There have been many news stories in recent years,about large collections coming
up for sale,and they are usually all overinflated like that.
Roger
________________________________
From: Shai Drori <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 12:41:34 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] music man murray record collection & Murray Gershenz,
music collector extraordinaire, is parting with his entire music library.
In the TV run they said his collection is worth 3-4 million. How much do you
think it is actually worth?
Shai
On 8/18/2010 5:51 PM, Tom Fine wrote:
> The big issue with huge "collections" of mostly used records owned by these
>long-time stores is that 90+% of the gross weight is either worthless or
>near-worthless. The smart few of these guys put that 90% of gross weight at the
>curb and let the accumulators vaccuum it all up. Then they carefully sell off
>the valuable 10%, either to long-time collector/customers or via a wider
>marketplace like eBay. If a person owns a record store that long and doesn't
>know in his heart of hearts that 90% of the gross weight is worthless, he's
>first of all deluding himself and second of all it's a miracle he's stayed in
>business long enough to become an "institution."
>
> By its very nature, a used record store must be an accumulator. The business
>model works if you continuously have a nice valuable 10% moving at high prices
>and if your rent is cheap enough to use the other 90% to attract accumulator
>traffic and to look like you have a vast inventory of "treasures."
>
> Don't get me wrong, the 90% has some value to someone. Just not any of it
>monetary. I always troll the dollar bins and free bins at used record stores,
>mainly to find better-condition covers to records I have where the vinyl is
>great but the cover is shot (and I probably therefore got it for a huge
>discount). There was a decorating fad a while back, popular enough to make it to
>the NYT style section, that seriously crimped this MO. The kids were into buying
>up dollar-bin LPs to frame the cover and hang them on the wall. Suddenly,
>competition for my good-condition dollar covers and novelty covers! The fad
>seems to have passed, based on recent success in the dollar bins.
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aaron Levinson"
><[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 11:05 AM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] music man murray record collection & Murray Gershenz,
>music collector extraordinaire, is parting with his entire music library.
>
>
>> There is a reason why it is such a massive collection in the first place-no one
>>wants it for a patently ridiculous price! Does this all seem vaguely reminiscent
>>to a guy with a warehouse in Pittsburgh?...Someone needs to tell these guys that
>>we are in the greatest economic downturn since Black Friday and that whatever
>>you thought you had and how much you (wildly) imagined it was worth, things
>>ain't what they used to be.
>>
>> AA
>>
>>
>> On 8/18/10 1:42 AM, Michael Biel wrote:
>>> It is interesting that both these postings and the article and TV piece all
>>>refer to the stock of a retail store as a "collection". Over on the 78-L there
>>>have been comments from several who have been customers and know this shop well
>>>that the prices he asked were too high, and even the reduced price he is now
>>>asking for the whole stock is still too high considering that it has been pawed
>>>thru by thousands of collectors for 50 years. I suppose that if your prices are
>>>too high, a store's "stock" becomes a "collection"!
>>>
>>>
>>> On 8/16/2010 7:22 PM, Rod Smear wrote:
>>>>> This came up in today's LA times article about a local gentleman here who is
>>>>>looking to unload his masssive collection. Apparently from edison cylinders to
>>>>>LP's. Don't know if anyone might be interested or know someone or organization
>>>>>willing to buy collection. Sorry i don't have a link. I guess google LA times
>>>>>Music Man Murray records? Rod Smear
>>>>>
>>> Here's the link.
>>> http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-music-man-20100816,0,5301372.story
>>>
>>>> From: Gerald Segall<[log in to unmask]>
>>>>
>>>> Murray Gershenz, (aka "Music Man Murray"), after having amassed a lifetime of
>>>>rare and collectible 45s, 78s, vinyl LPs, and CDs, is sadly selling his entire
>>>>collection's contents, for any prospective buyer interested in these
>>>>hard-to-find musical treasures. As news anchor Glen Walker of KTLA News remarks,
>>>>"...building a music library that attracted those who made the music." If only a
>>>>public, college, or university library could acquire such a precious collection
>>>>for the benefit of use by all music lovers, patrons, music students, music
>>>>scholars, and historians.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/?watchId=f773a6ed-bf4b-4b32-a437-0a5771774e91
>>>
>>
>
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