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Suggestions on disposing of a collection of jazz vinyl

A audio friend of mine passed away recently and left behind his equipment and about a 1,000 lp collection of jazz music.  He was an audiophile and built up this collection over decades.  I am helping his wife dispose of the equipment and records.  I am looking to find someone with experience or knowledge on how to proceed with the vinyl collection.  Many of the records are valuable due to first pressings and since he was an audiophile they are all in excellent condition.  She is not looking to make a bunch of money but wants them to go to a good home.  I however, what to make sure she doesn't get taken advantage of.  Thanks for your thoughts!

goose
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,487 posts
 

 

In what city or town are you located?

 

whart's avatar
whart
3,372 posts
 

Yeah, that will help.

There are big buyer type stores in NY, LA and Chicago, but they are going to need a rough list of high value records to determine if it is even worth their while (and of course, once you go down that rabbit hole, it's about particular pressings). 

A local store, depending on where you are, may be an outlet but most stores, even the higher volume specialty places, are going to pay a fraction of retail. 

The only way to maximize return is to retail them (giant PITA) or have someone do the work (cataloging, listing, shipping and handling payment/returns) and cut you a check. I unloaded thousands of records using a guy outside of NY--he came to my house, picked them up, did all the heavy lifting and sent me periodic payments. I trusted him implicitly, it was largely "found" money for me-- since many of the records I got rid of had been purchased decades before. 

So, convenience v. maximizing return-- a common quandary, no?

goose OP
783 posts
 

 

 

@bdp24 I am in Seattle.

 

 

 

 

 

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