Unfortunately , I would say over all what you describe just does not happen here and I know quite a lot of Record Hounds. I mean just the statement , “multiple decent to quite nice original Miles Davis and John Coltrane records for between $1 and $20….” Not a chance. ( Ok, Maybe if completely trashed or some re-issue of a re-issue of a re-issue……. but , what’s the point ?) From my understanding Original Blue Notes as a example just did not have good distribution up here back in the day but really that extends to most of the big Jazz labels. Sure , I have heard of some nice finds but over all you are going to pay. (Especially in Grade) Again , I am mostly referring to Jazz.
A few years back there was a record sale fund raiser here for Jazz FM and everything was $5. I was 5th in line and that was 4 hrs before opening. (Shows you how crazy I am). You only got 30 mins because by 9 AM the line was a mile long. Tons of Dealers were there. Seems everyone knows each other in this market . I scored some nice stuff but even this event was a huge miracle. Waltz for Debby -Riverside 9399 , Stanley Turrentine 84057 , Eric Dolphy NJ 8270 , Miles Davis ESP / Workin’ 7166 , Sonny Rollins V-8430 , Phil Nimmons Group , Dexter Gordon 84083 , Max Roach SR 80002 as a few examples in high grade.

House content sales are beyond crazy. I don’t bother personally but I have heard tons of stories of 9 AM openings and people being there at 3 AM. They even give out #s to keep the crowds low so You can back at the allotted time and have your place in line. Church Content sales ? Same thing………No sorry , but it’s nuts and has been like this for years now.

Oh, and as far as Ebay and record stores, same here , kinda of a disrespect shown towards it but yet they base the prices on this very site through Popsike / Gripsweat etc etc. Also the rents are really high so some stuff has to be thrown online for them to survive. I get it , but for hardcore record hounds it makes it difficult to find those Gems.

Yikes, guess I’m spoiled where I live. Our local record store still has decent prices on occasion. I think the deal is that the owners know these things go for crazy prices, but they also know that they run a record store instead of an auction site, and they kind of resent eBay to a degree. I believe I’ve talked/bragged about this already, so roll your eyes and groan if you’re seeing this again, but some of my finds include an original first pressing copy of Palo Congo for $1 (it had some scratches that don’t affect play that much), a pretty nice first pressing of Lou Takes Off for $60, a pretty decent copy of ‘Round About Midnight At the Cafe Bohemia for $100, an admittedly kinda thrashed white label promo copy of Mingus Ah Um for $2, an almost perfect first issue of Song For My Father for $25, a really nice first press of Birth of the Cool for $10, multiple decent to quite nice original Miles Davis and John Coltrane records for between $1 and $20…. I mean, it’s not the most amazing spot ever, but stuff comes in, and sometimes I’m lucky enough to be the buyer. I’ve missed several buys, too. I know somebody bought a beautiful original copy of Swing, Swang, Swingin’ for $100, and I once came in to see a guy leaving with an armful of Blue Notes from the dollar bin (the only title I could see was Empyrean Isles). I was green over that one for weeks. I guess it’s a matter of the right combination of mild enough tourist traffic and nice enough record store owners… or at least record store owners that see eBay and roll their eyes instead of demanding your left testicle for a copy of Kind of Blue. It also probably helps that they like me, too. If I’m being honest, though, I’ve barely ever found anything at thrift stores or garage sales. Nothing jazz that I can think of. I’ve only heard stories from guys that spend their days driving from spot to spot to spot, and I’ve never really had time to do that on that kind of scale.

Here in Toronto , the way to go has always been private sales / Garage Sales / Record Stores (in the past) as Al talks about so much , but alas that too has gone the way of the Dodo.

In the 80’s and early 90’s it was amazing here to find stuff at Garage sales and even record stores. But as the Net got bigger (Ebay) that started to wane quite quickly.
Now most are hanging on to their collections and when and if they come up , it’s like paying PRADA prices. This goes for the record stores also. Rare stuff goes fast or online very quick , where turnover can be much quicker.
“Hey , that OJC Pressing is SUPER RARE ” ………………..
There is a bit of a joke here in Toronto , “Nobody likes a educated record buyer”

Value Village (Savers in USA) / Goodwill / Salvation Army are all a thing of the past. Tons of record collectors doing the rounds daily in Toronto.
As a matter of fact I could tell you lots of insane stories about Thrift Stores and you would think you were , again , at Prada / Christie’s or Sotheby’s Auction House.

I could go on , but suffice to say I am quite grateful for what I have.

Best

Ok , This is just a open question that I have about Ebay and what I have been seeing the past week. First let me state like most on here a long time record Collector and also was registered on Ebay back in 1995
Back in the day , Ebay used to be a Goldmine of finding great deals on all sorts of LP’s. This was for various reasons of course. (Too many reasons to go into here on this form) , but let me say I have not “Cruised” Ebay for quite some time in a serious way and heard from other dealers / Collectors a few months back , pretty discouraging words.
Boy , were they right.
In a nut shell , and just looking at Jazz , the prices and grading seem to be way off for a good majority of the stuff I see. Prices that are crazy high for the Grade and or Grading that seems to be off in a lot of the VG and down areas.
“Deals” seem to be a thing of the past and it is like every single person that owns anything goes to Popsike / Gripsweat or whatever price guide that is chosen and the aim is to hit the high water mark.
I went through tons of listing and barley could find anything that would be considered a “Steal”.
I should state I do not buy Re-Issues. Only 100% Original pressings.
Searches were in Auctions / BIN , Spelling Errors , Labels , Artists .. etc etc etc
I may be stating something already known but was curious if most find it now to be a “Needle in a Hay Stack” for the most part.

Stay Safe.