How to Sell Your Vinyl Record Collection to Records By Mail

Records By Mail (recordsbymail.com) buys vinyl collections and directs sellers to a Contact Us form to start the conversation. The site says it pays "top dollar for high-quality vinyl" and will "go the distance for the right collection," including collections located far from the dealer. The site does not publish a step-by-step selling process, grading standards, payment methods, or turnaround times, so treat the steps below as a practical way to use the published contact route rather than a documented procedure.

What the Site Actually Says About Selling

The homepage includes a section titled Selling a Collection? with this message:

• Records By Mail pays top dollar for high-quality vinyl.
• Distance is not a barrier: "Whether you're just around the corner or halfway across the world, we'll go the distance for the right collection."
• The call to action is Contact Us.

That is the full extent of the selling information on the page. There is no published offer form, no listed commission or fee structure, and no stated minimum collection size. Because pricing and terms are not disclosed, do not assume an offer amount or a fee-free process until the dealer responds.

How to Start the Conversation

1. Go to recordsbymail.com and find the Selling a Collection? section near the bottom of the homepage.
2. Select Contact Us to reach the dealer's contact channel.
3. Describe your collection in the first message. Since the site does not publish a required format, include the details a vinyl dealer typically needs to judge whether a collection fits:
   • Approximate number of records
   • Formats (12" LPs, 7" singles, CDs, cassettes)
   • Genres and any standout artists or labels
   • Condition, described honestly (sleeve wear, scratches, play-tested or not)
   • Your location and whether you can ship or need pickup
4. Wait for a reply before packing or shipping anything. The site gives no timeline, so follow up if you have not heard back.

Expected result: you and the dealer agree on whether the collection is a fit and how to proceed. Everything past that point — offer, payment, shipping — is arranged directly with the dealer.

What Makes a Collection a Likely Fit

The site's own framing points to high-quality vinyl as the target. The store's inventory, shown under Recent Arrivals, gives a sense of what the dealer handles:

The catalog spans soul, blues, rock, jazz, and international folk (for example, Nonesuch releases of Bulgarian and Yugoslav village music). A collection weighted toward collectible pressings in these areas is more likely to match what the dealer describes as "the right collection" than a box of common, heavily worn LPs.

Practical Points Before You Contact

• Condition drives value. The site emphasizes quality but publishes no grading scale. Describe flaws plainly; overstating condition is the most common way a deal falls apart after inspection.
• Distance is workable, but ask who pays. The site says it will "go the distance," but shipping costs and pickup logistics are not stated. Raise this in your first message.
• No published minimum. You cannot tell from the site whether a 20-record box is worth their time. Ask directly.
• Keep the collection intact until terms are agreed. Do not ship before confirming the offer, payment method, and who covers freight.

Bottom Line

If you have a collection of collectible vinyl — especially LPs and 45s in good condition across soul, rock, jazz, or international genres — the documented route is to use the Selling a Collection? → Contact Us path on recordsbymail.com and open with a clear description of what you have. The site commits to paying well for quality and to working with distant sellers, but it does not publish prices, fees, or process details, so confirm those in writing before anything leaves your shelves.