Frequently Asked Questions
Who are you guys and what are you about?
We're currently the only independent, locally owned and operated record store in northern Michigan. The store was purchased by a group of friends and is staffed by them and a few others.
Where are you located and how can I get a hold of you?
We're upstairs in the Front Street Commons in downtown Traverse City. We're across the hall from Creme Brulee and Hocus Pocus.
You can reach us by phone, e-mail, snail-mail, or in person. All of our contact information is available here.
When are you open? I was up there the other day and no one was there.
Monday through Saturday we're generally open from 11AM to 6PM. We're currently closed on Sundays for the winter. Please keep in mind that 11-6 is not set in stone during the winter months. Some days we may open at 12 and close at 5 depending on the weather and amount of foot traffic. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but sometimes its pretty hard to sit in a windowless store for 50 hours a week doing 2 sales a day.
Is the head shop still here? Do you guys do tattoos?
Previously in this location was a different record store called Vinyl D&D. There have been other businesses here over the years, Blue in the Face being one of them. Blue in the Face is around the corner; we don't sell incense or smoking equipment. We don't do tattoos, either; that's Collective Ink at the end of the hall.
What does "independent" mean? What kind of music do you carry?
"Independent" is two-fold. We are a local business owned and operated by a group of young adults. We are not a chain store—no corporate ties, no backing. We're in this alone. Check out this article that was in the Record Eagle for a little more information.
This carries over into the kind of music we specialize in. While much of what you will find in chain stores will reflect what's popular on the radio, we carry a little bit of everything with a focus on the independent and underground. We carry rock, punk rock, pop music, metal, hardcore, hip hop, reggae, grindcore, etc., etc. For an indicator of the types of things we carry and the music we're personally interested in, check out our reviews and staff picks.
Also worth noting: you might find some things in the used section that we might not carry new. Usually there is an assortment of everything, from classic rock to new wave, and from mainstream pop to electronic and hair metal.
Are your prices higher because you're an independent store?
Not at all. Because we do a lot of our ordering directly from the labels and small distributors, our wholesale cost is generally low and so is our mark-up. Generally all of our CDs are less than $16 and quite a few are less than $13. While we can't offer below cost prices like Best Buy and the like sometimes do, you get the added benefit of knowing that your money is supporting a locally owned business with investments and interests in our community, if that's your thing. If it's not, our stuff is still generously priced.
Will you buy my used CDs and LPs?
Yes. CDs must be in great condition with no scratches on the disc and complete case and album art. We accept LPs in varying conditions, but acceptance is up to our discretion. We must visually inspect all albums prior to making an offer. We offer cash or trade-in options. You will be offered more trade-in than cash. We also buy DVDs.
How much are my Beatles records worth?
It is difficult to give general prices for artists like the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley albums because there are dozens of details relating to particular pressings, original vs. reissues, mono vs. stereo, imports, conditions, etc. that all factor into the value of these recordings. In order to save you time, we suggest you bring the records in and have us look them over. Also, keep in mind that our purpose in purchasing your records is to resell them. We may not offer you what you feel they are "worth."
Will you carry my band's CD?
We sell local artists' albums on consignment. If you would like your album to be available in our store, please bring in 2 or 3 copies and tell us how much you expect us to charge for them. We will notify you when copies sell and you can come in to pick up your portion of the money.
Do you only carry music?
No. In addition to our wide selection of new and used CDs and LPs we also carry an assortment of t-shirts (music related as well as pro-biking and pro-beard), stickers, posters, pins and more. We also carry music related DVDs and used non-music DVDs. We're proud to feature "Michigan: American's High Five" t-shirts and the 33 1/3 series of album specific books.
You carry new vinyl? I didn't even know they made new vinyl.
Yes, we carry new, sealed vinyl from a number of bands and labels. A lot of artists are still releasing albums on vinyl. We're always expanding our selection, especially the new hip hop vinyl. We also carry 12" singles and 7"s.
Do you do special orders?
Yes. A good deal of albums can be available in about a week, some things may take up to a month. If it's available, we'll do our best to get it for you, just ask!
You can also use our request form, if you like.
Can you hold a copy of _________ for me when it comes out?
Of course. Just let us know and we'll set a copy aside to be picked up when it comes out.
How could I get a job here?
You can't.
How much do you get paid? How come I can't work here? It's not fair.
We're not trying to be mean. None of us are making any money doing this, so we clearly can't afford to pay anyone else to do it. All of our work is voluntary. If we didn't feel it was worth doing, we wouldn't do it.
So we're sorry. We know it's sweet to work in a record store, but we can't help you out on this front, unfortunately.