Looking for a good cheap used CD store in LA area

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jkanownik

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I'm looking for a good used CD store in the LA area. Back in Ohio we had a chain called the CD Exchange that had thousands of CD's priced at $1, $2.50 and $5. You could find any CD more than a year old for $5 or less. Is there anything like this in LA?
 
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Amoeba at Sunset and Cahuenga is all you will ever need, my friend. It's the size of a freaking warehouse. Although I don't think you'll find deals similar to the place you described, it's a great place to find pretty much anything that's ever been recorded.
 
[quote name='Vegan']Amoeba at Sunset and Cahuenga is all you will ever need, my friend. It's the size of a freaking warehouse. Although I don't think you'll find deals similar to the place you described, it's a great place to find pretty much anything that's ever been recorded.[/quote]

That is definitely NOT what I am looking for.
 
you can go to book off, there's one in torrance and one in costa mesa. not really in the heart of LA though. they have a section of used CDs for $4 and $7, and a couple other used CDs at $10.

selection is very small though, just an aisle for american and an aisle for japanese.
 
From my experiences at the Bay Area Amoeba Records, their clearance section IS ALL you would ever need. Good stuff for super cheap (avg $3-$5). I'd actually love Fresno if there was an Amoeba here (at least we have Rasputin's). But, in the LA are I'm sure there's more than just Amoeba. Good luck.
 
Perhaps I need to be more specific. In Ohio I would go to the CD Exchange with a list like below. I would expect to find at least five of these CD's for $5 or less. Sometimes they would have copies that were a little scratched up for $2.50 or $1 and I would get those if I thought I could rip them without any issues. I would go back in a few months having added a few CD's to the list and again would expect to find at least five of the CD's on my list.

From Here We Go Sublime by The Field
Sound Of Silver by LCD Soundsystem
Zeitgeist by The Smashing Pumpkins
Era Vulgaris by Queens Of The Stone Age
Amnesiac by Radiohead
Kasabian by Kasabian
Sam's Town by The Killers
Because Of The Times by Kings Of Leon
New Wave by Against Me!
The Sufferer & the Witness by Rise Against
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon
First Impressions Of Earth by The Strokes
Elect The Dead by Serj Tankian
40 Oz. to Freedom by Sublime
Y34RZ3R0R3MIX3D by Nine Inch Nails
Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails
SMiLE by Brian Wilson
Lost and Found by Mudvayne
The End of All Things to Come by Mudvayne
Our Love To Admire by Interpol
The Shepherd's Dog by Iron & Wine
Broken Boy Soldiers by The Raconteurs
 
Oh, how I miss the Exchange. Cheap DVD's, CD's, and games.

Just go check out Amoeba. There's bound to be something you like. The place is legendary.
 
[quote name='jkanownik']Perhaps I need to be more specific. In Ohio I would go to the CD Exchange with a list like below. I would expect to find at least five of these CD's for $5 or less. Sometimes they would have copies that were a little scratched up for $2.50 or $1 and I would get those if I thought I could rip them without any issues. I would go back in a few months having added a few CD's to the list and again would expect to find at least five of the CD's on my list.

From Here We Go Sublime by The Field
Sound Of Silver by LCD Soundsystem
Zeitgeist by The Smashing Pumpkins
Era Vulgaris by Queens Of The Stone Age
Amnesiac by Radiohead
Kasabian by Kasabian
Sam's Town by The Killers
Because Of The Times by Kings Of Leon
New Wave by Against Me!
The Sufferer & the Witness by Rise Against
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon
First Impressions Of Earth by The Strokes
Elect The Dead by Serj Tankian
40 Oz. to Freedom by Sublime
Y34RZ3R0R3MIX3D by Nine Inch Nails
Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails
SMiLE by Brian Wilson
Lost and Found by Mudvayne
The End of All Things to Come by Mudvayne
Our Love To Admire by Interpol
The Shepherd's Dog by Iron & Wine
Broken Boy Soldiers by The Raconteurs[/QUOTE]

If you're looking for stuff that recent, the answer is no. Occasionally, Amoeba will have newer promo stamped copies of recent CDs in the bargain section for $5-$7, but it's really hit or miss. I guarantee Amoeba has everything on that list, but you're looking at $10 each used for those titles. I don't know of any store in LA that has prices like you're describing and I've been to just about every music shop in LA, San Diego and Orange County.
 
