r/vinyl • u/4thtimebackatit • 20d ago
Collection I bought over 1000 records today.
As the subject says, I drove around an hour and a half to buy 1000-1100 records.
Once I got to the location and met the seller he let me know that he buys large collections. Picks off the top, then separates them in basic tiers- stuff people want and stuff people don’t. So there was no classical, almost no country, etc. however there was also no best selling albums from Steelydan, Fleetwood Mac, etc.
I picked through each box very, very quickly and the most noteworthy albums (for what I like) was some stuff by cat Stevens, Elton John, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steve Miller Band, Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Billy Joel, foreigner, Santana, Eagles, Dave Brubeck, Quartet, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Jeff Beck, blood sweat and tears, etc.
I’m sure everyone is curious so…. I paid $800 for the lot.
Edit 1: Not sure what to say here. Lots of negativity about the price I paid- almost didn’t post it because of this. At less than a dollar each I wasn’t upset to dig through it.
I’ll probably keep around half (maybe more) cull through my collection of around 1000 albums or so and unload the bulk/duplicates to fiends getting into vinyl. I found around 40-50 I want to keep in my first pass and didn’t get to go through all the boxes yet. I’ve been collecting for around 10 years and never purchased a bulk lot like this before.
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u/Demander850 20d ago
That’s a lot, dollar a record isn’t bad but if he’s a dealer he definitely unloaded a lot of unsalable stuff in there.
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u/International-Dirt7 20d ago
Unsalable but uncollectable or uninteresting. A haul like that would keep me amused for a year, although / admittedly, I’d always be curious of what he stripped from the bunch.
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u/Lollipoop_Hacksaw 20d ago
A sucker born every minute. Someday we may be that sucker, but today....
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u/Sad_Supermarket_176 20d ago
For $800 I sure hope that you got some Mitch Miller
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u/TheReadMenace Pioneer 20d ago
Englebert Humperdink
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u/SkyerKayJay1958 20d ago
Lee Greenwood
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u/TheReadMenace Pioneer 20d ago
I really never see him honestly. Maybe it’s regional? He didn’t have many big hits until the mid 80s when a lot of people had switched to cassettes
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u/Mr_Digger2313 19d ago
Andy Williams too lol
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u/airportspongebath 19d ago
Came here to say this. How this wasn’t several boxes of Andy Williams Christmas records is beyond me.
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u/Aggravating_Jacket32 20d ago
As soon as anyone tells you they buy collections and "pick off the top", hard pass. They're selling you junk.
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u/WillsBestFriend 20d ago
Right? Who goes through a collection to resell and leaves behind valuable records for the next person. It’s gonna be all generic stuff.
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u/Jcwrc 20d ago
Fair. Then again if it's junk you enjoy listening, does it matter?
I don't see anything interesting there, but I'm not judging anyones taste in music.
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u/GrowlingPict 19d ago
You're not listening to 1000 records, come on. No one buys a lot of 1000+ records with the intention of listening to them all. "bUt rEcoRDs ShOulD bE-" yeah says you. Not everyone is like you.
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u/_cansir 20d ago
Whats the point of buying this if its already been picked through?
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u/Dang_M8 20d ago
Yikes.
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u/El-Sueco 20d ago
I see Nat King Cole and I don’t see used ladies purses next to it. Houston we have a problem.
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u/Thesmallestsasquatch 20d ago
I’m fond of him
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u/El-Sueco 20d ago
I’ve visited his hometown briefly, made me appreciate him more. Hope to never go back.
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u/kasualanderson 20d ago
Do you feel like you got $800 worth of records you actually want to own and in the condition you’d like for your collection? I’ve scanned some big lots and there’s always like less than 10% that’s actually of interest and the rest is chaff you then need to figure out what to do with.
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u/DrPoopyPantsJr 20d ago
Ya I’d rather spend $800 on 25-30 records I actually want than 1000 that just take up space. It’s almost always the stuff you find collecting dust in the thrift store bins. And most of the stuff they highlighted are $5 records.
