Why a record can cost more than its retail price
Most colored and limited pressings are made once. When a run sells out at retail, the only copies left are the ones people already own, and the price follows demand for that exact pressing. A record that sold for $30 on release day can trade for several times that a year later.
What sets the price
- Scarcity
- How many were pressed, whether it was a store, tour or Record Store Day exclusive, and whether it is out of print.
- Variant
- The exact color, pressing and edition. Two copies of the same album on different colors can sell for very different amounts.
- Condition
- Whether it is still sealed, and the state of the record, the jacket and the inner sleeve.
- Demand
- What the same pressing has recently sold for, and how many collectors are looking for it right now.
What buyers say about it
25 of 59 reviews mention condition or whether the record matched its listing. A few mention price directly.
Impressed with the speed of delivery and how safely my record was packaged—no seam splits and no damage! Stoked to have found my favorite Fiona Apple record at a fair price. Some people say this album has too many song, but not me! I love everything Fiona puts out.
Fiona Apple, Extraordinary MachineColored Vinyl
Good price, fast shipping, great sound!
Amy Winehouse, Lioness: Hidden TreasuresBlue Vinyl
Before you buy
- Match the exact variant: color, pressing, edition and number of discs.
- Read the condition notes, especially for sealed or older pressings.
- Compare the price with recent sales of the same pressing, not the original retail price.
- Ask the shop through colorfulvinyl.com if anything in a listing is unclear.