Selling Cassette Tapes: 5 Places to Sell + Creative Solutions for What Else to Do with Them
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If you've recently been on a home decluttering spree and found a box of old cassette tapes, you may be wondering what to do with them! Before you throw them out, I'm here to share with you the best places for selling cassette tapes.
Yes, people actually do buy old music cassette tapes, and a few rare ones can sell for crazy prices!
People have different motives for collecting cassette tapes. Some enjoy the nostalgia, while others prefer the sound of cassette tapes or just have a passion for collecting old things.
So, maybe you don't want your old audio cassettes - but someone else will!
In this guide, we'll take a look at:
- Where to sell old cassette tapes
- How much money you can expect to make
- The most valuable cassettes for sale
- What else to do with old cassette tapes.
Let's dive in!
Contents
Top 5 Places for Selling Cassette Tapes
Ready to turn your old cassettes into cash?
Read on to learn about the best places for selling cassette tapes online and offline.
1. eBay
eBay is one of the most popular online auction sites in the world, where you can sell just about anything, including cassette tapes.
Anyone can sign up and start selling their new or used cassette tapes in a range of music categories.
A few of the most popular, best-selling cassette tapes I saw were:
- Eminem
- Lana Del Ray
- Taylor Swift
- Nirvana
- Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody
- The Beatles.
These music cassettes were selling from $10.95 and up to $69.99 for a new, factory-sealed Beatles cassette!
To start selling your old cassette tapes on eBay, create a strong listing. Follow these steps:
- Sign up for an eBay account
- Create a listing
- Upload clear photos and write a detailed description
- Set your price and choose ''Buy Now'' or choose an auction-style sale
- Detail your returns and shipping information
- Publish your listing
Take the time to research other similar listings to make sure your pricing is competitive and put effort into taking clear photos from multiple angles.
When your cassette tape sells, you'll receive the buyer's information to send it out for delivery.
Make sure you respond to any customer inquiries or concerns, so you receive positive feedback.
Learn more about the very best things to sell on eBay.
Start selling on eBay right now.
2. Amazon
Amazon is another hugely popular online marketplace where you can sell old cassettes for cash.
While some people just sell a few cassette tapes that they don't want anymore, some savvy entrepreneurs make a business out of buying old cassettes cheaply and selling them on for a higher price.
The good news here is that Amazon does the delivery for you, which is called FBA (fulfilled by Amazon), and you can start an Amazon FBA business with very little money.
According to my research, two of the best-selling cassette genres on Amazon are:
- Hip-Hop
- Heavy Metal.
It seems that people who are into this type of music still buy cassette tapes!
So, next time you're in a thrift store and rummaging through a pile of old cassettes, these are the ones to invest in to resell on Amazon.
3. Facebook Groups
Facebook groups are places where like-minded people get together to talk and learn about certain subjects.
Some groups even allow fans to trade and buy different merchandise related to the group topic.
If you want to sell cassette tapes, there are plenty of Facebook groups worth checking out, such as:
- Cassette Tape Addicts
- Cassette Fans Club 📼 - Cassette Tapes for Sale (Any Genre)
- The Cassette Tape Collectors Society
- Cassette Tapes (Buy and Sell).
Type these group names into the search bar at the top of your Facebook account and follow any instructions for joining.
Each group will have its own rules and guidelines regarding selling, so it's important to check these out so you don't upset other members and risk getting yourself banned.
An alternative to Facebook groups would be to sell your old cassette tapes on the Facebook Marketplace.
Learn more in this guide on how to sell on Facebook Marketplace.
4. Yard Sale or Vintage Fair
Yard sales and vintage fairs are excellent places to offload your old cassette tapes.
Many eager bargain hunters peruse these places, which means old cassette tapes can often sell well.
Check your area for any vintage fairs being held in the future, and apply for a pitch if you find any suitable.
Having a yard sale is a little easier to get started selling. All you need to do is:
- Organize your cassette tapes for sale
- Find other old items that may sell well, such as vinyl records and VHS tapes
- Let your neighbors know about your yard sale
- Put up yard sale posters in your local area to get more attention
- Set up your yard sale in the front garden or driveway
- Start selling your old memorabilia to passersby!
It might help to get together with your neighbors and have a street yard sale, which should attract more people and potential buyers.
5. Local Record Store
Another option to get your cassettes sold is to sell them to record stores.
Do a Google search for record stores in your local area. Some may state on their website that they buy old cassettes, CDs, and vinyl records, or you can email them to ask.
This method might not bring in as much profit as selling them online, but the upside is that you don't have to post them out, and you can deliver them in-store.
A few things to be aware of:
- You may get offered cash or store credit - don't be afraid to negotiate
- Not all music genres will be accepted (some are more valuable than others)
- Record store staff may be willing to visit you for large collections
It may be frustrating, but a record store will not buy all music tapes as they'll know which ones they're likely to sell.
Remember to explore selling online if you don't have much luck with this method.
How Much Money Can You Make Selling Cassette Tapes?
According to the US 2022 Luminate Year-End Music Report, sales of cassette tape albums grew by 28%, from 343,000 in 2021 to 440,000 in 2022.
This clearly shows that cassettes are making a comeback, with many people valuing nostalgia and having something physical rather than just streaming music online.
And people are willing to pay, with some cassettes selling for thousands of dollars.
Take a look at the most valuable cassette tapes for sale today:
- Pearl Jam - Ten (1991): Sealed cassette selling on eBay for $4,000+
- Nirvana - Nevermind (1991): Sealed cassette selling on eBay for $850
- Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984): Sealed cassette selling on eBay for $675
- The Notorious B.I.G - Ready to Die (1994): Bundle of tapes sold on eBay for $137.50
What Else to Do with Old Cassette Tapes?
Have you tried to sell your cassettes with no luck? Or maybe you're not worried about money and just want your old collection to go to a good home.
Take a look at a few ideas for what you can do with old cassette tapes:
Trade
It's possible to trade your unwanted cassette tapes with other music enthusiasts.
Check places online for places to trade, such as:
- Online music forums
- Facebook cassette lover groups
Make connections and discuss the types of cassette tapes you have and the conditions they're in.
A music collector may agree to trade your old cassette tapes for CDs, vinyl records, or another item you're interested in.
Donate
If you're not into selling cassette tapes, another way to offload them is to donate to a charitable organization.
While the majority of charity shops welcome all donations, it pays to call ahead and ask if they're accepting cassette tapes.
Other places where you can donate your cassettes include:
- Educational facilities
- Thrift stores
- Local libraries
- Nursing homes
Recycle
If unused cassette tapes are taking up space in your house, you could offload them in an eco-friendly way and take them to a nearby recycling center.
The right digital waste facility that accepts old tapes will know how to disassemble each part so it can be sent off to be repurposed.
Use in DIY Projects
If you have a crafty side, you could repurpose your old cassette tapes into something useful to sell on Etsy.
Take a look at these cassette craft ideas for inspiration:
Final Thoughts on Selling Cassette Tapes
There are many options for selling cassette tapes, and with cassette tape popularity on the rise in recent years, there's never been a better time to get started!
Whether you sell online or at a local store, you can make a few dollars from offloading these items.
Just make sure you do your market research - because if you're lucky, you might just be holding onto an old cassette tape that's worth thousands!
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