Record Alley

Probably my favorite CD/​DVD store in SoCal outside of LA. They were nice enough to let me use my credit card from Evernote a few years ago when I forgot my wallet. Friendly service, good selection.

Honestly, perspective changes over time the more time you spend. While I still stand by everything I’ve said in my earlier review, I’m not going to lie, The Record Alley impressed me.
First off, while the Vinyls are still lines of $ 3 dollar records, I’ve actually been finding some good stuff I there. They’re constantly updating, so there’s always something new every week. Nothing insane, but enough to broaden my library of music, I even found bands I’ve never heard of that I enjoy. The better records go by fast, usually because I’m the one picking them up now, but what’s left is still good.
Second, they have a whole line of $ 4 dollar movies, which probably is not great for most people, is a new daily pickup for unknown classics and urban trash. Sometimes bad movies are worth watching.
However, my point still stands that the collection is lacking, but that’s not the stores fault. They bring in whatever they can, it’s just The Record Alley is located in the middle of the desert!
I said it before and I’ll say it again, The Record Alley is totally worth stopping by. It’s not to ur Ultraplex Music Store, it’s just an underground store that appreciates music, both popular and unknown, and that’s why it’s so great.

This place is great! The staff is really cool and very helpful. Great selection of stuff. I love buying T-​shirts from here.

WORST EXPERIENCE EVER.
First off, I have been a frequent customer for many years. However, after my experience today, I seriously doubt I will.
Do not shop here unless the owners (Jim/​Shelly) are working, as there is ZERO customer service otherwise. The young bearded dude with a serious attitude problem gives this place a bad name/​reputation.
I encourage the owners themselves to reach out to me so I can explain why.

The head guy that’s always working there is super friendly and helpful. Great place to pick up some used cd’s, DVDs or tapes for a couple of bucks and one of the few places to get vinyl in the Desert (if you’re into that sort of thing).

Now Ive been coming here for many years and have found a few diamonds in the rough but one thing I don’t quite understand Is where they create there prices? Some time ago I was overjoyed to see that there Blu Ray selection was getting much larger than it used to be. But as time went by I saw and now know why. There simply not selling. I frequent Record Alley at least a few times a month and the section is getting larger and larger and many titles Ive seen the first time around are still there. Sure, They know that there isn’t another place like this around unless you want to drive to Hollywood for Amoeba Records (Which I truly love). But you also would think that they should be aware of Target, Wal-​Mart, E-​Bay, and Amazon? As they claim, That they mostly carry «used» items than they should sell for «used» prices. Many and I mean many of there items and especially there blu rays are way overpriced. Many of them even priced for what one can purchase at other locations for a new item. Its true what others say and that they offer you very very little for what they buy and turn around and mark it up as its new. Many of the Blu Rays should at least be half the cost once its been opened and played.
Like I said, You can find a gem here and there at times and they do offer even a section of used CDs for $ 1.99 but a lot of the times your better off buying it new elsewhere for the same price as there used or much better prices used on places like Amazon.

I have been a patron of record alley for about…20 years!
As a local desert kid growing up in the valley we didn’t have much of anything here back then.
The store has really changed into more of a records, buy, sell, trade, and merchandise store. I think this is great, I still stop in quite a bit to load up on band t-​shirts and the rare video, cd, or vinyl’s that they carry.
Also Dale is always super helpful, and seems to know just what your looking for.

Even though Amoeba is an independent shop and not a chain, you still get the feeling that it’s a sort of Wal-​Mart like experience — at least in terms of sheer scope and size. That said, when you can do your music shopping at Amoeba, it’s kind of hard to appreciate a place like Record Alley.
It’s tucked away in a mall in the middle of Palm Desert, and as you’d expect, the selection isn’t exactly the best. I mean, there certainly are gems to be found every now and again. But if you’re looking for something specific, you’re just not likely to find it in a place like Record Alley. But you certainly can’t fault them for trying.
That said, I do try to patronize places like this because selection aside, I’d still rather have more record stores than less. Even more so when you consider that physical media is marching towards extinction.
Since Amoeba is two whole hours away, Record Alley works, I suppose. But if I want that record now, and I’m not wanting to DL it from iTunes, I’m driving out to LA.

I brought in 5 used CDs and got $ 15 in credit, then picked up 3 CDs & 2 DVDs with the credit. Very helpful staff. I was done swapping in a little over the time that it is taking me to write this post. I dislike malls, but didn’t have to stay long!

I make it a habit to stop in at local record stores when I am on vacation. I’m glad I took the time to visit Record Alley, which is as of this writing located in a prosaic mall in Palm Desert. (*)
I’m primarily interested in vinyl, and the used selection here is well curated. On the day of my visit I perused a rather large number of out of print discs in mint, unopened condition, including some prime punk selections, all at collectors prices. I also browsed the ample sale bins, from which one can «buy 15, pay for 10» at $ 1.99 each (I did). Used stock is not graded for condition, but everything I purchased has played as expected, and some of the sale discs were absolutely pristine. Bonus points for staff playing Ziggy Stardust as I browsed.
Recommended.
(*) Staff related that the store may be moving in Spring 2013, though if a move occurs the store will remain in Palm Desert.

