Half Price Books / Used CD Stores...strategy?

[l00p]

I am curious about whether or not the quantity of items you take in has to do with the amount you get in return. I have noticed that sometimes if I sell cd's or records I get more by making two trips with less in each load.

If I have two boxes of books to sell, do you think I am better off taking one in and getting money and then going in another day with the other box?

My thinking on this is that the buyer is less apt to pay as much money and pay less per item if the stack is huge. Maybe they think you have to get rid of it and will at that moment for any price or they try to control how much gets paid out? I have not ever sold books so I don't know.

I am sure some of you have and may have insight or advice on this. Thanks, I'll hang up and listen.

 

[Ignatius]

Believe it or not, at Half Price they'll actually consider what it is that you're trading in. If it's something they have multiple copies of they're not going to give you much, other times I've brought things in and been shocked at how much they offered. It takes longer this way; if you do it on a weekend be ready for it to consume about 45 minutes.

I've never tried varying like you're talking about, because usually we're doing it just to clear stuff off the bookcase (to make room for more books from Half Price), but I kind of doubt that it would make a difference, at least there anyway, because it seems like they actually do go through every title.

In either event, it's not going to be much money. Over the years I've carted in probably 20 or so laundry baskets (a good way to transport books/grocery bags, BTW) into that place and never received more than $20 or so, sometimes as little as $5. Like I say, for us it's just a matter of clearing up space, but if you have some titles that are fairly unique/valuable, you might try a one-at-a-time approach to see what they say...

 

[l00p]

Cool, thanks. And how did you know that I would be using a laundry basket? It is already on stand by.

I think I would be stoked to get twenty bucks for what I would be taking in. It is also a space clearing process. I hope to get rid of almost 1,000 or more records, 700 more cd's and some clothes by the time it is all said and done.

Most clothes are going to the Salvation Army, however. Some are also going to some friends of a friend who lost their stuff in one of those apartment fires that have been going on in Austin lately. I never realized how many dishes and household items I had extra until I looked at it from the point of view somebody who lost everything would.

 

[kmac30]

what kind of records are you clearing out?

 

[l00p]

Most of it are things used for samples or mixes. I have already sold double copies of things like Depeche Mode, Smiths, punk albums and things people would want or use. I just did not need two copies of Sioxsie and the Banshees "Cities in Dust" any longer (stuff like that).

I am maybe going to unload stuff like Nirvana Test Pressing and promo's on vinyl. I have given away other rare items to friends who liked a certain band a lot. I would rather make them happy than make a buck or few.

I don't know that i have anything anybody other than a dj wanting obscure or odd samples could use at this point. Not that I am selling off. I expect pennies at best for what is being unloaded now.

What stuff would you maybe be interested in if I decide to unload further? My goal is to be down to about 5k records in two years or less. I may be lucky enough to go lower than that in number. If I sold to you it would be dirt cheap if you are a vinyl lover.

 

[Napoleon]

Craigslist and/or eBay can be lucrative... but more time consuming.

I realized when I was dumping stuff before leaving LA that the time to sell stuff is- when you don't have to sell stuff.

If you just randomly put a list of records on Craigslist once a week, you could end up bringing in hundreds of dollars vs. $20-$30 at HalfPrice Books.

That goes for everybody.

 

[GHoward]

You can also go to Cheapos to sell the records. They may look at it longer and actually place a value on it, instead of just offering you a nickel per, or something.

 

[Bob Wills]

l00p, if you have the patience, you can make a killing with those records on ebay/amazon. It sounds like you have some very unique vinyl.

 

[l00p]

Yeah, I have sold some of it on ebay. I will go that route for things that are rare or collectible/in demand. A friend has an ebay store he lets me latch ahold of. However, as in the case of a rare Beatles record I had (don't really like the Beatles) I just gave it to a friend who is a bigtime fan.

I got the record for free and it meant a lot to him. He could not afford how much it is "worth" on the market. It meant a whole lot to him and it made his day to get ahold of it. I would rather make a friend feel super than make a couple hundred bucks for something like that. Just the way I am wired, I guess.

I do sell at Cheapo sometimes, other times Backspin. Just depends on what it is. Thanks for the help guys. Half Price did me pretty well on the first batch of books. I am loving the space I am freeing up.

 

[MP5]

Do any of you sell your cd or record collections? I am interested in Classic rock, blues, jazz and classical. Even better if its on a HD all Lossless

Basically I buy your old music collection thats on HD- Ill even give the HD back

 

[veggieboy]

Back in the day, I used to sell a lot of CDs to places like Technophilia and CD Werehouse and such. I definately used to notice a difference of the price per CD if I would bring in like 5, than if I was bringing in 10 or more. The smaller stack ALWAYS got paid more per CD.

The dude would look at the stack, set a few aside, keep a few, then say, "I'll give you $X for these." The fewer he kept, the more I got per CD.

I have never sold anything to Half Price Books, so I don't know how they are with things. I have tried pawn shops before and sold some stuff that the other places didn't want, and got upwards of $2 or $3 per CD.

That's another option...