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buying used vinyl "etiquette"

S

Sandbar92

Super Member
I frequent the used record stores in much of New England and have been going to record shows for about 40 years. Last Saturday I was in Cambridge/Sommerville and bought some stuff at Stereo Jack's, In Your Ear, and Cheapo's. There were some other used lp's I would have bought, but the prices were too high. I'm not an expert but not stupid either. There were 2 double lp reissue sets that I was very interested in. At the record shows I've only paid the asking price twice in my recollections - I always ask if they will take a price I offer - almost all the time it's yes - sometimes a dealer makes a suitable counter-offer. So my question is this: in the stores that sell used vinyl do any of you offer them a price other than what the sticker price states?
I know in our culture we pay the asking price in stores, but in many parts of the world offers are accepted or buyers-sellers dicker over the price. Anyone have any experience with bargaining at used lp stores?
 
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I would think it would be ok as long as the person you are asking is the owner, or someone the owner has delegated full authority to. If it's just Joe or Jane random employee they probably wouldn't be able to make that sorta decision.
 
I pay the asking price in stores and barter at shows & fleamarkets. Basically, I want to keep the stores around so I have no problems giving them a fair price for what they're selling.
 
I generally pay asking price in record stores. However, if I purchase multiple items I won't hesitate to ask for discount. I do it politely and have a high success rate :yes:

Roger
 
Redikilowatt said:
I generally pay asking price in record stores. However, if I purchase multiple items I won't hesitate to ask for discount. I do it politely and have a high success rate :yes:

Roger
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Me too. I have successfully asked for a discount where the record quality didn't appear to be up to the asking price.
 
Yep.. one or two LP's I'll pay asking price unless I know they are way off base on their price at a store.. if they are used, and I got a big stack, I'll ask if there is a bulk purchase discount, and most often they will knock off a few bucks..

Shows fleas and anywhere else, I'll grab a stack and ask them what the best they can do me for the pile.. I usually get a decent discount.. the more you buy the better deal they make..
 
JohnVF said:
I pay the asking price in stores and barter at shows & fleamarkets. Basically, I want to keep the stores around so I have no problems giving them a fair price for what they're selling.
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What he said. In stores it seems to me that it's bad form to negotiate--unless it's a flea market kind of store. Regular retail--no, don't do this. These guys are trying to make a fair living, and they've already figured in the costs of getting the product to the shelves and coming out with enough profit to make some income.

That said, all in all, I think record store prices, at least by independent owners, are pretty good. Look at an inflation calculator and you can see that prices for a new LP have stayed the same (relative to inflation) or sometimes are even a little better than inflation.

For example, I can get a new Blue Note reissue for 10 bucks. By 1973 standards that would have been only about 3 bucks--about 2 dollars cheaper than I remember most new LPs going for back then.
 
The smaller the store the more likely they are to consider offers around here, I often see these little used shops that operate alot like flea markets and usually sell half off of book value so if its marked 10.00 they will go for 5.00, however most of these records are stuff they pick up from yard sells/ Estate sells and such and they are still making a decent profit. I like these small stores but I always have to really pay attention for scratches and warped records because lighting can be bad in them.
 
Discounts

I have no problem asking for a discount for used LP's if I think they're over priced. Truth be told,they pay pennies on the dollar for only the best records that sellers bring in-but like anything else,you have to pick your battles.... I've found that if you build a relationship with the shops you frequent and they appreciate your business they are more likely to bend on the price. On the other hand I don't like to nickel and dime the few remaining independent record stores that are left in my area...
 
Well, they pay pennies on the dollar because they have to to keep the lights on. I doubt any of the owners of these places are leaving in Ferraris.

I just have a general aversion to cheapskate behavior. We're all trying to get by and the public's ultimate demand to save a few pennies at every corner is what is driving manufacturing out of this country. It may seem totally unrelated, but the Walmart mentality of not paying a fair price for fair service has driven a TON of retailers out of business, and their predatory business behavior has forced vendors to cut every corner possible to make a price- which means, cheap labor, which means- those jobs are not here anymore.

Again- it may seem totally unrelated but its not. A service well rendered deserves to be returned with a fair price.

A little heavy for the discussion and I don't mean to sidetrack or make anybody feel bad- but its something to think about the next time you are trying to save a buck from a guy who is struggling to keep the lights on.

If a price is fair, why not pay that fair price? And if its not, move on.
 
I don't have the nads to negotiate price. If it's more than I want to pay, I pass on it.
I'd make a lousy used car salesman.
 
I do because I always walk out with multiples. Plus it's the norm in Az to bargain for just about anything, even before the economy tanked. Prices are mainly set high for tourists.
 
Negotiating with the used record stores is not my style. This may be because, around me, they usually pretty cheap already. Last time in I picked up a sealed copy of .38 Special's "Special Forces" for $3 and a copy of "Georgia Satellites" from the $1 bin. They also do periodic discounts via coupon (10% off next purchase). I do negotiate at the commercial thrift shop especially if I'm spending $25-$30.
 
Are these record stores just basically the ultimate culmination of thrift store records and condition?

I couldn't imagine walking into one of my record stores I shop at and asking them something like that. It would just be rude and disrespectful to the business owner. I would hope if I did they would inform me that my business would not be needed anymore following that.

The fact they are an independent business is all the more reason to keep them in business.

What would you have thought if you had a parent seriously ask for some of their tax dollars back at parent/teacher conferences because they thought you weren't the right quality to teach their child?
 
DublinTrader said:
Negotiating with the used record stores is not my style. This may be because, around me, they usually pretty cheap already. Last time in I picked up a sealed copy of .38 Special's "Special Forces" for $3 and a copy of "Georgia Satellites" from the $1 bin. They also do periodic discounts via coupon (10% off next purchase). I do negotiate at the commercial thrift shop especially if I'm spending $25-$30.
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It seems Southern Rock may be catagorically undervalued by New Hampshire patriots.:yes:
 
I get a 10% discount almost every time I hit the record store (except from the tattooed girl with multiple piercings). It would have never occurred to me to ask for it but at some point they just started charging me less than the total of the six or so records I buy on each trip. It's nice to get but it really only boils down to 3 or 4 bucks so it's not a big deal.
 
I don't ask for a discount. Sometimes items aren't priced, and I will ask how much it is. If it's more than I wish to pay, I put it back and have often had the guy offer to sell for less. I'm not trying to dicker, but they seem to take it that way sometimes.
 
A record store here in Pensacola wont even let you look at the condition of the records. You have to take them to the counter and they will show you. As in they ask you to leave if you yourself pull an album out to look at it. And they ask $30-40 bucks per Pink Floyd, Led Zep, etc records regardless of condition.

I got into an argument with the owner over his "policy". I walked into the store with a few hundred bucks in my pocket to spend and couldnt even look at the condition of the records.


I spent $0 there....and have not and will not go back. I went down the road and spent my money elsewhere. The hell with people like that.....
 
Back in the 90s, at a record store where I used to hang out, the owner complained to me about lack of sales. I said, if I give you $400 now, will you let me pick $800 worth of merchandise over the next 3 months? Nothing excluded?

The deal was done, and I got some great stuff. I did know what to pick, and got a lot of great imports and rarities.
 
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