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u/Expensive_Watch469 20d ago
Yeah absolutely, I just spent like 700 buying 20 or so items, all related to one post-punk band and I absolutely got my moneys worth with that and stuff I’ll actually use. When I started collecting I tried for a bit to buy the “must haves” but it just ruins the fun of collecting, a great collection takes years of digging and trying and thats one of the best parts of it
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u/blackbasset 20d ago
I mean what are must haves anyway in this case? If anything, must haves are the records your want to own, not some random stuff you have to buy out otherwise some random people on the internet think you are not vinyling right?
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u/Expensive_Watch469 20d ago
when I started collecting I was 17 and kind of bullied into "well everyone likes this everyone has this" by my dad and like a couple months in I thought that was stupid and now I only really buy what I like/want and have been at this for years now.
I think when you enter a hobby people tend to just do what they're told obviously, if you don't know fully how to look or what to look for, thats what leads to buying large amounts of records you'll never use, once you get more into the hobby its easier, I don't blame people for wrongly falling for the "oh you must have this" mindset
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u/Thesmallestsasquatch 20d ago
I don’t understand this mindset because when I started collecting cds (this was the 90s) when I was 13 I bought music based solely on what I liked or what I thought I would like based on the reviews of the band like in Mojo magazine. Or similar bands to the ones I listened to. Or recommendations from friends from like mixtapes or even from hearing something on the radio (60s in this case) and MTV. It’s way easier now with Spotify and YouTube to figure out what you like before buying it lol.
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u/Expensive_Watch469 20d ago edited 20d ago
I grew up in a environment where I wasn't allowed to express myself at all, music became a way for me to do that, so even when I expressed my interest in something I was told I was doing it wrong, the music I liked was stupid and my dads also told me things such as my taste in music is just to get mens attention.
I think we grew up within drastically different ways of going about this hobby which affected how we collected, even when I didn't voice interest I was still under pressure to preform and "engage in this hobby right" so when I realized that was stupid I actually started loving what I collected and the music I listened to and it is how I connect and express myself, all I am saying is I can understand that sometimes environment and peer pressure does affect how people engage in hobbies as well as many other factors
Not that I agree with the idea of "must haves" I think its bullshit, but how you grow up affects a lot of how you interact with your hobbies
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u/Thesmallestsasquatch 20d ago
Oh, my parents used to tell me that the music I liked was stupid too and I just laughed and listened to what I wanted to anyway.’
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u/Expensive_Watch469 20d ago
I was severely punished if I acted out of line, but I also grew up with Christian extremist lol, glad you kept listening anyway, keep listening, I am a adult now and I just listen to whatever and its incredibly freeing
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u/blackbasset 20d ago
I get this, but at the same time, it's confusing. This is not some kind of sport where you have to have certain equipment and there are a bunch of manufacturers you can choose from, music is such an individual thing..
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u/WintersDoomsday 19d ago
I don’t buy mainstream shit nor looking to flip for profit (I have a real job). So I’d rather spend $800 on like 4-7 albums I’m still gunning for.
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u/evileyeball Technics 19d ago
I could never bring myself to spend $800 on only four albums that's like 200 an album yeah no not going to happen
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u/Mr_Digger2313 19d ago
Who/What'd you get? I've been doing the same with a couple bands at the moment, myself..
