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Posted: |
May 20, 2020 - 7:17 PM
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By: |
spiderich
(Member)
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***SEE UPDATE ON POST FROM JULY 12/21***
Hi everyone,
I've made the difficult decision to cull my collection. I'm doing this both to make room for more CDs, as well as attempting to only keep the "best of the best" as physical media. So far, I've got 200 for sale. I'm hoping to cull at least another hundred. I wish to sell them as a whole, not individually. It's a variety of film & TV scores/composers & labels.
I have two ideas: one idea is to sell them all to an on-line specialty store, in exchange for store credit. I have no doubt that the store will get the better part of the deal. i.e. I'll be taking a loss, so to speak. But this is an option that I'm willing to consider.
THE OTHER IDEA IS A KOOKY ONE, YET IT'S MY PREFERRED OPTION. I wish to sell them all to someone for very cheap, if that person is able to download the CDs to a portable media device, like a USB stick or some such, and send that back to me.
You might be thinking, why don't I just do that myself? Well, I'm not tech savvy, and I just don't have the time nor inclination. I'd rather let someone else do it, and be the new owners of the CDs.
Here's how I envision it: I could sell the CDs for, say, $4.00 USD per title, and then once I receive the USB (or USBs) with the downloaded music (in the mail), I would then refund half of the money. This would be the incentive for the prospective buyer to download the music.
EXAMPLE - if I sell 300 titles @ $4.00 USD each ($1200 total), then the buyer has two options: don't send me the downloaded music, or (my preference) send me the downloaded music on a USB and then receive a refund from me for $600 USD (which would equal only $2.00 USD per title).
Does this interest anyone here? Please note that I live in Canada.
Richard G.
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@ Mr. Spiderich: a word t the wise: USB sticks are dangerously unreliable devices to store music on.
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Andy B listed a bunch of titles on this thread and has sold many of him. You can do similar and make far more money than paying a third party fees. You list the title, communicate with buyer, receive funds, and ship the title. I am confident you will move a lot of titles. The main reason you sell an entire collection to a business is because you want it gone, and are not concerned about how much you make. Just my two cents ...
If you want to go the memory stick route, count me in.
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Posted: |
May 20, 2020 - 7:34 PM
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By: |
spiderich
(Member)
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Andy B listed a bunch of titles on this thread and has sold many of him. You can do similar and make far more money than paying a third party fees. You list the title, communicate with buyer, receive funds, and ship the title. I am confident you will move a lot of titles. The main reason you sell an entire collection to a business is because you want it gone, and are not concerned about how much you make. Just my two cents ...
If you want to go the memory stick route, count me in.
I hear you, and I'm sure that's the case, but I just would like to make some room, while at the same time, perhaps having some music downloaded.
I will still be keeping a few hundred CDs for myself.
Richard G.
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@ Mr. Spiderich: a word t the wise: USB sticks are dangerously unreliable devices to store music on.
Is there a more reliable device? Sony Walkman, eg? Or is that also a USB? Again, I'm not tech savvy.
Richard G.
A quality external drive, probably more than one, and perhaps on iCloud or a similar service. Ask a nearby buddy to explain the basics to you. It will be valuable investment.
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I still have my iPod which is still reliable. That's still a good way if you want to go back to the old tech. Yes, USB works but you're better off getting am external solid state hard drive of more than 1 to 4 Terrabites that easily connects to any USB port and if you car has one, even better. That is able to hold almost infinite music if you fill it properly as MP3's. WAV or lossless files take up way too much space, but the quality will be that of a real CD however. If that's the case, you'll need a 3 to 4 TB external for highest and best sound quality.
Another option is burning copies of the CD's you're planning to sell which is another safe play. CDR's are still available and you can get a 100 pack on Amazon still. There are many options you got go with. These are the simplest ones I can think of.
Perhaps you might know someone who's tech savvy that could help you with this which might be a good idea to consider and that way you can preserve what you want much faster.
