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How to Find a Rare Album on EBay

Vinyl records went out of style for the general population in the early 1980s, but full-length record albums are in demand now more than ever by collectors and audiophiles. The eBay record section contains more than a hundred thousand albums. The list grows everyday. Rare Beatles albums fetch hundreds of dollars from enthusiastic bidders, while quirky LPs by unknowns can sell for a dollar or two. Follow these steps to find the rare albums you want on eBay.

Instructions

- 1
  Get all the information you can about the album. Write down the title, artist, release date, country of origin and label. There are many different issues of certain albums and they sometimes differ in value and condition.
- 2
  Know your categories. Click the eBay "Music" tab, then "Records," then "33 RPM," the playing speed for albums. Check the genre. The more specific your search terms, the better. "Glam rock" or "punk rock" is better than just "rock."
- 3
  Deal with power sellers. As your browse look for the power seller or store tabs. Since these sellers specialize in higher volumes than individual sellers, you have a better chance of finding what you want from their e-stores.
- 4
  Bid wisely. Read album description, terms and shipping costs before committing to a bid price. Albums and LPs are graded in condition from mint all the way down to fair, so take that into account when deciding on a bid price. Some sellers will not ship to certain countries or accept checks or money orders.
- 5
  Pay as soon as possible. Once you are rated glowingly by eBay album sellers for quick payment, they will be glad to do business with you again.

Record Collecting