Finding The Record Store That Keeps You Excited About Music
Music is a powerful unifier. It brings together so many types of people from all different backgrounds, histories of musical appreciation, lifestyles, and economic statuses, and it beautifully moves us and triggers us in one way or another. Bob Marley said it well: “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”
Music is a powerful unifier. It brings together so many types of people from all different backgrounds, histories of musical appreciation, lifestyles, and economic statuses, and it beautifully moves us and triggers us in one way or another.
Bob Marley said it well: “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” [1]
Vinyl, specifically, is a music media format that allows us to slow down a bit from our busy lives, slip the record out of its protective sleeve, flip the record over, check out the cover art, and engage deeply with the music.
I don’t know what specifically makes you tick, but I get irrationally excited at the prospect of jumping into my car, knowing I’ve got a few extra dollars to throw around, and making my way to a record store to buy some vinyl to add to my collection.
Call it retail therapy if you like, and that’s definitely a factor in the excitement, but there’s something truly thrilling about digging through those stacks of records, waiting for something to call out to you, begging to be taken home, spun on your turntable, and added into your burgeoning record collection.
Knowing that we want to listen to some music that really “hits,” like Bob Marley said, the question that ends up coming to the forefront when you’ve got some spending money is…
“Where should I go shopping for records?”
Seeing as we are all connected with music in different ways, and we’re not all looking for the same records to add to the shelf, there are a number of factors to consider when looking for a record store to shop at.
Does It Matter Whether You Shop For Vinyl Online Or In Person?
There’s no right or wrong answer to this question; it’s all about preference. There are pros and cons to each, but if you’re like most people your shopping habits will shift over time.
Shopping for Vinyl Online
With any sort of online purchasing, the big factor that keeps this option always on the table is convenience.
How rad is it to be able to sit at your computer in your underwear, look up record titles that you’ve had on your wish list, add them to your shopping cart, and then wait for them to show up at your door?
All it takes is a few keystrokes and that vinyl is yours. I love opening up my mailbox to find a flat, square package of thick cardboard, knowing that it contains a couple of records that I bought a couple of days prior.
Another benefit to shopping online is the incredible vinyl selection that is available right at your fingertips.
You can virtually shop from anywhere you like. Just Google search for a record that you want to buy, and the results will range from big box stores to small independent shops selling records to audiophiles.
If you’re generally looking for something specific as opposed to browsing, buying vinyl online would generally be the way to go unless you just know that a certain shop has it in stock.
Shopping online can also be an excellent choice if you already have a local shop that you consistently purchase records from.
If you’ve already developed a sense of trust with a certain record store, and you’re confident that they prioritize safe handling of their records, shopping online could be a convenient way to shop while also supporting your local brick-and-mortar.
Shopping for Vinyl in Person
Although I do enjoy occasionally purchasing vinyl online, there’s nothing like the physical act of going to a shop and poring over their vinyl selection, slowly deciding what records you want to bring home with you.
It’s an immersive experience, flipping through this tangible music media, taking in all of the cover art as you pore over the selection, waiting for something to grab your attention.
Being able to inspect the condition of the record jacket (the outermost protective cover) [2] for any dents, tears, folds, or any other imperfections is a benefit to shopping in person.
When shopping online, it’s a gamble whether or not the packaging is going to be dented or have any sort of imperfections. It all depends on how much the exterior quality matters to you.
Shopping for vinyl records in person allows you to be able to find a lot of new bands that you may not have been aware of.
I often like to bring a pair of headphones with me while I shop for records. That way, if I see something that catches my eye that I’m not familiar with I can easily stream a little bit of their music to see if I like it and then make the purchase.
On the other hand, if you’re feeling like taking a risk, it can be a total thrill to purchase a record purely based on the cover art. It’s a gamble, because you may get home and not like what you hear, OR it could be a new favorite or something that grows on you over time.
There’s also something to be said about the actual ambiance and communal vibe of shopping in person at a record store.
The aesthetic of the establishment can make or break a place. If the owner has made a priority to make their shop feel cozy, funky, weird, or eye-catching in any certain way it will go a long way to make visitors want to come in and shop.
Also, the feeling of shopping with a lot of other music lovers around you looking for treasures as well is a total treat.
Can You Have Different Record Stores For Different Goals?
Absolutely. It is certainly a valid notion to have different record stores for different goals.
For a growing vinyl lover or an experienced vinyl enthusiast, it’s practically necessary to have a few different streams from which you gather your records. Which record store you choose to visit on any occasion depends on what your goals are.
Seeking Out Newly Released Vinyl
There are plenty of record stores that largely focus on new vinyl. It’s what they tend to promote and it’s what they focus on accumulating in their shop.
These types of shops tend to be great record stores for newbie vinyl lovers and tenured vinyl enthusiasts alike.
