You’re likely thinking about organizing your home for the new year. Get rid of the junk and bring in the good stuff. Before you toss all of your unwanted items into the trash, take a moment to evaluate if any are worth some money.
MoneyMagpie has shared previously with you our tips for making money selling VHS tapes. We want to show you how to sell your cassettes.
The introduction of streaming and the CD has made cassettes obsolete for many years. In recent years, however, there has been an increase in cassette sales. According to the BPI, there were 157,000 cassettes sold in the UK in 2020. This number increased by 19% in 2021, when it reached 185,000. Instead of tossing that pile of tapes out, why not look into their value?
Which cassettes to sell?
Where to sell
While online selling is easy, it’s not always as efficient.
eBay
eBay is the largest online auction site, so it’s a great place to start if you want to sell your cassette tapes. You can find everything from Bjork to 2Pac and the Spice Girls on eBay. You can take your time and browse the site before you price your tapes. You can either sell them individually or as job lots, but you will still make money from your junk.
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Amazon allows you to list anything you like on your own site so it can be a great place to sell your collection. However, it is worth considering the selling fees they charge.
Local record shops
You might be able to find a local record shop that will take your cassettes. Although you might not make as much if you sell online, you won’t have to send them out and get your money right away.
Vintage fairs and car boot sales
A good car boot sale is something we all enjoy. Find out where it is and reserve a table. You may meet someone who is interested in buying your tapes, or could help you find a music fanatic. It is amazing how networking can help with selling.
What should I do?
Cassettes are making an appearance, with more people purchasing nostalgia because of the pandemic. Younger people also buy limited editions of their favorite artists. Should you invest?
You can still enjoy the nostalgia of tapes and have a working tape player. This is a great way to support your favorite artists. It also allows you to have a physical copy instead of streaming. You might be able to make your investment back by purchasing limited-release cassettes that you can then sell in the future.
Like all investments, there’s always risk and we don’t know how long the market will grow.
Top of the charts: The most valuable cassettes available for sale
Xero – Xero.
Although this title may not be well-known, it was the first self-released album and self-titled album of Linkin Park. It is hard to find copies that justify its $4,500 price tag.
The Artist (Formerly Prince) – The Versace Experience, Prelude 2 Gold
This cassette was created exclusively for Paris Fashion Week attendees in 1995 and sold for $4,117. This limited edition also stated that it was for “4 promotional purposes only” and not 4 sales. But, at $4,117 why wouldn’t this cassette sell?
Various – United Diaries 1979-87
This 32-tape collection, complete with suitcase, contains all United Diaries works between 1979 and 1987. You might not be familiar with the music, which is quite experimental. It has been in the top 100 multiple times, with the highest selling price being $2,300.
Throbbing Gristle – 24 Hours
This 26-tape set was limited to 50 copies. It included a matching suitcase for storage and a matching bag. Each of the 50 sets were released in 1980. Each set was personalized to the buyer, dated and sent with hand-made collages. It was initially sold at PS77 in the UK. However, it recently sold for PS2,200.
Various – De La Viande Pour Le Disco
This French cassette sells for $1,818 and isn’t widely available in the UK.
Perhaps it’s time for you to go through your attic and value your cassette collection. You might just be the one who has the gold mine.
MoneyMagpie: How to make money with your old cassettes
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.goldcoastmoneyonline.com/how-to-crowdfund-your-living-expenses/