Records sell well live because the two things a buyer most wants — the surface of the disc and the matrix in the dead wax — are things a camera can show and a photograph usually cannot.
What decides the price
The pressing. The same album exists as an original, a reissue, a regional pressing and a repress, and they are not interchangeable. The identifying marks are on the label and etched into the run-out groove, not in the title.
The disc, not the sleeve. A near-mint disc in a tired sleeve usually beats the reverse. Grade them separately and lead with the disc.
Completeness. Inner sleeve, insert, poster, obi where there was one. Say what is missing before someone asks.
What to show on camera
- The label, both sides, close enough to read
- The run-out area between the last track and the label, angled into the light
- The playing surface, tilted so the light runs across it — scuffs show that way and only that way
- The sleeve corners and spine, where ring wear and splits appear
Tilt the record. A flat, straight-on shot of vinyl shows nothing, which is exactly why buyers ask for the tilt.
On pressings
If you know the pressing, say how you know. If you do not, show the label and the run-out and say you are not certain. Nobody minds an honest "I am not sure which pressing this is" — people mind a confident wrong answer.
The grades
The record trade has used broadly the same ladder for decades, written disc/sleeve. How record condition is graded sets it out.
Delivery
A record is flat, heavy and warps in heat. Packing records is the page that saves you money.
More: how to sell on Metzee, pricing records.
Questions people ask
Should I play the record before I sell it?
If you can, yes — and say you did. "Played start to finish last week, no skips" is the most valuable sentence in a record listing.
Does a split seam ruin the value?
It lowers the sleeve grade, not the disc grade. Say which seam and how far.
Can I clean a record before selling?
A proper clean is normal and usually helps. Say that you cleaned it and how.