Are Vinyl Records an Investment?

Are vinyl records an investment opportunity? As with anything, the answer depends on what you consider an investment and what your goals are.
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Written & Produced by Rick Coste
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[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Please tap LIKE and SUBSCRIBE ❤ If you'd like to help support the channel, please visit the shop: www.amazon.com/shop/thejoyofvinylrecords Lots of great things coming up with the show. Thank you for being here!

[@osliverpool]

Yes, the practical difficulty of actually doing the selling is the big hurdle. Doing it yourself is the only way to get even close to the theoretical value. But work out the number of hours needed to list, package and send them all (including the hours spent on the ones that don't sell), and then put a value on that time even at minimum wage... If you want to invest, buy stocks. if you want to listen to music, buy LPs.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

"If you want to invest, buy stocks. if you want to listen to music, buy LPs." - I couldn't have said it better myself. Cheers!

[@MykeWinters]

Personally, I collect because I love the music I collect. I also collect because I’m obsessed with coloured vinyl and picture discs. I won’t be selling any, unless I am forced to

[@jeffreylind3739]

Hi Rick- First time commenter here. Great video, and well thought out. I'm also a New Englander (MA) and have had a passionate love affair with all things records since I was literally a baby- there is film of me at 6 mos. enthralled at listening to a child's record on a phonograph. That's more than 60 years now. Anyway, yes, there are those who buy and try and "flip" records for a profit, but as for a collector buying as an investment- highly unlikely. My investment in my collection is much as you describe, an investment in decades of memories that revolve around certain songs, albums, groups. It's an investment in my own happiness and is a wonderful hobby. I only collect OG copies, as close to NM as I can get with all the items that came with them- posters, stickers, inner-sleeves, etc. Sometimes I have to buy two copies and "marry" the best bits together. As for a M.C. Cartridge- I'm partial to Ortofon, and went from the 2M Black to a Cadenza Bronze MC. It was pricey, but I absolutely love the sound! I do know someone who would give me "real money" for my collection based on it's condition, but won't be selling-same as you I'll die with it all. Apologies for the long-winded response.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Hi Jeffrey! I'm originally from a little town in MA called Hanson (near Brockton/Hanover). Never apologize for a long comment - love reading them. And thanks for the MC recommendation! I'm also a bit partial to Ortofon.

[@jeffreylind3739]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Hi- I'm originally from Wustah! and yes, I know where Hanson is!

[@carriestuart9921]

My record collection is not an investment. What it is, is a glimpse into my personality, my tastes, my passions, my appreciation of music and the artists themselves. I have zero interest in evaluating my record collection...not in the least. It doesn't represent dollars and cents to me, but more a life time of where my music listening journey started and where we are right now. It represents nothing but pure joy and pleasure...a form a therapy, if you will. It's an escape to a better place when I need a vinyl vacation from my daily stressors, or simply a moment to get my freak on to a great tune I loved in high school...makes me feel young again, and it definitely keeps me from growing old in my rocking chair. I'm rocking my speakers, instead.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Lol - "rocking my speakers". Well put. And you raised a great point, Carrie. It is a form of therapy. Especially for me as well. It was my escape during my anxiety-ridden teenage years, and is now as an adult. My favorite oart of the day is around 4pm when we settle down to listen to 2-3 records before making dinner. When I look at the week ahead and realize there are a couple of days where I won't be home at that time or have plans, I feel a twinge of sadness. It's like missing a therapy session, to use your analogy. Maybe I'm too attached to it, but it's a healthy one. And, as you said, it's an "escape to a better place".

[@adamlemons7909]

Perfectly stated! Love, love, love this :-)

[@alanrogs3990]

Yes, but do you know the value of some of your records? I mean you must be aware that this or that record in your collection is a valuable one.

[@adamlemons7909]

@@alanrogs3990 I only know what I am willing to pay for an album I am intrested in. After the purchase I neither know or care what the market value is for any record I own. I could care less what the market or anyone else says about the value of any record that I own because to me every one is priceless, irreplaceable and not for sale at any price, though I wouldn’t hesitate to give one to a friend or someone just getting into vinyl… I feel the same way about my guitars, so maybe I’m just weird, lol!

