Best Used Record Shops- Phoenix Area


Best Used Record Shops- Phoenix Area. Your suggestions appreciated.
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Showing 2 responses by jazzcourier

I was in Phoenix a few months back and went through most of the stores there.Not sure how much time,transportation,or what your interests are, but i can tell you that you will waste a lot of that time and gas going over some pretty ugly and overpriced records.The one exception is Revolver records,they have a very nice store and the prices are fair and the condition tends to be on the better side.I found tons of good Classical records at 2 and 3 bucks each.Some unusual Jazz records very cheap.They have a good Rock section with some sleepers that you don't see everyday.In fact the lay out of the store and the care they have taken makes this one of the better record stores in the U.S.
They even have a buy 10 get one free card.The owners are very nice and friendly with no attitude.I went there twice and bought lots of records and could have bought more.
This is a new location,so make sure you call first and get directions.Going over my notes from that trip i believe that Tracks in Wax might also be worth a look,prices a little on the high side.Some decent Jazz.
A big part of record hunting is luck,hitting the store when they have bought a collection,talking to the people about things they might not yet have priced and trying to establish a rapport to negotiate prices.If you post your musical interests i might better comment on some of the other stores.Have fun!
If you go down to Tucson look for the big building advertising "stun guns" for sale.I kid you not.When you walk in you are awestruck by the immensity of the stock.This is one of the largest record stores anywhere. When you start looking you think you were hit by one of those stun guns,now i know where old records go to die.Price vs. condition vs. whatever,these records are all seriously overpriced and look like they have been sitting in the bins forever,serious bin fatigue.I browsed the entire Jazz section-thousands of records and did not find ONE record! The Classical section is huge,and most records fairly priced elsewhere at a few dollars would be 3 to 4 times that.One thing these record dealers missed is condition determines value and a beat up record is worthless at almost any price,unless it is extremely rare.I did buy one amazing Russian Melodiya the clerk was playing in the store,and the surrounding desert is stunning -some kind of cactus national park that leads to an animal sanctuary.Now that is worth the trip.I was warned off Stinkweeds for used records and did not make it to AZ tube audio,but will on my next visit and i will drive that hour to visit the desert in Tucson,but PDQ is a graveyard!