Question Do you still buy vinyl records, and where from?

[Fandango Andy]

Reports suggest an 11.7% year on year from 2022 to 2023. The previous year grew by 2.9% showing a strong escalation in growth. The result was 5.9million units (of new records) sold in the UK in 2023.

I have only ever purchased a handful of new records. Growing up in the 80's I listened to music on cassette on my Walkman, and then on CD, so never really owned any records. I started collecting them in the early/mid 2000's and have a modest collection of a few hundred. Most are 2nd hand purchased from second hand record shops, charity shops and a few record fairs. like the experience of browsing the racks and finding a bargain (2nd pressing of Revolver for £2). While I will happily buy a CD or DVD online, I want to hold record in my hand and inspect it before buying.

I don't buy many records these days. Charity shops don't get the same selection they used to, record shops are expensive and I tend not to have time to visit fairs. Plus as my collection grows there is less I want to buy. When something is £1 in a charity shop you will happily take a flyer on record because you vaguely remember liking the one hit of it from years ago, but for £££ you only buy what you really want, when you can find it.

The question is, do you still buy vinyl, what are you buying, new or second hand, and where from?

 

[Friesiansam]

Do you still buy vinyl records, and where from?​

Not bought vinyl, since buying a Technics SL-PS50 CD player in, I think, 1989.

 

[nads]

Local record shops and artists sites.

 

[Al ears]

Generally I buy new unless I travel 18 miles to my nearest decent small record store that does graded second-hand albums.
There are plenty of online UK based sites to buy from like Analogue Seduction, The Vinyl Adventure etc, etc, or even Amazon come to that.

 

[martois]

Something to consider (if they ship to the UK): If you are interested in new vinyl pressings, vinyl me please has a library of available records and a monthly subscription plan. They offer different genres of interest (country, rock, jazz, etc). I participate in their "essentials" category. It includes a variety of genres. If you dont like that month's pick, you can swap out for a number of different choices. I love it!

Vinyl Me, Please

Vinyl Me, Please is a record of the month club. The best damn record club, in fact. Our goal is to be the greatest music company ever, and to make your life even more awesome than it already is. We do this by not only sending you great music, but by also offering an amazing experience every month.

www.vinylmeplease.com

 

[martois]

Also--Discogs is a great app for inventory of your collection, connecting with friends (to see their collections), and you can buy/sell directly from the app. It provides statistics on sales prices for different pressings etc. Great app/website to check out.

https://www.discogs.com

 

[Fandango Andy]

Also--Discogs is a great app for inventory of your collection, connecting with friends (to see their collections), and you can buy/sell directly from the app. It provides statistics on sales prices for different pressings etc. Great app/website to check out.

https://www.discogs.com

I gave up trying to catalogue my records with Discogs, most are so old they don't have barcodes and it takes forever to imput manually as there are so many versions of most records.

 

[twinkletoes]

I like you grew up in the 80/90s and it was cassette cd and mini disc, mp3, iTunes and finally full blown streaming. So don’t really suffer from nostalgia with the format just curiosity.

I only really buy new and I’m very selective, I’ve got to really want it. If the record is too expensive I buy the cd.

The biggest place is hmv which are now on the rise again new store opened in Oxford street again

But there are loads, assai records, the drift, strip joint, juno. All good prices.

 

[Fandango Andy]

I like you grew up in the 80/90s and it was cassette cd and mini disc, mp3, iTunes and finally full blown streaming. So don’t really suffer from nostalgia with the format just curiosity.

I only really buy new and I’m very selective, I’ve got to really want it. If the record is too expensive I buy the cd.

The biggest place is hmv which are now on the rise again new store opened in Oxford street again

But there are loads, assai records, the drift, strip joint, juno. All good prices.

Yes, we have a great HMV in Birmingham, "The Vault". we also have a fantasic second hand record shop: https://www.thediskery.net/

 

[Revolutions]

I buy most albums from Rough Trade as it’s handy to preorder & collect.

Stranger than Paradise is a cool shop in Hackney with a great stock of world music & interesting represses. Their weekly email is nicely curated, too.

Drift is a great shop, too. But that’s in Devon so only mail order from there.

 

[Cricketbat70]

One of my last two vinyl albums was bought from the artist own website (Gary Numan, I Assassin) the other from Amazon (The Wall) after buying them I discovered a little second hand record shop in town been open about four years yet I didn't know about it. The owner said "why did you buy from Amazon? I can get you whatever you want brand new on vinyl"
Been back a few times and bought second hand CD's. I haven't bought any new vinyl from him yet.
Before that I've bought albums from the website Townsend Records and only recently discovered they are only based about a 20 minute drive from me.

 

[Clarkey_71]

Vinyl remains my go to format, so have never stopped buying.
My first port of call is usually my local record shop in Cambridge - Lost in vinyl.
Vinyl is expensive these days, so I'm not as prolific as I was.
I also use Juno as well as artist's own sites.
If you do your research, Discogs is great but it can sometimes be tricky to identify the copy you want.
Likewise with ebay. Research the seller and check feedback.
I have used amazon, but try to limit what I buy there. It's generally cheaper, but I'd rather spend a little extra in an indie store.
I have been an avid crate digger in the past, but not so much now.
If you're buying second hand, I would strongly urge you to buy a decent record cleaner too.

 

[Oxfordian]

I'll pick up vinyl from wherever I can.

My go to store is Music Nostalgia in Truro, a small store but they get some good second hand LP's in as well as a good selection of new Vinyl, enjoying some excellent pre-loved vinyl from them at the moment and saving a good chunk of money over recently repressed vinyl.

