A Basic Guide To Shopping For Vinyl Records At Thrift Stores (With Post-COVID Edits/Additions)

This is a revised and somewhat expanded edition of an article I first wrote for this blog in 2011. A lot has happened since then, so it was time to edit the article, given my grown-up understanding, and acknowledge significant changes in the vinyl collection world in recent years. Besides updating some statements of fact, grammar has also been corrected, which is now updated to reflect my current level of education, not the high-schooler who wrote the earlier edition.

ChatGPT 4 (DALL·E 3 Tool) generated an image (with the most obvious/glaring gibberish text spot removed) based on this article's original text as the basis of the prompt resulting in this image. Teenage me would have done just about anything to have access to the digital AI powered tools we have now.

Here are some tips and insights to help you discover outstanding vinyl records while browsing thrift stores:

1. Begin by researching all the thrift stores in your area (or where you are visiting) and reading reviews [2024 Edit: consider using online AI-powered chat models, like ChatGPT 4, to do the heavy lifting if one is pinched for time]. Avoid stores with consistently poor reviews, as they may not offer worthwhile finds. Pricing can vary, but high across-the-board prices are generally a factor to consider. Don't dismiss a store based solely on subjective opinions about organization or staff quality; being too selective might cause you to overlook hidden gems.
2. Vinyl records are typically located in or near the media section of thrift stores, although they may sometimes be found elsewhere. If you need help locating them, ask the owner or an employee for assistance- sometimes they are in an obscure corner of the shop one might not have thought to look otherwise. [2024 edit: many thrift stores are either not selling or trashing the majority of what they get record-wise, keeping and selling only records in good condition they feel have any decent chance of selling... sadly, this is the new normal, and seasoned collectors have good reason to mourn this trend. Also, many people are becoming either inclined to sell the records of deceased relatives online or to a record dealer directly, or hold onto them, as their recent resurgence over the past decade has made many records boomers purchased desirable to own on vinyl.]
3. When pricing isn't displayed, inquire with the owner or staff. If the asking price seems excessive, take a moment to scan the selection for any exceptional finds. A reasonable price range is typically between $0.25 to $1.00 per record. While exceptions exist for rare or sought-after releases, anything priced above $2.00 may not offer sufficient value [2024 edit: $2 is now typically the average "reasonable" base price for albums, with $1 being reserved for garden variety single-length records at most places I visit these days. I have not seen records for a quarter a pop at any thrift store in many years, and likely I never will again]. Remember, regional pricing norms vary; what's considered a good deal for me may differ elsewhere- be flexible. Online comparisons, such as eBay listings, can provide context for assessing thrift store prices. [Edit 2024: Keep in mind that online auctions typically require one to pay for shipping, which makes even a $2-3 dollar price tag on an individual record one desire on hand at a physical store more economical overall- plus you are helping to support a charity or local business].
4. Set clear objectives and budget constraints before browsing. Avoid impulse purchases based solely on affordability; not all records are rare or worth acquiring. Stay focused on your preferences to ensure you don't end up with records you won't actually enjoy listening to.
1. [2024 edit: I like to go after material I have good reason to suspect is not already online in readily accessible digital format. Basically, I buy records to play once to transfer them to digital format, which I, in turn, clean up and share as much as possible- this has changed how I approach going crate-digging or going through the stacks, whatever you want to call it, if I know with at least 99% certainty I could type the song or album title with artist name and pull up the recording(s) featured on a record and listen to it, I don't bother purchasing it (although if there is alternate cover art then what is found online I will take a picture of it before putting it back into the crate or shelf it is in. I now go through several hundred records and typically take a half-dozen to the counter to purchase at most one time (and that is on a very good day). This contrasts quite a bit with my purchasing habits when I was younger (like when I first wrote this blog post/article in 2011); I often came home with a dozen or more records... ah, the good old days- except when it came time to move to another house... moving them all was a royal pain, which led to a massive chunk of them being forced to donate when I went to college after graduating high school and serving a church mission.]
5. Scan through the stacks of records, separating them by format (78s, 45s, and LPs) when possible. While they're typically sorted into distinct categories, sometimes they're mixed together, so thorough browsing is essential.
6. Always inspect records housed in sleeves or jackets that obscure the label. It's not uncommon to find mismatched records mistakenly placed on album covers. This attention to detail can lead to pleasant surprises if both albums containing swapped records are donated together and placed on the sales floor simultaneously.
7. Take the time to flip through the records individually, pulling out any that catches your eye. After reviewing the entire selection, reassess your choices to ensure your satisfaction.
8. Trust your instincts when deciding whether to purchase an item. If you need more clarification, prioritize what matters most to you now. It's better to be cautious than regretful. Once selected, proceed to the checkout counter to complete your purchase.
9. Remember to bring sufficient cash with you, as some thrift stores may not accept cards [2024 edit: this is much less of a problem post-COVID than in years prior]. This ensures you won't miss any desirable records due to payment limitations.
10. Finally, enjoy listening to your newly acquired records. If you discover an artist or group you love, watch for their releases during future crate-digging adventures.
11. [2024 edit: Take time to periodically purge your collection of releases that no longer interest you, especially if you have been collecting for a long time and your interests in various genres have shifted significantly. Finding or making digital copies really helps one let go of excessive records in one's collection- and yes, my dear teenage me who wrote the original version of this article in 2011 when I was a naive little sophomore, it is possible to have too many records for one's own good.]

Happy hunting!