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What is Records By Mail?
Records By Mail is a long-running online record dealer specializing in collectible vinyl, along with CDs and cassettes. Its catalog mixes recent arrivals with a deep stock of used and rare records, and the site also invites collectors to sell their collections to the store.
What the store focuses on
The recent arrivals list shows the range clearly: 12" LPs and 7" singles across soul, blues, classic rock, jazz, and international folk, with condition-related details such as "pic disc" and "gatefold" noted in listings. Prices in the visible list run from a few dollars for common singles to $65–$75 for scarcer items, and some titles show multiple listings, which usually means different copies or pressings. The popular-artists section leans heavily on classic soul, R&B, and rock names, so the store suits collectors hunting specific pressings rather than listeners browsing new releases.
Who it fits
- Collectors seeking specific titles or pressings, especially 45s and older LPs, benefit most from the deep inventory and the multi-listing entries.
- Sellers with quality collections can use the "Selling a Collection?" route; the site states it pays for high-quality vinyl and handles distant sellers.
- Casual buyers wanting new mainstream albums will find less to match their needs.
A practical next step
If you have a want list, search by artist and catalog number rather than title alone, then compare the multiple listings on a single entry before choosing. For a broader sweep of the used market, cross-check against Discogs and eBay to gauge typical availability and pricing for the same pressing.
How can I sell my vinyl record collection to Records By Mail?
Contact Records By Mail through the “Selling a Collection?” section on Collectible Vinyl Records, CDs & Cassettes and use its “Contact Us” link to start the conversation. The site says it buys high-quality vinyl and will travel for the right collection, including from overseas.
What to prepare before you contact them
- A rough count of records, plus a short description of genres and eras.
- Clear photos of shelves, boxes or spines, and close-ups of any valuable or unusual items.
- Notes on condition: sleeve wear, scratches, warping, water damage, and whether records are originals, reissues or promos.
- A sense of whether you want to sell everything as one lot or only the stronger pieces.
What to expect from the process
A dealer buying for resale will typically assess the collection as a whole, weigh the cost of grading, cleaning and listing individual records, and make an offer that leaves room for its own margin. That usually means a single-lot offer is lower than what you might net by selling rare items one by one yourself, but it saves substantial time and effort. The site’s own listings show wide value ranges—common 7-inch singles at a few dollars alongside rarer LPs and singles at much higher prices—so expect the offer to depend heavily on which titles and pressings you actually have.
A practical first step
Sort your collection into three groups: likely high-value items (rare labels, private presses, sought-after artists), solid mid-range records, and low-value commons. Photograph each group separately and mention the split when you make contact. This helps the dealer judge whether a trip or a bulk purchase makes sense, and it gives you a clearer basis for deciding whether to accept a lot offer or sell the best pieces individually.
For comparison, you could also get a quote from another established buyer such as Discogs or a local record shop, since a second offer is the simplest way to test whether a collection quote is fair.
How do I tell whether a used vinyl record listing is worth buying based on its condition and price?
Judge a used vinyl listing by the gap between the record's condition and the price, not by price alone. A $65 LP is reasonable only if the media is at least Very Good Plus (VG+) and the sleeve is intact; a $5 single can be a fine buy even with a worn sleeve if the record plays cleanly.
What to check in the listing
- Media grade: VG+ or better means light marks that may not affect play; VG means audible surface noise and should be priced well below a clean copy. Avoid anything graded G or "fair" unless it is genuinely rare.
- Sleeve and extras: Gatefold, picture disc or original inner sleeve copies carry a premium; a split seam or ring wear should lower the price.
- Pressing details: Label, catalog number and country of origin tell you whether it is an original, a reissue or a club edition. The Records By Mail arrivals list shows these plainly—for example, "CAPITOL 1918" or "A&M 4619"—which lets you compare against other copies.
- Number of listings: "2 listings from $10" means multiple copies exist, so you can pick the better one rather than settle.
