Over the past three or four years I've moved on some so called big ticket items with no regrets, in that time I've also picked up as many records as I've sold, I think the best way to value your collection is on musical content and quality rather than the price tag or current high selling prices on some records, records are for playing and enjoying and should not be treated as an investment or pension plan, having a pretty solid collection still of mid priced records and some bigger ticket items I dread to think of the current market value, still this only comes into play when selling stuff, Ted Massey pointed something out to me the other day regarding the high asking prices on some records and that it's got a little out of hand again as like Ted, myself and others who picked up tunes a bit back for a bargain or lesser price than today's market that we perhaps should take this into account to maybe get back to a more realistic market place as some records have been somewhat inflated due to demand,hype etc. by the same token as already stated on this thread people will only pay what a tune is worth to them and that sometimes means getting involved in auctions and perhaps bidding way over book or market price, the must own it mentality as we all know takes over sometimes.
Best thing to do is collect what you like, get as much pleasure and enjoyment out of your records and bugger the cost or worry about how much they will be worth down the line, example Cashmeres, Four Tracks, Dena Barnes, George Blackwell etc. etc. etc. are good records be they one thousand pound each or a fiver.
Regards - Mark Bicknell
Off to see Chelsea put three or four past Manchester City this very afternoon.....lol