CD Collection for Sale — Maybe…
For the last few days I’ve been debating the pros and cons of selling my CD collection. It’s not that I’ve lost my love for music — quite the opposite. Lately I’ve been rediscovering many of the bands and songs I loved as a kid.
Since originally writing this article, I have indeed cut my CD collection in half. Maybe in a while I'll be able to finish the job.
My decision to sell my CD collection comes more from a practical standpoint. I can’t remember the last time I played a CD. Since buying my first MP3 player five years ago, I’ve been almost exclusively digital in my music listening habits.
I’ve continued to buy CDs to be sure, but after opening the package and uploading the songs on my computer, the CD is almost always sent to sit on a shelf, never to be used again.
It’s no surprise that I’ve latched onto the MP3 format so much. As a teenager, I would spend hours obsessively recording mix tapes (and eventually mix CDs) — always searching for that perfect playlist that not only featured great tunes but also told a story through its selection of order.
I still have fond memories of a mix tape my oldest sister gave me once as a present. The choice of songs was eclectic and didn’t always smoothly transition from genre to genre, but as a whole, the tape was one of the best mixes I ever heard. I still regret impulsively giving it to a girl I had a crush on.
With iTunes and my iPod, it’s never been easier to create those playlists I’m so fond of. Driving with me used to be a real hazard (well, even more of a hazard then it usually is) due to the fact that I would spend the trip switching CDs every ten minutes. Now, I’m able to plan ahead and prepare a list of songs to accompany me while I drive.
Besides the CD-ROMs built into my computer and my DVD player, I no longer even own a CD player. My last portable player died a rather unfortunate death when I dropped it in my freshmen college dorm and it shattered on the rock-hard linoleum floor.
For all these reasons, I have put some serious thought into unloading myself of my CD collection. While not a massive inventory, the collection takes up its fair share of room — especially when packed up in boxes during moves. It would seem like a more practical storage solution to simply burn my entire library of MP3s onto a few blank DVDs or even buy an external hard drive.
In the case of a fire, I know for a fact that I would ignore everything firefighters taught me as a kid and I would run around my apartment trying to gather up all of my valuables before evacuating. It would be a lot easier to save a single binder of burnt DVDs than trying to rescue a pile of burning CDs.
The one thing that has been preventing me from sealing the deal and selling my collection has been my love for material goods.
I’m not going to lie — I’m proud of my collection. Some of my CDs are kinda rare and they took a while to track down. While I can get rid of the actual CD and still save the songs on my computer, a part of me will die if I have to give up my physical copies of the Enzso album, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles soundtrack or my Everclear collection.
A person’s CD collection says a lot about them — and not just their taste of music. With my CDs displayed in my living room besides my couch, people are able to walk into my apartment, check out my selection of tunage and instantly judge my character and worth. How will they do that if I get rid of my CD collection — actually take the time and get to know me? Yeah, right.
