Dig It! Record Barn

Dig It! Record Barn in Joplin is a destination shop with a regional pull, tied into collectors, dealers, Route 66 travelers, and the broader four-state record scene. Lynn explains how the barn evaluates collections, why appointments matter, and what sellers most often misunderstand about condition and value.

Interview with Dig It! Record Barn

Lynn, you're at the "4 State Record Show" as well as the barn — how do the show and the shop feed each other?

After 7 years, in 2026 I passed the baton of hosting the show to my co-host and another passionate dealer from the area. However, I will say that the 4 State Record Show was created to support the regional dealers and collectors and build community. It has never been about the barn or even hosted by the barn publicly, just to keep everyone on an equal platform. In the past, several dealers from outside our local area, will shop the barn after the show for some bulk deals or just to experience what we offer, but typically the barn is a bit slow the week before and after the show, as the locals are saving up for it.

A record barn in Joplin is a destination rather than a walk-in spot — how do people find their way out to you?

Besides obviously Google, we're listed on as many vinyl-finding resources as we have discovered. Recently, we were listed as one of the top ten best record stores in Missouri, and we are a short detour off of Route 66 and I-44. Billboards have been instrumental in bringing in travelers off the highway. Whether you are heading to Springfield, Tulsa, KC, or NW Arkansas, a ten minute detour will get you here.

Visitor-signed doors above the new-vinyl bins at Dig It! Record Barn, a small detail of the destination-shop traffic Lynn describes.

You ask sellers to bring the whole collection and make an appointment — what does a proper evaluation look like from your side?

(So Glad You Asked!) First, let me address appointments. We implemented this requirement for a number of reasons. It allows an option to bring in the collection, or have us come to its location. Also, historically sellers would walk in on a Monday after cleaning the house on the weekend, and frankly, we don't have much cash at the first of the week. Our booking link at the bottom of our website clearly instructs you to bring your state issued identification, which helps prevent us from buying stolen collections. Some days are blocked, and sometimes entire weeks are blocked, depending on our need. (Being a bit less available, actually makes your services a bit more valuable.)

Now, about the evaluation. We will not give a ballpark estimate. We're not in the appraisal business. In most collections, we anticipate there will be up to 25% "chaff", or donatable records in any collection. Those are not getting a valuation, but they go where we see fit to a veterans thrift store, or crisis center shop. People often will try to bring in a sample of what they have. That doesn't work for either us or the seller. The seller wants to do the math and multiply what we offer times how many they left at home, and it just doesn't work that way. We never give a per piece price. We are buying all or none, basing the offer on Condition, Artist mix, Quantity, and Need.

Used-vinyl rows at Dig It! Record Barn, tying into Lynn’s point that collection offers depend on condition, artist mix, quantity, and need.

You tell people 78s and 45s "generally don't have much value" but you still look — what's the rare exception that's surprised you?

To clarify, the quote should be "78s and 45s generally don't have much value to us." Our focus is on LPs, so we price all 45s at $1. We only sort them by three genres (Rock, Country, Other) and they don't get cleaned or alphabetized. We want buyers to find their own treasures and go home feeling good about what they found for a buck. There is a Johnny Cash 7" on MGM, I think it may be "Walk The Line" that can go for up to $100, but we're not watching for it to come in. If it does, it will be in the Country bin at a dollar. With 78s, we have a local dealer that specializes in them, so they get sold to him in bulk when we accumulate enough. He has told me that with 78s, the label makes a great deal of difference, as Columbia, RCA, and Decca won't be worth what Okeh, Bluebird and other less common ones would be.

What's the four-state region around Joplin like for record collecting — what turns up here that wouldn't elsewhere?

There is a solid core group of collectors, and what DOES NOT turn up here is much Punk, Metal, Psych, or Jazz/Blues. People who have those are not selling. We get a good variety of Classic Rock and Funk/Soul and of course, plenty of Country and Southern Rock.

New-release displays at Dig It! Record Barn, sitting alongside the regional used-record flow that shapes the shop.

What's the most valuable record or collection that's come through the barn?

"Gandalf" (ST-121), the one that the artist and label fought over the title and many went to market with the wrong record inside the jacket, so the majority of them got a perforated "FREE" stamp in the corner because it could be the right record or the wrong one inside. Ours sold for nearly $500.

Roughly what does a common LP fetch versus something you're excited to buy?

Impossible to state an estimate on one LP. We've paid $30 for 300 albums and we've paid $300 for 30. In 10-15 minutes, we can determine an offer for cash or an option for store credit.

When a 45 or 78 does turn out to be worth something, what usually makes the difference?

Answered in number 4 above.

Should sellers clean records before an evaluation, or leave them — and what condition problems most hurt value?

There is no need to clean them and please don't bother making a list. Often, people think it's helpful to make a list of what they are selling and send it in advance. (Would you buy a car just knowing it's a 1996 Honda Passport and it's VG+?) We hand clean every album except those going out for a dollar, and that process gives us an insight into deep scratches, warping, or other issues that must be considered when we put a sticker on it. Knowing how they have been stored is important; (flat stacks, storage units, basements, attics) all can create hidden problems that we won't see until later. Honestly, scratches that are in the same direction as the grooves (causing loops or skips) are the biggest value killer, but actually cover condition is a top consideration as well.

What do people most often misjudge about what their collection is worth?

That Elvis is worth anything! 😂 Seriously, the most common comments we hear resemble this: "the covers aren't great but the records inside are pristine!" Quite frankly, that makes them about half price. We can't get market value if there are splits, cat piss, mold or water damage, and mouse eaten spines. But that is what "Sale Price" tags are for, so we will buy them anyway in most cases.

Asking us what your record is worth is going to get a two-part answer. First, are you selling it? We will tell you what we will pay for it, but we will not suggest a price you should list it for online, unless we're just not interested in it. There are plenty of resources available to give anyone a successful selling price in the worldwide market. In the shop, it's a little different. We're trying to move product, not create a museum of product, so median price is golden retail.

Last updated: 2026-08-01