Is it worth getting Vinyls appraised?

Worth picking a few random ones and checking ebay last sold. And if they seem to have decent value yes very much worth talking to a record shop that deals in those things!

Firstly, sorry for your loss and I hope your son is doing OK.

Second, do not throw them out, and don't give them away cheaply to a mercenary collector.

Worth spending some good time on Discogs, you'll be able to identify the exact release (along with tips for grading the records) which will give you an accurate idea of value.

Punk stuff sells, there is a big market for it.

Post some pics up here, there's a few of us that collect records...sounds like its a collection with a story!

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Definitely worth getting someone to give you an estimate for them (but beware someone just turning up and saying not much of value and offering you £50 to take them off your hands).

Boom in the interest in vinyl has really raised prices for even run of the mill releases so anything you have that is special and sough after (which lots of early/rare punk stuff most definitely is) will attract a decent price. I'd suggest doing a bit of research yourself (even just searching few of them on discogs) and then finding a few reputable dealers and getting at least a couple of offers.

I have a fair bit of vinyl, if it's good music it has value. As above, get on discogs and do some research yourself.

Thank you for responding.

My son seems to doing ok, thanks for asking.

Sounds like we should photograph all of the LP's and watch ebay etc.

Try Music Magpie and that'll give you an idea if they are worth anything then you can go and get a proper appraisal at a shop.  As with all things collectable though condition is everything for top money.

and watch ebay etc

Discogs as well (as above), that's where vinyl folks tend to head.  Tapes are also good if you have them

Sorry for your loss.

+1 for Discogs and being sure you are looking at the correct version of each record. Established record shops that buy vinyl are often fair with pricing but will generally pick out what they want and leave the dregs.

As above, it's worth cataloguing them on Discogs - free account, find your release (check cat no,  runout nos etc. for exact release if there's lots) add to your collection.

This will give you an idea of worth - Discogs shows min, median and max prices they've sold for. Generally it's a much better indicator of value than eBay.

Very useful for working out values, but also for insurance purposes - my 2500+ LPs are worth approx £25-30k!

Straight to Discogs and spend some time researching and you should  get a fair idea of value , I’m guessing if the collection is reasonable then you will have some worth a bit of money

For probate/IHT purposes, I would file them under 'worthless junk that needs to be disposed of'.

But as above its worth looking through them, flog them, and/or maybe keep a few special ones.

Originals in mint condition are v collectable, I just bought London calling on a repress, only 15 quid.  As above, don't mix the 2 up.  Some really random stuff is worth loads, it's supply and demand.

Everyone piled into cd s so v few vinyl records from late 80s early 90s were produced.  Don't rush into anything, if they were mine I d store in pvc sleeves, cheap off covers33com, and leave somewhere cool, loft can get hot.  They can only go up in value.

I'd say that 70's / 80s punk and new wave is about as collectable as it gets with perhaps the exception of early electro. I'm not sure ebay will help much as some of the better stuff may be too rare. Discogs or actually take a few to a proper record shop and ask - you would be very unlucky to be lied to, most record shop owners are fanatics!

Thanks for the response.

I'm trying to convince my son to hang on to them, as a connection to his mum during her younger (rebellious) days.

But if he does want to sell, then I'd rather he knew if they were worth anything.

Thank you.

Ah, I thought the view was to potentially sell them if of value , as someone who’s lost both parents in the past 5 years I’d definitely look to keep them for the personal connection- if the artwork is good then you could buy some vinyl picture frames and have them on the wall, just keep them out of sunlight to stop the fading

Try Music Magpie and that’ll give you an idea if they are worth anything

don’t do this!

Discogs is a good idea.

If it is ‘original artwork’ or anything unique like stencils used in creating the artwork it could be something special and an auction house would be a better bet. Being over 30 years old its the sort of ‘modern antique’ you see valued on Antique Roadshow!

If it is ‘original artwork’ or anything unique like stencils used in creating the artwork it could be something special and an auction house would be a better bet. Being over 30 years old its the sort of ‘modern antique’ you see valued on Antique Roadshow!

Absolutely this! There was an awful lot of limited edition, short run and stuff like white label vinyl being produced, often by small labels, and sleeves can sometimes be actually hand-made or printed. Sometimes the sleeves can be made from unusual materials; a couple of examples are two 12” singles by the band Linoleum, who I saw a few times, the sleeves were actually made from offcuts of parquet-effect lino, and I’ve got at least one of them. And if you have a copy of an album released on Factory Records, FACT14, The Return Of The Durutti Column by The Durutti Column, that could be easily worth quite few quid - only 2000 were made, all the sleeves were assembled by hand, because they were made from sandpaper! There are three different colours of the catalogue number spray painted with stencils on the sleeve.
The sandpaper was chosen because it would phük up the sleeves of any other albums on the shelf!