[@carriestuart9921]

​@@alanrogs3990Nope Never bothered to check. Zero interest in that.

[@bobbyyounger7632]

For me personally the investment is for my pure listening pleasure..........and I have two Dean Martin LP's !

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Long live Mr. Martin 🍺🍺🥃

[@patrickroberts8702]

Hi Rick, your video is spot on regarding values and where you sell the collection. I have amassed three collections in my lifetime, books, war medals and recently vinyl. Vinyl and books are very similar. For Discogs books have Abebooks, predominantly dealers and condition is as critical as records. Purchase value on Abebooks will never be achieved when selling to a dealer. Like records, if you have the time and inclination you might get close to the value, assuming you can actually sell them all. Medals are different because they are much scarcer, mostly sold at auction by the owner rather than a dealer. You have to swallow the seller’s commission but that is less than the buyer’s commission. All up, the auction house will take between 25% - 35% of the price paid. The medal collecting community is very small so it is possible to sell direct and provide the buyer and seller with a better return. Records and books will give the dealer a much higher take. I disposed of my medal collection in recent years and I achieved slightly more than my purchase price. I was selling in a strong market driven by Covid funds burning a hole in collectors’ pockets. My way of looking at records is that I buy them for the pleasure of the music but salve my conscience by thinking that I might get half my money back if I ever thought of selling the collection which is really very unlikely. Rgds Pat

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Hi Pat! That's great about getting more for the medals than went into them (plus the years of enjoyment in collecting them). I should check out Abebooks sometimes. There's a couple books I used to own when I was younger long out of print that I'd love to find.

[@VinylRescue]

Denon DL-103R! It's on the lower budget for MC carts, but I love it! I've had to argue with Discogs when I tried to add/correct pressing info, and I got the point of whatever! No, I don't look at my collection as an investment. It's just a lifelong hobby that I've enjoyed since I was a tween.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

The Denon Dl-103R gets a lot of love. Thanks! I go back and forth on how much effort I want to put into cataloging them and identifying the right pressing. Part of me wants to do it just to stay organized and know what's there (from a pressing perspective). Another part wants to shrug my shoulders and say "whatever".

[@MrRekinco]

Just a little something for my kids , when i’m gone. Maybe they will sell it, maybe they will be listen to it. Definitely not the investment. Amazing Thoughts in this video! Thank You! Sorry for my bad English. From Russia with Love!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Greetings! Your last line is the title of my favorite James Bond book 😎

[@chrislj2890]

I've been using an Audio-Technica AT-OC9XML moving coil and really enjoy it. The way I understand it the micro line stylus creates the least amount of wear on the vinyl, lasts the longest, and gives the best detail. I have an AT-140ML that's over thirty years old that is still going strong. I have LPs and 45s that I bought over fifty years ago that are still in excellent shape, and for me they are an investment in musical enjoyment. This whole concept of them being a monetary investment seems to be a more recent phenomena, I believe driven by the greed of some people to put a dollar value on everything. Kinda sounds like politicians, lol.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Lol. It really does Chris. And thanks for the MC recommendation. The AT-OC9XML comes up constantly.

[@petrvodkin5001]

A lot to think about!

[@collinwood60]

I think it is an investment, but for who?? I like you Rick, will no doubt take my vinyl (and CD's) collection to the grave. So the worth at this point doesn't matter to me in the least. They are valuable to me for sentimental reasons since the bulk of my collection was bought in the 70's and 80's. Fun times. My newphews would reap any cash value once they pilfer my collection when i go on cosmic vacation. Thanks for all you do.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you as well for being here Collin! Cheers!

