Worth Keeping CD Collection?

jervin007

I am currently in the process of moving and have a pretty extensive CD collection (500-600) I have been acquiring for the past 20 years, but at the same time I am trying to downsize my stuff and am contemplating selling them to my local record store and using the credit to expand my vinyl collection. Obviously I will hold onto my pearl jam bootlegs and some of the other more obscure CD's, but with the way digital media is going I wonder if CD's will be going the way of cassettes in the future.

What are your thoughts on keeping CD's? A worthwhile investment or sell them while they still have some value?

robertstackarmy

I have about 3k CDs and I would never give them up, but I am a completest. I suppose it depends on your personality. Also, they are only worth what people are willing to pay, so some may go for almost nothing, are you willing to do that?

just my two cents.

jervin007

robertstackarmy said:

I have about 3k CDs and I would never give them up, but I am a completest. I suppose it depends on your personality. Also, they are only worth what people are willing to pay, so some may go for almost nothing, are you willing to do that?

just my two cents.

Damn, 3K. Impressive! I hear you. I just am going to be in the process of moving around a lot over the next few years and am contemplating if its worth it. I guess I could store them somewhere.

My record store usually give OK value for CD's because they sell a lot used. They will give you cash or a higher value if you choose store credit. Tough call!

BinFrog

My wife knows it's my "thing" to have my CDs displayed on shelves. I will NEVER get rid of them.

BinFrog

jervin007

BinFrog said:

Yeah, I have always wanted to do something similar. But, I tend to buy them, rip them onto my computer and then they collect dust.

Nice collection though!

Tim Simmons

I've dumped about 60% of my CDs. I've only kept about 300 or so. Mainly the abums I've really loved.

PJSiren

BinFrog said:

Nice! I have a friend who has his walls lined with CDs and vinyl as well...it's incredible.

My two cents is keep them, I keep mine, I got rid of cases a long time ago...most of the cases anyway...and put them in those CD binders...I have a lot of CD, I still need more binders actually...lol But I can't part with my collection.

facepollution

I've put the vast majority of my cds in large plastic storage boxes and put them up in the loft. I've pretty much stopped buying cds now too, though I have started to buying vinyl - but only records I really want to own. Other than that I just listen to Spotify through my pc - I'd only end up ripping the cds to my pc and playing them through that anyway. Can't quite bring myself to part with the ones I have though!

Jason P

Ever watch Shaun of the Dead? I say yes.

May 30th

keep them!

mookeywrench

I liken my CD collection to an audible photo album.

But, if there's no attachment or nostalgia behind them you can get rid of your popular titles for 2-4 bucks and your not so in demand albums will go for .50 to a whole dollar.

If you're not on a first name basis with your record store clerk your collection will probably have a lot of non-in-demand albums.

Also stores will offer a higher repurchase value if you take store credit instead of cash.

mookeywrench

I liken my CD collection to an audible photo album.

But, if there's no attachment or nostalgia behind them you can get rid of your popular titles for 2-4 bucks and your not so in demand albums will go for .50 to a whole dollar.

If you're not on a first name basis with your record store clerk your collection will probably have a lot of non-in-demand albums.

Also stores will offer a higher repurchase value if you take store credit instead of cash.

jervin007

mookeywrench said:

I liken my CD collection to an audible photo album.

But, if there's no attachment or nostalgia behind them you can get rid of your popular titles for 2-4 bucks and your not so in demand albums will go for .50 to a whole dollar.

If you're not on a first name basis with your record store clerk your collection will probably have a lot of non-in-demand albums.

Also stores will offer a higher repurchase value if you take store credit instead of cash.

Yeah, my local store usually gives me good credit on stuff I sell to them. I went through my CD's (which are packed in boxes already because i'm moving) and realized most of them just don't matter to me that much. Took out 50-75 to hold onto and am going to bring the rest in at some point.

