Princeton Record Exchange

After finally coming here I understand WHY people rave about this place. And I think it has more to do with the people as opposed to the store itself. I really don’t think there is anything like this place in that vicinity. And also, that most of those people are students and locals coming from the middle of nowhere so this must seem MASSIVE and eye opening to them.
The reality is, that while it IS a fun record store, it’s not a warehouse or a megastore. It’s not Amoeba Music East. It’s not somewhere that warrants more than 45 minutes max. You can see it all in less than that time.
All that said. It was cool. I found some things I wanted for cheaper than what I would have paid for them in my favorite Philly shops, so that’s a win. The cd’s are a bit pricey for what they are and the arrangement was a bit «huh?» but whatever. Their vinyl sections are a little scattershot and cramped though and the people (customers) there were a bit rude. Actually the rudest person there was some guy who looked like Bernie Sanders and kept sitting on the stepstool in middle of the isles and touching people’s records. Though he is followed in a close second by the staff guy putting inventory on the shelves carelessly ramming into people and their finds. He bent the one copy of a record I had but they has another so no spazz out necessary.
But apparently the people and students of Princeton think they are better than the words «excuse me» Though that is not the fault of the store, except for that one guy.
But like I said, I found some cool stuff, so whatevs.
It would make a nice day trip because there are a bunch of small mom and pop stores around that are worth exploring in the warm weather. Be warned though, parking is a joke.
TBH, it’s a fun one time road trip to grab some mementos, but it doesn’t have anything on the places in Philly really.
Anything I am REALLY jonesing for something I can probably find at Vinyl Altar, Repo Records, Noise Pollution, Creep (even though I am none to thrilled with them), Long In The Tooth, Phila. Record Exchange, Sit & Spin Records, Beautiful World Syndicate, hell, even Urban Outfitters. Or just go online to get the limited colored collector stuff.
Or if I am really hardcore, I just take a vaca to LA and get a pile at Amoeba. I’ve done it before so why not.
It’s worth a checkout once in the spring or summer.

wow… just wandered in during a visit to the area… been so long since I’ve stumbled upon a treasure like this… jazz junkie that I am… always on the hunt for some oddball recordings that get harder and harder to find… and wow… I could have skipped the visit to Princeton’s Art Museum and spent the afternoon going thru all the racks of music… Very reasonable prices, also… including some terrific bargains for jazz lovers like myself…

An amazing selection of new and used records, as well as an amazing selection of used and new DVDs, Cd’s and Blurays! I was floored by the selection of records and their reasonable prices. Not even modest, cheap, and not for lack of quality either! The staff is extremely friendly and helpful.
Now for a quick, dumb, personal rant.
As dumb as it sounds, on my first visit, I needed change for the parking meter (it’s 2016, Princeton, get some new meters! Who has a pocketful of quarters anymore??) and I asked if it was possible to overcharge my debit by two bucks for quarters. Understandably, they said they could not but between several sales people, and against my bashful/​slightly embarrassed protests, they threw me some change for the meter so I could shop there.
They didn’t have to do that, and it doesn’t seem like much, but that kind of stuff means a lot. We all do stupid things from time to time, and it’s easy to turn your nose up at people and say «well that’s tough for you, but what do you want me to do about it?» But this random act of kindness alone, even if their stock was awful (which it certainly is not), was enough to cement me as a lifelong customer.

I used to come here a lot when I was younger and just spend hours looking through everything. I know tons of people come from far distances to come here, and I’ve even sold things to them in the past. You can literally find anything you’re looking for — but just like in a comic book store — most of the fun is in the looking! I’m not too into vintage stuff but I hear great things from people that are, and even from people who are looking for things more recent as well.

An amazing place. My first visit was a great one. The vibe was electric from the moment I walked in, which is so key in a place like this. It sells Vinyl records, CD’s, DVD’s, etc. Record, even CD, stores a far and few between and a really good one is as rare as it gets, it is important to have a vibe that makes this more mainstream, at least for the time you are in the store. The staff shows how much they care, the music is playing loud, there are questions and conversation about music all about the place. The one thing that got me the most excited, being a 47 year old male, was hearing a much younger person saying to their friend, «wait, I want to look for some Dylan». And in the great age of instant results, this person picked up their phone, googled bob Dylan, listened, and bought a CD. This is too cool. Maybe technology may have ruined the record store experience, but it can also be what brings it back.
I am an avid CD collector and I am at the point in my collecting where the mainstream is a bore. Plus, I think I have everything I can have from the mainstream Rock genre. I am now down to the more obscure level. I was not disappointed in my adventure. I came out with 23 CD’s and at a most reasonable cost. I am used to NYC prices, so I felt this was a steal.
I didn’t look or go near the Vinyl. I once had a huge vinyl collection, I basically gave it away. If I get the vinyl fever and start that up again, I may be single again. But to see the many people looking through each bin, slowly, carefully, picking up the album, looking at the front and back and in between, was a great site to see.
I live minutes from NYC and the record stores I used to frequent are dying out, what was once a pleasure to venture to, is no longer, which is sad.
And to spend the day in a beautiful city like Princeton is the bonus.

