Selling an entire record collection

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stelfox

Beast of Burden
I'm probably coming back to London again in October for a week or two before 95 per cent likely moving to Beirut for a year or two in early 2010. My record collection is in storage at the moment and I need to get it out of there because 1) it's quite expensive, 2) I don't need it, 3) I can't imagine that I'll ever live in a place where I can have a record collection again and 4) as per at least 50% of it, won't ever listen to it again even if I could. I want a place that will take the whole lot of about 5,000 albums and just over a thousand seven inches for a set price. As this is a weirdly personal thing, I am not willing to sell to individuals – especially not people I know – or to break up the collection. Partly I kind of like the idea of giving people the pleasure of finding these records in shops, just like I did. Most importantly, though, I want it all gone in one go, quickly, efficiently and for a reasonable price (although the money is not really that important – if I can't find a buyer, I'm giving it to charity.) Any ideas? Many thanks for any assistance.
 
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DannyL

Wild Horses
Hmm. Bit of a difficult one. What you're looking for is someone who sells second-hand vinyl and has sufficient cash at their disposal to give you a decent price. I'd suggest getting a copy of this month's Record Collector and have a look and see if that gives you any ideas or names of people to contact.
 
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routes

we can delay.ay.ay...
if you want to talk to someone perhaps give this place a try?
Record & Tape Exchange SOHO 020 7434 2939
i'm sure someone there would be able to offer advice.
 
john eden

john eden

male pale and stale
1) What genre(s) is it?
2) Do you want them to collect?

Not knowing that, I would:

Give MVE in Notting Hill a ring.

Talk generalities and then drive it all over there in a van. Or Camden or wherever is nearest.

They may not give you the best price but they will take it all afaik.
 
luka

luka

Well-known member
thats depression talking stop punishing yourself.
make sure you're in london in july, im coming back for a holiday.
 
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stelfox

Beast of Burden
You know, I thought that I might regret it. That's why I've kind of held off, but I honestly don't think I will. Music is way less important to me than it's ever been and I don't really want to own tons of stuff that I don't need; I really don't want the bulk of it and it's damned inconvenient to store, especially as I've decided that I don't want to live in London or the UK for the foreseeable future. (Also, when I say entire, I'm keeping all the important stuff – the soul, 2step garage, jungle, the Detroit techno, the DC hardcore and the really important hip-hop that I can't get digitally, which I can just about squeeze into my Dad's attic). Mainly what I'm getting rid of is a vast amount of reggae and dancehall (about 1,000 of the 45s and a good chunk of the albums) which I absolutely do not want and will not listen to again, and a load of jazz, world music and alt rock that I can in get in much less cumbersome formats. I've not had it in my home for more than two years and don't really miss it that much.
 
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DannyL

Wild Horses
I would suggest a bit of caution with selling to MVE, as you may get a slightly shit price. (Or perhaps not, if you know someone who works there). They have that "we'll take it all" policy so they can offer a penny per record (or less) to someone who's just carried several kilos of heavy vinyl over one side of London to the other.

I've always got good prices selling to Flashback, but don't know if they'd be interested in such a huge amount. A mate of mine is a reggae dealer, but I don't know if he'd want it all. PM me if you're interested in talking to him.
 
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stelfox

Beast of Burden
john eden said:
Let me know if you need a van driver. I like driving vans. :cool:
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Only if we can eat bacon rolls, smoke lots, drink tea, beep the horn at and make lewd suggestions to any passing woman under the age of 80, then get shitfaced drunk at lunchtime. These are the things that van driving connotes to me.

luka said:
make sure you're in london in july, im coming back for a holiday.
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Would love to be, but I'll be in the Philippines and Pakistan for a large chunk of July, very likely not doing any of the above apart from tea drinking.
 
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STN

STN

sou'wester
why does everyone like driving vans? this is the second time I've heard this this week.
 
john eden

john eden

male pale and stale
mve are total wankers but they will take everything.

So it depends how much Stelfox can be arsed with it all (not much, I guess).

Giving Flashback and Haggle Vinyl a bell is worth a punt, or even that 2nd hand place next to MVE in Berwick Street. Or downstairs in Soul Jazz. Or lots of things.
 
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stelfox

Beast of Burden
I had a word with MVE when I was back. Am wary of them in the extreme. The Camden one is particularly bad for offering ludicrously low prices once you've lugged all the stuff into the store. I'd rather just give it away than get ripped off. Maybe I should make art out of this. Leave it on the street and photograph the people who take stuff. The only flaw in that plan is that I hate art.

Haggle and Flashback are actually a good call, and pretty close to the storage unit, too.
 
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massrock

Well-known member
You know I reckon you'd probably do best money and hassle wise just listing it as a job lot on ebay and seeing what happens. If you can be bothered to type out a good chunk of the titles and take photos you should do okay. Can't see many dealers offering more unless they are in competition, which they would be on an auction site.
 
john eden

john eden

male pale and stale
stelfox said:
I had a word with MVE when I was back. I am wary of them in the extreme. The Camden one is particularly bad for offering ludicrously low prices once you've lugged all the stuff into the store. I'd rather just give it away than get ripped off. Maybe I should make art out of this. Leave it on the street and photograph the people who take stuff. The only flaw in that plan is that I hate art.
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Ah well now you are moving the goalposts! ;)

Let's leave it until you come back - there's loads of options that can be sorted out with a few phone calls.

Or just do a car boot sale or something - that also involves loads of tea and bacon rolls.
 
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stelfox

Beast of Burden
That's one area I never really gave a damn about or ever got into at all. Some of the reggae I have will be worth something, though, as will some of the jazz, but I don't want to sort through it because I'll start having second thoughts that I, frankly, can't be having.
 
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Diggedy Derek

Stray Dog
Afternoon Stelfox

As a former employee I can say that, as a rule, MVE will only really give good prices when they're excited about the stuff coming in rather than seeing it as a burden on their workload. I'm surprised they wouldn't be into your stuff, thought, Stelfox. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they're struggling financially, and thus they won't have much cash to spend.

I'd recommend in dealings with MVE (a) saying you're a journalist (b) saying if any of the copies are sealed.

Is a majority of it reggae, Dave? If so, I know one of the ex-MVE guys who specialises in reggae. He might give you a good price.

Alternatively, I know someone else who specialises in bulk collections (eg for magazines etc) and reputedly gives a good price. Let me know if you want details and I'll PM them.
 
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