Too many CDs

[Barry]

Having recently inherited 2,000 CDs, I have started the mammoth task of going through the entire collection, which including my own, amounts to some 4,500 discs.

Obviously there are many duplications plus some that are not to my tastes, so I have been listening to a lot of new stuff, as well as re-cataloging and trying to find ways to house it all!

Today I took 100 CDs to a charity shop, and warned them there could be another few hundred more to come.

[Firebottle]

A blessing and a curse I imagine Barry, that's a lot of CD's.

[Barry]

Progress so far.

One of the problems I have always had with cataloging any music collection is division into genres and subsequent sub-divisions.

For my LP collection, which started first, I divided the genres into: classical; blues and R&B; jazz; pop and rock; folk, and 'world'. This time with my CD collection, the divisions are: classical; blues; jazz; pop, rock and folk; world, and spoken word.

So far, the re-housing and cataloging has only been with rock, pop and folk; and to date covers A - M only. When it comes to cataloging it is strictly alphabetical. Solo artists and groups which have a leading artist are filed by their family name, with sub division by given name, again in alphabetical order. There are some ambiguities, for example a CD of James Taylor dueting with Joni Mitchell is filed under Joni Mitchell, and by date of release.

Thus halfway through the alphabet within the genre of pop, rock and folk has amounted to 1,046 CDs. There is probably at least a similar number, if not more, for N - Z. And probably another three times that for other genres.

[Lawrence001]

Barry would you consider selling these to a member (donating to your chosen charity) so we know they are going to a good home?

[Barry]

Hello Lawrence,

You raise a question I have had from the start, that of 'disposing' of duplications and of titles that do not interest me. And initially I did think of offering them to Members gratis. However I didn't want to have to send them piecemeal - it would be too much trouble to buy the necessary padded bags and post them off, and to charge for the packaging and postage would appear mean.

The alternative would be to list the titles of those unwanted discs with the option for a Member to list those discs that were not wanted by them, and to take all of the rest. This would amount to several hundred items which would weigh a lot making postage very expensive.

It will take me a long time to complete the task: at the moment I'm only half way through the rock, pop and folk genre. The house is littered with discs which need to be sorted, filed and housed. It's getting on my (and especially my partner's) nerves, so surplus discs are being taken to Oxfam on a drip feed basis as soon as is convenient.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I have given it some thought and what I'm doing is convenient for me and a charity still benefits.

[Macca]

I'd be interested in them as a job lot Barry. No picking and choosing, just send me the lot.

Just give me a price if you want to do that, will understand if you don't.

[Barry]

Martin,
There could be a couple of thousand CDs available if you include all genres. If you are only interested in rock, pop and folk (N to Z) then there might be 300 or so.

I'm going to be taking a break from the CDs for a couple of weeks, but should then be able to give you more information regarding numbers, weight and cost of carriage.

[Lawrence001]

The alternative would be to list the titles of those unwanted discs with the option for a Member to list those discs that were not wanted by them, and to take all of the rest. This would amount to several hundred items which would weigh a lot making postage very expensive.

That's what I was thinking, have a day out with the family in Essex and rather conveniently drop by to pick the CDs up.

[majex45]

Unfortunately, charity shops are inundated with CDs at the moment. Several of those near me are offering them at 5 or 10 for £1. Others won't take them at all.
Others just put them in the landfill bin as they don't bring enough income per foot of shelf space and they are not recycleable.
Offer them here (individually or in bulk) and enthusiasts will catalogue, sort and cherish them.
If nothing else they are useful for the jewel cases which I buy from charity shops to replace broken ones.

[kirstysdad]

I tried to give away a CD radio at the local recycling tip- told to put it in the electrical skip- even the employees there can't get a quid out of it.
My local Oxfam shops (even the dedicated book/media one) have drastically reduced CD space, other charity shops don't accept them, or DVDs.