Rare vinyl records wanted!
WE DO FREE APPRAISALS
Looking to sell your vinyl record collection?
For more than 25 years, we’ve helped record collectors of every stripe understand the true value of their collections and place them into respectful new homes. From carefully curated jazz libraries and audiophile pressings to punk, rock, soul, classical, soundtracks, and everything in between, we approach every collection with the same care, knowledge, and discretion. We offer convenient house calls, handle collections of any size, and work directly with collectors, estates, and families to make the process comfortable and fair.
We’re also committed to doing this responsibly. Records that can be enjoyed again are preserved and rehomed; those beyond saving are handled through specialist vinyl recycling partners, ensuring they are diverted from landfill and processed in an environmentally responsible way. Whether you’re downsizing, settling an estate, or simply ready to pass your records on to the next listener, we help your vinyl continue its journey—thoughtfully, ethically, and with respect for the music. Let us help your records find their next home.
Sell Vinyl Records
WHAT WE BUY
Looking to sell vinyl records or an entire record collection? Our experienced team specializes in buying vinyl records and evaluating record collections with clarity, fairness, and deep market knowledge. We make the process simple and rewarding by guiding you step by step, explaining exactly how vinyl record value is determined and what collectors are actively seeking today. From rare pressings to everyday favorites, we help you understand the real worth of your records.
Condition and demand play a critical role when selling vinyl records. Sealed LPs, Mint and Near Mint records, and well-preserved originals consistently command the strongest prices, but every genre matters. Whether your collection includes jazz records, rock albums, punk LPs, classical vinyl, soul, soundtracks, or audiophile pressings, we explain what still holds value and why. If you’re ready to sell records with confidence, contact us at 657-298-3003 or email buyer@audiophileusa.com. We respond promptly and are happy to answer any questions.
Where can I sell my vinyl records near me?
WE BUY VINYL
If you’re asking “where can I sell my vinyl records near me?”, you’ve found a trusted answer. We are a professional vinyl record buyer based in Los Alamitos, California, conveniently located for sellers throughout Orange County and Los Angeles. We specialize in buying vinyl records and entire record collections, offering knowledgeable evaluations, fair market pricing, and a straightforward, respectful process.
Location is never a barrier. We have no problem traveling and regularly make house calls for large, high-quality vinyl collections, whether you’re in Southern California or beyond. If you’re selling records from an estate, downsizing a lifelong collection, or simply ready to part with your LPs, we’d be happy to help. No matter the genre or size of the collection, if you have vinyl records to sell, we welcome the conversation and are ready to come to you.
MUSICAL GENRES
We're looking for all types of vinyl records, including Rock, Punk, Pop, Jazz, Classical, Soul, Blues, Metal, and Soundtrack (U.S. and U.K. original pressings). Imports, Audiophile, and MOFI are especially sought-after by our community of avid collectors.
Photo: CC 2.0 By A-SA Jimmy Baikovicius via Wikimedia Commons.
In the vinyl record collecting world, condition is everything. As explained by The Record Collector and long-established industry standards, professional record grading follows a recognized scale ranging from Mint (M) and Near Mint (NM) to Very Good Plus (VG+), Very Good (VG), Good (G), and Poor (P). This vinyl grading system is used worldwide to determine vinyl record value.
As a general rule, vinyl record buyers focus on records graded Very Good + (VG+) or higher. LPs, 45s, 78s, and even CDs below VG condition often suffer from excessive surface noise, skips, or groove wear, making them undesirable for listening and resale. While historically important titles may still carry value in lower condition, clean, well-preserved vinyl records consistently attract the strongest demand and prices in today’s collector market.
GRADING SYSTEM FOR THE
CONDITION OF YOUR RECORDS
MINT CONDITION RECORDS (M)
Mint condition recordings are the Holy Grail for our discerning community of record collectors. Mint LPs, 45s, and 78s are pristine, unplayed, and still have the shrink wrap and the factory seal. These albums are rare because — as a user named Myke commented in a thread on Steve Hoffman's Music Forums — "I'm a music lover, not a museum curator. Open the darn album."
