Selling LPs: Online and Local — The Complete Guide

The biggest mistake when selling LPs is assuming that everything is “old, therefore valuable.” Old does not automatically mean rare. The value of vinyl records usually depends on five things: pressing, label, catalog number, country of release and condition. A widely pressed Dutch or German reissue of a popular title may be worth very little, while an early pressing on the right label can be highly desirable if it is in excellent condition.

Always check:

• Label and catalog number: often the quickest way to identify a pressing.
• Country of pressing: UK, US, Japanese and some Dutch pressings may be more sought-after than later European represses.
• Vinyl and sleeve condition: light hairlines are not the same as feelable scratches; seam splits, ringwear and writing reduce the price.
• Completeness: inserts, posters, inner sleeves and obi strips can make a difference.
• Genre and demand: jazz, soul, punk, metal, reggae, psych and some electronic music generally perform better than ordinary easy listening or classical compilation LPs.

If you are unsure which pressing you have, start with an objective valuation using our guide to determining an LP’s value. This helps prevent you from selling a sought-after record as bulk stock or pricing an ordinary release too high.

When selling old records, the original retail price, sentimental value or what someone “paid for it back then” is not what matters. Buyers mainly look at current demand and condition. The most commonly used reference is Discogs market data: the lowest, median and highest sale prices for the exact same release. These figures are useful, but you need to read them carefully. A high peak means little if most copies sell for less or were in better condition.

Keep these rules of thumb in mind:

• Mint and Near Mint are exceptional: most second-hand LPs grade lower than sellers expect.
• A rare record in mediocre condition can still be interesting: especially in the case of scarce underground, punk or private press releases.
• A common title in top condition often remains broadly priced: supply matters more than condition in that case.
• Selling individually usually earns more than selling as a lot: but it takes more time.

If you want to get the best price when selling vinyl, do not just look at what “similar LPs roughly sell for.” Consider the exact match, condition and likely selling time. A record listed at a fair online price may sit for weeks or months. A slightly sharper price can ultimately earn more because your stock moves faster.

Not every sales channel suits every collection. Someone with one valuable jazz LP will make a different choice from someone looking to sell an entire living room full of records. The comparison below will help you choose the right route.

There is no single universally best site or sales channel for selling LPs. The right choice depends on three priorities: the highest possible price, the least time or the least hassle.

For selling LPs online, Discogs and Marktplaats are the two main options. They work in completely different ways. Discogs is ideal if you can identify exact pressings and want to reach an international audience. This is particularly attractive for collectible releases, import pressings and specialist genres. You do, however, need to grade accurately, take clear photos and pack records securely. Incorrect grading quickly leads to disputes or returns.

Marktplaats works better for local sales, bundles and well-known titles. If you are considering selling LPs on Marktplaats, a practical approach usually works best:

• Sell popular artists individually or in small sets.
• List bulk genres as a take-away lot at a realistic package price.
• Use clear photos of the sleeve, label and any damage.
• State the pressing, condition, genre and pickup location clearly in the listing.
• Decide in advance whether you want to use an auction-style starting price or a fixed price.

When selling records online, one simple rule applies: the more specific your description, the more serious the buyer. If necessary, you can use VinylAI to identify a record from a photo, helping you find the correct release more quickly before creating an ad or listing.

Not everyone wants to spend weeks managing individual listings, answering messages and shipping packages. In that case, a record store, bulk record buyer or specialist vinyl buyer may be the better option. This makes particular sense if you have a complete collection, are handling an estate or need to clear space quickly.

It is important to understand that a bulk buyer or record store will never pay the same price as an online end buyer. That is not bad faith; it is simply the business model. The buyer has to sort, transport, clean and price the records, sometimes hold stock for a long time, and take the risk that some titles will sell slowly. Especially when selling old records or mixed lots containing a lot of common music, the offer will therefore be lower than private sellers hope.

When is a buyer of old LPs a good choice?