I hope you choose the one that would benefit you most.
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Yes. The advice by VM is sound. However, I'd stay away from the sticks. They are dangerously unreliable.
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Posted: |
May 21, 2020 - 5:54 PM
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By: |
spiderich
(Member)
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I still have my iPod which is still reliable. That's still a good way if you want to go back to the old tech. Yes, USB works but you're better off getting am external solid state hard drive of more than 1 to 4 Terrabites that easily connects to any USB port and if you car has one, even better. That is able to hold almost infinite music if you fill it properly as MP3's. WAV or lossless files take up way too much space, but the quality will be that of a real CD however. If that's the case, you'll need a 3 to 4 TB external for highest and best sound quality.
Another option is burning copies of the CD's you're planning to sell which is another safe play. CDR's are still available and you can get a 100 pack on Amazon still. There are many options you got go with. These are the simplest ones I can think of.
Perhaps you might know someone who's tech savvy that could help you with this which might be a good idea to consider and that way you can preserve what you want much faster.
I hope you choose the one that would benefit you most.
Thanks for the reply. When you say "external solid state hard drive", what is that? Isn't that what my computer is? Would I plug the ESSHD into my stereo to listen to the music? Or would I have to download the music from the ESSHD onto yet another portable device? If the latter, then that's twice the amount of downloading!
I have no patience to even attempt starting to burn my CDs, that's why I'm willing to give someone a deal on my partial collection: to do the burning/downloading for me.  That's a lot of time/energy to do so. Therefore, getting a deal on my CDs would be part "payment" for doing that on my behalf, if you will.
The tech savvy people that I know (maybe two people) are in a younger age bracket, and I don't normally associate with them. But I guess I could ask them if they'd be interested and have the time to download my CDs (for a fee, I'm sure).
Richard G.
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Yes. The advice by VM is sound. However, I'd stay away from the sticks. They are dangerously unreliable.
What exactly is unreliable about them?
Richard G.
Sometimes they crap out but it depends on the brand you use. If you're going for USB drives, use brand names like Sandisk, PNY and Western Digital.
A solid state HD is a hard drive that is completely stable and know will last for a long time. It can be either internal or external. In your case and purposes, to back up what you want to sell, you need an external one for sure which you can take anywhere.
Just remember, it'll be just as time consuming for the person making the deal on the other side.
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Posted: |
May 22, 2020 - 8:55 AM
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By: |
Last Child
(Member)
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spider, "solid state" drives (SSD) have no moving parts (think thumb drives, mp3 players). Regular hard drives (HHD) have a spinning disc inside (make whirring noises). Computers primarily used HHD because data is accessed quicker and are much cheaper than solid state.
I've had several thumb drives with music on them for many years, so I don't know how "dangerous" it is to rely on them. People complain alot about regular hard drives crapping out, too. But because HHD are cheaper, I bought a couple of those, and backup files on those.
Whether you use SSD or HHD, you want to have two backup units since either unit can fail.
You can backup your CDs in a lossless format (rather than mp3 which loses some digital data) AND still remove 50% file size using "Flac" format. It's been around long enough that even some digital CD players will play it. Whatever format you choose depends on the playback equipment you use, or anticipate using in the future when old equipment breaks. So you'd need to make sure your buyer can make the audio conversion/transfers for you. Even the simplest playback solution - cdr copies - can crap out over time. But they can free up bookshelf space if you use cd wallets. Some people do that with retail cds, and put inserts in flat vinyl sleeves.
While a single buyer would be easiest for you, buyers might prefer smaller batches, like 50 cd minimum.
I think SAE requires you to ship them cds before they'll make an offer. You'd probably have to pay shipping to get them back if you didn't like their offer.
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Posted: |
May 22, 2020 - 5:06 PM
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By: |
spiderich
(Member)
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spider, "solid state" drives (SSD) have no moving parts (think thumb drives, mp3 players). Regular hard drives (HHD) have a spinning disc inside (make whirring noises). Computers primarily used HHD because data is accessed quicker and are much cheaper than solid state.
