Whatever their reasons for buying vinyl records, whether it’s because of the sound quality it offers, visual features it provides, a tactile experience you can have, or other, people still want to put their money into it. And no matter how expensive it is, the experience vinyl records offer is always worth the money.
This means that the market for vinyl records is still successful and not slowing down anytime soon. What was once thought of as an obsolete item is here to stay.
There are multiple platforms you can use to buy second-hand vinyl records, whether online or offline. Do keep in mind that when you are researching vinyl records online, you need an internet connection, the likes of Xfinity for seamless connectivity. If interested, dial the Xfinity phone number to sign up for super-fast internet.
Moving on, if you have found the right platform for buying second-hand vinyl records, we recommend that you check out the following tips before you purchase them.
Table of Contents
Do You Know What You Want?
When you are making a purchase for a new vinyl record, you can explore any of the new ones and then buy the one that you like. However, when you are buying a second-hand vinyl record, it’s a whole different game.
Since vinyl records are found in many homes now, a lot of them are circling around. So if you are going to buy a second-hand vinyl record, it’ll be like shooting in the dark.
However, as long as you know what kind of vinyl records you want, go for the corner of the shop where they have been labeled according to genre or artists. You must have an idea about the music genre or artists that you want and it’ll make the browsing experience stress-free.
Did You Check the Packaging?
You need to check out the cover of the second-hand vinyl records. Look at the sleeve condition; not implying here that the slightest crease should put you off, but there are flaws you need to check there.
The vinyl record that looks brand new, is in original shrinkwrap and still has its inner sleeve is good for you to buy. If the sleeve has a few creases, or there may be a few rips, that’s also okay to purchase.
If you spot a vinyl record that has obvious signs of being damaged (water damage perhaps), the record can be seen through the rips, the sleeves are battered or there is no inner sleeve, then this is a no-go. Do not purchase this one.
What Does the Record Look Like?
After checking its packaging, now you need to check the surface of the vinyl record.
If there are obvious scratches showing on the record, it will affect the quality of the sound. It may even damage the stylus of your record player. Hence, do not bother buying a vinyl record that has scratches on it.
If there’s dust on the record, that’s no reason to put you off. Because most second-hand vinyl records have been sitting around for months, even years, a buildup of dust is normal. You just need to wipe the dust off with an antistatic cloth and you’re good to go.
Did You Find it Online?
To be honest, looking for second-hand vinyl records on the internet isn’t the best. Because there is a risk that those second-hand vinyl records may not be what they appear to be.
Some websites even offer a grading system to rate the records they are selling. But that can’t always be trusted because some sellers will lie about the actual condition of the vinyl records they are selling.
However, if you do find some good second-hand vinyl records online, ask the seller to meet in person so that you can inspect them yourself.
Have You Checked the Compatibility?
This is rare but there may be times when some second-hand records will not be compatible with your record player. This is especially true in cases where you are purchasing a very old vinyl record and the record player you have is a modern player.
Keep in mind that record players work as revolutions per minute or rpm i.e. the number of turns it does in a minute. Records have three speeds: 33 ½ rpm, 45 rpm, and 78 rpm. A standard record speed is 33 or 45 rpm.
However, you should try playing it on your record player before making the purchase.
Final Thoughts
When you are shopping for second-hand vinyl records, you shouldn’t rush. As there are a lot of factors to consider before purchasing them, you should take your time. As long as you’re doing proper research and taking the above-mentioned tips into consideration, you’ll find the right vinyl records to keep with you for a lifetime.