They always have a rotating inventory, their selection is pretty good, and the prices are right. They could easily charge double the price for some things but they continue to make the music accessible.
The new release section is always solid. They also have a nice selection of harder to find records. Besides checkout, I’ve never interacted with an employee there. I kind of like that they leave you alone.
My only qualm is that it gets so.damn.crowded in there, especially on weekends. It becomes really hard to move in there, and the «Excuse me, excuse me» of the joint ruins the dig.
Most of the action takes place around the vinyl, but yet so few people are around the CD section. I’d suggest moving the vinyl around and cutting back on the new and used CD’s.
I wish I could dig under the shelves for some of the dollar records, but it means getting wayyyy too personal with the guy digging on the shelf above me. I wish I could not feel rushed as I peruse the other stacks, or I don’t know, see something on the other side of the store and not have to push through 10 tweens to get to it.
So, overall, this is a place I’ll continue to come back to and spend all my money at, but I tend to enjoy it less and less as more and more people pack inside of it.

Ok selection, but some of the staff can be rude and not wanting to be bothered. Maybe if we looked for like hipsters we’d be treated better. I shop here if I absolutely need to, other than that, I find what I’m looking for online

Not a bad spot considering there aren’t many stores like this left. My main gripes here are 1. organization is non existent here. There is little separation of genres. There is a metal section and a cheap metal section. The used cd’s are mixed in with the new ones. At least have them all together ans separate them in their own sections. 2. prices for used cd’s can be pretty high. Considering they don’t pay very much if you bring them used cd’s, I would think they could drop the price on these. No reason for any of them to be above $ 5. The store gets crowded and you will find yourself stepping over customers just to move around.
They really could use an organisational and pricing revamp.

Bring a lot of time! This place is mad relaxing and you can find some great deals! Lovely staff!

Love this store. I’ve been coming here since high school, and I’m so glad that it is still here.

Princeton Record Exchange has a great selection, features very fair prices, and has a cozy, well knit atmosphere in strict structural terms. The most lacking aspect of it, however, is a hospitable, welcoming feel in actual customer staff interactions. The staff is short of the mannerisms of a librarian. The librarians biggest talent lies in breadth of knowledge and taste. But Princeton Record Exchange Staff has a rushed, hostile attitude. I walked in wanting help in making the decisions between various albums and in navigating through the stacks. As a frequent book stack navigator, I am frequently aided by warm hearted librarians who are willing to talk to me about books and their nuances and contexts. Instead, the audiophile staff members, particularly the young punk type here tend to give off their egos and aren’t willing to explore music with the people of the community and engage in that discourse. They seemed in a hurry to jump back behind the register. I found a big help with a middle aged man who handed me Pearl Jam’s second album after I described what I was looking for. It’s that human connection which really makes the hands on experience of going to a record shop full of hand me down vinyls and CDS worthwhile in a world of prevalent rapid access digital media.

There’s no 2 ways about it, hands down the princeton record exchange is absolutely the best record store around the philly NYC area. Prices are properly set and they offer so many sales it crazy. I personally hit the jazz section and they always have a great selection with many titles between 1 and 10 bucks. The vinyl is always in great vg + condition too.
Staff is great too, just what you would expect.

great record store holding it down for the true geeks. love digging through the bins here, even though going for it puts you in competition with the crowd of middle aged men that congregate here in an air of Doritos, their mothers NJ basements and rare psych records — it’s like their community center, so pay them mind when they want to ask what you’ve got on your shelves at home, but I advise giving them a fake discogs name. Oh, PRX is PRX and IRL is IRL, remaining connected only by these musical relics that we can happily carry home.