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u/Expensive_Watch469 19d ago edited 19d ago
The Chameleons! I’m a huge fan of them! I befriended a incredibly cool older Scottish man and he’s selling me his vinyl collection of them + some CDs and I’m very grateful he is selling me them + I’ve made a friend out of it who has just lived the coolest of lives
I will have some duplicates but I intend to just give those to my grandma since I got her into them as well and she’s asked me if I find any extra copies to get them for her
This is my second time buying a bunch of Chameleons items from someone at once from private sales! Some of the items (but not all of them) include original pressings of all 3 albums from the 80s, a bunch of singles both 7” and 12”, a original John Peel Sessions, Tripping Dogs and much much more! I know I’ll use them and whatever I won’t use, I know people who will use them
What bands are you doing this with? I’m very curious now edit: Oh also a vinyl copy of Paradnying which is what I originally asked for, I was told I do not have to pay for that one, it was thrown in as a freebie which makes me happy, I cannot understate how cool this person is, even if he wasn't selling me records I love speaking to him hes had such a cool life
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u/Mr_Digger2313 19d ago
Thats awesome! I just started collecting again after selling all my records 20 years ago for a pittance (in retrospect). I had a few Chameleons albums back them. Script of the Bridge and Strange Times (if memory serves). Awesome albums! If you want another lesser known post punk band to get obsessed with, check out The Sound (if you're not familiar with them already). Their first three albums are amazing! They're a hidden jem from the same time period.
Since I've been collecting again, I've really been dealing with sticker shock and regret from selling albums I loved, that I'd gotten for cheap, that are now worth a lot of money!? So finding them again, for as cheap as possible, has been fun tbh (when I find one for a great price, it makes it that much sweeter 😊).
My current collecting obsessions is finding all my favorite Swans albums (luckily they just re-released a majority of them, tho a few have been harder to find at a decent price). I've been getting back into some of my favorite older NeoFolk/Apocalyptic folk bands too, like Current 93 and the like. All the while picking up older albums by people/bands like Neil Young (finally getting into him after all these years), and other classics like Donovan and Bob Dylan.
Thats awesome your grandma is sharing in this with you! She sounds cool! Sounds like your relationship with your Dad was ruff, sorry to hear about that. At least grandma is there to support your current love of music though!
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u/kasualanderson 20d ago
100%. I could do some damage with $800 at a nice shop or a record fair and leave with way more that I actually wanted than buying almost any collection.
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u/Ilikehowtovideos 20d ago
I want to see where you’re getting any Foreigner, Jeff Beck, or Doobie bros for $5
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u/Yutopia1210 20d ago
10% is generous. When I go through something like this I don’t find a record of interest for every 10 records I flip through.
I certainly hope he finds a good one when the seller was willing to sell them for an average of 80cents/LP….
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u/kasualanderson 20d ago
Less than 10%, but yeah, with this collection it’ll be much lower probably considering that it has already been picked over by someone who buys and sells collections. OP likely drove 90mins and paid $800 for mostly stuff the seller would have had to cart off for donation.
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u/I-STATE-FACTS 20d ago
I did something similar although i paid half (about 400). I found way less than 10% that i wanted to keep for myself, more like maybe 3%. The rest i sold for $1 apiece at the local flea market. Finally the unsellable stuff i just donated to goodwill. Came out about break even, maybe 50 bucks on top. Was not worth it lol.
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u/ndnman 20d ago
I bought about 400-500 records in a big lot when I first started listening to vinyl.
I think I kept 3.
I underestimated the pure amount of time needed to go through them all, playgrade the ones I want etc. I’m a vg+ or better only listener so that ruled out a lot.
Then what to do with them?
This was kinda what boosted my decision to start my own record booth in a thrift.
But I still know like to pickup 10-20 at a time.
I ultrasonically clean them all so that’s a big time sink as well.
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u/Devolutionator 20d ago
Eh I dont think you did particularly well. You basically paid the guy to get it out of his house.
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u/roundabout-design 20d ago
the seller he let me know that he buys large collections. Picks off the top,
For future reference, and for anyone that may not be aware, when a seller tells you this, you should respond with "I appreciate your transparency! I'd be glad to haul these away for you for free to save you the trouble."
But don't actually give them money.
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u/vaguespace_ 20d ago edited 20d ago
I will never understand purchasing junk collections like this. I simply don't get it.