[@danielgeiger7739]

Re MC cart, I like my Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC*. One nice advantage is that you can re-tip the stylus or replace the cantilever, whereas with most MC carts, stylus worn = throw cart away. The cantilever was torn off my cart by the cleaning crew (yikes!) and I got it re-built at fraction of new price. -- Interestingly NTX vinyl just posted another take on the price of collections, focussing on aggregate price instead of sum of individual prices. -- I'm with you, yes, it is an investment, financially a really bad one. And I don't care, it is the music and the memories that are the value. I'd compare it to eating out = investment. Nope. But I sure have lots of great memories from eating at Alinea, Trotters, The Sea, Sorrell, Stucki, or zum Grünen Glass. I have some of the menus still at home as a memento of a great experience. That is more similar to vinyl records, the record as a keep sake of a great memory, as opposed to my stock portfolio.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thanks for the MC tip Daniel. Added this to my list as well. I've heard the same thing from someone a year or so ago about a cleaning person with a swiffer ripping off a cantiler - must be an epidemic! Great points as well re: the menus. It's all about the memories.

[@gregcarson3444]

I have heard more pressing plants is tough, no one is making the machines anymore. To quote Almost Famous, I am not a groupie it is all about the music. I buy stuff I want to listen to that is it. Friend of mine use to buy for investment 45’s with picture sleeves, picture albums, rare stuff, and you know what at 67 he died, and it all went in an estate sale. So don’t kid yourself, buy what you like for your listening pleasure.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend, Greg. I hate to think about what might happen to my collection when I'm gone, given the time and love that has gone into it.

[@kurjan1]

I agree with your assessment. Sure, there may be some records here and there which are investments, like books and art... but they are far and few between. The only people who make real money on "collectables" are the dealers and auction houses. Same as the stock market, PMs and crypto... the only people who make serious money are the dealers and account managers who charge fees and commissions. Buy what you love, buy the very best you can afford and train your kids as to what is valuable and what is not and train them not to sell the valuable stuff but instead build on it. That is how you build generational wealth.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I like how you put that - "generational wealth". It is in a way. When my dad passed I inherited his small collection - about fifty records or so. Some were in great shape and others not so much. All are priceless.

[@bubble-and-scrape]

Now that vinyl records have become more expensive, it might seem interesting as an investment. I once thought the same about cds, but these have turned out worthless now that everybody is dumping their cds. It’s all dependent of trends in the end. I’m not going to wait for good times so i can sell my collection. I bought all because of the love for music, not as an investment. And if i sell something with profit the money goes into buying new music anyways.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Exactly. I've never once looked at my collection as an investment. I would like to better catalog what I have, but that's only for personal reasons and to satisfy the organizational monster in my head.

[@carminedesanto6746]

GM ☕️🤔 Records are an interesting thing in regards to investment. Rarity, condition and with any pleasure commodity ..it’s the one human aspect that will be positive and negative..it’s WANT. What will the next collector WANT to pay ..generally speaking items in the “hobbies” don’t hold their value … 6:47 Rarity and popularity. Get what you like, don’t kill your wallet and enjoy the moment. Btw, for a great movie regarding records.. HIGH FIDELITY 👍

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Love that movie, Carmine. I had read the book as well when it was first published, Just as good as the movie. The remake series on Hulu with Zoe Kravitz wasn't bad either,

[@calvinnapier9977]

It's not about the investment but The Joy Of Vinyl 👍

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

😂 Couldn't have said it better myself....

[@davesdream]

It is an Emotional and Enjoyably Investment... and my collection worth millions for me... maybe a couple of Ks in the market. They are my babies... 😊

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Love it. One of the sellers at my local record store always says "Enjoy your babies" after she places them in a bag and hands them over.

[@joealberti8553]

Good video Rick. I agree with most of what you said. I agree with what you said about rarity being a factor in what any record is worth, but I also believe that in this day and age, with so many original vinyl albums being re released in other formats, that affects value too. I also know people who collect albums just for the cover art. They will buy an album for the jacket, and to heck with the record inside it. What it really boils down to is that any record for sale is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Agreed on te re-releases and reissues. When there are 15 copies available, the original pressing means little except to a collector.I'd love to track how a new reissue affects the older pressing's value. Might be a good case study.

