Vote

Never—as if. I'm an audiophile, not a geeky collector. I buy music to listen to, on my high-end system.

I like to buy multiple copies of sealed vinyl, especially LPs that I think are going to become collectable over time. It sure beats the stock market! Oh, yes. I always open a copy or two to audition and enjoy.

It's about, um, the music. Collectors can go have fun with stamps, I'll keep my records to enjoy thanks.

I used to buy vinyl, but not anymore. I never bought an album solely to sell some time in the future. I knew lots of people who did, though.

I prefer to do that with barrels of unleaded.

I was given a sealed Beatles "White Album" when I already had one opened and in perfect condition. I've left the sealed version in my will, along with a whole stack of other LPs to someone who most probably will rip open the seal, record it onto CD-R (or whatever) and then sell it. Personally I've never been able to leave an LP unsealed for the simple reason that under that seal could be hidden some very nasty pressing faults that make it next to worthless. But if idiots want to invest in wine that's never drunk (and could actually be vinegar) or music that's never listened to, that's their business. Interestingly there isn't much of a premium paid for sealed CDs. Something else worth thinking about is how easy it is to re-seal an LP and how difficult it can be to tell it has been done. Fools rush in !

I gave away my turntable. Although there are gold ears, listening to LPs made from digital masters and telling you, analog is better.

I said only once or twice. I have a few so that's close to once or twice. Not anything I do nowadays, but back in the day when I bought all my vinyl I would have done this if I found the right LP(s).

I listen to and record each new record I buy. I keep them like new so I can pass them to my sons who love music like me. I cannot afford to buy multiple copies of LPs on the chance that they will one day appreciate in value in a relatively small community of vinyl lovers. If I want to invest, I'd use tried and true methods, like casinos.

I found several of the same LP at a thrift store one time. I sold two of 'em and kept one for myself. I opened mine and played it. It happened to be an LP that hadn't made it to CD, so I made a few bux on 'em. Also, while working as a DJ in the '90s, we all decided to give ourselves a present than to give away the new release of an artist since if we gave them away, the recipents probably didn't have a turntable to play the darn thing on. Most of us DJs either owned a turntable or had access to one. So we all got a copy of this partcular artist's second full-length release. I still have mine and it's still sealed! (I never opened it since I also have the same title on CD) Not sure if it's worth anything yet since the group is still cranking out CDs. I think they're on their 10th or 11th project now. I also just won a bid on a sealed copy of another artist on eBay but I plan on playing it a few times to make MP3 files from the LP then shelving it with the other thousands of LPs I still have. Sadly, most are not sealed.

Vinyl speculation, oil speculation—where does it all end? Let's play vinyl and consume oil while it lasts!

Why on earth would I bother? I have a job. That's where I earn my money. Buying records is where I spend it.

I already own a copy of the Shaggs first album, but when I saw a sealed one I jumped on it. Paid $20 sold on Ebay for $3070. THough if I didn't already have one, I wouldn't sell it for twice that amount. I also bought three sets of the Zappa Lather boxes when I was in Japan for gifts. Still have two, I have one left, but can't seem to part with it. My copy has been played so much, I need the back up. Sure I do.

I'm afraid my mad money is, per domestic force, hand to mouth and day to day. My household waits no longer for the payoff than the break-in time of a NOS 12AX7. Material investment is a concept alien to our starving artist mentality.

I have old vinyl that I bought but never got around to playing.

In the very early ‘80s my wife and I, and I expect many others, used the two Sheffield Labs Amanda McBroom albums as speaker auditioning tools. We bought an extra copy of Growing Up in Hollywoodtown and West of Oz, just in case, and they remain today unopened. Although I didn’t have any false expectations that I would be able to send the kids to college if I later sold these limited edition direct-to-disc records, I also didn’t expect them to be worth, twenty-five years later, just about the same as when I bought them.

I'm a collector. I have never ever sold any of my 5000+ vinyl collection. They look good in my room

I do not resell vinyl (or wine) though I buy multiple copies of titles that I never want to be without. That, and careful storage over time, is how I still have an unopened original release copy of Ron Nagle's Bad Rice, for instance. An aside regarding Rough Mix, if I may: All the recent references to that albumn in the audiophile press made me pull my old ATCO promo copy (ATCO 7 90097-1-Y) out to see if my recollection of the core beauty of that piece is flawed. Nope, the essential value is not in doubled bass lines or the clarity of the ensemble. Ronnie Lane's stricken and at times ("Nowhere to Run") almost hollow vocal is delivered without treatment or apology. There's a beauty in hearing that human in pain as he learned he had the disease that killed his mom that supplants other audiophile considerations. Just my opinion, contemporary to 1977, but to a lot of us Ronnie Lane's tragedy remains poignant.

I only buy records to listen to them!

No. I buy LPs to listen to. Really.

Twenty-five years ago, when I was buying vinyl, I would often record the album on first play to cassette. Most subsequent listens then, would be off the tape, except for special occasions where the top level of audio performance was required (so, not a party with a 30 or 40 drunk people shouting over each other). But I never viewed vinyl in the light it has today. However, I still have all my old albums stored neatly away, and most will be in pristine condition.

Why buy vinyl when, if I want noisy nostalgia, I just put a wax cylinder on my Edison phonograph?

I buy lots of vinyl because vinyl is my preferred source for listening to music. I buy only what I want to listen to. I have no desire to profit off of the purchase of a record.

No, I'm the guy who buys these things at high prices!

That's got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard!

I love to look at a 12" LP but still would rather listen to the album on a CD. Buying old LPs usually just means noise, clicks and pops. Sorry, you just can't beat the dynamic range of a good CD.

I buy vinyl for the love of the music, and the value that the album brings to me. I do pick up duplicate copies, when they are in great condition, but they are for sharing, or for gifts. I can't seem to part with my "friends."

Two LPs, one was from the band Automatic Man, which I adored and seemed doomed to commercial failure. The second a Cincinnati band called the Raisins, whom I used to see live every other week and deserved the oodles of fame Mottley Crue actually recieved.

I'm in this hobby for the music, not to make money selling LPs. I love my LPs and listen to my LPs. My family would probably say I love them too much!

That is freaking sad!