CD Depreceation

[chris olivarez]

Does anybody know how much a cd depreciates in value once that wrapper is off and it's gone in the player?

[Tjazz]

Depends what price you paid.

40%-50% (since used CDs are sold for about $8-$9)

[wesbed]

Don't forget about those crazy Mosaic sets that sometimes sell for more used than new. I've seen the Hank Mobley box sell for more on eBay than new from Mosaic. B)

[LAL]

Used CD stores in my area buy second hands for at most 10-15% of the price of a new CD and resell em at a 300-400% profit.

[Tjazz]

secondspin.com has a buying pricelist of CDs.

A hot new release USED will get you $5.

[David Ayers]

I saw a mildly surreal film (which had a cameo by Jacques Derrida) where in one scene a girl who needs to raise some cash takes her walkman into the electronic goods store, says what it cost her, and asks what it is worth to buy back. The salesman takes a hammer and smashes up the walkman. He says "When we sell it to you it is worth 600 Francs, but when you try to sell it to us it is worth nothing".

PS I think the theme of the film might have been capitalism.

Edited July 14, 2004 by David Ayers

[Guy Berger]

Does anybody know how much a cd depreciates in value once that wrapper is off and it's gone in the player?

Are you asking for tax purposes?

On a serious note, I think it's interesting that CDs fall in value so much once the wrapper is removed. The wrapper is a seal of quality by the manufacturer, so maybe asymmetric information (only the owner knows how much of a beating the CD's taken, though I guess scratches are readily visible) becomes a factor.

Guy

[Tjazz]

It's always easier to BUY, then it is to SELL.

That's not a fault of capitalism. We all want stuff at the lowest price, and want to sell stuff at the highest price.