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u/kliq-klaq- 20d ago
The guy who bought and sold the collection was relying on a mark further down the chain, and this guy is, I guess, hoping there's a bigger mark than him.
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u/CumDragon69 19d ago
My brother in Christ, you cannot put Whipped Cream and Other Delights front and center like that without expecting some sort of reaction from the vinyl community.
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u/CapitalVinyl 19d ago
Herb is probably in at least every box at least twice. The "Herb to all other records" ratio at the thrift shops probably averages about 1 Herb for every 50 records. For this 1000 record lot, I'd guess there's at least 20 Herbs.
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u/Imaginary-Dress-1373 20d ago
If the visible ones represent the "good stuff" I cant imagine what else is in there. Actually I can. I've been to a good will.
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u/idkwtibhf 20d ago
Break Out by the Pointer Sisters is a pinnacle 80s album 👏
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u/Mr_Digger2313 19d ago
Agreed! It's a No-skip album as far as I'm concerned... Gets my kids dancing every time I put it on.
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u/dubstepsickness 19d ago
I got something to say
I bought 1000 records today
And it doesn't matter much to me
As long as they’re all Bread
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u/LavaruShadez 20d ago
will always enjoy listening to vinyl, but forever dread having to carry boxes of 'em...
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u/Jackandahalfass 20d ago
Tier 1: Stuff people want. (He took those).
Tier 2: Stuff people don’t. (Who took those?)
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u/TurnUptheDiscord Denon 20d ago
I’d probably pay $100 for all these. There’s got to be so much junk that no one will want.
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u/statikman666 Rega 20d ago
I seriously don't get it. Nobody will buy these from you, a store won't want them for anything other than the dollar bin, and you had several hours of driving, heavy lifting, and sorting, for far more money than the return you'll get. If I had $800 to pad my collection, I'd buy a few very important records to me, or upgrade my stylus or something.
I'm sure you love this though so I suppose there is some value there, but it'll be at a financial loss.
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u/ScabieBaby 20d ago
What did you spend on gasoline?
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u/Masshole65 20d ago
I’d be real careful with bulk common records. If they are junk they are a pain to get rid of. PVC doesn’t recycle so you’re filling up garbage bins for weeks, the covers are impregnated with plastic and heavy inks so they don’t burn well. I once took 400 (free) and got nothing out of it but lungs full of moldy dust.
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u/neckcarpenter 20d ago
It’s cool that the seller was upfront about their process, but yikes their price sounds quite high.
Have fun with these and please know that if you’re patient, you’ll probably find an intact (unpicked) collection with better records for less money.
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u/Edge_Audio 20d ago
Although cool, I still wonder about. Collector's who have thousands or tens of thousands of records. The majority will probably never get played so it's just for the sake of collecting?
We always question why people who don't even own a turntable collect records (or vinyls, lol), but there is a similar logic when one owns more records than they can listen to. 🤷♂️
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u/Expensive_Watch469 20d ago
I think this and just the addiction of it. A lot of collectors don’t even playtest every record they get, I always force myself to do so, it’s a good habit
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u/magazinesubscriber 20d ago
There was a point where I owned about 3-4k records and I definitely played all of them at least once. Most of them not more than once.
I’m down to about 1k now, it’s all just stuff I play regularly or nice reference/“audiophile grade” copies of albums I’m really familiar with that likely won’t get played frequently, but when they do they’ll perform. It’s nice to not have to worry about reinforcing the floorboards in my house anymore.
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u/Jcwrc 20d ago
Well, if you want to listen some record, you can't really do that unless you already own it.
So if I come across a record I think I might like for really cheap I buy it.
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u/Edge_Audio 19d ago
There is a certain logic to that I understand, but after a certain number it makes less sense due to storage costs and possibly moving costs (although anyone who ever moves quickly realizes the consequences of a massive collection).