NEAR-MINT RECORDS (NM or M-)
These may have been played on the turntable once or twice (some collectors will play an album just once to get a recording), but the album covers, sleeves, and discs are in otherwise perfect condition with no marks, scuffs, dings, or scratches.
VERY GOOD+ and VERY GOOD CONDITION RECORDS
VG+ (Very good plus): The cover and vinyl have small dings that you'd only see if you look really close. But the record still sounds perfect when you play it.
VG (Very Good): The cover and album has some light marks, scratches and/or scuffs and you may hear slight flaws when you play it. But they’re still aesthetically pleasing.
Sell Vinyl Records
TYPES OF RECORD FORMATS
LPs
Short for "long-playing," LPs are what comes to mind when we think of a record album. They're 12 inches in diameter, pressed on vinyl, and play at 33 RPM (revolutions per minute). RCA Victor released the first ones in 1930, but despite the improved durability and sound quality, they didn't catch on. Then WWII caused a shortage of shellac and the rest is history.
45s
This "45" format is just 7 inches in diameter and usually has a single recording on the "A" side and a second one on the "B" side. 45s get their name because they spin at a rate of 45 RPM (revolutions per minute). As with LPs, they launched in 1948 and are made from vinyl. So why do 45s have that large hole in the middle? Because they were designed to be played on jukeboxes.
78s
The first flat disc "gramophone" (or "phonograph") record was launched in 1898. The speeds of rotation varied, but by 1910, 78 RPM had become the standard. The most common size was 10 inches in diameter. But 12-inch 78s are often found as well. These earlier recordings were made from shellac resin, which is far more fragile and brittle than the vinyl that replaced it.
WHAT WE DON'T BUY
We are sorry, but if the record albums in your collection show any of the flaws listed below, we might not take them.
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Seam Splits
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Corner Dents
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Ring Wear and/or Writing on the Covers
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Library Tags
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Groove Damage
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Surface Scratches
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Spindle Marks on the Labels
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Records treated with Last Liquid
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'Last' Stickers on the Covers or Labels
CD COLLECTIONS
We are interested in audiophile type CDs (compact discs) including:
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Pop/Rock
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Classical
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Jazz
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Gold CDs
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Japanese Imports
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The CDs need to be in Sealed/Like New condition.
Where can I sell my records?
SELL YOUR VINYL COLLECTION
IN JUST 4 EASY STEPS
1
Contact Us
Tell us about your record collection via our contact form and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.
2
Free Appraisal
We'll come to you, look at your record collection, and give you a free appraisal. There is no obligation.
3
Free Pick Up
If you're happy with our appraisal and price quote, we'll come and pick up your records at no cost to you.
4
Get Paid
We'll add your records to our catalog and sell them on AudioPhileUSA.Com.
Rare Vinyl Records Wanted!
HOW MUCH ARE MY RECORDS WORTH?
So, you're still looking to sell your vinyl collection? As David Lazarus, an award-winning columnist for the Los Angeles Times writes, "Selling albums is like selling a used car: The better the condition, the more you'll make."
Want to know how much cash you can get for your records? Sign up for your free appraisal now.
WHAT MAKES A RECORD MORE VALUABLE?
There are four factors that affect the price of collectible vinyl (or shellac): The condition, whether it is autographed, rarity, and the age of the recording.
CONDITION
Mint-Condition and Near-Mint Condition records get top dollar. But recordings in Very Good condition can also be in high demand.
AUTOGRAPHED
Collectors will happily pay more when an LP, 45 or 78 is signed by the recording artist.
RARITY
The harder to find a record is, the more collectors will pay. Limited editions, short runs, test pressings, promotional copies, recalled releases, imports, and special formats can get top dollar.
AGE
Older records in top condition tend to be rare. While some have no interest in an obscure artist from decades ago, the people who want that recording REALLY want that recording.