Do Record Scanning Apps Work?

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of record scanning apps, often powered by AI, being used to value collections. But do they actually work?

In short, not really. While these apps can be a useful way to catalogue and view your collection digitally, their price estimates often miss the mark. The algorithms behind them don’t always have reliable data to draw from, meaning the values shown can be taken out of context or based on outdated information. In some cases, users can even edit prices within the app, which makes it difficult for others to know whether they’re seeing genuine data or manually adjusted figures.

In this blog, we'll explain what these apps use to value collections, compared to what our process is here to value collections, and what is best to use if you would like to value your collection yourself.

For ease of use, record scanning apps allow you to take a picture of the sleeve or label of a record, and then match it with a sleeve or label in their database, assigning it a price. However, as shown below in a screenshot from Discogs, multiple iterations of a record can have the same sleeve or label, but minor differences in matrix etchings or text alignment can alter their prices drastically. 

Because the record scanning app only has the sleeve or label information to work from, it has to choose between thousands of results, with very little information to back up its data. 

Consequently, it is very likely to pick the wrong result, and as it often favours the result with a higher price tag, you will likely receive a very skewed price result.

Especially for highly sought-after albums, the difference between the value of a first press and a reissue can be hundreds, even sometimes thousands of pounds. 

Because these apps work on the bare minimum of information, differences between pressings of records can be missed in the matching process. This can be as significant as a completely different label, where your version has a green label, and the app matches it to a more expensive purple label; or as small as a numerical difference in the matrix details (the etchings between the end of the tracks and the label). 

Especially for more sought after records, like The Beatles' records, sometimes the only differences between the records are the matrix details, which leaves the record scanning app with no hope of matching it to the correct edition just by seeing the sleeve, or even the label. In order to correctly identify a record, you need as much information as possible, meaning that the information these apps collect about the records simply isn't enough to generate an exact valuation. 

Excluding the pen on the sleeve, try to spot the difference between these two different pressings of Abbey Road! These are only identifiable by their labels and matrix details, and but their sleeves are exactly the same. This is the struggle which record scanning apps have, because they are only identifying a record by the front of the sleeve and/or one of the labels.

We looked at the top end of value, to test what these apps would value higher records at. For this, we used a Vertigo Swirl copy of Black Sabbath's 'Master Of Reality' - a very highly sought after record. At time of writing, there are copies listed on Discogs in near mint condition, listed for thousands of pounds.

What Record Scanner couldn't identify when we scanned this record was the condition of this record and the sleeve. Our copy had a long, deep scratch, which caused the audio to skip, along with lifting lamination on the sleeve, and sticker residue. Because of this, it's likely to sell for a maximum of £30. Record Scanner still claimed that this copy could sell for potentially a hundred pounds, which misleads the app users into thinking their collections are much more valuable than they actually would sell for, as condition is a large part of a record’s value.

To then test the lower end of the scale, we input the same collection into two different apps, one which scans the sleeve of the record, and one which scans the label. All of the records we put into our collection had been earmarked by us to be given away for free, as they haven't retained their value, aren't in high demand, and were in poor condition.

By looking at the releases on Discogs, it is quite easy to come to the conclusion that all of the records in this collection just don't sell. The "want" numbers are very low, there are hundreds of copies for sale for barely over a pound, and the low and median prices are consistently below around £5, which is a key indicator for a record that is not suitable for resale.

When we input our collection into Record Scanner, which scans the sleeves of the records, it gave an approximate valuation of £51.75.

In contrast, when we input our collection into VinylSnap, which scans the record labels, it gave a valuation of £21.75. However, upon testing this app amongst colleagues, we scanned the same record three times and it gave three completely different prices, disproving its accuracy.

See below for a comparison between Discogs and Record Scanner's valuations. The very low median price on Discogs is our first sign that this record is probably too low value and demand for there to be an interested buyer out there.

While they are able to identify the record with some degree of accuracy, and while matching the records, you are able to read through the release information and could exactly match the records to the pressings, the pricing data is the main issue. Because it pulls marketplace data without context, it may see that a record sold for £14 once, and value the record at £14, when realistically, nobody has bought the record for years, and there are hundreds of copies available that nobody is buying, meaning that the valuation of £14 is inaccurate. 

On top of this, it struggles to take into account the condition of the records, meaning that a record you own which may be valuable, could be in very poor condition, and these apps will tell you it is still worth hundreds of pounds. 

So, while these apps are a nice way to visualise your collection digitally, their pricing data is best to be ignored, or at least taken with a large pinch of salt!

While the sleeves and labels of the records do make up a part of our matching process, we examine every record in minute detail, looking at the sleeves, labels, matrix details, and any other nuances to the record. This allows the matches to be incredibly precise, meaning that we can provide you with all the details relating to any record you wish to purchase. 

For our matches, we always use Discogs to give the most precise matches we can. Because it values records based on previous sales data, and is a community space, where people are able to add information about the records on sale, making the information on this site one of the biggest breadths of information on records available to the public.

We recommend that if you want the best valuation for your records, you take the time to list your collection on Discogs, matching the record to the correct release using the matrix etchings and other specific details. This will give you the most accurate collection value, and as Discogs is constantly updating with new sales, it will give you a live, variable dataset, which you can work from. 

Discogs also has its flaws, especially when it comes to condition. While you can see previous sales data for the condition in which your record may be in, Discogs will give you a minimum to maximum price point for your record, leaving you to place your record where you think is best along that scale. However, because Discogs has the widest collection of data for logging your collection, we would recommend you use this as a starting point if you want to start cataloguing your own collection. 

Thinking of downloading an app with a view to ending up selling your collection? There is likely to be a significant difference between what the app says your collection is worth and what a dealer is likely to be able to offer. More and more, we are seeing people downloading an app to value their collection, and receiving misleading results as to what their collection is worth, largely due to records with extremely low value, demand or condition making up a significant portion of the "value" of the collection in question.

Even prices listed on Discogs are based on what your collection would be worth if you were to sell each record individually yourself, rather than in one job lot to a collector or dealer.

If you choose to sell to us, we have a dedicated team of record experts, who will competently value your collection. Many businesses will operate within similar price parameters, which are affected by a number of things, including tax, profit margins, factoring in the cost of processing a record through our detailed system, including the cost of cleaning materials, and staff time. 

Subsequently, most dealers will be able to offer between 20%-40% of the value of a collection, with this percentage varying depending on the demand and rarity of the records within it. We understand that if you were to sell your collection yourself, you may get more for it, but our services are tailored to people who would like their collection valued all in one go, without the years of cost and hassle which selling a collection piece by piece can bring.