The FUTURE of record shopping

mandrew · January 2006

Three records stores have fallen in LA within the past couple months.How many physical shops will be left in a few years?I got addicted to ebay for one year 5 years ago, spent way more than i could afford, then quit cold turkey. should i just give up & back into the innernet game? it seems like that's going to be my only option soon anyway

RIP:UPON SHOPRHINOARON'S

troubleman · January 2006

Three records stores have fallen in LA within the past couple months.
How many physical shops will be left in a few years?
I got addicted to ebay for one year 5 years ago, spent way more than i could afford, then quit cold turkey.
should i just give up & back into the innernet game? it seems like that's going to be my only option soon anyway

RIP:
UPON SHOP
RHINO
ARON'S

There are plenty of good stores left in cali still going strong. If you hit them up on the regular, you're bound to find some great stuff. That plus the 2 record shows, and an amoeba at your fingertips, theres really no need to complain. Cali folks are mad spoiled...3

spots close and it's the end of the record game as we know it.

kidinquisitive · January 2006

Three records stores have fallen in LA within the past couple months.
How many physical shops will be left in a few years?
I got addicted to ebay for one year 5 years ago, spent way more than i could afford, then quit cold turkey.
should i just give up & back into the innernet game? it seems like that's going to be my only option soon anyway

RIP:
UPON SHOP
RHINO
ARON'S

There are plenty of good stores left in cali still going strong. If you hit them up on the regular, you're bound to find some great stuff. That plus the 2 record shows, and an amoeba at your fingertips, theres really no need to complain. Cali folks are mad spoiled...3 spots close and it's the end of the record game as we know it.

And three new record stores that I know of have opened in LA in the last couple months...

anthonypearson · January 2006

we have had this thread a few times in the past couple of months. i think it's just changing times.

arons and rhino went out of business because they were uninformed in regards to the actual worth of the records they were selling ( or giving away ).

i was a huge fan of both of those stores. i grew up at rhino and starting shopping at arons in 1982. the demise of both of those stores... a depressing event in so many ways.

surplus is still thriving because they make an attempt to price the records correctly for the sales and have a super loyal customer base and they do not employe record heads.

specialty stores ala groove merchant and TSL are the wave of the future. shops who know what they are selling and what the worth of it is.

Jonny_Paycheck · January 2006

specialty stores ala groove merchant and TSL are the wave of the future.

Indeed. January has been a superb month for me, I am not going to buy a Bentley or put anyone out of business in the area but business is thriving.

funkyexample · January 2006

It also may give rise to more and more folks just dropping records off to goodwill. We need to start an aggressive PR campaign that records aren't worth anything. We should pool our monies and hire some large scale PR company and then reap the benefits.

Swayze · January 2006

specialty stores ala groove merchant and TSL are the wave of the future.

Indeed. January has been a superb month for me, I am not going to buy a Bentley or put anyone out of business in the area but business is thriving.

are you gonna cop a yacht and name it Checkavelli?

Jonny_Paycheck · January 2006

specialty stores ala groove merchant and TSL are the wave of the future.

Indeed. January has been a superb month for me, I am not going to buy a Bentley or put anyone out of business in the area but business is thriving.

are you gonna cop a yacht and name it Checkavelli?

No but I'm going to cop a very

collection on Sunday full of titles like

Headless Heroes
Synthetic Substitution
Money Boss EP
Skull Snaps
Labi Schiffre

etc.

Brian · January 2006

i know this is a completely random question, but if there was a collection that you know you could flip for a profit but needed to take out a bank loan for it, how hard would it be to get one?

Jonny_Paycheck · January 2006

not very hard, it is something that is always a consideration. Don't want to hurt that cashflow!

edit: i should add that it is not very hard if you have sufficient assets, and it is your business. If you as a random individual were to walk into a bank to take out a loan to buy a record collection I think they would look at you quizically.

bull_ox · January 2006

It also may give rise to more and more folks just dropping records off to goodwill. We need to start an aggressive PR campaign that records aren't worth anything. We should pool our monies and hire some large scale PR company and then reap the benefits.

Not so fast- you'd be shocked how many people STILL think records are absolutely worthless (literally) and that nobody wants them

Crazy collections have come to the store I work at that were on their way to the dump

sabadabada · January 2006

there are also people who think a scratched up fifth reissue of a frank sinatra record is worth $50.

bull_ox · January 2006

there are also people who think a scratched up fifth reissue of a frank sinatra record is worth $50.