• When you have large quantities and time matters more than maximum return.
• When the collection is highly mixed and only a small portion contains genuinely interesting titles.
• When you have no experience with grading, packing and shipping.
• When you want to complete the sale in a single appointment.

It is best to request several offers, especially when selling old LPs from genres such as jazz, soul, reggae, punk or metal. The buyer’s expertise can make a significant difference in those areas.

Many people think of thrift stores when selling old vinyl records, but as a sales channel they are usually the least attractive option. Thrift stores do not always actively buy records, often offer very little or accept them only as donations. For ordinary easy listening, damaged schlager records, worn classical box sets or water-damaged sleeves, that may be perfectly acceptable. For collectible LPs, it is rarely a sensible choice.

Use a thrift store as the final destination for leftovers that are barely interesting online, to a record store or to a bulk buyer. Examples include:

• general compilations in mediocre condition;
• duplicate copies with no demand;
• sleeves with severe damage or mold;
• lots that would take too much work to sort individually.

If you want to sell records intelligently, first divide the collection into three piles: suitable for individual sale, suitable for sale as a lot, and donation/leftovers. This initial sorting often makes the difference between a disappointing total return and a respectable sale.

Selling an LP collection requires a different approach from listing a few individual records. Do not start by randomly taking boxes to a bulk buyer. First make a rough inventory by genre, condition and estimated value. The value is often concentrated in a small part of the collection, while the bulk is less interesting.

A practical approach:

• Step 1: Set aside clearly sought-after genres and artists.
• Step 2: Separate clean copies from visibly worn records.
• Step 3: Look up the exact pressing for the most interesting titles.
• Step 4: Sell the top items individually online.
• Step 5: Offer the middle tier as a smaller lot to a store or on Marktplaats.
• Step 6: Dispose of the leftovers through a thrift store or bulk buyer.

For large quantities, it is smart to take photos of labels, spines and unusual inserts while sorting. This speeds up every later option, from selling LPs on Marktplaats to arranging a home visit from a vinyl record buyer. If you are selling on behalf of family, also note in advance which titles must not be sold; this prevents mistakes when handling an estate.

If you want to sell vinyl records, you will almost always get more with a clean, well-presented product. A dusty record without a proper description inspires little confidence, even if the release is desirable. Get everything ready for sale before listing it online or requesting an offer.

• Dry cleaning: remove dust with a carbon-fiber brush or soft cloth.
• Visual inspection: check for scratches, hairlines and warping under good lighting.
• Assess the sleeve separately: mention ringwear, seam splits, stickers and writing separately.
• Take photos: front and back of the sleeve, labels, the matrix area where relevant, and any defects.
• Pack securely: remove the record from its sleeve for shipping, use a sturdy mailer and add extra cardboard stiffeners.

When selling vinyl records online, honest grading is more important than optimistic grading. A conservative description often sells better than an overly generous one. Buyers are usually fine with signs of use if you describe them clearly. This is especially important when selling old records, as it prevents disputes later.

Also pay attention to format: 78s, singles and 10-inch records attract a different audience from standard LPs. Selling old gramophone records may therefore require a specialist route, particularly when dealing with shellac rather than vinyl.

The highest return rarely comes from using one channel alone. The smartest strategy for selling records is usually a hybrid approach. Sell scarce or sought-after titles individually online, offer the solid middle tier as a lot, and deal with the weak leftovers separately. This prevents top items from disappearing into a bulk offer from a record buyer, while also saving you from listing every uninteresting album individually for months.

Use this rule of thumb:

• Choose Discogs for exact pressings with international demand.
• Choose Marktplaats for local deals, bundles and accessible mainstream titles.
• Choose a record store for a quick, reasonable transaction involving a good collection.
• Choose a bulk buyer for speed and convenience with larger lots.
• Choose a thrift store only for leftovers with low market value.

Anyone who sorts carefully in advance, grades honestly and sets realistic prices will almost always get more from selling LPs than someone who offers everything at once as a “box of old records.” This applies just as much to a few inherited records as it does to hundreds of LPs from a collection.