[@TheReal1953]

Some people DO just collect/buy for the jacket. I can confirm this, but not sure what segment of vinyl collectors they are by the overall #'s. Used record stores will give you a third to a half of the real value of your records.....like a pawn shop. Which leaves as Rick said, Discogs/eBay et al. And the labor in that would be mind-blowing. The truth is that when you die unless you've made special legal arrangements, your kin will give your stuff away or sell it for pennies on the dollar. So you either get over that and make special legal arrangements or let it go. Unless of course, you have groomed your kids to be vinyl/analog lovers too....rare.

[@dawnpatrol700]

I got lucky. I bought new sealed vinyl at a time when vinyl was dead - 90s up to 2012ish. Lately, Ive been selling a lot of stuff i bought at Hot Topic and Virgin Megastore 20 years ago. I got $750 for a 2009 vinyl. In some ways, i wish i wasnt so into vinyl, cause I'd be rich, if i parted with it. The problem with the 90s - there was no internet to check if something was even ON vinyl. Most wasnt. You had to rely on that rare ocassion you found it in a store, sealed new. Funny you mention No Exit- ive been collecting all the promo 12inchers from it, just to have something. Curse Of Blondie is also not on vinyl. Panic of Girls is already worth bucks. Lucky to get that new at Daytona Beach atlantic Sounds. Best record store here in North Florida

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I said something similar about how much I've spent over the years on records. I'm afraid to know...

[@larsman9169]

Hey Rick - Happy New Year! I do my investments in finances, not in records, though it is cool if something I have turns out to be rare. I catalog all my stuff in Discogs but that's so I know what artists and titles and formats I have. If I can easily tell a specific pressing, great, otherwise, I don't much care; I'm not going to be selling these individually, no way. One thing I won't invest that much in is TIME.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Happy New Year!!!

[@MykeWinters]

I like your attitude to collecting, I mirror that. Just love getting an album im after in my hands and I love looking at them…as well as listening to the music of course. I’m a metalhead, but like other stuff as well, classic rock, progressive etc. 9:00 totally get what you are saying, sentimental value far outweighs worth to me also. It’s nice it’s worth something, but it’s not the driving factor with my obsession with vinyl, especially coloured vinyl and picture discs….ah, it’s just my thing, lol. Mind you, being on the spectrum helps with my obsession, or rather enhances it like some pop eye spinach, not that I need it, lol. Great upload and I think I’ll subscribe to your channel, l like what you have to say. All the best 🤘☮️

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

All the best to you as well, and thank your for the kind words and especially for subscribing!

[@MykeWinters]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords a no-brainier to sub, interesting content and record collecting is a passion of mine, so it was easy, lol. All the best 🤘

[@sidesup8286]

To sell all of ones records individually, there is one problem; it would take 2 or 3 lifetimes and we only have one. Stats say that most men live to 80 years old. Liquidatable, records are not, with some rare exceptions of course. The problem with selling a collection is even if you could find someone whose taste in music jibes with yours; likely they wouldn't need the majority of the ones you have, since they already have them. The Absolute Sound magazine used to do monthly write ups talking about the old RCA Living Stereo & Mercury Living Presence lps released in the early stereo era. Many tens of thousands.of people read that magazine every month. But from personal experience, putting ads in there (pre internet) to sell those same glorified records, even in their peak years for value, would only get a handful of calls from a few people interested, and sometimes even less than a handful of callers. Most not even serious payers. The magazine used to have a classified advertising section in the back where people could put in ads for stuff they wanted to sell. A few dozen or more of the Living Stereo classical lps back then supposedly could get over $300 at auction. With a few capable of over $1,000 per record. So even with a magazine that literally made legends out of these old lps with their monthly write ups covering different titles each month, it was almost comical how few people were chomping at the bit to get them. Most people with big collections, pass on and their heirs end up being bamboozled by some slick talking record store owner & they get talked into selling them for pennies on the dollar. So no, I don't consider it smart to invest in them. The whatever percentage of collectors that buy them because they think they sound better than cds, are only a chip away from it being the other way around. Real shaky ground to say the least. We remember the good times and the escapism from a mundane day that playing records brought us, and that same fun vibe is what keeps us playing records, cds, tapes or whatever. Playing music is a fun & enjoyable thing to do.. Often it's the highlight of a persons day. Time spent for themselves instead of for someone else. I personally like cds for sound and everything else as much or more than lps with what I use... Lps have become slightly secondary to me, so I no longer would consider spending a lot of money for a phono cartridge. But my curiosity would lead me to the DS Audio optical cartridge. I would jjust have to hear something that is so different like that. I am just that way. Even way back, while other people were looking for conventional speakers with woofers and tweeters, I was attracted to checking out Walsh drivers, ribbon and planar speakers, electrostatic speakers and the like. The unconventional often appeals to me.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

