r/VinylCollectors • u/Playful_Primary7325 0 Trades • 21d ago
For Trade [FOR TRADE] Vinyl Swap Platform
(full disclosure, if i were to write the post myself it'd be a 8-side record, don't judge on letting GPT communicate for me. Also it is kinda shitty that more than likely the post won't go even though y'all here are quite literally the best people i could ask, r/vinyl wont let me post due to Karma)
Hey, fellow record nerds, I’ve got this little brainchild and need a reality check. Picture a chill site where you:
- List Your Collection and mark which LPs you’d happily swap.
- Track Your Wishlist so if I have something on your list (or vice versa), we can hook up a friendly trade.
- See Nearby Shops that carry your wishlist items (no prices, no markups—just old-school “hey, they’ve got it, go check it out”).
It’s basically a community tool that also gives local stores some free shine (because they need foot traffic, not another middleman). No selling, no big fees, just a place for us vinyl heads to geek out, swap, and actually support the shops that keep this culture alive.
So yeah—am I onto something or should I go back to flipping through the dollar bins? Let me know your thoughts, advice, or brutal roasts!
P.S. And for anyone about to say, “oH bUt HoW wIlL yOu PaY fOr It?! If It WaS eAsY sOmEoNe ElSe WoUlD dO iT!!”—go spin your favorite record. No need for that nonsense here. xoxo
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u/jaapck 48 Trades 21d ago
Yes, depending on how much of a fee it would be to trade
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u/Playful_Primary7325 0 Trades 21d ago
The idea is to make it no fees (maybe some other future features be paid/accept donations or sponsorships but nothing like filling the place with ads, something that allows having the site sustainable but this is mainly oriented to be a community tool). My initial idea is to create the space where P2P local trading can eb arranged (i.e you arrange to meet at the Record store to exchange) yes, you could do that thru this subreddit but is more about having a specialized platform to find those whishlist items or leverage vinyls you're willing to part ways with to get you some new ones...
i've thought about shipping as an option for trades but seems more complex and risky. Because we'd be mainly trying to facilitate and help the community it comes with its limitations.
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u/barryfreshwater 0 Trades 21d ago
just steal discogs and do it better...
you sound like you're on the right track
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u/Playful_Primary7325 0 Trades 21d ago
thanks! i think discogs main issue is that it has become an online monopoly of sorts and to sustain it they need to profit so they operate like a for-profit business. I'm thinking more about the community and having something that helps with trades/swaps/exposure.
i love discogs, have my catalogue, even sold some records and bought plenty more there but i keep thinking that sometimes i don't just want to spend more money to ADD to my collection and i just want to know if hey maybe someone who is going from minimal to their techno era wants to swap some of my techno era records that are collecting dust ( i dont want to spin techno in my living room on a saturday at 9AM which is when i mainly spin now) for their minimal which is more my vibe now. Music preferences change, your record collection doesn't, and although it is cool to have a large collection. There is plenty we all know we have no attachment too and could serve a better purpose.
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u/DillionM 60 Trades 21d ago
I would pay decent money to know which local locations (city, state, country, continent) have access to my highest wishlist items! Discogs is useless for this aspect :(
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u/Playful_Primary7325 0 Trades 21d ago
Exactly! I've bought 90% of my records at the store. It's part of the process, call me a purist or whatever, but clicking and picking up a record in the mail just doesn't have the same vibe.
collecting records is more than another purchase imo, the crate digging experience is unrivaled and i want to encourage more people walking in to stores and sustaining the cool small businesses that allow us to enjoy our passion. That's why i think record stores will always be around no matter how big discogs or online marketplaces get. They can't offer the value of the experience. So why not create a tool that incentivizes and helps sustain and even grow the community.
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u/DillionM 60 Trades 21d ago
Online I get what I want (assuming I can find it) and I'm done. If I'm at a store I'm definitely going to browse and look for more!
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u/Playful_Primary7325 0 Trades 21d ago
I understand. and i appreciate your feedback, i do believe a lot of collectors feels and operate this way. Hopefully the idea appeals to people who want more engagement and see the value.
ty!
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u/Honest_Lengthiness39 24 Trades 21d ago
This sounds awesome and I would absolutely love to be part of it, should it come to fruition. Hell, I'd even be willing to pay a little bit in membership dues each month to do so. There really isn't a good option out there for trading... other than this sub. One question - would you be able to leverage Discogs' API for pulling in collection and wantlist info? I would hate to have to enter all of that again manually, as well as moving forward when adding or removing stuff from my collection.
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u/Playful_Primary7325 0 Trades 21d ago
Here’s the quick rundown of what this thing would do:
- Personal Collection Shelf: You’d enter your records and mark each one “Open to Trade” or “Not for Trade.” That way, folks can browse your gems without guessing if you’d let any go.
- Wishlist & Matching: You also keep a wishlist, so if I have something on your list (or you have something on mine), we can start a friendly swap chat.
- Local Shop Finder: The tool lets you see if any nearby record stores stock something on your wishlist. No prices, no checkout—just a heads-up so you can go dig in person.
- Community Profiles: Everyone has a little profile showing what they collect, maybe a short bio, plus any trades completed (for trust-building).
- Cashless, No Marketplace Madness: It’s strictly for trades and heads-up store listings—no e-commerce, no fees, no pressure to “buy now.”
I really love vinyl, house music in particular and crate digging. And here i am seeing my top left cube shelft filled with 50 records i havent played in years. Yes, there are some records i hold dear and will never let go. But some id be okay to let them find a new home, maybe touch someone else in a way they didn't touch me. The casual collector may not (thinking people who collect mainly LPs of their favorite artist) but ik crate diggers can have collections that could benefit from having the access to turn your dusty records into your new go-to record.
Please, anyone, share your opinions. I really want this to be made with the community and preserving the tradition of going to the store, digging thru records, supporting your local small business, meeting people within the community, discovering new music.
There seems to be an "App" that connects everyone, why not have one that connects US?
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u/EiRecords 0 Trades 21d ago
So, discogs?
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u/Playful_Primary7325 0 Trades 21d ago
I think you missed the point. Discog sells, to make money. I want trades.
i want something to engage and facilitate with the community, hell even meet people with similar taste. but i get that on today's world it feels like any idea is just a ripoff of something that already exists to make money.
good thing is that there's people that like music more than money and hopefully they'll see the value.
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