I just bought the Goldmine Record ALbum Price Guide 4th edition from Barnes and Noble but then I discovered there is a 5th edition at the Goldmine site. I feel cheated in this deal. The 4th edition is dated 2005 and I'm sure does not reflect current values. Also there seems to be a lot of groups not rated, like, "Bad Company".

Did I get shafted by them in this deal?

Depends on why you bought it. If for the sole reason of pricing then forget the guides. Ebay screwed that up years ago.

I have the 4th addition as well. It does give you a good idea on the rarer albums but as Grump said stated lp value whether the 4th or 5th addition really does not hold true to real world pricing.

The Tim Neely guides have some rigid classifications for albums. Things like "this volume doesn't list albums by groups who charted after 1976, even if they did chart before 1976 but the album is worth under $25." Things like that. Tim Neely isn't the friendliest dude I've found, so he must be thrilled to enforce these rules. As for the prices, I agree that EBay screwed up the values years ago. The book always seems to have some introduction about "the values are for person to person sales, not just the internet." WHAT?! Who the hell buys used records in person anymore outside of garage sales and mom-and-pop stores? Much as I hate to admit it, EBay is really the place for buying/selling disks.

Ok-thanks for the posts. My collection is now way too big and I'm not going to check ebay for every record. The guide is supposed to give me an indication of value, not up to the minute value. I would think that 5th edition woud be more current.

I don't think the guide has any real use any more. At one time there were 200 people who would pay guide prices for a mono Bobby Darin lp...but eBay has shown those 200 people that there are 2000 copies of that same disc floating around. Prices generally fall in this environment.

If the 5th edition is anything like the 4th and 3rd, the prices are going to be the same. If you got the 4th edition for <$20, keep it, otherwise I'd just get the new one on amazon.

And as everyone posted above, Ebay has made it more difficult to price albums to a certian extent, but from my experience the only real difference is that if a rare record is in true near mint, its worth about double, and a common VG+ is worth about 1/4 the listed value, not half, simply because internet buyers usually don't bother with anything but a 'keeper'.

I just snagged a 3rd off eBay for a total of $8.99, shipping included. I want it for approximate values and for the label and pressing info, as I seemed to be Jonesing for early pressings lately.
But if I were to try to evaluate values, eBay closed auctions is where I look.

I just snagged a 3rd off eBay for a total of $8.99, shipping included. I want it for approximate values and for the label and pressing info, as I seemed to be Jonesing for early pressings lately.
But if I were to try to evaluate values, eBay closed auctions is where I look.

true. a record is only worth what somebody is willing to pay. on the internet, there are a lot of "somebodys".

The Tim Neely guides have some rigid classifications for albums. Things like "this volume doesn't list albums by groups who charted after 1976, even if they did chart before 1976 but the album is worth under $25." Things like that. Tim Neely isn't the friendliest dude I've found, so he must be thrilled to enforce these rules. As for the prices, I agree that EBay screwed up the values years ago. The book always seems to have some introduction about "the values are for person to person sales, not just the internet." WHAT?! Who the hell buys used records in person anymore outside of garage sales and mom-and-pop stores? Much as I hate to admit it, EBay is really the place for buying/selling disks.

Ever heard of a Record Show? I know a few guys that regularly buy records at these shows, and resell them for a profit on EBay. When going to these shows you have to be patient and know what to buy to resell. And there are other records that as a collector I can get a better buy on then the roll the dice prices people pay on Ebay. And I don't find the guide useless. But what I do find useless is pages of artists that have little to no market value. I like Paul Weston. But his records aren't worth a page of listings. I would always do an internet search before I would buy anything brick and mortar. And if I am not mistaken, can't you take your price guide back, and get a refund.

I agree with Arrow and Urchinn specifically, and everyone in general. These are great things to have, and give you a real thumbnail idea. Great if you are selling your discs at a record show, which is what I do every few years. That is how I use the guides. And just the Goldmine guide is going to not give you a real idea. But you really did not get ripped off if you bought it new and are trying to get an idea of what you have and its value. Heck, you could return it and ask the store to credit it toward the new edition. They could get a copy in a a week, and you would have a good argument there.

If you are selling on ebay, start at a buck and see what happens. If it is really rare, put a reserve. And if you are not a hardcore collector get wise to grading. I think we all hate guys who grade vg records as nm because they honestly don't know better. A vg record is not worth anything near a nm price.

I prefer to buy from record shows or stores. Most collectors do as well. Holding, and haggling can't be beat. Ebay is great, but as the number of people selling grows the number of bad grading problems has increased a bazillion fold from say 8 years ago when I started on ebay.

And yes - the number of Bobby Darin (or Tommy Sands) discs far outstrip demand or any price guide. Same for 99% of the discs listed in the "look what I found at Goodwill" posts here. I will not tool on people for finding a shrink wrapped copy of Frampton Comes Alive, or most of the ones people are so happy about getting for a buck, but to a record shop they are worthless. It is great that people get these and like them, but as discs for collectors those are the things I never even pick up. Collectible records, and record hoarding are very different things. But I do wish all of us good luck in finding the rare ones, and in selling discs. The hobby is great fun.

Most importantly - A mint mono copy of The Beach Boys Pet Sounds on the original label is worth waaaaaaaay more than what the price guides are listing. White hot. Same for original Chess blues lps.

I'm not saying I like EBay, but the last time I was at a record show where the vendors outnumbered the customers was 10 years ago.

I'm not saying I like EBay, but the last time I was at a record show where the vendors outnumbered the customers was 10 years ago.

That actually sounds like a good thing to me. I guess you meant that as well. But I think a lot has changed in 10 years. And I do like Ebay. Every once in a while I can get at least what I consider a good deal. And you can make a nice profit on the site as well. I have not bought anything on Ebay in almost a year.
I also wanted to add to what I said above. Obviously if you find a rare record at a thrift store for a buck or two you buy it. Don't go home and look it up on the Internet, and then run back to the store and buy it. There is a good chance it won't be there.