You hit the nail on the head with that last paragraph - at least with my love of the format being a form of escape mixed with nostalgia and pure enjoyment. I never felt the same connection with the hundreds of CDs I owned in the 90s and it was easy to simply offload them for a pittance to a few local used record stores. I can't bring myself to even consider doing as much with any of the records - even the duplicates in the "overflow" cabinet. That optical. cartridge intrigues me. My only concern would be how unforgiving it may be with dust that a stylus would push aside.

[@sidesup8286]

The DS light beam cartridge does use a stylus; an elliptical with an aluminum cantilever. Some expensice cartridges of other makes have also gone back to aluminum/elliptical. There are lps I have played over 100 times thru the years, mostly with elliptical, and after all those plays they do not sound like a worn record. Elliptical is more forgiving if your alignment is a hair off. Instead of a magnet or very light coils at the other end of the cantilever there is an even lighter photo cell and the cartridge translates the stylus/cantilever movement into sound. Nothing digital about it either, as far as I heard. Another vinyl KZbin guy liked the Audio Technica 33 series of cartridges more than the Hana cartridge that cost under a grand; but he loved the more costly Hana ML cartridge a good deal more than the AT.

[@neilfisher7999]

In my opinion, anything that you own could be considered an investment since you have money tied up in it. The question is, is it an appreciating asset or a depreciating asset. Your home typically appreciates in value, your car doesn't unless it is a classic or rare model. Gold coins and fine jewelry typically appreciate in value, but cosmetic jewelry doesn't. So, if you buy records as a money making investment, it's probably not a very good one. But if your goal is only to build a collection of media that you enjoy and you aren't concerned with how much money you tie up in it, it is fulfilling on a personal level. In this my second go round of buying vinyl records, I've decided to only buy what I really know I will play and listen to. I'm not just buying everything I can. My guess is, I won't exceed 150 records in my collection. But I'll have plenty of options that I'll thoroughly enjoy when I sit down and listen. Anything else I listen to will probably be coming from my Bluesound Node 2i streamer. I think of my streamer like FM radio back in the 70's and 80's. If I didn't want to put on an album back then, I switched the receiver over to FM and checked out what was playing. Sometimes I found new music or I listened to a song or two from a group that I liked, but not well enough to buy the album.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I've often considered something like the Bluesound Node as a means for background music. My wife gets a bit intimidated by my system (although she's fully capable but doesn't trust herself) - and she often likes to stream music when she's in her scrapbook room. But it's from her phone or iPad and poor quality.

[@neilfisher7999]

​@@TheJoyofVinylRecords I bet she would enjoy it. Sounds like a good Valentine's Day gift for her, along with some roses and a nice quiet dinner. 😉

[@goranvuk8501]

Try please DL-103 MC before spending millions on many more "exotic" MCs

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thank you! I will check that out. Making a list for later this year.

[@joshramirez7]

I wouldnt say records are an investment, but they are at least going to remain somewhat valuable. For example, a book that you purchase for 30 dollars will most likely not be worth even half of that within a few years time. Vinyl could go above the purchase price, but it will generally stay at a level that you could sell in the future to recoup some costs if needed.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Agreed, Josh!

