Vinyl records are making a comeback, which means smoother tunes for anyone who loves music. It doesn’t matter if you’re just getting into vinyl purchases or if you’ve been collecting for years, you may want to find a way to spend a little less on your vinyl purchases. There’s a lot of consider when buying vinyl records, but if you’re dedicated to your music then its a great buy that could end up becoming a high priced collection to pass down to future generations. If you’re looking to boost up your collection or just find an affordable way to start one then these ten tips might help you a whole lot. Vinyl collection can become an amazing hobby that leads you to meet new people with common interests from around the world. So, grab your turn table and get ready to enjoy the songs you love the most in pristine quality.
1. Thrift Stores
One of the best tips you’ll ever learn about vinyl is to check out your local thrift stores. So, it’s not a record store, but it is one of the few places you can peacefully look through vinyl for a number of different treasures. The best thing about thrift stores is you can walk in with no intention of buying anything and suddenly see a piece you’ve been longing to listen to. Although you probably won’t find a whole lot of modern vinyl at the thrift store you may be lucky enough to run across some of the classics. Of course, you might be a little discouraged by some thrift stores as they often won’t have anything worth the buy. However, you should still continue to go because many stores get things on a daily basis. Thus, if you give up on one location you could miss out on some major deals. Thrift stores also offer incredibly low prices, so you can buy several records for the price of one that you would find in a record store. You should always look at the records before purchasing though as some may be damaged beyond use or it could be a different record than the case advertises.
2. Record Store Day
This annual to biannual holiday is made just for vinyl record lovers. The holiday was originally invented to boost the sales of vinyl in order to keep record stores thriving; however, more recently it has been the best day to release some amazing limited time records. Record store day is a great time to shop for sales on vinyl. You will be surprised at some of the discounts you’ll be able to find. However, if you’re looking to buy a special release you may want to consider a few things first. A lot of these releases are obviously going to be priced higher than a regular record. They do contain some items that could be collected or sold later on, but it is important you’re sure you absolutely have to have the item before you purchase it. A lot of the time you will be better off waiting for the release to hit shelves without all of the special content. Of course, if its something from a band you’ve admire awhile then do a little research to see what shop is selling it for the cheapest price, so you will at least save a little money on the limited time transaction.
3. Sales
If there’s a local record store around you then you might want to keep a look out for sales. A lot of stores will do this when they’re getting new stock and want to move some of the products that aren’t selling quite as well as they’d hoped. Try to subscribe to the stores newsletter if they have one that way you’ll be privy to any sales they might be happening. Of course, if they don’t, which many stores might not, then it might be beneficial to stop in more frequently. You can ask about sales and check to see if anything new has made it into the clearance bin. Another great time to look into sales is during a holiday as most stores will use this time to sell more of their items. If you don’t have a local store then look online to see if any of your favorite online merchants are having a sale. These stores might be easier to keep track of in regards of sales, but you’ll still have to pay shipping which couldn’t ruin the sales price altogether.
4. Buy New
It isn’t often that buying something new will actually save you a bit of money. Let’s face it, you simply can’t enjoy a record on the go. It takes some pretty pricey equipment to transfer your vinyl to digital, so you may be out even more money if you want to have an album on vinyl and in your mp3 player. Instead of worrying about buying your item twice you should just consider buying an unused copy of the album you’re purchasing. Most albums that are new and modern have a code inside of them. This code will allow you one free download of the entire album so you can put the music onto your mp3 player too. Now, you get the best of both worlds for the price of only one. Most new record releases are terribly expensive either. In fact, you’ll probably end up paying the same price you would for a CD or digitally downloading the album. You also won’t have to worry about dust, scratches or other flaws that could make your purchase worthless.
