Vinyl records

[liz budd]

I heard an item on Radio 4 re value of old LPs. I have quite a lot and would like to contact a dealer to test the market.

[andy hughes]

The value of vinyl albums is very much a matter of supply and demand. Since the onset of the CD revolution, there has been far less demand for albums in a vinyl format, but obviously there are vast numbers of albums still circulating, which means their value to collectors is correspondingly low. If you have albums on original labels, or in mint condition gatefold sleeves, their value may be increased, and as you suggest, a dealer will be able to advise you. If you check out the pages of 'Record Collector' magazine, you will find dozens of vinyl dealers listed, most of whom will be happy to quote a price over the phone, as long as you don't want to list a collection of hundreds of albums. If you have any rarities, the price they will quote you usually reckons on a 100% profit for them on re-sale, which will give you an idea if you have something that's really valuable. Bearing in mind the large number of standard issue vinyl albums, you are probably looking at realising a re-sale value of �2 - �3 each, maybe a little more for mint condition -but you may just have a rarity or two in your collection, and if so, check out a few dealers for prices, or advertise yourself, to gain the maximum return for parting with your discs.