Took a day trip down from Manhattan, looking forward to a vinyl pick & walked away real happy for many reasons.
A great selection of vinyl across multiple genres, reasonable prices on both new & used, relaxed vibe of the store & seeing all ages digging for vinyl.
Their how to get to Princeton from penn station are spot on. Thanks PREX

My favorite record store, been buying my records here since 1999, my first again since I moved out of New York, huge selection of used vinyl, you can find that 70’s prog rock album as well as 80’s new wave, Miles Davis and that harder to find Antonio Jobim.

A huge and interesting selection of diverse CDs, a lot of vinyls, and movies… we have been regular customers of this kid-​friendly place.
Free concerts have been sometimes offer on the premises.
We also sold some of our gently used belongings here.
By presenting their shopping bag to a local restaurant, you can get $ 1 off a pint.

I have been frequenting the Princeton Record Exchange for at least 20 years, and now that I, like many others, have recently re-​discovered vinyl, I decided it was a good time to write a review. Being from central NJ, my four «go to» stores are PREX, Vintage Vinyl (Fords), Jack’s (Red Bank), and The Record Store (Howell). Each of these stores has their advantages, but PREX is clearly the best of the four.
For years, I’d go almost exclusively for cheap CDs ($ 1.99 — $ 4.99). Once in a while you’ll find a rare item, but the large «cheap» selection allows you to build your library quite extensively without costing a fortune. Its nice to walk out with a giant pile of CDs for $ 30.
Now that vinyl is my primary focus, the already great store has become even better. Every time I visit, which is about once every 2 – 3 weeks lately, I find the «New Arrivals» section very well stocked, and most importantly, NEW titles each time. The condition of the records is generally high quality. Compare this to Jack’s in Red Bank, which puts out any dusty, dirty, scratched piece of crap. To Jacks’ credit, their prices are very, very low. The prices at PREX are very reasonable. Compare that to Vintage Vinyl, which has a pretty large selection, but has very high prices for used items. For example, I might pay $ 6.99 for an original pressing of Van Halen’s 1984 at PREX, whereas the same would be $ 12.99 at Vintage.
My tastes lean toward progressive hard rock/​metal to classic rock. One complaint about PREX is that the selection in the used bin for hard rock and metal is usually thin. There is, however, plenty of classic rock. PREX has a decent metal section, but its 90% new releases priced around $ 30 and up (which is typical for new releases and often too much for me). That being said, I have found some really good scores on occasion.
My main complaint about the store is trying to browse the $ 1.00 vinyl which is all on the floor under the main bins. I’m reasonably fit, but but my knees and back simply can’t take it. Its very uncomfortable. Still, if you’re willing to dig, you can find some good stuff for $ 1.00… and often in good condition.
The staff has been friendly and helpful the few times I’ve had a question.
In summary, one of the best record stores in the area, and as many have said, one of the best in the USA.

This is a great place to shop. Hundreds of used cds and dvds 4.99 and less.
The price of new cds and dvds are a bit steep however, but if you are willing to buy used, you’ll find amazing deals.
Definately my first choice place to shop

I have been patronizing the Princeton Record Exchange for the past 20 years — first as a local college student, later as an audiophile planning to launch a DJ service, and currently as a professional mobile DJ.
The selection of CDs and vinyl LPs is eclectic and super deep. I enjoy shopping for jazz, international music and soul/R&B in particular. The prices on the used stock are incredible. The store is well-​organized by musical genre. While browsing, there’s typically a funky song playing in the background — just like there should be in a record store!
I encourage all music lovers to patronize this awesome independent record store. DJs of New Jersey and beyond — you need to check out the Princeton Record Exchange!

I really don’t know what to say about this place. I have been shopping here for years, I am currently 37 I am talking more than 20 years ago. I have frequent other record stores throughout NJ, depending on where my life took me, and I have to say nothing comes close to Princeton Record Exchange.
As a teenager my friends and I would stop in here to look for certain hip-​hop albums you couldn’t find in music stores outside of New York City. My Saturday or Sunday mornings were spent dining at PJ’s Pancake house and walking down the block to Princeton Record Exchange. My wife was not a fan as one could easily lose themselves in the store and possibly end up browsing for hours and purchasing more than he/​she intended. Which I did.
I always forget my list of rare cd, and records. I never go looking for movies but some how always end up looking at a few DVDs. They have so many rare movies you can’t help but look. They have classic movies that I never had the opportunity to see. They also have moves that make me say «Holy S – T» I remember watching that when I was 10 years old”.
I always walk out of there with a hard to find reggaee CD. I would always browse the viynls just to look at all the cool album covers people made back in the day, when music was great. Now that I have a digital record player at home I am definetly in search of more vinyl and Princeton Record Exchange is going to be my primary sport.