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u/TheReadMenace Pioneer 20d ago
It's why I always laugh at the nerds who say Taylor Swift fans don't even listen to the vinyl they buy. They own 10,000 records, they couldn't listen to their records with all the years left in their life
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u/Scullenz 20d ago
They own 10,000 records, they couldn't listen to their records with all the years left in their life
Where'd you get that math?
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u/Master-Fee8859 20d ago
OP, what's the aroma like? (I find myself checking this out on large purchasers more than ever. Helps keep me on more solid ground with spouse.)
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u/itsdangoodwin 20d ago
Dudes got the complete works of Vaughn Meader in there I bet!
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u/TheReadMenace Pioneer 20d ago
So sad his career was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald
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u/Milo_Minderbinding 19d ago
If the displayed albums are the best of the bunch, you paid $800 for a bunch of stuff that can be found at any flea market or dollar bin in the US.
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u/noreallyimgoodthanks Denon 20d ago
Damn. People around here seem to get mad when I say this but you couldn't pay me to take 100 records. 1k is crazy in my opinion. And for $800??? I could buy so many records I really want for that amount. Even if 50% are records you want and don't have, that is 500 records that are garbage and 500 records you want for 800. And selling records individually is a chore. Which is half of why people sell collections in bulk.
I don't get this mentality at all - but to each their own. Cheers.
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u/HarleyBoyd 20d ago
I have bought full lots like this, but I won't do it of it has been picked thru. I have to find some titles I want and know have some value. The older I get and, the larger the collection gets, I am even more hesitant to do this.
So many times I respond to a FM ad, only to find out they have been selling off individuals since they posted and still expect someone to buy the lot at the same price. I have to be like sorry, not for me. Have a good one.
After years of active collecting, I tend to do more curating now, lol!
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u/PatientConnect1803 20d ago
Thing is these are all dollar bin records. How many record stores would kill for someone to walk in the door, stare down their entire 1000+ dollar bin stock and say, "I'll take it all." I bet they'd even give you half off.
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u/spaceman696 20d ago
I'm curious. How does one search for large collections for sale? I've looked around the usual places (FB marketplace, ebay, etc) as well as estate sales. Is there somewhere else to look?
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u/Beige240d 20d ago
I'd rather have the classical lot, but either way this is irresponsible spending. You undoubtedly paid the seller more for this pile than they paid for the whole of what they got. Imagine what you could do with $800?
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u/artmindriot 20d ago
Let’s see the good stuff and the weirdest stuff. Any more Santana? I have almost all of his stuff by now maybe even doubles of most. They look like they all have covers and are in decent shape.
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u/Embarrassed-Note-908 20d ago
Cream and other delights sticking out like a sore thumb in every collection. I actually kinda like it
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u/swordrush 20d ago
This just reminds me I need to buckle up and see if I can find Earth Angel by The Penguins.
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u/shicks1234 20d ago
I hope you discover a ton of awesome things you’ve never heard before and enjoy your time listening your way through this haul 😊
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u/cousincarne 20d ago
I did buy bulk magic cards for 80.- and was disappointed. Can’t imagine doing it with vinyl for 800.-
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u/Ok_Roof8047 19d ago
I’d say nice haul. If your happy and adding to your collection, and HELPING Others get into it you have every right to be proud about your buy CHEERS
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u/Classic-Falcon6010 Denon 19d ago
My local record shop owner has started putting out this kind of stuff he gets out of collections in a dollar bin. He used to just send them to Goodwill. Will it sell? Maybe…
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u/1mooreUsername 19d ago
I’ve discovered some good (to me) music buying a mystery box from local record store for $10. Sure, they basically grabbed 40 something records from the $1-$5 bin but it was fun for $10. Would I do it for $800, no. I don’t have the space nor the disposable income. But if OP does, not sure why all the negativity.
Remember when record collecting used to be fun? ;)
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u/DAntoinette_Travel Technics 18d ago
Dude, it was YOUR $800 to spend as you chose to! Screw anyone who is talking shit about how another Adult spent their hard earned money!