Since I will most likely be reinvesting the credit into vinyl I feel like its worth it because I will listen to the LP's more anyway!

jervin007

Not bad. Got $600 in store credit and can always cash it out for $450. Pretty happy with that.

buck502000

Just wait, cd's will be retro cool in 5-10 years. I frequent another forum where people talk about first issue/press on compact discs. Don't underestimate their nerd value in the future. Buy low now, sell high later. Most used cd's can be had for 2-3 dollars. It's also nice to have back ups, just in case my computer/hard drives fail. :-B

lolobugg

"CDs are like bad acid"
No, really. I used to work in a record store and had about 300 CDs. Around 2005 I quit buying them. Most vinyl come with download codes so I just burn a copy for the car. I have sold off most of my CDs to my awesome local record store to finance my vinyl addiction. Also, a while back there was a rumour going around that the Library of Congress uses vinyl (or did) for preservation because CDs have a finite life span. Now I have no idea is this is true or not........

jervin007

lolobugg said:

"CDs are like bad acid"
No, really. I used to work in a record store and had about 300 CDs. Around 2005 I quit buying them. Most vinyl come with download codes so I just burn a copy for the car. I have sold off most of my CDs to my awesome local record store to finance my vinyl addiction. Also, a while back there was a rumour going around that the Library of Congress uses vinyl (or did) for preservation because CDs have a finite life span. Now I have no idea is this is true or not........

That was my thought process too. I read a few articles recently talking about how its possible that in 5-10 years CD and DVDs could become completely obsolete. Maybe that will make them collectible, but because there are so many out there I don't know how much value they will have in the future.

lolobugg

jervin007 said:

lolobugg said:

"CDs are like bad acid"
No, really. I used to work in a record store and had about 300 CDs. Around 2005 I quit buying them. Most vinyl come with download codes so I just burn a copy for the car. I have sold off most of my CDs to my awesome local record store to finance my vinyl addiction. Also, a while back there was a rumour going around that the Library of Congress uses vinyl (or did) for preservation because CDs have a finite life span. Now I have no idea is this is true or not........

That was my thought process too. I read a few articles recently talking about how its possible that in 5-10 years CD and DVDs could become completely obsolete. Maybe that will make them collectible, but because there are so many out there I don't know how much value they will have in the future.

Agreed. Most chain stores don't even sell them anymore. I def like having something physical but thats why i go vinyl. It is a piece of art. CDs are more convienient but they just don't do it for me anymore. And this is coming from a guy with a 400 CD jukebox that he painstakingly typed in every artist and album title. I still have it but it rarely gets used anymore.

jervin007

Just scored the Beatles catalog box set on vinyl for 75% off. Picked it up for a cool $100. Pretty psyched, I have none of their vinyl LP's.

Putting my credit to good use!

BinFrog

jervin007 said:

Just scored the Beatles catalog box set on vinyl for 75% off. Picked it up for a cool $100. Pretty psyched, I have none of their vinyl LP's.

Putting my credit to good use!

Mono or stereo?

jervin007

BinFrog said:

jervin007 said:

Just scored the Beatles catalog box set on vinyl for 75% off. Picked it up for a cool $100. Pretty psyched, I have none of their vinyl LP's.

Putting my credit to good use!

Mono or stereo?

Stereo

MedozK

buck502000 said:

Just wait, cd's will be retro cool in 5-10 years. I frequent another forum where people talk about first issue/press on compact discs. Don't underestimate their nerd value in the future. Buy low now, sell high later. Most used cd's can be had for 2-3 dollars. It's also nice to have back ups, just in case my computer/hard drives fail. :-B

I think we frequent the same site. Lots of those guys talk about certain CD masterings like they are GOLD

Treyert14

For me cds are a very personal thing. I have always had this dream that my mom would pass down her vinyl collection to me but sadly she did not see the value that they would have to day way back when. So she left most of them in her old apartment and I will never be able to see any I them. She had first pressing Beatles records and also the Prince Promo Purple Vinyl! (By the way if you own that Pm me!) Anyway so every time I buy a cd I know oneday I will be able to pass my collection down to my children and that means alot to me.. Idk man I think in the future you would regret it. But maybe not! Do what you gotta do. Lol

BinFrog

To me CDs (and vinyl) are the perfect thing to display in your house. When I go to someone's house and see CDs, I immediately go check them out. It's a great way to get a peek into what they are all about and it gives you a great conversation starter.

buck502000

MedozK said:

buck502000 said:

Just wait, cd's will be retro cool in 5-10 years. I frequent another forum where people talk about first issue/press on compact discs. Don't underestimate their nerd value in the future. Buy low now, sell high later. Most used cd's can be had for 2-3 dollars. It's also nice to have back ups, just in case my computer/hard drives fail. :-B

I think we frequent the same site. Lots of those guys talk about certain CD masterings like they are GOLD

It is rather comical, however, I got a hold of some of those early 80's releases and they do sound pretty damn good. :O)