When it comes to selling your records, you have two main options: selling them to a shop or dealer, or listing them individually online. While you might make more money selling records one by one yourself, going the shop or dealer route offers some distinct advantages, mainly saving time and hassle.
Selling to a shop or dealer is typically a quicker, more straightforward process. You won’t have to spend time taking photos, writing detailed descriptions, or dealing with buyers online. Instead, you can simply bring your collection to a local shop or reach out to a dealer, and they’ll usually make you an offer for the entire lot, sometimes on the spot. While this means you’ll likely get less money per record than if you sold them individually online, it can be worth it for the convenience.
By going the dealer or shop route, you save time and avoid the stress of shipping, negotiating, and waiting for payments. If you’re not in a hurry to make the most money possible and just want to offload your records without a lot of effort, selling to a shop can be a great choice.
When selling to a dealer, it’s important to keep in mind that you’ll likely receive around 25-40% of the medium value of the records as listed on Discogs. This is because the dealer is taking on the responsibility of doing all the work to resell your records, including cataloging, pricing, marketing, and handling customer interactions. Dealers will typically factor in these efforts, as well as any potential risk involved in holding onto your records until they find a buyer, which is why the offer tends to be lower than what you could earn by selling individually.
Ultimately, it’s all about what matters most to you—time or money. If you’re looking for a quick and easy transaction, a dealer might be the way to go. If you’re patient and want to maximize your profit, listing each record yourself could be more rewarding in the long run.