GMG Classical Music Forum

The Back Room => Buy, Swap and Sell => Topic started by: Catison on March 18, 2017, 11:30:45 AM

Title: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Catison on March 18, 2017, 11:30:45 AM
I am downsizing and moving to another city.  So I am getting rid of my whole collection.  I have a lot of more modern things and movie soundtracks. 

If you live in Houston, I will be selling all of the CDs out of my home next weekend, but I will also be posting things here for sale.  What doesn't sell will be donated.
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Mirror Image on March 18, 2017, 05:03:33 PM
Your whole collection? Yikes! How many CDs do you own?
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Zeus on March 18, 2017, 06:01:31 PM
Do you have the complete Villa-Lobos string quartets?
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: TheGSMoeller on March 18, 2017, 06:03:49 PM
Do you live near The Woodlands?
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Bogey on March 18, 2017, 06:27:47 PM
Quote from: Catison on March 18, 2017, 11:30:45 AM
I am downsizing and moving to another city.  So I am getting rid of my whole collection.  I have a lot of more modern things and movie soundtracks. 

If you live in Houston, I will be selling all of the CDs out of my home next weekend, but I will also be posting things here for sale.  What doesn't sell will be donated.

Oy, Brett, how many soundtracks you getting rid of?
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Scion7 on March 18, 2017, 06:33:56 PM
May I interject here - don't do anything you will regret later on - the time it took to collect/the expense - short term periods of change can make you do things that may cause long-term AAAAAUUUGGGGGG!  WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?!
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Que on March 19, 2017, 12:03:34 AM
Quote from: Scion7 on March 18, 2017, 06:33:56 PM
May I interject here - don't do anything you will regret later on - the time it took to collect/the expense - short term periods of change can make you do things that may cause long-term AAAAAUUUGGGGGG!  WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!?!

I agree... Just the thought!  ??? I'd rather part with one of my limbs, do to speak....  ::)  ;)

Q
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Spineur on March 19, 2017, 12:14:18 AM
Seconded !  When I moved from the US back to Europe, I also got rid of my collection, and found out I could not find them any more in Europe  >:D.  Most of them yot eventually re-issued but it took nearly ten years.  And if it wasnt for some GMG members  :-*, I would still be missing some of them.
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Jo498 on March 19, 2017, 01:05:01 AM
I'd at least check what is rare and what would be easy to buy again, stream etc.
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Mirror Image on March 19, 2017, 07:43:57 PM
Personally, I don't understand why someone would want to get rid of their whole collection? I mean I can understanding doing some culling, but get rid of it all seems crazy to me.
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Jo498 on March 20, 2017, 12:18:04 AM
It facilitates a move.

And radical downsizing apparently has some benefits for psychological well being for some people, therefore the recent "minimalism" trends.
I tend to doubt that these effects are more than short term and while I am all in favor of criticism of the excesses of consumerism I am skeptical of minimalism as a fad.
And a CD or Vinyl collection is not really comparable to having too many cheap H & M clothes or getting the newest electronic gadget ASAP. There are no classical recording sweatshops, for all I know, they don't really take up that much space etc.

The other point that has prevented me from major culling/downsizing is that it is financially hardly worth the effort. When CDs were still quite expensive, 20-25 years ago, second-hand-shops would buy full price discs around a third of new price and sell them for 50-60%. But today with a used disc typically fetching a few cents to about 3-4 $/EUR, why bother?
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Catison on March 20, 2017, 05:38:08 PM
Quote from: Judge Fish on March 18, 2017, 06:01:31 PM
Do you have the complete Villa-Lobos string quartets?

No, but I do have a CD of some symphonies.
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Catison on March 20, 2017, 05:39:23 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 18, 2017, 05:03:33 PM
Your whole collection? Yikes! How many CDs do you own?

About 2500.
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Catison on March 20, 2017, 05:52:17 PM
Quote from: Jo498 on March 20, 2017, 12:18:04 AM
It facilitates a move.

And radical downsizing apparently has some benefits for psychological well being for some people, therefore the recent "minimalism" trends.
I tend to doubt that these effects are more than short term and while I am all in favor of criticism of the excesses of consumerism I am skeptical of minimalism as a fad.
And a CD or Vinyl collection is not really comparable to having too many cheap H & M clothes or getting the newest electronic gadget ASAP. There are no classical recording sweatshops, for all I know, they don't really take up that much space etc.

The other point that has prevented me from major culling/downsizing is that it is financially hardly worth the effort. When CDs were still quite expensive, 20-25 years ago, second-hand-shops would buy full price discs around a third of new price and sell them for 50-60%. But today with a used disc typically fetching a few cents to about 3-4 $/EUR, why bother?

There is definitely an aspect of minimalism to my decision.  And I agree that a decision based on that fad would only yield temporary results.  However, I also have empirical evidence on my side.  I moved into my current house about 5 years ago, and almost all of my CD boxes remain unopened.  In fact, most are in boxes from when I first moved after completing grad school 7 years ago.  I have found that I get enough satisfaction from my downloaded collection.  And now with an Apple Music subscription, I can find something to listen to very easily.  There is even some very hard to find stuff on there, like many of the Feldman recordings I cherish.  But even those I don't listen to much anymore.  As much as I love Feldman, I just don't have the time to sit and listen to a string quartet for 12 hours  :P.  Since November I have been living apart from my family in a small apartment with only my essential technology.  What I found is that my iPad can contain all of my books, my iPhone can contain all of my music, and my AppleTV can contain all of my movies.  I was skeptical myself at first too, but the beauty of an always-on internet connect is paying off now.  I am very content and happy and, quite frankly, my music collection is doing nothing for me sitting in my attic 1000 miles away.  I have no need for it.  I would rather someone else experience the joys that I did finding the stuff and listening to it the first time. 
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: springrite on March 20, 2017, 06:05:51 PM
If I were anywhere near Houston, I'd not only stop by to look and buy some of your CDs but also take you out for a drink and dinner and more. We have never met but since the early days (and with much stories I still remember) you have been an essential member of the community. I felt that I owe it to myself to meet you.

Anyhow, whatever is left I think I may want to check if there are some that I may want to take if only as a remembrance of CI days.

Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Catison on March 20, 2017, 07:15:25 PM
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on March 18, 2017, 06:03:49 PM
Do you live near The Woodlands?

I live in the Atascocita area.  PM me if you want details.
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: Monsieur Croche on March 25, 2017, 01:55:28 AM
Quote from: Thatfabulousalien on March 20, 2017, 08:18:50 PM
Don't sell your CDs unless you're homeless

Right, because with 2,500 of them, you could build yourself a shiny jewel-case shelter!
Title: Re: I'm getting rid of all my CDs
Post by: springrite on March 30, 2017, 09:15:04 PM
Quote from: Monsieur Croche on March 25, 2017, 01:55:28 AM
Right, because with 2,500 of them, you could build yourself a shiny jewel-case shelter!

If you build one big enough, you can fit yourself in it as well?