[@ChristopherGronlund]

It's fun to see those things in any collection that end up being worth something -- it's fun. But yes, the investment of time selling things, to me, factors into value were I to sell stuff. All those hours of research, packing, etc. are worth something as well. I'm usually more likely to give something away if I don't have a huge attachment to it. If I encounter someone who LOVES and has always wanted something I have that's not as important to me, it's worth more than money seeing their face when I say, "It seems better that this is in your collection than mine..." Also: I can think of two other friends who'd love that Dean Martin album 🤣

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

That's really cool Chris - "It seems better that this is in your collection than mine..." Maybe somehow it can be worked into a "Not About Lumberjacks" story!

[@RecordGuyJ]

If you're not able to take resale as serious as a full time record dealer, I don't think you'll get much investment out of it in a financial sense. If you've got a few thousand LPs you want to sell as a bulk for big money, most people able to throw thousands of £s around will probably want to actually see what's inside before making any decisions. Plus, 10, 20 or more years from now.. who knows what'll happen to the Vinyl bubble we're in - it's hotter than ever, prices have generally been going up while QC has been going down, but at some point the whole nostalgic hype thing could end up becoming super niche again and lead the general value of LPs to start going back down to pre 2010s levels.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

It does make me wonder how long this will last as well.

[@mymixture965]

If I would sell my collection I would triple my money, I call this a pretty good investment IF I would sell it. So if you buy as an investor, you get an investment, if you buy as a collector, you get a collectible and if you buy as a music lover, you get music.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Great point and differentiation, Wolfgang. I believe if someone approached every purchase as an investment they may be able to recoup the costs or even make a profit if they sold each record individually.

[@mymixture965]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords Yes, you always should take the time to sell it for yourself, a shop will never pay you fair, they can't do that.

[@mrhoffame]

I think it's dangerous to look at vinyl as an investment...in terms of buying an album looking for gain/return over a set period of time. The way I've always phrased it is not as an "investment", but I say the great thing about vinyl is it is "Money on the shelf". Unlike clothes, shoes, dinners, or other things people enjoy/do for fun a vinyl record hold value on some level. Even if you paid $40 for it new and it sells for $30 years later it STILL held value, but you don't call that an "investment" or it would be labeled as a "bad investment" lol. I started collecting very strong around 2008 so there TONS of albums in my collection that NM copies of things I paid $1-$3 for that a worth $50-$100 today. That could be considered an investment, but in this climate with vinyl kind of peaking in price and the market being flooded with reissues and new pressing....I don't think you are going to see significant returns with most vinyl out there today.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Agree 100% with everything you said. The way I look at it is somewhat like you stated. When I spend $40 on a record (or more sometimes) I get years of enjoyment out of it. I spend more on a night out for drinks or dinner.

[@canjo7301]

Danger Will Robinson... Going down the moving coil rabbit hole will lead you to the very end of the dark side! Been there done that. I have been using moving magnets/moving iron carts now since the late '80's. I have been using Nagaoka and Grado carts almost exclusively for the last 20 plus years. Try a Nagaoka MP-200 to start it's not inexpensive but less that your Ortofon. Vinyl records as an investment, not so much I am afraid. What you think they are worth and what you will get when selling there are light years apart!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

😂😂😂. I should use a clip of the robot saying in a video one of these days. Thanks for the heads up on the Nagaoka MP-200 - added it to my list.

[@thortruvandi8844]

Hi rick great thoughts, and about buying mc cartridge i recomend a dynavector 17mkr👍 i had this model since 1982 and it is robust and knife edge super fast with its short rubin arm and diamant, as a preamp for this i use a danish densen that drive the stepup by solar cel ,no problem with any 220v issues . Regards thor from sweden

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Thanks Thor, and Happy New Year! The Dynavector line has come up a number of times as a recommendation. I have a feeling when the time comes I'm going to have a very difficult time choosing where to begin.

