My Top Three Vinyl Buying Strategies

Tired of overpaying for your records? You don't have to — here's how

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The price of vinyl records has become a hot topic among collectors. If you browse more than you shop, though, you know the reality is more mixed.

Yes, some records are a lot more expensive than average, especially if rare and in high demand. This has always been the case.

So what’s new?

A combination of factors:

• Surge in vinyl demand (courtesy of lockdowns and, generally, a renewed hype around the format);

• Supply chain constraints (from labour shortages and lower productivity levels to delays in procuring raw materials and machinery); and

• Higher inflation in the main vinyl markets (US, UK, and Europe).

This explosive cocktail means higher prices, especially in the case of new releases.

So how do you build a collection without breaking the bank?

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The basics

If you are an eclectic buyer and enjoy a healthy dose of second-hand as well as new vinyl, you may occasionally see a disconnect between these two markets.

Sellers try to hide this so they can charge you more.

This is where it gets interesting: if you want to pay less, you need to understand how this disconnect works —and how it gets manipulated— so you can trick the system.

But first: a bit of history.

Boring!

We’ll make it fun—trust me.

Yesterday, today… and the gap in between

In the past, vinyl records were marketed and consumed very differently. They were mass produced: it was the only way to make music available.

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Nowadays, when we can access entire discographies at the click of a button, vinyl is not produced for the masses (save for a few exceptions). I don’t want to say luxury item, but you get the point. Vinyl is seen as a nice-to-have.

This is what happens when a 76-year-old format gets a rebranding: it may look similar, but it’s not the same product.

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TikTok influencers and super fans are eager to showcase different colour editions of the latest smashing record.

If you add to the mix all those nostalgic dads with deep(er) pockets, as well as self-proclaimed audiophiles of all ages, the price of everything is pushed higher because “vinyl is expensive”.

Ha! I’ve been through Argentina's great depression and I was still buying physical records with pocket money. Do you think they can fool me? Don’t let them fool you.

Bargains all the way

When I go to a record store, my first stop is, without fail, the bargain section. I also visit stores I wouldn’t normally visit just to check bargains.

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Each store will have their own system to determine what goes in the bargain bin. This is often dictated by the particular audience they are catering to (and/or the store owner’s judgment).

I’ve seen stuff in bargain bins that other stores sell at a premium. Sometimes, it’s completely random: this is where (most of) the crate-digging fun lies.

One man’s meat is another man’s poison. If you only have time or money to check this one section, you’re already one step ahead.

Get the timing right

A common question I often get asked is whether you should buy records immediately or wait.

The answer, as with most complex things in life, is it depends.

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• Is it a bargain and in decent condition? Then yes. You may never see it again.

• Is it a newly-issued limited edition of a highly-coveted record? Then yes, particularly if coloured. The price will most certainly go up if demand holds.

• For any other record: wait and check prices elsewhere before you buy.

Know when to go online

This might sound controversial, but sometimes you just need to know when to ditch the physical store (despite its timeless allure and quirky atmosphere) and go online.

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Record stores don’t make any money by selling bargains, so anything that is newly issued or popular will sell at a premium. This is how they catch influencers and nostalgic dads off guard.

Nothing that is new (i.e. expensive to source) and/or popular (think reissues of Rumours or Dark Side of the Moon) will be cheaper in store. If you want those pressings, search online.

When I want new vinyl, I buy from my go-to sellers on Discogs or directly from their websites.

Creating your own pool of trusted sellers takes time, but it’s one of the smartest moves you can make if you don’t want to overpay.

Can you think of other ways to get the best prices out there? See you in the comments!

Thanks for reading/listening. Happy spinning!