where you can find buyers for your records or collection.

Vinyl formats are, by far, the most popular on the site, with currently more than 37 million listed!

You can search your record on the site, add in some details, name your price, and publish your listing.

After someone buys an item, you’ll figure out shipping costs and send the buyer an invoice for payment.

After receiving payment, you’ll then ship the order.

Discogs does have some selling fees that accrue when someone purchases an item from you.

eBay

eBay is an excellent place for all things that are collectables or unique in some way.

It’s not uncommon for a rare piece of a collection to sell for thousands of dollars here if someone wants it badly enough.

That said, it may also not be where die-hard collectors of vinyl records are hanging out if they’re looking for that super specific piece to complete a set.

You might be better off in these cases selling with a local hobby or bookstore or using one of the sites I listed above that are specific to music records.

If you want to take the chance on your collection, though, selling with an eBay auction could end up being a wise move for you.

People can keep bidding on your auction up until the last second, which is when many end up in a bidding war and significantly bump up the price.

If you’re worried that your auction may not give you what you want from your collection, then you can always set a reserve price to make sure you get the minimum amount you’re looking for.

Just be aware that reserve pricing can be a turnoff for some buyers, so it may prevent some people from bidding.

Facebook Marketplace

Facebook’s Marketplace can be hit or miss depending on what you’re selling.

You’d need someone local who’s also a collector and enthusiast to have an interest in buying your collection to have luck selling here.

It can be a long shot, but it’s not impossible.

My suggestion is to keep your collection up on the marketplace as you explore other avenues to sell with.

You never know who might see it and is looking to buy, so it won’t hurt to keep your listing there.

You can also share Marketplace listings to other groups on Facebook, so if you’re a member of vinyl record or fan groups, you could share them there and reach a more specific market.

Just be careful about mailing your records to someone you found on Facebook; make sure payment has cleared before shipping them off.

Reddit

I mentioned Reddit as a good place to value your collection straight from other experts and enthusiasts.

It can also be an excellent place to find buyers for your vinyl records.

The same two subreddits I mentioned before can come in handy when finding someone to buy your vinyls because they’re filled with other people just like you who love vinyl records.

There are also local buying and selling subreddits for popular metropolitan areas, so you may be able to sell in one close to you (you can use the search function to find your nearest one).

You can also try r/vinyldeals and r/redditbay, but be sure to read through and follow all the rules of any subreddit before trying to sell.

Used Bookstores

Used bookstores are some of the best spots to sell your vinyl records locally, especially if you’re looking to sell your full collection for a fair price.

Remember, though, that these bookstores are usually family-owned small businesses and may not have the funds to shell out thousands of dollars for your high-priced collection.

So, you’re better off going somewhere else if you know you have several records that may be out of the budget for the store.

Hobby and Collection Stores

Hobby-focused stores – like comic book stores, general hobbyist stores, and, of course, record stores (yes, they still exist in some places!) – can also be excellent options for selling your collection.

Like used bookstores, these stores are usually small business models with smaller budgets than large corporations.

However, because they have a highly targeted audience, they may be willing to purchase your collection at the price it deserves because they’re sure they can get a buyer.

It’s a good idea to offer the store you sell to an incentive to buy your collection, like offering a small discount if they buy the full collection together or offering to tell your friends and family where they can buy all their vinyl records.

Flea Markets

Finally, there’s the flea market, a place that many people forget about when it comes to selling stuff, but one that you shouldn’t overlook.

People visit flea markets ready to buy something they just can’t pass up.

Often, they look for unique stuff to add to their own collections, so it’s very possible that you’ll meet other vinyl record collections who are interested in buying from you.

Flea markets usually charge you to set up a table for the day or a weekend, but the fee is usually minimal.

It’s best to use a flea market only if you have a huge collection that you know will be worth your time and set-up fees to get rid of.

Plus, sellers at flea markets tend to do better if they sell in just one type of niche rather than turning their area into a yard sale mish-mosh of items, so your large collection can be just what you need to carve out a niche area at the flea market.

Conclusion: How to Sell My Vinyl Records Near Me and Online

Now that you know all about selling your vinyl records and where to do it, it’s time to get started!

Keep in mind that your vinyl record collection is super important and meaningful to you, but not everyone will have that same emotional attachment.

It’s important to remember that when you’re valuing your collection to make sure you price each piece fairly.

If you find that you’re too emotionally attached to your collection as you go through the selling process, you may want to hold off on selling it right now.

You can always reevaluate how you feel in a few months and try again. Plus, it’ll give you more time to research values and weigh your selling options.

Let us know how it all goes in the comments below.