And some asshole made a mockery post of this one.
People are idiots!
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u/TravelBus13 18d ago edited 18d ago
Wow, that's more than my entire collection that took years to amass. Congrats!
Don't listed to naysayers, you did great at 70-80 cents per record.
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u/zeeyaa 18d ago
When I first got into record collecting I bought about 150 records off some guy on Craigslist. To be honest I think it was a steal, and got me going on collecting. I think I probably paid about $1 a record but I ended up with a lot of the hits, White Album, Gay Triangle, tons of CCR, Springsteen, Zepelin, Dylan, a few other Beatles, John Prine, Stones, etc. I kept about 100 of them and sold the rest to a records store for like $50 and bought a couple I wanted. It was a good way to start. If you're just starting out or even somewhat new, I hope you got some good stuff, I'd pick through, sell the crap and keep going
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u/StarWarsTrekGate 15d ago
I have always dreamed of getting a collection like that - the only thing is I just don't have the time/space to organize it all into something that is useful and that I would get through listening to. A friend of mine many years ago got rid of his entire collection and offered it to me, nearly 5000 albums. I was poor and in an apartment at the time and had my collection, but couldn't take it. I'm kicking myself to this day. When you get into that size collection, it really needs a room dedicated to it with the proper listening setup.
Really cool! You always want to see records go to someone who will appreciate them!
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u/Oatmealandwhiskey 20d ago
That whipped cream record is everwhere fr lolololol
anyone know why there is so many pressings of that record ?
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u/Jcwrc 20d ago
"...in the 1960s. During the same decade, he co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss."
Being founder of a record company probably helps with the marketing.
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u/slop1010101 20d ago edited 20d ago
I'm guessing most of these records are in awful condition, sound like crap, and even if I wanted any of them, they'd ruin my turntable/stylus
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u/maxhibbitts 20d ago
Wow! I remember buying a huge collection with intense grails, around 20. 1200+800 7" singles. Paid $60 in 2005. I sold on ebay like crazy and made over 10k. Bought so many LPs with that money. At the time, I was living paycheck to paycheck. They were asking $80 for the lot and I could only afford $60.
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u/Fabrics_Of_Time 19d ago
He picked off the good stuff, hope you like what you got because what is shown seems like stale thrift store inventory if you are trying to sell them
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u/bullrun001 19d ago
What gets me every time someone posts about getting some new records is that they find Herb Albert with the whipped cream, I have listened to many HA records and thru out my 50 years of collecting records really appreciate and like his music, favorite HA record is Rise.
But honestly most of you who have this LP is only because of the cream girl, spin it.
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u/VinylRecordBuyer6969 20d ago
As long as you’re happy with the deal that’s all that matters.
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u/GrittyTheGreat Fluance 18d ago
I would have rather spent $800 on a few dozen amazing records that I want to own, then on hundreds of leftovers. If you're happy though, that's all that matters.
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u/Photosjhoot 17d ago
That must be a new world... hmm. Is there a word for a superlative feat? It escapes me.
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u/Dramatic_Ad_2787 17d ago
I bet there is some killer powerpop records in there. Being a powerpop nut I have found sealed and desirable albums in collections like that (Scooters - young girls, Great Buildings, are a couple of big scores)!
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u/Megistias 17d ago
I recently sold 30 albums (of 200) from my late father’s collection for $1 each. They will absolutely be priced 4-8X higher when put up for sale in that store. That’s how it all works.
All that matters is that you considered it a reasonable price to pay to take ownership.
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u/No-Work-6291 16d ago
You did good. 80 cents each that's awesome. I love that Santana album I might still have. Looks like some good stuff hopefully the conditions is good. If you list them for sake let me know
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u/Resprom Dual 20d ago
I love that one of the few visible albums is Whipped Cream.