[@deantaylor1512]

Well .. lm never buy an album for its investment value.. I open and play them all .. but over the course of some 40 years of listening… well some of them are worth a small kings ransom .. Do I still play and enjoy them .. of course .. that’s why I bought them …

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Keep those records spinning, Dean!

[@MrRekinco]

True, but if You will decide to buy Your whole collection again now - You will probably spent more money than Maximum price of your collection according to Discogs. ofcourse if You will decide to by NM copies. Plenty of vinyl records now selling on discogs for much higher prices , than maximum price on a discogs sale history. Once again - sorry for my bad English. i hope i make myself clear.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Perfectly clear and well said! Cheers!

[@FirinnOnair]

My plan is to limit my record collection to a manageable quantity of good quality favorites. I'll keep them as long as I can play them. Then it'll be off to a willing record store to hopefully sell at a fair price.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

And I hope you have many may years of enjoyment with them. Cheers! 🍺.

[@paulboggan]

greetings from ireland ive been buying records all my life (bar the lull in the late 90s to around 2015 (the digital years) ) ive emassed a pretty cool collection of my own tastes. is it an investment? no! not for me. i dont see it as such... is itvan expensive hobby.... well yeah but i love it

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Greetings Ireland! I'd probably become nauseous if someone were to tell me how much I'd spent on records over the decades. 🤣

[@williamdenton5716]

I think that it would be fun to compare Discog values with other collectors. Your value of $60k - $25k, is curiously different from mine. Mine is $80 - $11k. Interesting isn't it ? Your total is significantly greater on the low end. How many releases are being counted in yours ? Mine is at 4,462.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

You have a crystal ball William. You really do. I just recorded a video this week - to be released o n Saturday that touches on exactly what you just said. Now I can't wait to get your thoughts.

[@FrightfulMess]

As I rebuild MY collection, the one thing that irks me the most is the condition so many of my "brand new" represses or even new presses come in, having scuffs and rubs and heat blemishes due to the way Walmart or Amazon stores and ships these things. My budget these days limits me to and average of $25 a pop so no, I have no idea if $125 will get me a pristine record, and I guess I never will because I have to eat. Yes, you can STILL get some awesome albums for that $25 average, so if it's good music you're after, you can still get it. So no, I really can't view MY collection as an investment in any way except nostalgia or music enjoyment.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Same here Alex. It truly exists for my enjoyment (and sanity) and always has. Cheers my friend!

[@alanrogs3990]

I hate to say it but I really think most current everyday pressings are going to be the records in the future that people will avoid when crate diving. There are just way too many crappy pressings these days. It is getting better but there is still a risk.

[@scottrap]

I’m very torn about how I feel. On one hand, I own records that I purchased many years ago for a dollar that are now worth $50. Sure I’d love to see them keep going up in value but I’d also like to see the vinyl resurgence come to an end so “used records” become more affordable once again

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I hear you. I have some very expensive ones that I'm sure I could sell for a decent profit if I were to do so on a case by case basis. For me, selling is out of the question. Hopefully we see prices drop again. It's getting to be a very expensive passion.

[@rofgabor]

I see no correlation between the quality of a record and the price. Somehow the market isn't balanced. 1000s of records coming out from attics, flooding shopgoodwill and babies growing up and wanting a few select records. Nobody buys on discogs and the prices are all over the map on ebay. But in general, it's Murphy's law, when I am looking for something, it's $30, when I am selling it, no one wants it for $7.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

So true - there is not predicting how the market will shift. It's all over the place.