This is the only Record Shop I know of for at least 75 miles and they have been doing it right for over thirty years. They reall do it right from New to Used you can trade in stuff you don’t listen to anymore or sell outright try that at Best Buy plus Best Buy is moving to a smaller location I was told by an employee of B.B. and when I aske would the CD department change and they said yes he said it will probably only have new releases… wow even the big guys are haveing a tough time so Max Kudos to the Record Alley for keeping their heads above water

This is a great record store, especially if you’re a big Beatles fan.
They have a great deal for their already cheap sale items: If you buy 10 records at $ 1.99, you an choose 5 for free! I’ve literally never seen a deal like this anywhere in the world. (You can’t interchange 10 sale vinyl records with CDs, but it’s still a great deal.)
I also found a great box set for really cheap (as far as box sets are concerned)! I was very happy to have found it!

As per my usual routine when I’m out of town, I pulled up Unilocal,typed in «record store»… and this was the ONLY spot that came up within 50 miles.
That’s sad, but it’s also a fact these days.
Located inside a busy mall, this was fortunately enough the only record store in town with the exception of Best Buy (which barely fucking counts). It’s one of those catch-​all types, with everything from vinyl to CDs to DVDs right on down to tons of ephemera, incense, shirts, banners, etc. You know, the kind of record store where you can buy a lot more than just records. Again, a dying breed if there ever was one.
They’ve got some great prices on many items. Used DVDs were very fairly priced, as were most of the used CDs. Vinyl was going for a bit more since every ironic hipster decided to make it hot again. I never collected it to begin with (just missed my demographic), so I just perused the jackets without actually considering a purchase of any. They had a nice varied selection on all formats, so chances are any music fan can walk in here and walk out with something to their liking. It’s isn’t skewed too heavily toward any one genre, although the store was replete with Bob Marley and Beatles merchandise. I can only assume that’s because those items sell the best. It’s not the best mom-​and-​pop shop I’ve been to, but it’s a fun relic that most kids who shop here don’t fully appreciate. For that reason alone, it’s worth the trip if you’re in town.

One of the last stores of its kind. With digital music, records stores have become obsolete except for a few diehard collectors.
This record store is truly a throwback to the 70s and 80s: t-​shirts, fabric ‘poster’ banners, incense, lunchboxes, and, of course, music. The vinyl selection is fine, and it’s inexpensive. There are CDs and a few cassettes. We’ve come home with some nice additions to our record collection after trips to Record Alley.

Time to give these guys some props.
I went looking for vinyl and was not disappointed. These guys seem to be working very hard to source used vinyl in this area and are putting it all out there at affordable prices. I spent my time in the budget bins where everything’s $ 2 or 15 for $ 10 (at this writing) and found a lot of great options. Lots of collectibles and newly pressed vinyls for the aficionados, too.
If they opened up next to Amoeba Hollywood, Amoeba would still win, but this place would be worth a visit too. Put it another way, any town in the US would be proud to have a shop with selection and pricing like this one.

I’ve always been able to find great stuff here, both vinyl and CDs. It’s always worth visiting. Very well chosen stuff here.

Any time I’m out of town I like to look for record stores at where ever I happen to be visiting. After a quick search of closest record stores on my phone, places back home in San Diego were popping up as the closest locations. With a little more scrolling I found Record Alley which made me a little skeptical about it being in a Westfield mall but hey, the mall is air conditioned and records shouldn’t be baked in a tiny store alongside the road.
A trip over there showed a mini version of Hot Topic with the novelty shirts on Beavis and Butthead, various bands, etc. hanging on the walls.
The record selection was pretty big and the prices are fair with a small bin of current punk music.
The owners in here are friendly so checkout transactions aren’t awkward.
Didn’t find anything I had to add to my record collection but came home with a Breakfast at Tiffany’s tote bag that I fell in love with.

Pickin’s are slim if you are looking for vinyl in the desert. And the same holds true at Record Alley. The place seems very familiar in a mall sort of way… Hot Topic is it?

Been coming here for a while and the lack of turnover and bad selection was already enough to drive me out. But the truly rude treatment by the husband and wife owner — who hate kids yet have tons of cheap kiddie crap around — pushed us over the top. Never coming back.

I use to shop here as a teen… and yeah finding the Sex Gang Children was fun but they don’t carry much vinyl. But, it is probably one of the better music shops if not one of the only shops in the desert. Perhaps a better location would be out of a mall… WORD!
I sorta loathe the desert…