what to do with 1000+ CD's, many imports and live concerts

Start by being honest with yourself ... how much time do you really wish to devote to this?  Sorry for my abrupt directness.

As with any small collectible, you are essentially limited to 4 options:  1) sell it piecemeal, where you may get the higher price because you will be doing the research and listing legwork (slowest way) or 2) find a collector/ re-seller who will give you a bulk price (second quickest way) or 3) find someone who will do the cataloging and listing for you and give him a percentage of the selling price or 4) throw it all out (quickest).  If none of these options appeal to you, there is always donating to a library or university and taking the tax deduction.    

I have been there and am presently going through this only it is with 30 - 50 year old vacuum tubes.  You would think it would be easy with tubes.  Anything that I thought I knew about doing this a few years ago, has  been shattered by reality.

Some tips:

1.  if moving the collection by bulk, find someone local.  Packing and shipping and everything that goes with it is a royal pain.

2.  there is no getting around researching & cataloging if best price is what you are committed to.  You may be able to take photos or use the hardware & software around UPC codes.  

3. What city do you live in?  You may get lucky just sharing that information here.  

4.  Don't listen to anyone who has not gone through this.  Also, be understanding if your significant other is not pleased by how much real estate this all takes up.

Feel free to send me a private message, if you would like to speak more.

Best regards & sorry for your loss, 


Rich 

So, these are estate assets that are being liquidated with the proceeds distributed to heirs.  What a thankless task.  I would be tempted to sell the whole lot to a used record/ CD store in Manhattan (Academy Records or Bleecker Street Records).  

Keep track of all expenses for charging back against the estate. 

Your quick hits would be the MFSLs, DCC Golds, SACDs, Japanese imports only, and any new, unopened CDs.  Also be on the lookout for any bootlegs ... don't worry, you will know those when you see them.  

List them on eBay or Audiogon.  There may even be the same items on eBay for sale, so this will give you a ballpark idea as to worth.  List them separately or in logical groups.  Assuming that this would represent 10% of the collection, handling a 100 or so listings should be manageable (give or take a couple of cocktails).

By doing this, you will have effectively picked the collection.  It is just like selling comic books, once you have sold off the Amazing Fantasy #15 and Fantastic Four #1, the rest is just the rest.  So, you would just move the rest as a lot.   CDs are not that old to be truly collectible and CDs are currently experiencing a downturn in desirability.  

Offer is still open to chat if you like.  Feel free to pose any other questions that you may have.  


Rich 

The whole episode is very instructive as we baby boomers begin to age out.

Leaving behind large collections of anything ... records, stereo equipment, comic books, figurines, etc without specific and responsible instructions for disposal is a huge PIA for the poor bastards who are then stuck with having to deal with it.

Unless the receiving person has a specific interest in your passion, very often it comes down to what are they going to do with it?

I don't care how much these things are worth, the typical liquidation nets a small fraction of their worth and it is an absolute chore to execute.

Rich 

Please read the op's responses ... these CDs are part of an estate and must be liquidated.  Donations are not an option, unless (speculating here) all the heirs went along with the donation, which is not likely.  

Not sure how many who have suggested donation ever went through an estate liquidation and/ or have been the estate executor.  A tax receipt is of no use here.

Rich