It’s a solid introduction for a newbie because they’re able to easily recognize a lot of the newly released records that are carried while also being slowly introduced to material that’s been out of their purview.
For old-school vinyl lovers, this is a good option for getting that re-master they’ve been looking for, or for diving into some of those new releases that they’ve been hearing about but have not been exposed to.
On the Hunt for Specific Vintage Or Rare Vinyl
If you’re looking for rare items it can be a good idea to think outside the box a little bit as far as where to shop.
This type of shopping is time-consuming if you’re truly looking to find something that is quite rare or that is a very specific vintage release.
Local antique malls, vintage sections of various record stores, and estate sales are a few solid ideas for this type of hunt. Shopping online for specific vintage records is a solid choice as well.
Going Crate Digging With No Plan In Mind
This is my go-to style of shopping for vinyl. I love the hunt of digging through crates of records, having no particular goal in mind, hoping to find something that surprises me or excites me.
I also get a rush out of finding a good bargain as well.
I like going in with anticipation for what I may find, with the result either living with the disappointment of not finding anything that struck me or being stoked about what an awesome haul I scored.
For this type of shopping, I’ll generally visit used bookstores that have music sections as well, or I’ll hit up a spot like Movie Trading Company [3] because they often carry interesting and even fairly obscure items on vinyl, not to mention all of the other cool media goods they carry. This type of shopping always has the ability to surprise you, to take you off guard with what cool stuff you find.
What Is The Vibe Of The Record Store Staff?
This topic can be fairly polarizing, but it’s worth bringing up.
It Doesn’t Matter As Long As They Offer What I’m Looking For
As with any sort of niche interest, there are plenty of snobs that work within that niche. Record stores are not outside of that possibility.
There are some record store employees out there that behave as though they are some sort of bright-shining, all-knowing music wizard, believing that their shit doesn’t stink and that you, as the record store patron, are merely an ignorant little sheep.
If you haven’t seen the movie Empire Records [4] go give it a watch for a stereotypical imagining of this kind of snobby dynamic.
This type of record store dynamic can be intimidating, offensive, and off-putting, especially for someone who is just beginning to dabble in the vinyl music world. No one wants to feel shamed or scolded when exploring something new.
A lot of people don’t necessarily care about engaging with owners or employees at their local record store palaces.
To them, it’s all about whether or not they can find something that gets them excited. Similarly to visiting restaurants, a lot of people aren’t bothered by lackluster service at their local eateries, as long as they’re getting a tasty meal that they paid for. As long as you can find the record you want and your ears are satisfied, all is well.
The Customer Service Is Everything When It Comes To Record Store Vibes
With the possibility of the vibe of any record store feeling pretentious and snobby, it’s refreshing to visit a shop that truly cares about sharing its love for music and the vinyl format.
A place where ignorance is not met with humiliation and a stuck-up attitude, but rather with an eagerness to educate and inform the customer about different bands, record releases, turntables, etc.
A shop that sets the tone by adopting a free-flowing exchange between the shop and the patron. This type of tone allows any level of vinyl enthusiast to feel free to relax, ask questions, shop, share stories, and revel in the magic of music.
Visiting a shop that is truly conducive to increasing your love of music and your passion for the vinyl format is an important factor to be aware of. Shopping in a space where the attitude that is set is one of inclusion and one of sharing excitement for music is a benefit to your vinyl collecting journey.
Are You On A Tight Budget?
The last topic I want to briefly cover is the financial aspect. It is no secret that pursuing vinyl as a passion, as a hobby, can become a tad pricey.
Especially if you are specifically going to be pursuing rare releases or collecting numerous variant pressings of the same record.
I’m also not only talking about the price of the vinyl itself, but also the cost of the turntable, needle replacements, slip mats, vinyl weights, and more.
I’m not going to get into all of that here because the focus is on hunting for vinyl itself. That being said, if your finances tend to be on the tight side, you may have to be a bit more choosy about where you consistently shop for vinyl.
I’ve found that when I’m in a tight financial state but I want to pick up a record or two, I tend to gravitate more toward looking for records at used bookstores and finding a few hidden gems that catch my eye.
Sometimes I go hunting and don’t find much at all that calls to me. When I do find some goodies, generally the price is approachable, it may need a little cleaning back at home, but overall I’m glad to have found a few more records to add to my collection.
When I’m in a much more stable financial state I feel far more confident to be able to visit the trendy arts district record stores, to allow myself to buy new records as opposed to used ones.
Either way, whatever your financial state is looking like, there are options for continuing to dabble in the vinyl record game.
The music world is a deep ocean out there with an unending list of artists to get to know, so much gorgeous music to immerse yourself in, and there is a shelf at home waiting to be filled with an incredible selection of vinyl that hits home for you.
