Ask Laz: Snap, crackle, pop: How to sell your record collection

Carlos wants to know how he can get top dollar for his collection of more than 15,000 vinyl records.

It’s a timely question. The retailer Urban Outfitters announced this week that it now has the distinction of selling more vinyl albums than anyone in the world.

The company didn’t provide any statistics to back that up (and I’m wondering what Amazon has to say), but it was nice to see someone singing the praises of vinyl in this age of digital downloads.

ASK LAZ: Smart answers to consumer questions

In fact, sales of vinyl records hit 6.1 million last year -- the highest level since 1991, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Clearly there are people out there who miss the crackly, snappy sound of old-school analog.

But that doesn’t mean every record collection represents a gold mine.

Paul Fraser Collectibles, which deals primarily in high-end goodies, says the quickest and easiest way to unload a collection is to drop by a record store and see if there’s any interest.

Or you can list them online with the usual suspects -- Ebay, Craigslist, etc.

If you have some particular classics in your collection, you might want to hawk them individually to dealers. But this requires that you do a little homework.

Your records will need to be graded on several criteria, including whether a bright light catches any scratches and the condition of the album cover.

You’ll also want to compile any background information that enhances the album’s value, such as country of origin or unusual circumstances surrounding its recording.

The Beatles’ “Yesterday and Today,” for example, can fetch as much as $38,500, according to MusicStack.com. This is the rare and controversial album with the fun-loving lads looking like they just butchered a bunch of baby dolls.

My advice? Hold on to your collection, as I’m doing with the comic books from my youth. I don’t know anyone who collected anything for years and then felt good about walking away from their passion.

If you have a consumer question, email me at asklaz@latimes.com or contact me via Twitter @Davidlaz