[@adamlemons7909]

I am NOT an investor or a collector of vinyl. I AM a music lover and a music listener! I only buy records by the performers that I like and that I will listen to until the grooves are worn smooth. Being blind the visual condition of the cover, sleeves or the record itself has zero importance to me and plays no role in my decision to purchase or have it on my shelf. The only thing that matters to me is the sound and even at that I don’t mind a few cracks and pops here and there. After all, I prefer used and well loved albums more then pulling one out of its shrink-wrap. By the way my wife and I have just past the 100 album mark. Of course many of those are double, triple and box sets so that is more of a record then actual album count. Did your package arrive in good condition? Have you had a chance to listen to that live version of Hotel California?? If so what is your opinion on it??? Is it as good as I think or am I just living in my memories and echo chamber of what I want to hear? Be honest as I know you will 🎶😎🎶 Blessings

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Hi Adam! Well put. I think I said this in the video too but it's all about the music and the memories - like you mentioned. My project for 2024 is to catalog each record and identify its pressing. I think I'll post a video on it at some point. It's a personal project and for no other reason than I'd like to know. I can't imagine parting with any of it. The record hasn't shown up yet. I can't wait to hear it. I have the tracking through the USPS site and it looks like it's in Nashua NH as of last night. If that's the case I should see it by tomorrow at the latest. Mail has been crazy slow this week. Must be post-holiday delays.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

@adamlemons7909 It came in! Had a notification that it was delivered to the PO Box this morning. Just brought it home. Thanks Adam! Looking forward to listening to it this weekend!

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Hey Adam. Do you want me to post my thoughts here or via email?

[@SuperSagedal]

Nice video 👍 Personally, I have never valued my record collection. After all, it is not worth more than what the market is willing to give at any given time. But in the end, I want to ask the 1 million dollar question: Are you willing to get rid of your collection? This question has already been answered by the host 😸 But all the rest of you talking about how much your collection is worth? I completely agree with the host's summary 👍All the best from a freezing cold Kristiansand (12,2 Fahrenheit today) 😁👍

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Greetings Ole! 17F here as I type this - expecting a storm Sunday, I've started a project for 2024 to nail down the pressing for each record., capturing date, plant, condition, and who mastered it, It will take all year but in the end I'll have a rough idea on the value. It's really only a personal project as I'd never sell it. I also worry a bit about what will eventually happen to it.

[@SuperSagedal]

I wouldn't worry to much about that. A few years back my brother said to me: Why do you collect all those records? Your son will probably sell them the day you die. I told him that I don't care. When I leave this world, there's nothing I can do about my records. But while I'm here they bring me a lot of joy. You know how much money you have in your bank account, you DON'T know how much time you have...So get busy collecting records or get busy selling them...😁👍

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

@@SuperSagedal Love that, Ole. Words to live by.

[@alanrogs3990]

Capitol Dean is always better than Reprise Dean. I never looked at my record collection as an investment. I bought most when record were cheap. I bought them because I thought they sounded better AND they were cheap. But I am aware of what records I have that are valuable.

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Hi Alan! Funny you say that. I have two Dean Martin records. One Capitol and one Reprise. The Capitol one is definitely better.

[@alanrogs3990]

@@TheJoyofVinylRecords I guess the only way to get really good sounding Dean Martin Reprise era records is the Bear Family CD box sets. But I don't know for a fact.

[@mikesmith9387]

Soz pal. But why give a shit. You buy the vynil because you like the music that comes from it and it looks kool and feels kool.. that's all that matters. You have it and you love it. So who gives a shit what it worth. Treat it well and it will treat you well back. Long live vynil

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

I second that last statement, Mike 🍺🍺

[@mikesmith9387]

Cheers pal. I apologise for the s word. I am so happy to see other people for having a very strong passion for vynil. And long may it continue

[@davepounds8924]

No!! People who buy vinyl records as a investment are doing it for the wrong reasons It personally makes me cringe when I see people worrying about the price of their vinyl records Play the stock market or buy gold and silver but play records for the enjoyment of the music not for the worry about how much it’s worth

[@TheJoyofVinylRecords]

Can't disagree with you there at all Dave. Cheers! 🍺

[@ianyates7742]

No I just buy them to enjoy them. wen you go out for a meal do you expect to sell it after you have eaten 😂😂😂it,I play my records to entertain my self. there value is irrelevant to me