Roots Archives Forum

So ive managed to pick up a few tunes quite cheaply in the last few weeks.. im wondering if theres a relation to vinyl prices and the problems looming in the UK and US; anyone else noticed dropping prices?

bullit wrote:im wondering if theres a relation to vinyl prices and the problems looming in the UK and US; anyone else noticed dropping prices?

which problems in Uk and US? i think that in summer all the bidder keep their money for holiday so prices are cheaper...surely the best period to make good deal

For the last six months or more prices in general have been slipping. High value and extremely rare items are still getting skyrocket prices as eBay pitches just a handful of hard-nsed collectors, maybe only two, into a bid war over a rare as rocking horse s**t item.

But apart from those ultra-rarities, reggae vinyl prices are definitely softening significantly. There is always a softening of prices in summer as holidays interfere with bidding and money supply. But this year prices are slipping far more and much earlier. I think this is nothing to do with 'normal' seasonal patterns.

I've even been the ONLY bidder on some auctions, much to my utter surprise.

I think this *IS* due to the economic downturn. But it also has other factors such as the continuing appearance of some of the greats on re-issue. Why pay hundreds for a battered OG pressing Wackies number when Basic-Channel will sell you the exact same pressing, brand new, for a handful of Euros?

Another factor is supply. There are many more records on ebay today than a few years ago. People have started to realise the value of this stuff and either turned their own collections out for auction or have started to seek out these records specifically to offer them on ebay. Higher supply means lower price. Combine it with softening demand and you have even more downward pressure on prices.

In the coming months, demand will slacken more as economic difficulty bites harder and as a result more people try to sell to fewer buyers, leading to further downward pressure on prices.

So we're in for some bargains, but only if we can afford them after paying our horrendous utility bills which are maybe four times higher today than they were five years ago.

Yes, prices are lower than the last 2 summers. And they´re lower in general. Example: You know how expensive Jr. Murvin´s Bad Man Posse album used to sell. Saw it these weeks selling for around U$ 30 or so. Which is nothing, compared to the prices on popsike.

The UK market shows a little lower price level while the US prices rapidly turned down. Example: Bought a 78 Harry J 7" for the starting price of U$ 3.99. I was outbid on this record 1,5 years ago when it went up to nearly 40 bucks.
Or the 12" Maytones/I-Roy - Money Trouble on GG´s. Used to sell for 80; saw it "buy it now" for 15. What a surprise!

I bought this tune yesterday
roy & Yvonne - no more (Prince Buster- Islam 7" 1964)
only 5 euro!

lol the records i'm after are high in summer and in winter...that's no good!!!

But i took Don Bryan - Liberation for 19£...remember of it for 150$

In the past few months I have bought 'upgrade' copies of a few of my records (because they were mint and mine weren't!). Every time the replacement cost less than I originally paid for the inferior copy in the last up to four years. So we're getting better quality for less money now.

i think currency difference is maybe also a side effect...

taking the euro example: 1 or 2 years ago 20 usd was equal to 20 euro

now 20 euro equal to 32 usd

main problem si 20 euros in europe is the same that 20 usd in USA...( i mean price of living )

dunno if i'm clear or right into post theme but just wanted to add this:)

Think i get what you mean r_publik, though it would mean if your european you should get a good deal for your money off american sellers(?).

I have noticed a few price drops, 'weed them out' (kirk) near to 100 rather then 150-200, 'Mash up creation' (S Little) hitting near 100 rather then 150-200 and so on, small drops but it might be a taste of things to come.

bullit wrote:Think i get what you mean r_publik, though it would mean if your european you should get a good deal for your money off american sellers(?).

I have noticed a few price drops, 'weed them out' (kirk) near to 100 rather then 150-200, 'Mash up creation' (S Little) hitting near 100 rather then 150-200 and so on, small drops but it might be a taste of things to come.

yes that's right. Compared to the Euro the Dollar is worth absolute nothing....

Imagine you (as American ? ) would have to buy stuff priced in Mexican Pesos, it's the same thing with the Euro/ Dollar...