How to Grade & Value your Records // Vinyl Selling 101

Welcome to part one of Deaf Man Vinyl's record selling masterclass. Learn about artists that always sell, how to value your own records and grade according to the accepted Goldmine standards, and discover if you're sitting on gold!
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Discogs article: blog.discogs.c...

[@olarrist4273]

Thank you! I’ve just recently got into flipping vinyl and have found that folks are listing VG+ vinyl as M or NM on eBay. I’ve bought maybe 500 records and have yet to come across anything M. Most everything I have is VG+ or below.

[@laurapalka3685]

Why in the world don't you have more subscribers??!! Your vids are the best, to the point but not too rushed, you show examples and/or demonstrations, just overall really informative. Thanks for your posts!

[@Jack-nm7ve]

thats exactly what i was thanking!

[@grandpaberniesbasement8186]

Thank you for breaking it down so easily! My knowledge base has drastically improved. Subscribed to your channel too! 🤙

[@Mark-vf8op]

I’ve got a lot of Pink Floyd from my dad….I think I stick to it..also a the wall memorial box of with marbles and tickets to the gig in Berlin 1990! I was flabbergasted when I saw that show on tv…still got it somewhere on VHS 📼 😊 that’s why I bought the box

[@steec6713]

This has helped me a tonne. I have a handful of sabbath and some early thrash that I'm going to try flip on eBay, and with the prices varying on the same copy, I wasn't sure what to charge. I'm still not 100% sure, but you have me on the correct path. Thank you

[@333tharvey]

Do you still have those thrash records?

[@jackiesmith7349]

Another great video, Deaf Man! Thanks for the good info. Now to go search through my record collection! :)

[@DeafManVinyl]

www.deafmanvinyl.com/dmv-shop/vinyl-styl-stylus-cleaning-kit/

[@asheden3779]

Call me weird I personally love old stickers on my vinyl covers. I enjoy the history of the price and a old record store that isn't around anymore. It's almost like a slice of Americana. I try to grade my records based on my own personal collection and vintage vinyls I know that sounds phenomenal. If I know they sound that good And they are basically only NM at max and VG+ probably by lost standards. Things slowly start to go downhill from there.

[@nicolepisa26]

You have all my favorite records! Stampede is my favorite from the Doobie Brothers and Nashville Skyline is my favorite from Dylan! Beautiful Heart record too👍🏼

[@Techrewinds]

Great tips been trying to resell records these tips helped a lot

[@allanpedersen2987]

Great video! Personally I would avoid anything below VG+ as you just don’t know what you’re going to get. I bought some records on Discogs and the VG’s are very much hit or miss. Number one is going to a record store yourself and see what’s what.

[@DeafManVinyl]

Yeah, it's a pretty sad state of affairs out there for record grading, although I tend to feel a bit better on Discogs. Ebay is a sh@t storm. The 3 or 4 times I've cried foul, though, I had no problem getting my money back on poorly graded records. Anybody who is a serous eBayer is absolutely petrified of a bad review, so they generally want to make it right at any cost.

[@Chris-ld7nr]

@@DeafManVinyl this is true. I'm an experienced Ebayer who just started getting into vinyl (only done video games prior). Just received a return for a misgraded record. I rated it at VG/VG+. He isn't happy and said it was VG at best. I don't really agree but I'm new to this and maybe he's right. It's not worth arguing over and I'd rather not have a negative mark. I quickly accepted the return and paid for shipping. I'm considering just keeping them in my physical location from now on to avoid returns.

[@rolando_j_]

Very short but entirely accurate video. However it could have been better if you included pressings rather than have a separate video. It makes sense to have an entirely separate video for the topic of pressings but it seems to be hinted that original pressings are necessarily more valuable than other pressings. And while I haven't seen that video yet, the hinting that original pressings are more valuable than other pressings is misleading especially considering that it's suggested that the White Album isn't as valuable as people might think. I state this because the most valuable White Album pressing isn't the first pressing, it's the UK 10th anniversary pressing which is last time the original tapes were used to cut a lacquer for the stereo version of this album. It was a very limited run and only available in the UK and it has some additional cache for be being on white vinyl when colored vinyl was outside the norm. Clearly some extra care was taken for this particularly limited pressing. So this stresses how one particular pressing of an album that is otherwise not generally all that valuable can break the rules. I just think this is missed opportunity where you could have convinced others to view the folllow-up video to watch and learn what other considerations makes a particular pressing more valuable than other pressings.

[@srl179]

Really enjoy your enthusiasm and knowledge ty for your content

[@iananderson7883]

I just sold a huge collection ( mostly 60 s & 70 s ) to a dealer who had to haul it away in a cube van. I kept about 300 albums for posterity. Don't see the point when the music can be accessed online one way or another. I did some research before I made the sale and the bottom line is that there is no money in vinyl. Records are not lost artifacts from the Ming Dynasty. They are just freaking records. This craze will go out as fast as hockey cards. Just my take.

[@SexyAlien2]

What kind of research did you do?

