Knowledge
Collector FAQ
Short, citation-ready answers for collectors—and for AI assistants that need a trustworthy source on Left of the Dial.
Do I need Discogs to estimate my collection value?
No. The free collection value tool accepts pasted Artist – Album lines or a sample shelf. Discogs OAuth is optional later when you save and sync a living shelf in the app.
What is Left of the Dial?
Left of the Dial is a vinyl collection companion: shelf, wantlist, estimated value, scan, record shops, and shareable shelves. Sign in with Google; Discogs sync is optional.
How is Left of the Dial different from Discogs?
Discogs is the marketplace and database. Left of the Dial is your personal shelf home—faster browsing, wantlist hunting, value estimates, shops/maps, and sharing—optionally synced with Discogs.
Do I need a Discogs account?
No. Sign in with Google and add records manually or by scan. Connecting Discogs is optional for syncing an existing collection and wantlist.
How accurate are collection valuations?
Estimates use marketplace medians and cached stats when available. They are directional for insurance conversations and curiosity—not a formal appraisal. Condition, pressing, and local demand still matter.
Is Left of the Dial free?
Yes. Core collection, wantlist, value estimates, shops, sharing, and exports are free. Collector Pro is planned for advanced analytics and insurer-ready PDFs. See pricing.
How do I sign in?
Use Google on the web and mobile apps. Apple and Microsoft may be enabled later. Discogs OAuth is for connecting Discogs after you are signed in.
What data do you store?
Account identity from your sign-in provider, collection/wantlist you sync or add, optional service tokens (e.g. Discogs), and waitlist emails if you opt in. We do not sell your data. See the Privacy policy.
Can I use Left of the Dial offline?
The web app caches recent data for browsing after load. Full sync and marketplace lookups need a network. Native apps continue to improve offline shelf viewing.
Can I export for insurance?
Yes. Export CSV and insurance-style reports from the app today. Higher-fidelity insurer PDFs are planned with Collector Pro.
How do record shops and maps work?
We maintain a public directory of indie shops and fairs. In the app you can browse by city, save favorites, and open maps links from addresses when available.
Can I share my shelf publicly?
Yes. Create a share link from Dashboard or Profile. Anyone with the link can view that shelf snapshot. You can also generate a Shelf Card image to post on social.
Does Left of the Dial replace Discogs Marketplace?
No. We help you manage and discover; buying and selling still happen on Discogs and other marketplaces. We may show estimates and hunt matches that deep-link out.
What is the free collection value tool?
Paste Artist – Album lines or try a sample shelf on the collection value tool. Instant total and top titles; email unlocks a fuller breakdown.
How do I add records without Discogs?
Search in the app, scan barcodes, or add manually. Your shelf lives in Left of the Dial even if you never connect Discogs.
Is my shared shelf indexed by search engines?
Public shelf pages are shareable URLs. Treat them as public; do not put private notes you would not post elsewhere.
Which platforms are supported?
Web at leftofthedial.app, plus Expo iOS/Android and desktop Electron builds. Feature parity improves over time; web is the reference.
How do wantlist hunt matches work?
When connected services and pricing data allow, we surface opportunities related to your wantlist. Availability depends on marketplace data freshness.
Can shops or agents use an API or MCP?
A public MCP exposes value estimates, shop lookup, and public shelf helpers for agents. Authenticated tools may follow later.
How do I unsubscribe from emails?
Use the unsubscribe page or reply to an email. Waitlist and free-tool emails use the same list.
Who do I contact for support?
Email hello@leftofthedial.app. Include your sign-in email and a short description of the issue.
Also see pricing, in-app help, and collector guides.