Corvus*Corax Tips On BUYING / SELLING RECORDS (vinyls)

SELLING RECORDS
CLEANING YOUR RECORDS
To ensure customer satisfaction, clean your records before selling them and ensure it plays throughout with no jumps. I have a random technique of cleaning records. I just use a damp piece of compressed toilet paper and set the record on my turntable. I turn the speed up to as fast as I can (on mine its 78rpm + 50%) and spin the record whilst moving the piece of toilet paper from the centre outwards. As long as the paper isnt too damp, this will buff up the record from greasy fingerprints and remove most of the dirt. It leaves minimal lint behind (despite what people say) and whatever lint cannot be removed is usually dislodged by the needle upon playback. For tougher grime and dirt you may use alcoholic swabs then some soft toilet paper. Try to avoid using tissue paper and stuff with aloe vera in it. There are other methods to clean records too so be inventive, as long as you remember that plastic melts (when using strong solvents) and scratches easily (when using abrasive materials).
LISTING YOUR RECORDS
Take note of the condition of your records as this is the FIRST thing customers look for in records, as one which holds scratches is less desirable. Look for surface marks (noted by collectors), deeper scratches (noted by DJs), and greasy fingerprints (that you should clean off). Take good bright pictures of the label and maybe the sleeve also if there is artwork on the sleeve. Do your research if you dont have the full track/artist names. Go onto google/discogs.com and find out. This makes life easier for the customer and ensures you get a sale. I personally have experienced above-average sales when I place links on my item description to an MP3 sample of the tracks on the record. This can be done if you have your own webspace using an HTML link. I rip my all my vinyl digitally from my decks, and convert them into MP3s on my PC. The MP3 samples I use are not full versions of the tracks to encourage the customer to buy the record in order to hear the full track.
POSTING YOUR RECORDS
Use proper vinyl mailers which can be ordered from places such as covers33 (.co.uk). Also post with a stiffener (piece of flat corrugated card the size of the record). Write on or use stickers that say FRAGILE or DO NOT BEND and send recorded delivery to insure it against breaking. This also means it gets to its destination quicker and with more reliability AND you know when its been delivered (the buyer cant claim it never arrived