[@iananderson7883]

@@SexyAlien2 Discogs etc. You might find suckers who will spend a grocery order on a single record here and there but their resale value is nil. I found that a lot of these people showing off their massive collections on KZbin know very little about music and they are more or less just hoarding the records for whatever reason. It's a joke .It seems that they quantify their lives by their record collections. I had all those albums because I loved the music. Now times have changed and I can listen to the music through my computer. Good enough for me and I have a lot of extra room in my house..

[@SexyAlien2]

@@iananderson7883 I personally can't think of a better use of my space than owning music that I love (same for books), but everyone is different. As for the hoarders, I do agree that a lot of people seem more interested in the "collecting" aspect of vinyl and that is nonsensical to me. However, I still don't see how looking at Discogs would make you come to the conclusion that vinyls have no resale value when the sells have been steadily going up for years now. All the albums I bought in the last 15 years tripled value and I have no problem flipping the ones that I don't listen to anymore. As for "suckers who will spend a grocery order on a single record", you could pretty much say that for every single thing. That's all a matter of perception. I find dropping hundred+ dollars on a single meal crazy, but I know people who enjoy that a lot.

[@SexyAlien2]

@@iananderson7883 I just reread you initial comment and I think we can agree on the fact that owning thousands of record is hoarding (unless you own a shop). I see that you kept 300 records, which is a more than reasonable amount of records to own, so we do agree. I also don't like how some people speculate around records and use them as an investment and it is, for the most part, turning me off from buying a lot of records that I would otherwise love to own.

[@iananderson7883]

@@SexyAlien2 Yeah, it flabbergasts me because some of these people use their record collections as status symbols of sorts. I can't really wrap my head around it. As for the research I did I was just curious as to how much certain records might be worth and which bands are the most desirable. I still love putting the records on my ancient AKIA turntable ( from 1980 ), watching them go around, holding the cover in my hand, drinking a few beers and cranking it to ELEVEN. I bought most of the albums I ever owned for under 10 freaking dollars ! And it's just a shame that something that should be very accessible has turned into an expensive hobby. Cheers.

[@UT1SCWSeabeeSean]

Great video! Trying to get back into having a good collection of the classic rock albums. Curious as to your take on original pressings versus remastered????

[@julievaldez8189]

This was really helpful. I have 9 boxes of records that were my brother’s. He was 66 yrs old. Also have 2 tubs of his CD’s. Need to sell!

[@DeafManVinyl]

Where are you located, Julie?

[@julievaldez8189]

@@DeafManVinyl Springfield mo

[@mike196212]

About five years ago,I think,I checked out an unopened copy of IT'S ONLY ROCK AND ROLL by The Rolling Stones in a curio/thrift/etc.. shop. The shop is gone. Don't know why I didn't buy that lp. Always wanted one back in the 70s when it was no more than five bucks or less. This one was only 20.

[@lmc3307]

Most likely a repress

[@psychrocklive]

Love these videos! Just found your channel recently and have been binging! Easy to follow video and would be great for those just getting into records. Keep it up! Subbed!

[@CharlesNicklow]

One thing I can't really find guidance on is corner dings. I have some records that have almost imperceptible corner dings as their only flaws, and they aren't something you notice without really examining. Goldmine says NM "covers are free of creases, ring wear and seam splits of any kind" - but say nothing about corner dings. How big does a corner ding have to be to be relevant?

[@twocosmic2982]

Notice your hot tuna shirt,great group. Mentioned it cause I went and ordered my favorite, double dose well anyway it's a special order gotit so didn't need to use my vynal, warning DON'T DO IT for some reason they leave off one of my favorites killing time in the crystal city , how the hell can't you fit a song on a cd? It's a double lp just thought I'd mention it after noticing the shirt. Otherwise I appreciate the good info you give. Thanks from a old vynal head

[@N8FLY]

04:26 The guy in the wall picture reflection is super thirsty! :)

[@ck-4203]

Thanks

[@johnpyle1022]

Hey there just discovered your channel, good stuff! I certainly never knew that any of the British New Wave heavy metal from late 70s/early 80s was worth anything, I have a bunch of that stashed away back home in the UK never been played in nearly 40 years. Off the top of my head I know I have Iron Maiden's first album; AC/DC Let there be Rock, For Those About To Rock, Dirty Deeds; Saxon Denim & Leather; Whitesnake Come & Get It; Rainbow Rising/Richie Blackmores's Rainbow gatefold edition...all will be first pressings for sure. Any grails in there?! Cheers!

[@DeafManVinyl]

Nice. The holy, holy grail would be the AC/DC. Their early Australian pressings are super desirable. In fact, a major lust object for me! Not sure exactly what you were getting there in the UK, but anything that's "different" would attract interest. I know that European pressings often have a different track or two. Keep 'em spinning!

[@HTJB60]

Like your Tee Shirt.... Great band. The Great Society is better {!} with JA last. LOL... Now I'll go listen to your presentation.

[@DeafManVinyl]

Yeah, just got a copy of Great Society live at the Matrix. A great listen!

[@my58vw]

His grading is basically 1 grade high based on Discogs... his VG+ is more like NM on Discogs... of course it will depend on the seller...

