Is the used record market cooling down?

I did ok on a still sealed Serenade, and a WLP of Superman with a color paper cover. Seems they sent a few early advances to the press before the real covers were printed. I've never seen a Columbia white label with a paper mock-up cover like that before. Vinyl was flexible - almost like a Dynaflex as well. I'm sure I got $30 for it ten years ago.

 

The current market and economic system of the world is moving toward decline and the buying power is reduce. Don't think it is cooling down for most of the people.

 

The 19 year old girls keep buying up the 80's.

 

Are you a bot?

 

No, I just tell it like it is. They love Journey, Lauper, Madonna, Duran......

 

Of course! That’s it! Young people bad!

 

Young people are buying the 80's big time. Empty divider cards.

 

Future Hipsters of America! They look real sweet but they're really bad.

 

Whether You like it or not, but young people, especially young and clueless, are a main reason for rising used LP prices IMO. They are the main force driving this hype, when in the early 2000s, I'd even say till about 2012, most of them were happy enough with I-pods and MP3's, used LP prices were much, much friendlier.
For example, I know that asking $40 for a crappy US reissue of "Sgt Pepper" is nuts, but most new to this hobby young people don't know that. Which of course makes dealers really happy .

 

The hope is that dealers/ebay sellers/etc. will be responsible and honest in their pricing. You can fool most people once, but not continually...

I'm in my late 30s, so I'd guess young for this forum. I got into vinyl in HS, because it was a way to get a ton of new music for CHEAP. At this point CDs were $17.99, minimum wage (my salary) was $5.15. And $1-$3 LPs in used bins actually included stuff you'd want to listen to ! And even Hendrix/Dylan/Zepp/Doors/Beatles/Stones could be found for less than the CD remaster new at FYE.

A new generation is discovering vinyl, and their reasons for turning to vinyl are different from mine (cost/practicality) or the average "baby boomer" SH-member (it is what I grew up with)... but it is cool that they are discovering it. As a community that wants to see this medium continue to thrive, we should be welcoming towards them. And not mock them ,or try to rip them up off with overpriced common vinyl.

 

they buy a turntable for $50, and then go buy beat-to-**** albums and think its cool.

it won't be long, it will end soon and then CD's will be all the rage again, until the unborn want vinyl in about 3o years. like sports cards, it just goes on and on.

 

I'm guessing shipping fees are turning some people off, as it dramatically changes the price of the purchase.

 

And the value of the bargain.

Oh hey - not only shipping, but the changes in tax 1099 form laws that makes sellers want to engage in it less.

 

Just like sports cards.

 

Many of us of a certain age have a bone to pick with our folks about throwing those out when we were kids.

 

Not cooling down by me. Passed on a few records last weekend due to high prices. The Who, Who By Numbers in VG condition at best, $18. The The, Soul Mining, $35. Didn’t check the condition. Did pick up a few CD’s for $5. The Byrds - Sweetheart Of The Rodeo ($3) and U2 - Rattle And Hum ($2) And pre ordered a copy of Soul Mining from Target: The The - Soul Mining (140 Gram) (vinyl) : Target ($17.49)

 

Billy Joels with ringwear are selling like crazy here, even Grease at $18. Those under 25 are lapping up the 70's and stew-pid prices.

 

I saw a used copy of CCR’s Cosmo’s Factory LP priced $42.95 today.

 

Personally, I think it's more older men that have a little bit of money and just HAVE to buy every copy of some classic rock album they already own numerous copies of. Now, it's fine with me if they are a pressing collector. But what I see are guys blindly buying the same album over and over. This is especially true for Beatles fans. I work at a store. I'd love to put lower prices on some items for younger people. I can't because if Old Man Boomer is going to buy it again, he's gonna have to pay.

Other factors include people that gave up their record collection years ago and want those 'vinyls' back again. That's not the young people. Then there's the factor of everyone hearing about how records are worth money. So if someone comes into the store with desired common classic rock titles, a good store is going to have to buck up and pay more than they once did. No one is selling their vinyl because they like the new CD format anymore. Then there's all the online sellers that just have to put the highest price they can think of. Some of these items sell to the people that don't have to care about their wallet. Then there's a whole other factor of a forum like this. All it takes is one thread about how 'this or that' is the best pressing. Eventually that trickles down to audiophiles wanting that. A big example is anything associated with "RL" in the deadwax. Led Zeppelin II? Gimme a break.

Also if it's a modern album, plants can't keep up. Once Kanye is OOP, his albums go up up and up until the next round.

I'm not saying that young people aren't a big factor. I too hate hearing about them getting their cheap player from Wal-Mart. Then they buy an album that costs probably more than that player. I hate to think of good records going under those needles. So sometimes there is a little part of me when pricing a scuffy album that says, 'it's just going under a junk needle anyways.' If I know you're picky, I'll try to let you know (if I know).

 

I guess You're right, It's a combination of all of these factors. Still, I miss the early days, 2006- 2012 when record collecting was much more fun, for me anyway .

 

I have been selling on discogs for a few years. I've seen a big slow down this summer and still hasn't picked up. Of course, most of my "good" stuff has already sold. So I am left with "junky stuff" that may take 10+ years to sell. But I do add new "good stuff" here and there. But even that stuff is not selling.. So I think there is some global downturn in the market..

 

Yeah it feels like things have picked up a bit, but only slightly, since I started this thread 3 months ago. At the time everyone said it was just the normal summer slowdown, but I'm not so sure. There certainly wasn't any sort of big surge in September, when you'd expect most everyone would be back from summer trips and the other things pulling them away from record buying. Perhaps it's inflation taking its toll?

 

Exactly what I was going to say. A combination of the typical seasonal slow and and the severe kick in the shorts we're currently all going through.

 

I think it’s safe to say that classic rock records have largely dried up (clean copies of Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc.). These won’t go back into the market except through estate sales and such, after people pass on. And so the prices are higher and not within everyone’s range.

 

It always comes down to the what the market is willing to pay. A great album at a great price will usually sell, quickly. However if it is listed for top dollar, every cent of the high end trying to be had, usually sits for a time. Another factor is reissues have gotten much better, that alone makes a choice between an original high cost record, and a great reissue a much tuffer decision. Lastly, times are tuff for most people, obviously the wealthy will not be effected, those worried about gas and food prices probably are spending far less on records right now however.