Almost worthless CDs

[Mark T]

I find myself with some CDs and a few records that are almost worthless - or so it seems. I've been trying to limit my possessions (rein in consumer impulses - not against buying things, just want to do it thoughtfully) so it doesn't make much sense for me to own both CD and vinyl copy of a piece of music. I started buying Pressure Sounds on CD but then switched to vinyl and have now picked nearly all of them up on vinyl. I have about 35 Pressure Sounds CDs from the first half of the catalogue in beautiful condition, many with original cardboard slipcovers.
Dealers only offer $1-2 which I refuse to sell them for. I'd rather sell the lot to someone interested for a fair sum (certainly less than they would be if bought separately). Failing that I'd rather give them to an interested friend/acquaintance than sell them for $2.

Anyway, all that to say it's a bit depressing to find out that something I collected and looked after is worth so little.
Mark T

[Ital Dokta]

I wouldn't say worthless (not like you have some Chumbawumba or Shania Twain CD's ) but you are certainly not going to get anything from a store or dealer, they after all have to mark it up to make a profit. I was quite surprised when I did a record show and brought a few boxes of CD's on a whim, there definitely are people still collecting them, didn't sell a huge amount but a few did move - heck, even cassette tapes are apparently coming back so why not! For something fairly specialist and collector oriented like the Pressure Sounds catalogue I would say Ebay/Craigslist etc is the way to go if you have the patience to list it all (selling as a bulk lot could attract some interest).

[Reggie Love]

I'm not surprised that a dealer would offer you very little for them but I think you would find it quite expensive to try and buy them all again.
There's certainly a few Pressure Sounds don't sell anymore, presumably because their license has run out on them. I was looking for Derrick Harriott Roots Chariot cd only yesterday and there wasn't a second-hand copy on Amazon for less than £18. The Lee Perry 'Divine Madness' is a similar price - which is more than I'm prepared to pay at the moment.

[marko]

I do a record fair every few months with a friend who has a lot of very fine, specialty CDs for sale (his personal collection) - he gets good interest at the $4 or $5 level but any more than that they just dont go. So a dealer price half of that seems about right. We have a good time selling directly to people at prices that they enjoy, we have banter and help enthuse newbies - much nicer than selling online where its just an impersonal transaction. But unless you want to go online (you will need a lot of patience waiting for the occasional sale at a higher price) be prepared to sacrifice them.

[John Eden]

I suspect Pressure Sounds and especially Blood and Fire CDs will come back into vogue one day and be quite sought after.

At the moment CDs are going out of fashion so they all get treated the same. In time I think people will appreciate that some of the things that came out in the 90s and noughties were a highpoint in terms of how this music has been presented.

[johnnyB]

If there wasn't an ocean in between I'be interested in buying the lot for a fair price. I've rarely spent more than 10€/£ for a CD because actually I don't think it's an object that can be worth more than that. Vinyl remains the real thing to me.

[jb welda]

it should be the music that is the value not the artifact. in that context those cds are certainly not worthless but getting someone to see it that way might be tough.

one love
jb

[johnnyB]

Well if I can choose from a CD album and a LP album I'll always opt for the latter,no matter the quality of the music. CDs can be played on your car stereo,brought to parties lent and duplicated easily. Vinyls are more of a personal thing. Value of the music is one thing,value of the support on which it is recorded is another thing.

[Mick Sleeper]

Yes, trying to get a little money or at the very least find a good home for CDs is a depressing task these days. I've had the same experiences as Mark. There are some local shops that usually take what I have and offer me a decent amount in store credit, but sometimes not.

[j j]

$2.00 - does seem the going rate for second hand cds down in NZ too. I would def hold on to them until you find a reggae person to buy them, or stock pile them for selling on EBay when your 70 years old.

j j

[Mark T]

I think I may be able to find a good home for them which would be pleasing. They may come back into favour at some time and some seem to fetch some money, at least people are asking more money though whether they get it is another thing.
I always feel annoyed with dealers as they seem to try and take advantage of the fact that people are selling and never offer a lot. I know they have to make a living and all that.
Mark T

[v66ald]

I'm convinced that CDs will come back into fashion in the collectors world as people whose introduction to music was in this format before disposing of it in favour of downloads etc. Like vinyl though, it will not be for everything but there are some labels that will have a value...in the reggae reissue world B&F and PS have got to be at the top of the pile. Stick em in a box, stick em in your attic and thank me in 20 years!

[kalcidis]

Definitely. I think that CD's are already becoming a bit popular. Even cassettes are getting popular again. Just check labels such as TTT which are well hyped.

I must admit I've taken a less hard approach to CD's lately. I still don't buy them but at least the old ones are up from the basement.

[j j]

I don't do downloads or mp3's, just vinyl & CD. Usually I go for the CD if it's a choice between LP & CD especially if the CD has bonus tracks & the sound is OK. I love vinyl too & am quite happy if a release is vinyl only. Then there's a few CD's i've bought where I've gone & bought the vinyl LP in the hope of better sound quality ie, Herman Chin-Loy's 'Aquarius' Dub .

j j

[Mark T]

I do still buy CDs especially for some kinds of music like ECM jazz where the pristine recording and nature of the music lend themselves to completely silent background noise. I know a lot of guys play CDs and run it through a DAC for the sound they like.
They might go up in value - it seems some of the PS catalogue is scarce already, like most of us I've only really ever bought the music because I like it.
Cheers, Mark T