Digging/collecting standards

[Flomotion]

If you have a wants list why wouldn't you use the internet? Patience may be a virtue but **** that when you're trying to track down a specific record in good nick. On the other hand, the serendipitous thrill of turning up a long time want or a great record bought blind in a real world record shop is hard to beat.

 

[DustedDon]

i try to stay at VG+ or higher for LPs and 12s, VG or higher for 45s.





i didnt start using e-bay until about a year and half ago and im honestly sort of disappointed i didnt start using it sooner as i've checked off all sorts of stuff i've wanted for years. e-bay auctions (especially linked from this site) have put me on to TONS of rare stuff i never even knew exsisted and that i would never have known about in real world diggin situations.





that being said i still pound the streets for real world finds probably once or twice a week and still spend too much on records in 2012. i do throw an all vinyl, all genre dance party once a month so it does give me sort of an excuse as well...

 

[HarveyCanal]

I play my records one side at a time.

 

[vinegar]

I like to use the internet (ebay mostly) to find rare, expensive and in great conditions records i sometimes (often?)overpay





I like to boutique diggin everytime i travel, because it's a fun way to discover a town and leads me to


visit neighbourhood i would never have been (as record shop are usualy not in the touristic center).





I like to flea-market and go to see so called "collections" to find crappy records in bad shape but to have


story to tell.





I never by under VG+ condition (for the record)





But after more than 15 years of diggin i must say that i90% of the pleasure is more in the resarch than in the listening.

 

[LoopDreams]

I have only a couple of standards when I find wax: 1. will I listen to it 2. do I already own it.





If it's a 5$ island funk lp w/ a break that I know someone will want on the net sure I'll flip it, but I'm not a grip and flip type, I make my bread other ways. WRT #2 the only time I'll buy a double is if my copy is beat or I'm grabbing it for a friend.

 

[pickwick33]

Mjukis said:I've never been much of a want list-collector. My main goal with record shops is always discovering stuff I didn't know i wanted, not finding stuff I knew I wanted before I went in. If that happens, cool. But I still feel like there's so much to discover.




This is where I am. While I am aware of collectible labels/genres/etc., I'm not looking for The Great Breakbeat In The Sky or trying to put John Tefteller out of business - I'm just digging in the crates for what I like. And even in modern times, it is possible to stick to the cheaper bins without being forced to buy wall-to-wall-chud. I did alright at last fall's Ponderosa Stomp record show in New Orleans without having to pay some exorbitant amount.





It used to be, in record collecting, that if you managed to get even a semi-rare record for cheap, you were getting over. Only in the last decade has overspending for a record become a badge of honor.

 

[pickwick33]

...and while I have said in the past that I don't like paying over $8/album or over $5/single (upgraded from three), I am willing to break that rule, depending on what the record is, how common it is and how much cash I have. Not everything is "over-ten-dollars good." Especially in a hit-or-miss genre like psychedelia...

 

[Funky_Tee]

The thing is; I calculated what I've spent on records last year: 4.000$. That's just too much for me.





I mostly buy records (+ purging) for flipping theese days, in order to buy more stocks and save money. I don't care for the condition as long as I know it will sell for decent money. I only use Ebay for selling rare euro records.





Sometimes I buy records for listenning too. The last one I get was Deodato - Percepcao for 19$ on ebay. My ebay bying approach is not rush with bidding to get the records. Just be patient and you will after a while find the record for a good price.

 

[Aser]

I buy records that are timeless to me, I've long stopped trying to rationalize purchases. I don't need them, but it's nice to have some. I also don't mind waiting a while to find a copy that is reasonable and in good condition, I don't ever need a record immediately. I don't mind buying a cd or listening to 320s until I find it.





I probably bought around 12 records last year. Will buy less than 20 this year, but they'll all be ones I've wanted for a long long time.

 

[Otis_Funkmeyer]

I'd much rather have a collection that represents my taste than one that represents "decent records that can be found in my location". Digging is fun and there is nothing like taking a gamble and discovering something great, but it often leaves me with a pile of halfway decent and mediocre records. Using EBay keeps my collection lean and mean.

 

[pickwick33]

Otis_Funkmeyer said:I'd much rather have a collection that represents my taste than one that represents "decent records that can be found in my location".




I've managed to do both.





Sure, I take chances, but my guesses are educated. I don't just buy Because It's There or Because The Cover Looks Good (which may be how the whole "lounge music" craze of two decades ago got started).

 

[discos_alma]

Otis_Funkmeyer said:I'd much rather have a collection that represents my taste than one that represents "decent records that can be found in my location".




While I think you can find way better records locally than I' d dub "decent", they may not be what you really want in your collection.





Look folks, if you are broke, I can understand why you'd want to limit your purchases to mostly local spots. But that doesn't change the fact that you can get incredible deals on eBay.





I also understand the draw of finding random stuff locally that is unknown to you. That's why I do both: a heavy eBay grip coupled with a thorough ground game.





In 2012, the amount of amazing music from all corners of the globe that you can purchase online is staggering. If you aren't taking advantage of that, I don't envy you.