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What does Sound Exchange buy?
All of the used items in our stores are purchased from the public, and we try to buy as much as we can. We purchase entertainment-related items that are in re-sellable condition. We especially look for out-of-the-ordinary items, whether it’s deep catalog Blues, underground horror movies, traditional Asian music, Criterion Collection films, books about crystals, or anything else mass-market retailers don’t carry.
We buy items in the following categories:
- MUSIC: CDs, vinyl records (LPs, 45s, 12″ singles), cassettes, 8-track tapes, reel-to-reel tapes
- MOVIES: Blu-Rays, DVDs (VHS and laser discs selectively). Please keep in mind that the market for DVDs continues to decline. The more unusual it is, the more likely we are to buy it. DVDs sold at mass retailers, on the other hand, are very common – we often have plenty of these already in stock.
- VINTAGE HOME STEREO: Turntables, two-channel amplifiers and receivers, reel-to-reel tape decks, full-range speakers in pairs. We also buy other equipment (cassette decks, CD players, etc.) very selectively.
- BOOKS/COMICS/MAGAZINES: Mostly non-fiction books (music, film, history, philosophy, art, science, etc.); comics, graphic novels, and back issues of music/pop-culture magazines.
- PAPER EPHEMERA: All kinds of old paper from the 1960s and earlier – things you might not believe anyone would want! Please see this page for details.
- COLLECTIBLE FIGURES: Funko! Pops, Marvel/DC, horror, music-related, anime, other pop culture
- MISCELLANEOUS: CD and cassette racks, vinyl crates, music/pop culture t-shirts, select vintage video games, etc. Feel free to send us an email to see if we’d be interested in what you have to sell.
How do I sell to Sound Exchange?
CDs, Blu-Rays, DVDs, and cassettes can be brought into any store at any time to sell (except for the last 15 minutes before closing). Vinyl and book evaluations can be done anytime a vinyl/book buyer is in the store (just call ahead to be sure one is available). You also have the option of dropping off records anytime during store hours; the buyer will go through them the next time he or she is in the store and then call you when your offer is ready. If you have stereo equipment, first send us an email with the make and model of each piece, and our equipment manager will respond to let you know if we have interest. Once that is decided, you may drop off your stereo equipment for evaluation.
Dropped-off items that we do not purchase must be picked up within three days from the time they are evaluated.
How does Sound Exchange decide how much to pay?
Knowing which items to buy and how much to pay for them is a complex process that takes into account our current inventory, our past buying and selling activity for an item, and input from other large websites. Using this data ensures that we purchase the right stuff at the right cost and then sell it for the appropriate price. Some items that we purchase today will not sell for many months, or even a year or more. This can affect our offer, particularly when we already have copies of the item in stock.
Our buying customers are the ones who ultimately determine what we buy and therefore how much we pay. Supply and demand determines our buying and selling prices.
- How much will you pay for CDs?
A range of $.50 to $3 is offered for most CDs. Certain high-end CDs and box sets can bring a little or a lot more.
- How much will you pay for Blu-Rays?
A range of $.50 to $4 is typically offered. Certain high-end Blu-Rays and box sets can bring a little or a lot more.
- How much will you pay for DVDs?
A range of $.50 to $2 is typically offered. Certain DVDs and box sets can bring a little or a lot more.
- How much will you pay for Vinyl?
What we pay for a record varies based on title, condition, pressing, and the presence of any inserts it originally came with. For most common LPs (33 1/3 records) that we can use, we pay in the range of $.25 to $4.00. Newer LPs (made in the 21st century) and certain collectible pressings can bring a little or a lot more. In order for Sound Exchange to make an offer on your LPs, they must be titles that our customers want to buy and that we are not overstocked on; be complete with their original jackets; and be in condition good enough for us to guarantee. For common records, condition must be excellent; for less common records, we can be more liberal in what condition we will accept. 45rpm records with paper sleeves and 12″ singles are typically $.25 each, but as with all records, it can be more. Most 78rpms are not of value to us, but there are exceptions.
- How much will you pay for Cassettes?
The majority of cassettes we can use will be in the $.25-$.50 range, but certain cassettes will bring more.
- How much will you pay for Stereo Equipment?
Classic stereo equipment such as turntables, two-channel amplifiers/receivers, reel-to reel-tape recorders, and two-channel speakers in pairs will be considered for purchase, especially vintage items from the late 60s to early 80s. We are looking for better quality items in very good or better appearance, and that work properly or will take minimal effort to fix. We also purchase high-quality items in non-working order that we believe we can repair or use for parts. If you have equipment you would like to sell, please send us an email with each item’s make and model as well as a brief note about its condition (functional and cosmetic). Our equipment manager will respond within 48 hours.
- How much will you pay for Books?
Most books bring between .50 – $3. We are mostly interested in non-fiction categories like music, pop culture, popular science, history, film, philosophy, Eastern spirituality, new age, occult, true crime, art, and local Florida. We do buy select fiction as well, such as classic literature, graphic novels, and manga.
A Few Notes on Record Values
While it’s very true that vinyl has seen a resurgence over the last 15 years, that doesn’t mean all records have a monetary value. Unlike antiques, older is usually not better when it comes to records. For most old titles, whether it’s Mantovani or Johnny Mathis, their supply outweighs their demand… and rare, valuable records are just that: rare!
That said, there are plenty of records that do have some level of economic value. For example, there’s always a market for Rock, Blues, Reggae, Jazz, Funk, Hip-Hop, etc., when it’s in good condition. When seeking guidance about a record’s market value, looking at selling prices online can be useful as long as you are looking at completed transactions, not just someone’s asking price. Just keep in mind that can be difficult to identify a collectible record from a re-issue, as they may appear nearly identical. Selling prices are of interest as a general guideline, though they truly only represent what one buyer was willing to pay to one seller for one specific item. The item, the buyer, and the seller are never the same from transaction to transaction. We see things that normally sell for $2 sell for $20 sometimes, and vice versa. So take it all with a grain of salt and look for general selling trends to help determine what your item is worth.
“Contact Us” for any questions or comments. Thanks!