[@keegs32]

That’s my whole collection

[@annisha68]

Hey there. Loving your vids. Hope you keep making them. Just abit of advice needed. I have KISS Best of the Solo records Australian release with sticker insert and promo insert for their film that came out in 1979. Its a first edition Aussie release. I listened to the record and the only noise i could hear was between the tracks so i was going to grade VG. However on the final song during the outro it got stuck and repeated 3 times and then continued to play normally. I was so annoyed! I purchased some record cleaner so hoping that may fix it. If not what should i grade it?

[@DeafManVinyl]

Hey - glad you enjoyed! Yeah, skips are kind of a big deal. Definitely brings it down to VG or lower. The best policy I've found is just to be honest about the condition and share all the details you know, Some people won;t mind a skip, others will. In fact, it might not even skip on a different turntable. But there's a buyer out there for every record! Your idea to clean it is solid. Get a carbon fiber brush and get down into the grooves, then hit it with a pad and then use the cleaner and test it again . Good luck!

[@BlondeReaganite]

It's pure supply and demand just like everything else that determines value.. Perfect example.. Kate Bush.. Her music couldn't seem for a dollar.. Then her song was on the show Stranger Things.. Now her cassettes are selling for 600 each on Ebay.. The demand went through the roof.. And her albums are now doing the same.. Some albums will always have high demand no matter what.. If an album says Led Zeppelin.. Beatles.. Pink Floyd it will always be worth a lot because the demand will always be there.. I laugh everytime I see a dark side of the moon.. The most produced album of all time but goes for a ton always even though everyone has more than one copy.. It's one of those anomalies.. The supply is huge and the demand is huge

[@nichaloswoodworth866]

Hey deaf man!! I just came across a crate of vinyls from i job I was working. Got home to find unopened records and much soul, orchestra, and funk music. Also some Marley and 90’s rap! Even as much as unopened Rocky soundtrack. Before this I hadn’t given much thought to vinyl. But I have 102 records now and am looking for advice/help judging the quality and price of these pieces. I know you haven’t seen what I have, but What do you think?

[@DeafManVinyl]

Good find! The '90s rap outta be good. Soundtracks are surprisingly desirable. Not big bucks, but $9.95-$14.95 in our shop as a general rule. Unopened Rocky should go for a bit more. Discogs is probably going to be your best for determining value. Just pick a rainy Sunday and start in. Type in the catalog number and see what they're selling for!

[@theaussienurseflipper.8113]

Gr8 vid mate. I lot my old mum records, in pretty bad shape, do I just bin them? I have looked at the records, but covers are crap. Any help? All vids I watch never talk about them, Cheers Graham.

[@lisecharette37]

Let me no if you about a much is worth thank you for your help I got to Elvies blue records and one record the Beatles a much in good condition

[@banjammy4116]

I had a 1250

[@che1925]

Love what you did, but any of these records with dust or debris will have pops. Are you saying this post cleaning?

[@clarencemckinzie1072]

My entire collision from 40s and 50s a few early 60s,I got aot of Bing crosby,eddy Arnold ,alot of holiday albums,,r these worth anything and r worth holding on too???,,thanks for ur time .⁰

[@robinfereday6562]

Nice video now a new subscriber 👍

[@sharon.joy.fisher5657]

I have a Shirley .Temple record

[@skykingimagery899]

how to you grade records that are VG+ but the albums have minor defects. Which is more important? Is it worth all the time cleaning up these records? And the value of so many of these is so unfortunately not related to quality of the music. Like the stock market it's what's "in." So many great artists with phenomenal music are wholly undervalued. Sorry AC/DC is not one of them. Pink Floyd is.

[@deniselombergg1815]

Hi 👋 is Beethoven,s vinyls symphonies no 3 through to no 9 of any value and also Decca lp,s and other famous composers vinyls

[@DeafManVinyl]

In my opinion, no. We don't sell them at the shop and most record stores won't buy them. That said, it's often gorgeous and moving music ... just not much of a market for it.

[@rawcodecmedia302]

My uncle just passed and we were going through his things. He’s got a ton of vinyl, he had a Beatles white album that has a serial number on the front and it’s pressed as a white vinyl. Any idea on that thing?

[@silvialeyva5555]

Is there a way to get a record graded? For example if you have a clean copy of Prince's Black Album?

[@DeafManVinyl]

Hey Silvia - You could always take it in to your local record store and ask for an opinion.

[@connienorman2962]

Is.40's and 50's worth anything?

[@richardfurnari9451]

How do you know if you have a rare album?

[@darleneellis6690]

is there any value for george harrisons electronic sound on the zapple label?

[@DeafManVinyl]

I see it ranging anywhere from $14.95 to $100+ on Discogs.

[@diegoq8417]

The George Bush of vinyls 🤘🏻😎

[@lisecharette37]

A much a the picture of the Beatles not open bran new picture of Beeatles my brother got that what to no sent me a answer if you no

[@robvandermeulen880]

Good videos, no comment on that. But PLEASE do NOT put your fingers on the grooves when you take them out of the cover...😳 That is one of the great sins when handling a record....