Record Stores vs. Walmart, Amazon & Target!

Buy Vinyl:

Buy Shirts & Hats:

Email:

Follow us on Instagram:

Facebook:

Check out our Podcast: “Vinyl Biography”


For email inquiries:

Contact by mail:
11500 E Independence Blvd
Unit F
Matthews, NC 28105

[rocketman]

I like your perspective…as collectors grow in their hobby, they begin to seek out albums only independents would have

[Winslow]

It's like going to McDonald's for ice cream. Yeah it's cheap and if you just want something sweet it'll do, but if you want that special Rocky Road Sundae you're gonna have to go to Mom and Pop's Ice Cream shop lol

[johnfloydman]

Long live The fact that people are buying is fantastic. Big shops selling vinyl is just a gateway down the rabbit hole that leads to the independent record shops. 🙏👍✌

[Motorcyclechariotracing]

The nearest record shop by me is 45 minute but the Walmart is just down the street

[alexmathewmendoza]

I feel the same way. All these big box retailers will stock the usual suspects like Dark Side of the Moon and Guns N' Roses first album represses because those are popular and meant to entice people who might be thinking about getting a record player. It's a novelty kind of thing for them. The heart and soul of the vinyl hobby as I see it is at your local record stores. That's where the good stuff is.

[StacksSats]

Walmart & Amazon doesnt have "The Wall" of gems/rarities/rare grooves

[guitarlo]

A personal rule I put on myself while working part time at a friends independent store for a few years(2017-2020)

it’s ok to buy the $30 record for $25 on Amazon, but THEN spend the $5 I saved in an independent store. A “ritual” I passed along to many customers!

[chennforajido]

Love your take on this. At this point in my collecting hobby (over 20 years collecting now) I cant find what I like at Walmart or any of these stores. However, if I see something I like right there, right now, Im getting it.

[yachtwish]

I’m just getting into vinyl but a huge part of the allure for me is the smell of old records that you can only get from secondhand stuff at a record store. Adds another layer to the nostalgic experience imo.

[mikewilson]

I'm buying old albums from my record shop. Instead of paying roughly $30.00 for a new album I can usually buy two used albums for the same price. Plus the owner makes a bigger profit buying vinyl collections and reselling them. Now recently I bought a new copy of Iron Maiden Number Of The Beast at my local Walmart for $19.75. Sold! Plus as an added bonus, the woman at the register gazed at the cover and looked disgusted. That brought a spark of teenage rebellion back to my 51 year old self.

[pedromunoz]

Here's a little secret. Walmart and target will eventually sell in "pallets" due to dings and unsellable even at clearance. I've purchased random crates full of recent and reissues at dirt prices. Litterally for $1-$10 per. Most were mint condition. Try getting connected to these individuals who run the liquidations. They are trying to recoup and rid of inventory at the same time.

[tedjensen]

Walmart doesn't have you, you're knowledge, expertise, and passion. Thank you for that.

[g.fortin]

I like mom and pop / independant small shops.. developing a friendship with the shop is a nice thing. sometimes you may be looking for a title and they won't mind trying to get it for you.

[geetarbube]

I live in Western Maryland. When I was a kid, I bought my records from Two Guys department store near my house. As a teenager into my 20s, I bought from Waxie Maxies in my local mall.

The vinyl resurgence has brought two great mom & pop record stores to my area that I buy from often.

I purchase some special “Only at Target” vinyl for the colors or bonus tracks.

I also buy from Amoeba or Tower Records from time to time.

I don’t buy ANYTHING from Amazon.

[ILuvRum]

I am an old guy whose first music listening experiences at home, outside of radio, were 45s and some LPs. Of course, that was about the time they had just come out with the new thing, 8 track tapes and there were no cassettes and CD meant Civil Defense as evidenced by the signs on bomb shelters.

And back then what are now called the big box stores, like Walmart/Kmart and others now long-gone sold LPs and 45s and the mom and pops survived and were cherished. There was also something called the Columbia Record Club (10 albums for a dollar). The defects you mention were also an issue back then, as you said, a hazard of the production processes.

I agree with you, the more that are sold, the more will be available and affordable for those who enjoy them.

I enjoyed your content, and you have a new subscriber.

[davidrichardson]

I don't have any record stores where I live. So I have to buy online. But I wish I did because I often want to talk to someone knowledgeable about a record before I buy it. You won't get that from Walmart, Target, or Amazon. So if I had a choice between Amazon or a Record store where I could ask questions and get informed answers I would pay a few dollars more...

[allrightden]

Always willing to pay more in independent record stores. Would rather pay 10% more for the experience and to support a local business. If we all bought from amazon there would be no record stores.

[footyguy]

I've got over 15, 000 records in my collection including some very high end stuff & I go to Mom & Pop stores for over 90% of it as I collect used vinyl. However if there is a new box set or if I see a re-release on Amazon for some ungodly cheap price I'm buying it. I bought a copy of the 3 LP version of A Love Supreme on Amazon for $31 when it came out. No Mom & Pop store can compete with that! However Amazon can't provide an original copy of the same record. As long as it's less than a $5 difference & i can afford it, i definitely buy new stuff from my local dealers. However if the price is too cheap to pass up, I'm not passing it up. Always support the local shops though! You guys keep the dream alive!

[stevealvanos]

I totally agree with you. Being in South Orange County Calif I wish there was an independent record store near me. I'd never (or maybe almost never) buy another record from A, W, or T.
The experience of being in a record store with all the new, used and vintage records cannot ever be duplicated by them. Searching through the bins, getting all dusty and finding something you've wanted - can't be beat. When I was younger every Saturday me and my friends would hit up 3 or 4 stores, then buy lunch and talk about what we bought. Amazon, Target and Walmart will never, ever give you that experience.

[snapcracklenpop]

Local record store for me. I can check for dings, scratches, and splits and walk out with a product I'm happy with. Specialist labels as well as these often don't end up in the record shop.