I've had several thumb drives with music on them for many years, so I don't know how "dangerous" it is to rely on them. People complain alot about regular hard drives crapping out, too. But because HHD are cheaper, I bought a couple of those, and backup files on those.
Whether you use SSD or HHD, you want to have two backup units since either unit can fail.
You can backup your CDs in a lossless format (rather than mp3 which loses some digital data) AND still remove 50% file size using "Flac" format. It's been around long enough that even some digital CD players will play it. Whatever format you choose depends on the playback equipment you use, or anticipate using in the future when old equipment breaks. So you'd need to make sure your buyer can make the audio conversion/transfers for you. Even the simplest playback solution - cdr copies - can crap out over time. But they can free up bookshelf space if you use cd wallets. Some people do that with retail cds, and put inserts in flat vinyl sleeves.
While a single buyer would be easiest for you, buyers might prefer smaller batches, like 50 cd minimum.
I think SAE requires you to ship them cds before they'll make an offer. You'd probably have to pay shipping to get them back if you didn't like their offer.
I appreciate everyone's input, but my head is starting to reel! Can SSDs be plugged into my stereo directly? Is that how they work? Then a menu would appear on my TV showing the song contents?
I don't have a high end system, just a home-theatre-in-a-box, so I don't think I need a high end portable device. Which is why I suggested a USB.
All I want is a buyer to help me downsize! If a don't get any songs copied, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. As I mentioned, I still intend to keep my personal best-of-the-best CDs (and I'll be more strict with buying new ones). I'm too old to be able to listen to all the music I currently have before I die.  And I just don't have the patience to copy the songs myself.
Richard G.
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Since that troll (who's on my ignore list) reiterated my points pretty much more negatively for you, and the only thing I can agree on with him is that either way if someone does it for you or the buyer, it will be a while to get everything converted and sent back to you. So as long as you're patient enough, then that's all good.
As far as selling to Screen Archives is concerned. Here is my experience with them.
First, you email them a list of what you have and they should get back to you within a day or two depending on how big your list is. You have to put the label, the bar code number and condition of every disc. Oh, they want everything in mint condition or close to it otherwise, it'll be rejected and they do not accept bootleg titles. Major no-no. Although, a friend of mine found a boot of the complete "Raiders of the Lost Ark" on their site a few years ago for 8 bucks. I guess it slipped through.
Second, they will email you accordingly with what they're interested in and give you a price quote which you either will love or hate. You have a few weeks to act on it.
In my personal experience, it's been hate because I offered them some excellent condition limited edition sets I had extras of like Amazing Stories (all 3 volumes) and some other OOP titles that are valuable. All in told over 20 plus titles and they had the nerve knowing the rarity of them to only offer just over forty dollars! Forty dollars. Soon after I found someone who took them and gave me well over 300 dollars for everything. So my point is that they basically pay pennies on the dollar for what you offer and jack up the prices on their site 1000% and they up stuck with them. So there was no way I was going to take a ridiculous offer like that for stuff that you can easily sell for a good price and still be content.
Lastly, if you take their offer, that's when you send it to them. You "never" send anything before you agree on their offer and they approve of it. They only give you like a few weeks to send everything or the offers' off the table and you have to pay for shipping yourself. I think they do remburse you for the shipping costs (Media Mail, Priority) here in the U.S. once they've checked everything you've sent to them. Since you live in Canada, I can only imagine how much that would be. I don't know how they handle International CD sales. I guess you'd have to contact them and ask them personally.
You're just better off trying to sell it yourself and doing what you're doing. I think you'd make more selling titles individually to be honest and still getting the copies. Works out much faster in a way. I did that in the past but I mostly burnt a CDR of the title I was selling personally and I was fine with that. You have the right idea, so stick with it. But I honestly would discourage you from selling to SAE, it is definitely not worth it.