A quick decision rule
| Situation | Reasonable action |
|---|---|
| VG+ media, clean sleeve, common title | Buy only near the low end of the going rate |
| VG media, rare title | Buy if the price is clearly below clean copies and you accept some noise |
| G media or "as-is" | Skip unless it is a genuine collector's item |
| Multiple listings at different prices | Compare grades first, then price |
Next step
On a site like Records By Mail, open two or three copies of the same title and compare grade against price before choosing. If the listing gives no grade, ask the seller for one in writing—a seller who will not grade is a reason to walk away.
What genres and eras of music does Records By Mail specialize in?
Records By Mail reads as a general collectible-record shop rather than a single-genre specialist. Its recent arrivals and popular-artist lists point to a broad catalog spanning soul, blues, jazz, classic rock, pop and vintage R&B, with non-English folk and world recordings mixed in.
What the listings show
- Soul and R&B: James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, the Dells, the Impressions, the O'Jays, the Temptations, Gene Chandler and Jackie Wilson.
- Blues and roots: B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Fats Domino, Etta James and Ray Charles.
- Rock and pop: The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, the Kinks, Elvis Presley, the Who, the Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young and David Bowie.
- Jazz and vintage vocal groups: Scott Hamilton, Shorty Rogers and Jimmy Walker with Erwin Helfer, alongside doo-wop-style singles from the Spotlights, Galaxies and Enchantments.
- Folk and world: Nonesuch releases of Bulgarian and Yugoslav village music, plus Franco-Creole biguines from Martinique.
The eras lean heavily toward mid-century through the 1970s and 1980s. The catalog mixes 12-inch LPs at 33rpm with 7-inch 45rpm singles, including picture discs and gatefold pressings, and covers vinyl, CDs and cassettes.
For a collector, the practical trade-off is breadth over depth: you can chase a specific soul single and a world-music LP in one visit, but niche pressings may vary widely in condition and price. Start with the recent arrivals page if you want to see how the stock is actually described, then search by artist or label for a particular pressing.
Does Records By Mail ship vinyl records internationally?
Yes. Records By Mail presents itself as a worldwide shipper and explicitly invites sellers “around the corner or halfway across the world” to contact them, so international service is part of the site’s stated scope. For buyers, though, the homepage does not spell out countries served, shipping cost or customs handling; those details would come at checkout or from the dealer directly.
What this means in practice
- Buying from abroad: Treat the site as a potential source, but confirm postage and any import duties before committing to a higher-priced item. A $65 LP can carry a meaningful shipping and customs share.
- Selling a collection from outside the US: The “Selling a Collection?” section is the relevant route; it suggests distance is not a barrier for the right collection.
- Domestic buyers: The international angle matters less; the same catalogue of recent arrivals and in-stock stock applies.
A useful next step
If you are outside the US, shortlist two or three records, then ask the dealer for a delivered price including shipping and any customs paperwork. Compare that total against a local specialist such as Discogs for the same pressing, since a lower sticker price can lose its advantage once international postage is added.
How can I get notified about new vinyl arrivals and special offers from Records By Mail?
Sign up for the newsletter on Records By Mail. The site's own signup block says subscribers get news "including special offers and recent stock updates," so it is the intended channel for both new-arrival notices and promotions. Enter your email address in the "Email address" field and select Subscribe.
What to expect, based on the page
- New stock: the newsletter is framed around "recent stock updates," matching the "Recent Arrivals" section where records are listed with label and catalog numbers, format, speed and condition notes such as "pic disc" or "gatefold."
- Offers: "special offers" are named explicitly, though the page does not say how often messages are sent or what discounts look like.
A practical way to use it
If you collect a narrow area—say 1950s vocal-group 45s like the Spotlighter or Galaxies singles shown, or jazz LPs on Concord Jazz and Testament—subscribe and then check each arrival notice against your want list rather than browsing everything. The listings give you the label and catalog number, which makes quick cross-checking easy. You can also scan the "Popular Artists" list (James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Etta James and others) to judge whether the general stock mix suits your taste before relying on alerts.
As a next step, also check the Recent Arrivals page directly between messages, since newsletter frequency is not stated and desirable pieces—high-priced singles in particular—may sell before an email goes out.
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