Oh yeah... also every issue of every Beatles, Elvis, Kiss, Hendrix, etc is worth a zillion dollars

A lot of folks having rare reggae, disco etc think those are worthless though

DJ_NevilleC · January 2006

not very hard, it is something that is always a consideration. Don't want to hurt that cashflow!

edit: i should add that it is not very hard if you have sufficient assets, and it is your business. If you as a random individual were to walk into a bank to take out a loan to buy a record collection I think they would look at you quizically.

Before I opened my shop I had a coffee with the manager of Green Apple Books on Clement in San Francisco (found some nice records here BTW) and I quizzed him for advice. One thing he said to me stuck out and that was "always have enough money on hand (or easily) available to buy anything that comes through your door." True.

jjfad027 · January 2006

RIP:
ARON'S

That sux. I always had good luck there.

Jonny_Paycheck · January 2006

not very hard, it is something that is always a consideration. Don't want to hurt that cashflow!

edit: i should add that it is not very hard if you have sufficient assets, and it is your business. If you as a random individual were to walk into a bank to take out a loan to buy a record collection I think they would look at you quizically.

Before I opened my shop I had a coffee with the manager of Green Apple Books on Clement in San Francisco (found some nice records here BTW) and I quizzed him for advice. One thing he said to me stuck out and that was "always have enough money on hand (or easily) available to buy anything that comes through your door." True.

Totally agreed although sometimes someone walks in with a $50,000 collection.

Supergood · January 2006

Before I opened my shop I had a coffee with the manager of G*e*n *pp*e *oo** on *l**e*t in San Francisco (found some nice records here BTW)

Really? I've never found anything there!

BTW, where's your shop?

SG

DJ_NevilleC · January 2006

not very hard, it is something that is always a consideration. Don't want to hurt that cashflow!

edit: i should add that it is not very hard if you have sufficient assets, and it is your business. If you as a random individual were to walk into a bank to take out a loan to buy a record collection I think they would look at you quizically.

Before I opened my shop I had a coffee with the manager of Green Apple Books on Clement in San Francisco (found some nice records here BTW) and I quizzed him for advice. One thing he said to me stuck out and that was "always have enough money on hand (or easily) available to buy anything that comes through your door." True.

Totally agreed although sometimes someone walks in with a $50,000 collection.

I haven't seen one of those walk in (yet). Soon come.

Jonny_Paycheck · January 2006

not very hard, it is something that is always a consideration. Don't want to hurt that cashflow!

edit: i should add that it is not very hard if you have sufficient assets, and it is your business. If you as a random individual were to walk into a bank to take out a loan to buy a record collection I think they would look at you quizically.

Before I opened my shop I had a coffee with the manager of Green Apple Books on Clement in San Francisco (found some nice records here BTW) and I quizzed him for advice. One thing he said to me stuck out and that was "always have enough money on hand (or easily) available to buy anything that comes through your door." True.

Totally agreed although sometimes someone walks in with a $50,000 collection.

I haven't seen one of those walk in (yet). Soon come.

Yeah, haha, this one didn't exactly walk in. Just a manner of speaking.

mandrew · January 2006

specialty stores ala groove merchant and TSL are the wave of the future. shops who know what they are selling and what the worth of it is.

ain't mad at that. i'll glady either
a)go into a boutique, where things are neatly organized, good records abound, and a listening device is available, and purchase things for what they're worth (that's why i'm upset upon closed), or...

b) spend time searching thru dusty bins for a cheap find

i won't go into places like the record collector anymore and try to get charged $40 for a $5 record.

Guzzo · January 2006

i won't go into places like the record collector anymore and try to get charged $40 for a $5 record.

you've fond stuff to buy in there?

I just see it as a overpriced Arons with a hunchback personal digger assistant

mandrew · January 2006

i won't go into places like the record collector anymore and try to get charged $40 for a $5 record.

you've fond stuff to buy in there?

nothing that i couldn't find for $20 cheaper. bobby hebb, neverending impressions come to mind

I just see it as a overpriced Arons with a hunchback personal digger assistant

you talking about the owner's "helper?"

i was in there for less than 15 minutes last weekend and he treated that guy like a piece of schit. "file those" "answer that" - it's like he thought they were his INTERNS or something!

i went across the street to the swap meet and found 8 beatup 10"s from pre-1960, and a cheap 'n' pretty necklace for my ma's bday.

ps- to whoever it was that called la folks record spoiled... nah, i wasn't being spoiled when i created posted this thread. i know LA has it ok when i comes to records, i just see all these stores going away and i don't want to go back to my ebay habit.