I wish you all the best with this, I would be interested if it a title that I'm looking for personally, individually. But I can understand why you are willing to do it this way and that's a good thing.
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Posted: |
May 22, 2020 - 10:29 PM
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By: |
spiderich
(Member)
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We don't know what your stereo (aka playback equipment) is equipped to play. Both external SSD or HHD are usually connected with a USB plug. If your stereo has a USB input port, and it's for audio as opposed to being for some other function (like a radio antenna), you need to find out what formats the stereo would play. And if or how it navigates files on external drives. Some equipment will only look at consecutive files rather than at folders, which is pointless when you have hundreds of files.
It's a 10 year old Samsung TV & Blu-ray. There are USB ports on both, and that's about all I know.
I really have little idea on the differences between thumb drives, flash drives, USB sticks, SSDs, etc. I hear/read about others using them, but I've never actually used any myself.
I was hoping that all I'd have to do is get someone to download the songs onto a portable device, then plug it into my HTIB, and let the on-screen menu help with the rest!
Richard G.
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Posted: |
May 23, 2020 - 5:58 AM
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By: |
Last Child
(Member)
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Since that troll (who's on my ignore list) reiterated my points pretty much more negatively for you
Apparently she means me, and I'm neither a troll nor did I reiterate her points "negatively," which shows how inaccurately she read them.
Rich, a memory stick, flash drive, thumb drive, are names for the same thing. They are solid state memory types (no moving parts), usually with a USB plug. Just google the names and you'd find that out.
Your blu-ray or TV manuals will indicate if they play music thru your USB port, and which formats. The blu-ray player is probably compatible with many formats. The manuals might also indicate if they display folders. Or you could buy a cheap thumb drive and test it with some music - assuming you have a way (eg computer) to transfer music to it. And you still need to decide what format you ultimately want to save the music in.
Given your desire to keep things simple and low-tech, I strongly suggest cdr duplicates. It's also pragmatic: if a memory device stops working, you've lost everything. If one cdr craps out, it won't effect the other 199 cdrs. Quality blank cdrs are cheap, and you can store them in three 80-cd wallets that fit on a bookshelf like a fat book.
I'm a fan of Verbatim Datalife White Thermal cdrs. They have a hard porcelain-like top. I'd like to think they prevent "bronzing" that happens to some cdrs, and hopefully more scratch proof than the silver painted or paper tops (the memory layer is under the top so it needs to be protected).
I opened a wallet randomly just to display it (whited out titles), but you can see the 2 silver Sony cdrs are bronzing. The other two happen to be Verbatim thermal, but are newer so I'm not making any conclusions.
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Posted: |
May 24, 2020 - 6:57 PM
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By: |
spiderich
(Member)
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Rich, a memory stick, flash drive, thumb drive, are names for the same thing. They are solid state memory types (no moving parts), usually with a USB plug. Just google the names and you'd find that out.
Your blu-ray or TV manuals will indicate if they play music thru your USB port, and which formats. The blu-ray player is probably compatible with many formats. The manuals might also indicate if they display folders. Or you could buy a cheap thumb drive and test it with some music - assuming you have a way (eg computer) to transfer music to it. And you still need to decide what format you ultimately want to save the music in.
Given your desire to keep things simple and low-tech, I strongly suggest cdr duplicates. It's also pragmatic: if a memory device stops working, you've lost everything. If one cdr craps out, it won't effect the other 199 cdrs. Quality blank cdrs are cheap, and you can store them in three 80-cd wallets that fit on a bookshelf like a fat book.
That's some great work you did, but for me, CDrs are not the way I want to go. I would simply prefer hundreds of hours on a media device that I could plug in and play. Perhaps even use a "random play" function.
Regardless, the main thing is selling my CDs. Having back-ups is a bonus to me.
I get the feeling that no one will bite unless I post what titles I have available? That, in and of itself, will be time consuming, as I've never written/typed them out before. I simply need to stop procrastinating!
Richard G.
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