On line I'll use The Vinyl Adventure, HMV and Amazon, I have done a couple of imports from Acoustic Sounds which went well much to my surprise.

 

[DCarmi]

My go to store is Music Nostalgia in Truro

I've bought a few albums from there when visiting Truro.

Normally, I shop online looking for bargains. I also put vinyl on my Az wishlist so if someone wants to buy something for my Christmas or Birthday there's a choice. (This Christmas, no records but I did get some CDs).

I think people don't understand that I am always happy with just music as gifts and feel they have to buy something different the next time. The three bottles of whisky I got this Christmas do tend to reduce the disappointment somewhat.

 

[Revolutions]

I've bought a few albums from there when visiting Truro.

Normally, I shop online looking for bargains. I also put vinyl on my Az wishlist so if someone wants to buy something for my Christmas or Birthday there's a choice. (This Christmas, no records but I did get some CDs).

I think people don't understand that I am always happy with just music as gifts and feel they have to buy something different the next time. The three bottles of whisky I got this Christmas do tend to reduce the disappointment somewhat.

Tell the cheapskates whisky and music!

 

[Oxfordian]

I've bought a few albums from there when visiting Truro.

Normally, I shop online looking for bargains. I also put vinyl on my Az wishlist so if someone wants to buy something for my Christmas or Birthday there's a choice. (This Christmas, no records but I did get some CDs).

I think people don't understand that I am always happy with just music as gifts and feel they have to buy something different the next time. The three bottles of whisky I got this Christmas do tend to reduce the disappointment somewhat.

My Christmas list did get me some CD's and one LP, it also unwrapped a rather nice jumper, thankfully no whiskey as I cannot stand the stuff.

 

[Revolutions]

If anyone wants to support a lovely independent vinyl shop in Newcastle to pay some bills, they’re offering 20% off until Saturday with the code: BVJAN20

Home - BeyondVinyl

Record store based in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

beyondvinyl.co.uk

 

[davidf]

Yes, we have a great HMV in Birmingham, "The Vault". we also have a fantasic second hand record shop: https://www.thediskery.net/

And Rich in Oasis (Ignite Records).

 

[alexclark4234]

I usually buy from local record stores, thrift shops and amazon.

 

[bp_reid]

Yup, dusted off my old Pro-Ject last year and have already picked up records from Sounds of the Universe, Fopp, Rough Trade, Reckless and a few charity shops in London plus Drift + a couple more charity shops in the south west.

I've also experienced the downside of a fragile format e.g. stepping on my copy of the Velvet underground and Nico...

 

[quienquiera]

Discogs has everything ever released all the time. Thrift shops have those amazing finds.

 

[RTHerringbone]

A bit of a (~ one year) late bump to this. I'm not interested so much in the where, but the how.

How do you choose what record you're going to buy? I've only just started putting together a system to allow me access to my father-in-laws excellent collection of records he has acquired since the 60s. Now I'm thinking how to augment that with *my* music. I had about 1,500 albums on CD but perhaps recklessly offloaded most of them when streaming became mainstream.

Now I'm wondering which of those I'd prioritise as vinyl options. I think I can identify the handfuls of experiences I'd want to hear on record rather than CD, but then I've also found that I really enjoy the roulette wheel nature of flipping through a selection at the local record shop. My approach is going to end up being pretty random - I'm going to flip in-person and if something jumps out, then it jumps out and I'll get it.

How do you shop for new material? Do you have a list of "targets" or do you just let nature take its course?

 

[martois]

Discogs is a great resource for cataloging your current collection, adding albums to a want list (which I use when visiting record stores) and it even gives a range of prices that various records have sold for, I recommend downloading the app!

 

[Clarkey_71]

A bit of a (~ one year) late bump to this. I'm not interested so much in the where, but the how.

How do you choose what record you're going to buy? I've only just started putting together a system to allow me access to my father-in-laws excellent collection of records he has acquired since the 60s. Now I'm thinking how to augment that with *my* music. I had about 1,500 albums on CD but perhaps recklessly offloaded most of them when streaming became mainstream.

Now I'm wondering which of those I'd prioritise as vinyl options. I think I can identify the handfuls of experiences I'd want to hear on record rather than CD, but then I've also found that I really enjoy the roulette wheel nature of flipping through a selection at the local record shop. My approach is going to end up being pretty random - I'm going to flip in-person and if something jumps out, then it jumps out and I'll get it.

How do you shop for new material? Do you have a list of "targets" or do you just let nature take its course?

Many moons ago when money wasn't so tight and was buying vinyl on a weekly basis I would often buy a record based on the artwork or maybe I might recognise some of the musicians. When I got them home, some were hits, some were misses.
I find myself having to be much more choosey now.
I would say for you it would be a mix of targeted purchases and also the more organic crate digging route, but be wary of prices and if you buy second hand always check the vinyl visually. In my previous response to this thread I mentioned buying a decent wet record cleaner too. They really do work and well worth the expenditure.
If you're looking for new music, I'm an avid listener of BBC radio 6. I've found many great new artists from listening there.
Regarding new music and my financial need to be choosey, I usually check out an artist on Spotify first before making a purchase. I know this method is anathema to some, but it works for me and means I end up with records I will listen to rather than just add to my collection.

 

[RoA]

I've kept a handful of treasured, mostly jazz, records after selling of my collection and TT. I am currently looking for a deck again to just play a few selected records here and then. I will only buy/keep records I really want in the best condition, nothing else will do. Thrift stores, bargain basement bins and second hand jobbies other than near mint or mint are out. These come at a premium, much more expensive than CD's which I started to collect again but in a similar fashion. I usually stream.