5. Sell!
Although it might seem blasphemy to sell some of your records you’d be surprised at how liberating it can be. Now, this doesn’t mean go through and sell off your entire collection in order to buy new stuff. Instead, try going through your vinyl once a year. If there’s anything in there that you don’t listen to then sell it. For a lot of people this tends to be vinyl that was purchased for them or pieces they inherited, which makes it a little bit harder to part with. A lot of people will hold onto records because they may one day find the music interesting. However, if you’re holding onto, say, your second cousin twice removed’s yodeling album because you may one day dig it, then you’re probably not doing yourself any favors. Look up how much its worth and get rid of it so you can put something else in its place. This will help defeat clutter and put money back in your pocket.
6. Keep it Clean
Records can be very easy to clean if you do it on a regular basis. You may want to begin inspecting a record before you put it on your turn table to make sure there isn’t anything on it that could damage the turn table or the record. There’s a lot of tutorials online as to how to clean you records so make sure to look them up just to be safe. Basic cleaning is cheap way to keep your collection in top notch condition. You should always look at reviews and recommendations before you pick a cleaner to use on your records though. There are also cleaners that do a more thorough job on the record, which might be something to invest in if you don’t want to keep up maintenance or if you’re often bringing use records into the home. Typically you can get one of these devices for under $100 if you shop around and do some research before buying. A clean record will keep your music in the best possible shape so you don’t have to worry about replacing items you already own.
7. Practice precaution
There are a lot of steps you can take to keep your records looking and playing great for years to come. These precautions cost you nothing and can help you preserve the value of your record collection. One easy thing to do is remember to not touch the record as often as you possible can. Use the side of the record for placing and removing it from the case. You should also be gentle when putting the record back in the case as this can damage both case and record. Instead easily glide it into the sleeve. Or, to avoid damage to the case try to find some plastic record covers. This way you place the record outside of the case while still keeping both items safe in the same unit. You should never stack your records. This can easily cause warping which will make the playback really disappointing. This is especially the case when it comes to hotter environments. Finally, make sure to use the guide when you put the needle on the record. This is gentle enough of the record and accidental slipping won’t be problem. There’s a lot of other tips so if you’re interested then do a little research online.
8. Know Your Stuff
If you already spend a pretty penny on vinyl then it might be beneficial if you did research before buying major collectors items. Make sure you look up how much the item is actually worth so you don’t end up spending double or triple on the item. It is also important you check out the item as closely as possible before buying. This means buying in your area is a lot safer than online, but if you have to buy online the research the seller’s reviews first. The same story can be told if you’re selling. If you want to make a profit on your record you need to research how much its worth. This will prevent you from letting a $50 record go for a mere $5.
9. Record Player
Although vinyl makes a huge difference when it comes to the way your music sounds, your record player will also play a major role in this process too. One way to combat losing the quality of your record player is to always do a quick inspection before you play anything. You should make sure the turn table is clean and is moving smoothly on its base. You should also make sure the needle is clean. The needle is very sensitive and any problems with it can not only sacrifice sound quality, but could also lead to damage to any record you play with it. Another major thing to keep an eye on is the speakers. If you have a turn table with smaller speakers then make sure not to turn the volume up too high. This could cause you to damage the speakers which leads to cracking and unfortunate playback.
10. Record Stores
Believe it or not, but your record store can be one of the biggest assets you have when it comes to your vinyl collection. If you haven’t already, try to get to know the staff of the store you prefer to shop in. This will unlock a world of benefits you may have no known possible. For instance, here the clerks will be able to look up the worth of an item if you’re looking to sell or perhaps looking to buy from another seller. They can also give you a heads up when it comes to future sales and discounts. Another great thing about getting to know the staff is they can special order items for you. So, if you have an eye on an import or something that’s not in the store you may be able to talk them into ordering the item for you, so you can pick up in the store without having to worry about other parties.
Keeping a vinyl collection can be very rewarding when you look past the cost. With these ten tips you can hopefully find a more efficient way to enjoy your collection options while exploring new ways to cut back on spending for your hobby.
