Uncle Lee's Musical Journey in Sha Tin: Downsizing and Letting Go of Precious 80s Vinyl and Cassette Collection

It was a drizzly afternoon when our "9Box Music" acquisition specialist arrived at City One Shatin. Our client this time was Uncle Lee (pseudonym),who was almost seventy years old. A few days prior,Uncle Lee had sent a few photos via WhatsApp,showing well-preserved vinyl records and a whole box of neatly arranged cassette tapes. Even through the screen,we could feel the owner's care for these musical treasures.

【Seller Profile】

• Name: Uncle Lee (retired secondary school teacher)
• Reason for selling: Preparing to move from a large house to a smaller one (relocating to a smaller unit for retirement),as there isn't enough space for his extensive audio equipment and decades of collected records. To prevent his beloved items from deteriorating due to humidity in a cramped space,he decided to find someone who would appreciate them.

Stepping into Uncle Lee's study felt like entering a Hong Kong pop music museum from the 80s and 90s. Uncle Lee smiled and told us,"Youngsters,these are my treasures. Back when I was teaching,the stress was high,and the happiest thing after work was to go treasure hunting in Sino Centre or Apliu Street. Now my children have grown up and moved out,and my wife and I are moving to a two-bedroom apartment in Ma On Shan. I simply can't take all this stuff with me. Instead of leaving them unused in a mini-storage,I'd rather entrust them to you 'We' to find them a good home."

During the assessment,several classic vinyl records immediately caught our eye. First were Paula Tsui's "Farewell Too Hard" and "New Songs and Selections." The covers had almost no creases,and the records themselves were as good as new,showing Uncle Lee's meticulous care. Next was Danny Chan's "Deeply in Love with You" (produced by WEA),an album in excellent condition,highly sought after in the market as a "premium disc."

What surprised us the most was Uncle Lee's collection of Jacky Cheung cassette tapes. From early works like "Smile" and "Distant Her" to peak-era albums such as "True Feelings Revealed" and "Goodbye Kiss," and even live concert recordings—there were over twenty of them! The lyric books for each tape were intact,and the casings had few scratches. Uncle Lee caressed these tapes and said,"Back then,there was no Spotify. You had to buy tapes one by one and rewind them slowly. Even now,I still find the analog sound of tapes the warmest."

While listening to Uncle Lee share stories of queuing for concert tickets,we carefully assessed each item in his collection. For us,it's not just about buying and selling; it's about respecting every piece of music history. After two hours of counting and condition assessment,we offered Uncle Lee a fair and satisfactorybuyback price. Before we left,Uncle Lee watched us pack the records,his eyes showing a touch of reluctance,but he also smiled with a sense of relief: "I trust you with them."

📦 Evaluation List of Recycled Products (Selected Highlights)

To provide a more transparent understanding of our recycling standards,here is an evaluation of some of Uncle Lee's cherished items:

(Note: Condition rating standards are industry-standard,where NM is Near Mint,EX is Excellent,and VG+ is Very Good Plus. Specific recycling prices may fluctuate with market conditions.)

Want to learn more about vinyl records. Feel free to visit our Song Appreciation Column or check out more recycling cases.

Want to find a new home for your cherished collection.

We offer free door-to-door Vinyl Record Buyback service across all 18 districts of Hong Kong,with professional appraisals and immediate cash payment. Book an appraisal now via WhatsApp 69043974,or visit our official website to learn more.