lordfoo- Difficult question to answer, but a very good one to ask.
The price of an LP basically is determined by SUPPLY & DEMAND. A good idea of how this is gauged is by checking out
Goldmine Record Album Price Guide. If it is collectible, but produced in the millions, then it won't go for more than an average record. For example, in the GRAPG you won't find entries of popular artists in the '70-80s like Kenny Rankin, Earl Klugh(the regular pressings) coz they cost less than $20. The minimum cost is $20 for a SINGLE album by the artist for him to be included in the GRAPG. Bear in mind, this is is for a NM copy. All listings are for NM copies since GRAPG believes that a Mint/M copy rarely exists. The pricing is then pared down depending on condition. GRAPG states that most collectors really own VG records, and thus the estimate of the value of their collection is less than the price guide. Check out the entires of Elvis Presley & the Beatles and you'll be surprised with what you'll see.
GRAPG only includes US pressings. The Japanese, etc. versions are not there. It is basically a GUIDE. You can pay more if you truly desire to own a copy wc the seller unloads at a higher price. You may luck out by acquiring a rare gem in a garage sale for peanuts.
Offhand, I am shocked at the current pricing of LPs locally. No problem with the audiophile pressings of Classic records and the like--they really cost that way with shipping included plus the profit margin. It's the locally available LPs of both imported/local LPs. I've seen in the span of 5 yrs how an LP (imported) w/c I acquired for P100-150 in VG+++ condition go for P500 to P1200! I don't know if it's supply & demand. Not all sellers price their goods that way, but there are a few whom I won't name, who I think sell regular pressings at ridiculously high prices. What is even more shocking , is that there are
BUYERS! I don't know if that particular LP is that valuable to them, but such LPs can be acquired for far less. I guess, to each his own.
I've spoken to some sellers, and they complain that the pricing has gone through the roof. They are even shocked that some LPs they wouldn't even offer because it isn't that collectible or the condition is that bad still sold! I've also seen some LPs( rare & very collectible) offered at prices only for the blue-blooded.
I don't know about others, but I only collect LPs I want to listen to. I 'm not a I MUST HAVE ALL THE LPs of this particular artist. I have pared down my listening tastes over time, so I don't collect all genre.
As to sealed LPs, the caveat is that it may be WARPED. I've come across a few in my own collection. The hard part is that you nor the seller wouldn't know till it's opened. No seller will open it for inspection since the offered price will go down greatly.
If the record isn't that 'perfect' for you, then it's called your FIRST copy. Hopefully a better one comes your way, or you may get another with poorer vinyl/mint cover or the reverse, NM vinyl/damaged cover and just mix the two betters parts together to get a NM/NM.Records in the '90s, '80s & '70s can be found in VG+++ to NM.
It's the LPs in the '50s which you can rarely findin NM. Most will be in VG, hopefully VG+++. Ganun talaga. I like the stuff in the '50s. I ACCEPT the 'ticks n pops' because I can't find another copy, but immensely enjoy the performance by the artist. The good thing is that some are now being re-issued in 180gms. The sad part is that it's pricey. Still, if you really want it, at least there is a copy. An example of this is the RCA Shaded Dog pressing of Edward Ansermet's Royal Ballet which some say is the finest RCA Shaded Dog recording ever. The original pressing costs thousands of USD--if you can find one for sale. Thankfully we can glimpse what it was nearly like with the Classic Record re-issue. The re-issue is not exactly the same as the original sonically. I had a chance to compare Fritz Reiner's Scheharazade between RCA Shaded Dog vs. Chesky Re-issue vs. Classic re-issue. The original had so much AIR & SPACE with rich, velvety MIDs. It had ambiance. The Classic records version had a higher db recording, more bass, but somehow the ambiance was lessened. The Chesky was in between.
At the time I was also lent a copy of the ORIGINAL RCA PRESSING of Ansermet's The Royal Ballet wc is EXTREMELY RARE. It was lent to me by a friend with the Scheharazade LPs. I organized a session with some friends, since such an opportunity may not be repeated again. The copy had some scratched portions wc were not playable. However, 3/4 of the entire 2LP set were still in VG+++ condition. Those were the tracks we auditioned. It was a breath taking listening experience.
As to local artist recordings, I'm shocked at how much the local ROCK LPs like Juan De La Cruz band fetch for these days! Admittedly, the number of pressings is low compared to US artists, so the prices have skyrocketed. I've seen one JDLC LP go for 15-25K!!!
Thankfully, I'm not into this genre, so I am spared the angst.
I've also heard that there are some 78rpm Beatles pressings being sold locally for P50K if a buyer wants it!!! Whew. It's so brittle, that you have to go to the sellers house to inspect it. If you buy it, you handle it. Should it break during transport, goodbye 50K.
My advice is, buy a particular LP because you want to listen to the music. What price to pay? That is entirely dependent on how much you want that copy and the condition. There are no hardfast rules. Be guided by the manner GRAPG grades LPs and their concommitant price. Bottomline:
ENJOY THE MUSIC!MERRY X-MAS TO ONE & ALL!
Thankfully, I'm not into this genre, so I am spared the angst.
... email mo na rin sa bayonic@yahoo.com kung pwede 
;D ;D
