Vinyl records, CDs and DVDs: where to find the right edition at a good price
The edition matters more than the title
The same album can be found in dozens of versions: the original first pressing, a reissue, a Japanese edition with an obi strip, a coloured limited vinyl or a cheap reprint. Prices differ many times over between them, so just “Pink Floyd — The Wall” in a request will bring a heap of very different offers. State the country, year and label if they matter to you, or write plainly that any clean edition will do.
How to search through BlaBlaPrice
Instead of scrolling through listings and writing to several sellers, you create one request. Before it is shown, it is checked, and you are told which details are missing. Sellers of vinyl, discs and collections reply with offers in the chat: what exactly they have, in what condition, at what price, how they will send it. Reviews are visible beside each one. Your phone is hidden, and the contacts go only to the seller you choose.
What to put in your request
- Format — vinyl LP or single, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, cassette;
- Artist and title — album or film;
- Edition — first pressing or reissue, country, year, label, coloured vinyl;
- Condition — Mint, NM, VG+ separately for the record and the sleeve, or sealed;
- Quantity — a single lot or a collection, how many discs;
- Genre, if you are looking for a selection;
- Budget per piece or in total;
- City and delivery address.
Example: “Looking for Pink Floyd — The Wall on vinyl, UK pressing from 1979, condition no lower than VG+ (both the record and the sleeve). Courier delivery to Kuala Lumpur. Budget up to RM 590.”
How to judge condition and compare offers
The condition grade is the basis of the price. A Mint or sealed record costs more, VG+ still plays well, and VG already has audible noise. The sleeve is graded separately from the disc itself. Ask for photos of both sides and of the disc surface in light. For CDs, check there are no scratches on the playing side, that the booklet is kept and that the disc is the original. For vinyl, ask for a video or audio clip of it playing if the price is high.
Common mistakes
Buying from a “catalogue” picture without checking which edition it is. Not asking about packing: vinyl needs rigid packing, or it arrives bent. Not saying that a reissue does not suit you. Not counting the cost of shipping several records: they weigh a lot, and delivery has a big effect on the total. It is also worth asking whether the seller cleans the vinyl before sending and whether they grade condition on a clear scale, since different sellers call the same condition by different names. For other music, look for musical instruments, and for printed matter, books and magazines.