If you're living in L.A. expect to pay higher prices perhaps? Or call up your Ohio store and ask them to mail you stuff.
Otherwise, Amoeba is the answer. Dont bother arguing.
 
[quote name='Vegan']By the way, Amoeba deals in used games now. They're upstairs with the DVDs. They even have used PC titles.[/QUOTE]

Crap, I did not know that. Time to use that gift card someone gave me last xmas.

Pasadena city college has a swap meet with a ton of music sellers.
http://searchwarp.com/swa39745.htm


They advertise them as record dealers but there are also a ton of guys selling cds. Getting CDs for like 5 bucks should be easier there then at a B&M store. I mean really it's LA, how is a place supposed to pay the rent selling cds for 3 bucks?
 
[quote name='Vegan']By the way, Amoeba deals in used games now. They're upstairs with the DVDs. They even have used PC titles.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but the titles they have stocked so far are pretty generic bargain bin items, at least on the new side. I also noticed a lot of them were barcode notched which means they were probably promos. I'm hopeful that the quality and quantity will improve with time.
 
[quote name='Vegan']By the way, Amoeba deals in used games now. They're upstairs with the DVDs. They even have used PC titles.[/QUOTE]


Not much selection; I just went there last week. Too much Madden 2005(PS2)...
 
Yeah, I know they don't have much, but it's really exciting if it takes off. I'm sure the reason they don't have much is because no one knows.
 
second spin makes me miss Tower Records :cry:

I wanna visit Japan for the sole reason of going to a real Tower Record store again...

I'll have my wedding there too!
 
I tried CD Trader in Reseda yesterday because I drove by it. A lot of the stuff I wanted was priced $7.99-$9.99, so I won't be going back there. They had a few things for $5.99 and $3.99, but the selection was VERY limited at that price.

Second spin looks like they are priced even higher. I'll try Amoeba next time I'm in Hollywood, but I'm not going to make a special trip when you can get most CD's for $6 or less on Ebay if you watch a few auctions.
 
Well a store called Mad Platter in Riverside near UCR in the IE. They sell used movies as low as 1.99 (Crappy ones), 3.99 and up for others. They sell used CDs for as low as .99 cents (older ones, singles, etc) and 3.99 and up. Think this is placed is owned by Rhino because they have poster sells with Rhino logo on them. Love this store. Pretty cheap! Helped build my DVD collection.
 
Amoeba I think has the the biggest selection out of all the aforementioned stores, but I really don't think their prices are all that cheap for used CDs. Definitely nothing for less than $5 I believe.
 
I finally found what I was looking for, but not where I expected. Amazon's MP3 deals. I just got Weezer's Red Album and the Beastie Boys' Paul's Boutique for $5 each, Brian Wilson's Smile for $4 and an Aphex Twin album for $2.

It looks like Amazon is going to be a great source for cheap music in the future. I also recently got the 114 track Smashing Pumpkins Rarities and B-Side for $20 from Rhapsody, so there are DRM free deals aplenty online. I've also been getting CD's with Pepsi points too. All without having to waste any time and gas. All of the LA used CD stores can suck it.
 
You're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. Everything is more expensive in a city. Sucks and doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but that's the way it is.
 
As others have mentioned, you won't find the prices you're looking for here in L.A. I've visited indie shops all over L.A. County for the past 5 years and I've yet to see anyplace with prices that low outside of a rare sale (usually a closing one).

I noticed that you stopped by CD Trader in Tarzana. I'm a frequent customer there and I think their prices are fair. It's much better if you go during their 20% off used sale that comes about every quarter year. They also have a stamp card which gives you a free CD with every 10 CDs purchased ($5.99 and up). I usually average about $5.50 a CD at their sales.

I'd suggest Freakbeat in Sherman Oaks. They're really small but they boast a good selection nonetheless. I think they have good prices and they're really great when they have a 50% off used sale which comes about twice a year. The 50% off sale is only good on CDs $6.99 and under (I believe it's 10% off any other CDs) but you might be surprised at what you can find at those prices. I usually average about $4 a CD at their sales.
 
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