Discogs vs Ebay – Which is Best for Selling Vinyl?

As more and more music because available solely online, old-school vinyl records are becoming a more and more popular collector’s item. And just like with other collector items, some people will look to sell them, but if you want to sell your vinyl, you have the tough choice of where to sell it. So, in a battle between Discogs vs eBay, which is better for selling vinyl?

Selling vinyl on eBay will be faster, as there are more buyers. But with Discogs, the selling price will be higher as the listings are very accurate, meaning the buyer wants the specific vinyl. The better service will vary depending on whether speed or accuracy is more important.

For the vast majority of people selling vinyl, Discogs and eBay make great options as they both have plenty of positives, and active users are looking for vinyl. However, both of these sites also have negative aspects. I will cover the strengths and weaknesses of both websites and a few other options for places where you can go to sell your vinyl if you choose to avoid both websites.

Why You Should Consider Discogs for Selling Vinyl

Discogs is a great place to sell vinyl because many website visitors are there for vintage music. The community is made up of a wide variety of music enthusiasts.

Below, you’ll learn why you might consider using their online marketplace.

Pros

Discogs has plenty of great aspects that make it one of the ideal websites people go to sell their vinyl.

• You have to be very accurate with all of the vinyl’s information, making it easy for buyers to find specific goods
• Many of the vinyl records you can find already have pre-filled information
• Many people on Discogs already have an application for vinyl
• You’ll more often find people who listen to more common vinyl (not just those looking to resell rare material)
• There isn’t as much pressure to “boost your tanking” with fake reviews

Cons

• It will take you a while to fill out all of the detailed information (assuming the information isn’t there)
• Goods can sometimes sit on your “shelf” for months or years
• Requires a selling fee when your vinyl is sold

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Vinyl Listing on Discogs

Step 1: Set Up Your Seller Account

Before listing your vinyl records, you need to set up a seller account on Discogs. To do this, you’ll need to:

1. Sign in to your Discogs account or create one if you don’t already have it.
2. Go to the Settings page by clicking on your username at the top right.
3. In the dropdown menu, select Seller Settings.
4. Fill in the necessary information, including your payment and shipping policies.

Step 2: Find Your Release

1. Search for the release you want to sell in the search bar.
2. Click on the correct release from the search results.
3. On the release page, click the “Sell This Item” button.

Step 3: Grade Your Item

Properly grading your item is crucial as it gives potential buyers an idea of the condition of the vinyl record and its packaging. Discogs uses the Goldmine Standard for grading, which includes grades like Mint (M), Near Mint (NM or M-), Very Good Plus (VG+), and so forth. Be as honest as possible when grading your item.

Step 4: Price Your Item

When pricing your item, consider the item’s condition, rarity, and current market price. You can check the release page to see the lowest, highest, and median prices the vinyl has sold for in the past.

Step 5: List Your Item

1. After grading and pricing your item, add any additional comments about the item’s condition.
2. Select your shipping terms.
3. Click “Preview Listing” to review your listing.
4. If everything is correct, click “List Item” to make your listing live.

Selling your vinyl records on Discogs can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to connect with other music enthusiasts while earning some extra cash.

eBay

eBay has a whole section for vinyl records, making it easy for shoppers to find your listed vinyl. But, sellers provide many types of goods, creating some unique challenges

Pros

• eBay is much more popular, attracting a huge audience
• Because of the popularity of the website, you can make sales faster
• It’s a popular site for rare and collectible items.
• You don’t have to waste time putting in all of the details

Cons

• eBay charges a 35-cent listing fee and 12% of the sale on top of that
• eBay has selling limits (especially for new sellers)
• Buyers can ghost sellers if they decide they don’t want the item

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Selling Vinyl Records on eBay

Step 1: Set Up Your eBay Seller Account

Before you can list your vinyl records, you must have an eBay account and set up your seller preferences. To do this:

1. Sign into your eBay account, or create one if you don’t already have one.
2. Navigate to Account Settings, then select “Seller Account.”
3. Follow the prompts to set up your payment methods, return policy, and shipping preferences.

Step 2: List Your Item

To list your vinyl record:

1. Click on the “Sell” button at the top of your eBay homepage.
2. Type a brief description of your vinyl record into the “Tell us what you’re selling” field, then click on “Get Started.
3. Select the appropriate category for your item (usually found under Music > Records).

Step 3: Describe Your Item

On the listing page:

1. Enter a detailed title for your listing.
2. Provide a thorough description of your item. Include details about the artist, album, record label, year of release, and other relevant information.
3. Grade the condition of your vinyl record and its sleeve. Like Discogs, eBay uses a standard grading system. Be as accurate and honest as possible to maintain trust with your buyers.

Step 4: Take Quality Photos

Good photos are key to attracting buyers. Use a high-resolution camera to take clear pictures of your item from various angles, including the vinyl record and album cover. Make sure the images are well-lit and showcase any defects in the item.

Step 5: Set Your Price

When pricing your vinyl record, consider its condition, rarity, and the average selling price for similar items on eBay. You can sell it at a fixed price or auction it off to the highest bidder.

Step 6: Choose Your Shipping Options

Select the shipping methods you’re willing to offer, and specify whether you will ship internationally. Consider using eBay’s calculated shipping option, which determines shipping cost based on the buyer’s location and the package’s weight and dimensions.

Step 7: Finalize and List Your Item

Once you’ve completed all the necessary details, click “List It” to make your vinyl record live on eBay.

Step 8: Package Your Item Safely

Once your item sells, package it carefully to avoid any damage during shipping. Vinyl records should be placed in protective sleeves and sandwiched between cardboard inserts in a sturdy mailer.

Selling your vinyl records on eBay can be profitable and fulfilling, particularly when you find the perfect buyer who appreciates your music as much as you do.

4 Other Sites You Can Sell Vinyl On

1. Facebook Marketplace

Another option that you are going to have is the ability to list your vinyl on Facebook Marketplace. This site gets plenty of traffic; if you meet the buyer in person, you get 100% of the sales. However, often you will have to list your vinyl for a bit less than it is worth before someone makes an offer on it.

2. Amazon

While Amazon is an option that you can use, it is going to be very difficult to sell much on the site as Amazon can print many of their own vinyl and sell them for full price, meaning that you are likely going to have to list your vinyl at a lower price than you would like to.

3. Etsy

One of your newer options that is becoming more of an option is to use Etsy. While not traditionally a place people look for records, meaning it may take a while to sell your vinyl, the site has a transaction fee of just 6,5%, meaning that you will be getting more money in your pocket than many other sites.

4. Local Stores

This option will probably be the easiest, but you can always go to a local record shop and see if they are interested in buying your old vinyl. This will make it easy as you don’t have to deal with listing, postage, or safe packaging. Typically if you know the worth of your vinyl, you can get the market price for the piece you want to sell.