The late 70’s through the 80’s from punk through post-punk, new wave, etc, was a hugely important and experimental period, anyone who was well into their music, and saw a lot of bands and had access to decent independent record shops could very easily have a potentially very valuable collection, and it really needs to be evaluated by someone who’s an expert in that field and period of time.

I’m not exaggerating, that could be an important collection, and needs to be preserved and examined, and not by some random on t’interwebz. It might even be worth contacting 6Music’s Tom Ravenscroft for advice - he is, after all, John Peel’s son, and as the curator of Peelies vast collection, would have a clue about what’s in your son’s collection.
I’m sorry for your loss, I really am, I have recent experience, and I know exactly how difficult this is to process, but there is potentially significant money at stake, so please get expert help and advice.

Good luck to you both, and take care of yourselves.

Straight to Discogs and spend some time researching and you should get a fair idea of value

This, not Music Magpie.

I've made good money for some '90s indie stuff I never really liked, so I'd imagine punk collectibles could be rather valuable.

how many are there?  too many to list on here?

if you give us an idea of some of them we may be able to give you a pointer or two of what to look for with different versions/sleeves/pic discs etc.

got rid of all my punk vinyl ages ago but always interested in what other people have 🙂

I often sell on my punk vinyl. Have quite a lot and some if it is worth ££.

Record collectors are generally a bunch of weasels and snakes so i wouldn't trust anyone valuing what you have.

My method is to look it up on Discogs. And then sell on ebay as buy it now only.

Make sure you are looking up the correct version on discogs. Most albums have had multiple represses and differing versions released. Check the discog notes for things that you should have that came with the record (free poster, sticker, flexi disc etc). Check the condition and be honest.

If you then price to sell and list as "buy it now no offers" you can avoid all the noise and time wasters. If you set the price at a fair rate it will sell.

Also look on Amazon and get yourself a bunch of record mailers and inserts for posting them out.

Good luck.

Further thoughts...

If there is something of a high value in there, hold that back a bit and sell some of the more generic stuff first. Get positive feedback etc. There are a lot of fakes of certain records so collectors are nervous about getting stung. list alongside a lot of other, similar stuff you are selling. For example the Buzzcocks "Spiral Scratch" ep is going to look a lot more genuine when sat amongst a load of Clash / Damned / Joy Division records rather than on its own.

^ user name checks out. 😊

Discogs first, discogs second and then try discogs.

There's always a serial number pressed into the vinyl where the needle runs off, type this number into discogs and it will tell you what version you have (original pressing etc). I'll bet you that if you do that you'll surprise yourself at how much some are worth.

Or encourage your son to hold on to them as they will definitely increase in value, probably doubling in value every 5 years or so. As someone above mentioned,  punk was a seminal cultural moment that history isn't going to forget and those records will only be going up in value.

With all the talk of stickers and original artwork etc the likelihood is that there's at least a few nuggets in there.

the likelihood is that there’s at least a few nuggets in there

Please check for this one first...

Going onto Discogs will give you a good idea of what they are worth.

Any bulk dealer will completely low ball you - things worth money are going to be the usual offerings - plus first pressing etc

DSOTM with all the stickers and posters sell for stupid amounts

And if all that fails, try Discogs.

I've recently just got my old 90s raver vinyl out the loft , what prompted me was my 16 year old starting collecting old rock/blues/metal vinyl.

So from going round 2nd hand record shops , I can tell you 1st edition can be gold...

Eg.. Led Zeppelin 1st album 1st print in a the shop was over £200 in great condition,  Hendrix Electric Lady land 1st press on ebay£190+...I know because I was bidding on it.

Why 1st press....my kid said it sounds better, reissued vinyl now is too clean  and crisp..

My point being check the serial numbers on the records and check them against discogs...the dates and covers don't mean much (some exceptions)....even reissued vinyl will still have the original dates...only the vinyl itself will tell you .

Vinyl is back in a pretty big way now so you should get some fair size bucks....

Sorry for your loss

If you are near Derby/Notts and want to get rid as a job-lot it's worth having a word with Langley Mill Records.

https://www.recordshopnottingham.com/record-collections-wanted-for

Good shop who I very much doubt would rip you off (I've only bought though, never sold!). Worth popping in with a few to get an idea of price.

If not stick up your rough area and I'm sure someone will know a decent record shop near you.

Vinyl Exchange on Oldham Street n Manchester is the main regional trader, I've bouht and sold lots there over the years.

The way they value them (unlike a lot of other stores) is to jump on the computer and go straight to Discogs. They will then offer you 40% of what Discogs says. Although the staff have decades of specialist knowledge, they don't need to use it to value a record these days, their decision to buy will be based on wether they have it in stock.