Taz Records

My favourite go to for records. They have a giant array of used+new releases from every genre under the sun. Unlike most stores they dont mind stocking oodles of underground goodies. If you collect wax or just want some CDs this is the place to go. Turntables and other used/​new audio equipment can also be had at a good price. #1 store in HRM for a reason!

Who doesn’t love a good record store? I personally can’t stay away from a good record store and this is one of the best in Halifax. I am a fan of a few others but Taz has by far the best selection of albums in the city. A good mix of pretty much every genre you can imagine and if they don’t have it they can order it in. Price wise they are pretty much on par with others in the city, if you want to shop local add this one to your list. Sometimes you just don’t want to wait to get that album in the mail, shop local and get some instant music gratification.

Looking for vinyl is one of my favourite pass times. This store is great. Lots of selection. On a plus side I always have great conversations with the people in the store.

I buy records pretty frequently… As frequent as the next guy. I’ve been to probably every shop in Halifax, and although I like them all… I enjoy Taz the most. It’s just larger, which makes me feel like there is a bigger selection. Plus I don’t get that feeling like in little shops… you know what I’m talking about, like you’re walking into someones house. and if I don’t buy anything I feel like a jerk. That’s all on me, I know it’s not like that, but still. I love the little shops, but sometimes I want to browse and not feel like the only person there. I find the staff really friendly and personable at this location, at least the employees that helped me out while I was there. I also like that there is a couple parking spots just for customers, something almost unheard of for downtown businesses.

I guess you gotta hand it to Taz: they’ve been in business since like Christ was born, so they must be pleasing some people. Their selection is decent with a sizeable assortment of albums for most of the major genres. Their prices, however, are really quite over-​the-​top. I want to shop local but when I can find vendors online charging less for a new LP — and with shipping included no less — the idea of going to Taz is pretty laughable.
Beyond that though, where Taz loses major points is their customer service. It is downright atrocious. Actually, to be fair, this really doesn’t hold true for all their staff: the dude with the whacky hairdo and thick-​rimmed glasses at the downtown location is friendly and helpful enough but the majority of the rest of the staff could take a lesson from this guy. The manager of the downtown store needs to get laid. Or smoke a joint or something. Really anything that will help him to stop being the curmudgeonly old asshat that he is. Seriously, asking this guy a question is a recipe for hating society — he doesn’t want to give you the time of day and doesn’t hesitate to show it. The balding dude who works/​manages the Bedford location is just as bad. He’s more off-​putting than an egg salad fart. Want to ask him if they have something in stock? Well, prepare to feel like a moron as he condescendingly rifles through the albums you just perused then shrugs like a fucking asshole instead of, you know, suggesting he can order it in for you. He’ll also make you feel super uncomfortable as he hovers over you to put out stock while you dig through albums. You almost feel like a teenager being sized-​up because you could be shop-​lifting.
If Taz knocked a few bucks off their prices and their employees learned how to give a shit then I’d probably be more inclined to spend money there. Until then, I’ll gladly save on cash and heartache by shopping for my vinyl online.

Was there today. Okay selection. Higher priced than most used record stores. Found about five or six albums that I didn’t have walked up to the cashier identified myself as a mail order customer of theirs from another province and asked if I might be able to have a small discount on this purchase of about $ 150 worth of goods. He told me he’d have to ask somebody, the reaction that I got from them was «I could sell this for full price to anybody, I don’t see why I should give you a discount». I Identified myself as a past mail order customer and said that I was always getting discounts when I bought in quantity. And that I was looking forward to visiting the store when I got to Halifax. I said if that’s the way you feel then I could probably do my mail order somewhere else. He then proceeded to call me names. Not too professional and I’ll never shop at Taz records ever again.
Later on that day when into an antique store that also sold vinyl LPs. I purchased seven albums from them. The clerk voluntarily gave me 10% off and didn’t charge for one LP and wished me a happy Christmas. I think the people at Taz need to take lessons from these guys

Taz has great selection, much better than your run of the mill HMVs in Halifax. The dollar selection is 80% garbage but you can find some amazing stuff there, I usually get my stuff in that section. As for the prices, Taz falls behind. I thought $ 15 for a CD at Sonic Boom in Toronto was pricey, Taz runs new CDs for $ 20! I could order my CDs online and ship them for cheaper.
TL;DR: Dollar section and used is great, but avoid buying new CDs, will burn holes in your wallet.

With my current love of CD’s, I really enjoy this place. Some locally hard to find gems, and good prices on most of their items. They have a huge selection of CD, s and records of many genre’s. Staff is very friendly and the place is welcoming. Good for a buy or even just a browse.

The traditional record store may be dying but Taz is thriving — having just opened up a new second location in Bedford (that I have yet to visit but I’ll be there soon). Meanwhile, this location on Grafton Street (with the storefront facing Spring Garden Road) just opened a few months ago. All is well.
I can’t tell if this new location is actually bigger. I think it is as there seem to be added rows of vinyl. Things can get tight in here (Record Store Day was packed at 10am…) but the selection is as good, if not slightly beyond what they offered in the previous location when it was just a few blocks away. I do miss their $ 1 room, however, which is now just a few shelves but I suspect they were able to get rid of most of that during their closing sale before the move, much of which was eventually offered for free.
One of the first things I do when I travel to a new city is try to find record stores that offer new and used titles. I’m going to be completely honest when I say Taz beats everything I was able to find in NYC and is perhaps on par with Sonic Boom in Toronto. Of course, Taz is able to order things in so if you don’t see it, ask, they’ll get it and probably start carrying it so you’re not only doing yourself a favour, but whoever else who may want what you do.
Tip for fans of CDs and vinyl, Taz posts a list on their Facebook page every week with the selection of new arrivals. Some might say it saves you a trip but it’s almost guaranteed that something on that list catches my eye and I’m coerced into venturing downtown for that pretty vinyl to add to my collection (and play, of course).
PS: They sell record players too.