33thirdcom · January 2006

seriously as soon as the doors opened we've been approached countless times to buy records. A guy wheeled a shopping cart full of stuff in yesterday. Plus I found a goldmine in the middle of LA that is virtually untapped...

add to that 2 more collections coming in in the next month of some primo shit, I dunno.. the stuff is like water here.

frenzie · January 2006

How many physical shops will be left in a few years?
I got addicted to ebay for one year 5 years ago, spent way more than i could afford, then quit cold turkey.
should i just give up & back into the innernet game? it seems like that's going to be my only option soon anyway

One thing no one has mentioned yet is the whole downloading music thing. I work in a record store here in Sydney / Australia - selling records to DJs - and we have definately felt an impact in the last 12 months. More and more kids these days are going straight to soulseek (and pay sites). Final scratch and Serato are starting to make some headway - and there are 1000 different CD turntables nowdays.
The new release vinyl stores like us probably have another good 5 years or so left in them yet where we are still profitable - 2nd hand vinyl will always be around because it is such a specialist thing. But the MP3 revolution is on it's way..

Jonny_Paycheck · January 2006

How many physical shops will be left in a few years?
I got addicted to ebay for one year 5 years ago, spent way more than i could afford, then quit cold turkey.
should i just give up & back into the innernet game? it seems like that's going to be my only option soon anyway

One thing no one has mentioned yet is the whole downloading music thing. I work in a record store here in Sydney / Australia - selling records to DJs - and we have definately felt an impact in the last 12 months. More and more kids these days are going straight to soulseek (and pay sites). Final scratch and Serato are starting to make some headway - and there are 1000 different CD turntables nowdays.
The new release vinyl stores like us probably have another good 5 years or so left in them yet where we are still profitable - 2nd hand vinyl will always be around because it is such a specialist thing. But the MP3 revolution is on it's way..

This is very true and that is why I have never felt like new vinyl is a good investment.

And new vinyl wholesale prices.... HIGHWAY FUCKING ROBBERY.

DJ_NevilleC · January 2006

seriously as soon as the doors opened we've been approached countless times to buy records. A guy wheeled a shopping cart full of stuff in yesterday. Plus I found a goldmine in the middle of LA that is virtually untapped...

add to that 2 more collections coming in in the next month of some primo shit, I dunno.. the stuff is like water here.

I did great when I lived in LA. So many folks out there on record company mailing lists over the years. I used to hit the garage and estate sales in Los Feliz and Hollywood on the weekends and find all kinds of unplayed promo records.

street_muzik · January 2006

The record collector is a joke. He is abusive to his gimp and I've only been there twice. I live 3 blocks away but was rubbed the wrong way (noayo).

Kinetic · January 2006

One thing no one has mentioned yet is the whole downloading music thing. I work in a record store here in Sydney / Australia - selling records to DJs - and we have definately felt an impact in the last 12 months. More and more kids these days are going straight to soulseek (and pay sites). Final scratch and Serato are starting to make some headway - and there are 1000 different CD turntables nowdays.
The new release vinyl stores like us probably have another good 5 years or so left in them yet where we are still profitable - 2nd hand vinyl will always be around because it is such a specialist thing. But the MP3 revolution is on it's way..

Nice to see more Aussies showing up.

What record store in Sydney do you work in? I live in the Blue Mountains!

SoulOnIce · January 2006

No but I'm going to cop a very collection on Sunday full of titles like

Headless Heroes
Synthetic Substitution
Money Boss EP
Skull Snaps
Labi Schiffre

etc.

"Quiet! He's about to read back the address!"[/b]

frenzie · January 2006

Nice to see more Aussies showing up.
What record store in Sydney do you work in? I live in the Blue Mountains!

Acetate Record Bar in Darlinghurst - one of the 3 new release stores left in the area.
Also on Stealth K

Woimsah · January 2006

RIP:
UPON SHOP

Sorry man - I can agree with Aron's and Rhino - but Upon Shop REALLY had it coming - for a long ass time. It was way better when it was Strictly Grooves - the dudes who came in after sold pretty studid records in pretty shitty condition for pretty awful prices. It was almost as if they made absolutely no effort to get good product in the stores. Anthony's right - Record Surplus is about to become the new contender - ehhhh - well - actually Rockaway will probably be taking the head spot. Freakbeat's coming in as a nice 2nd place - then Surplus. Dude who prices 12"s at Surplus is perhaps one of the worst pricers I've ever come across. Denise LaSalle - I'm So Hot - 1.85. Sinnamon - I Need You Now - 1.85. Mel Brooks - It's Good To Be The King - $15.00. What a champ. But hey - that's why it's ill. Not to mention I got

there for $19.00. Hehehehehe. Oh and Amoeba comes in fourth. They now suck.

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The FUTURE of record shopping

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