Traded a sealed 1987 Metallica tape for a blank 90-minute Maxell and honestly still not sure who won

I swapped a rare Kill 'Em All original pressing for a used TDK SA90 at a meetup last month because the guy insisted his mix had a "perfect side A". The tape sounds great but now I'm wondering if I just got played by nostalgia or if trading rarity for sound quality actually makes sense. Has anyone else done a lopsided swap like this and regretted it or was it worth it?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_piper25d ago

Oh man, this hits way too close to home. I traded a first pressing of Black Flag's Damaged for a beat up copy of The Cure's Pornography and a pack of gum once. The Pornography is scratched to hell and the gum was stale, but honestly that album got me through a rough year so I can't really say I lost. The heart wants what it wants, ya know?

angelaellis25d ago

Had a buddy who traded a legit first edition Nirvana Bleach vinyl for a beat up VHS copy of The Matrix and a six pack of cheap beer. The VHS was so warped the movie looked like a underwater dream sequence and the beer was warm. BUT he met his now wife at that party because she laughed at how bad the tape was and they bonded over making fun of it. He says every time he sees that messed up Matrix tape in his closet he thinks about her and it was worth more than any record could be. So I guess sometimes you trade something rare for something even rarer, even if you don't know it at the time.