Wax Trax Records Inc

I too had a horrible experience at Wax Trax and have never been back... and I live right down the street. It's a shame with all great new/used record stores closing due to the times, this guy manages to stay in business. He quoted my girlfriend 60 bucks on a (bootleg) CD and the next week he quoted me 100 bucks for the same CD.

After reading all these reviews I had to publish a post on the music blog I write for, The Opening Acts (dot.com). You can read about my experience with Rich Rosen and Wax Trax here:

http://www.theopeningacts.com/2009/09/1593/

Feel free to comment on my post, as I would like to read your feedback.

Posted 09/14/09 | Report Abuse

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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GREAT STORE!!! I thought about not going because of the bad revues. I thought opinions are like a-holes everybody has one. When I walked in Rich asked me what (specifically) I was looking for,which I thought was a valid question. He proceded to help me find every thing on my wish list,and was very helpful. If you think he's expensive,well guess what,you get what you pay for, you don't get something for nothing especially records. I don't know if any of you know this but only about 15 percent of music recorded on vinyl is avaiable on
cd's. That's what makes rare lp's & 45's worth that much more. I think anybody that had a probl with Rich was probably not a serious collector which is who he likes to cater to. I would go to him again for sure. I guess it pays to check something
out yourself, not rely on word of mouth. "Rock On" John Van Dam

Posted 06/27/09 | Report Abuse

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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Tim,

Glad you had a good experience! Your lucky!

Maybe Rich had been smoking something the day you went in?
Or medication to help calm him down.

Maybe Rich will come out this way for a record convention. So him and I can visit again for old times sake..:>)

Posted 05/30/09 | Report Abuse

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Having read the previous reviews with the exception of one, I thought I was in for a bad experience! On the opposite, The guy (Rich) was completely ok. In fact Very pleasant, we chatted and exchanged experiences. He showed me around and I felt at ease. When it came to closing , yeah his prices are on the high side, but we managed a good negotiation and I would certainly return.
He has a fantastic amount of rare records! There are no bargains here-so if your looking for something special be prepared to pay for it! Very interesting visit, and as in the other positive review that I saw here, these stores are getting harder to find all the time and if you sell albums for $10-20 dollars you dont pay the bills. This store is a goldmine and I hope it remains open.

Posted 05/26/09 | Report Abuse

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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When we first arrived at Wax Trax Records in Las Vegas we were greeted by a guy named "Rich". He quickly tried to size up our buying potential by asking "So...what's the best record in your collection?" At this point we should have run like hell. But no...record passion surpassed common sense like it was standing still. Upon trying to look at a few albums, Rich hollers out "I hope you are ready to drop 4 or 5 grand, because that section is all collectors items!" About that time, another two customers walk in and he summarily runs them out with some remark about being closed. Once we decided this was not a "Green Zone" and we were in harms way, we quickly made our way to the exit. This is where it got REAL nasty. Rich takes a shot at both of us saying "I should have trusted my initial instinct and known you would waste my time!" That pretty much sums up a $60 cab fare from our hotel to his Hell-tel better known as Wax Trax Records Inc.

Posted 05/26/09 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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My wife and I went to Wax Trax. He wouldn't turn on adequate lights to inspect records. None of the records were priced, so you had to take your selections to him for pricing ! He was a nasty guy with a lot of trashy records ,but a few over priced gems there somewhere. Don't waste your time.

Posted 04/01/09 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I went to vegas on my annual vacation and my friend and i went to WT. As soon as you walk in rich asks who you are, and what you're looking for? then says anyone who comes in has to talk to me first. He tells where your stuff is and directs you. I bought about 6 old punk records for my collection and he charged me 600 dollars. I had the money and bought then, he then says "fck! do you know how much i hate to loose my records? i dont know if you're some wealthy kid or just doing well at work" then shook my hand and asked me to keep in contact. After reading these reviews i see my assumption was right. Rich is a jerk who has a big collection, but over prices everything. He deffiently acts as the king dick. He proudly shows off his pictures of him and musicians he claims are friends. Id say avoid this guy because hes a jerk and he asks way too much for his records.

Posted 08/16/08 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I'm 47 yrs. old and went for the first time to Las Vegas. Been a record collector since 1976. Walked in with my Wife and told The owner (Rich) I was looking for some Vocal Group 45's. So ok he showed me where it was and amazingly found some great stuff. All this time he was sizing me up with tons of questions like what's the best record in you collection and how long have you been collecting etc,etc. I ended up with a small but nice stack of records and was ready to pay some good cash for them. I know in my mind what book value would roughly be. Which was maybe $1500.00 or little more. So I was ready to pay and asked him how much? He said looks like about $6000.00 worth!! I said that's WAY to much!. I thought maybe I could knock way off that amount and only get a couple of records. He got on the phone right away and acted is if he was talking to someone. I tried to talk with him and he spoke up and said" I considered you gone 20 minutes ago". Wow what a jerk ass. And I feel sorry for my Wife who waited nicely while I blew the whole afternoon looking for some records. Now I don't think I'll ever go back to Las Vegas. What a BAD experience with Mr. New Yorkasshole. I've never ran into record dealer that acts like this. As for Mr. New York Stormy Weather acetate. You'll get yours someday!

Posted 08/01/08 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I came into town because my father died unexpectedly. He literally lived for jazz,a and was a big band era musician back in Buffalo, NY. He has thousands of LPs of stuff in near mint condition, tons and tons of Verve, Blue Note releases and dozens and dozens of Mosaic box sets. On the phone the store owner (Rich) is all "don't put em in storage that is a crazy waste let me look at em- it's what I do!" And to recoup at least part my expenses ( I would never sell his entire collection ...no way) so I can at least pay bills when I get home, I come by with a sampling and let him look since he was so adamant.
Then he treated me like I had boxes full of garbage.
Garbage.
This stuff is my dad's pride and joy and I AM A RECORD SNOB MYSELF.
I collect krautrock and garage/psych and even repair goddam 8 tracks cuz I am an analog old school phreak.
He obviously was playin a game where he expects you to leave disgruntled, then drive around the block and say "ok man what will you give me?"

Screw him.
He is a bad man and I don't even want him touching my dad's recordings.

I got my laptop and looked up some of the titles on Ebay in comparable condition, just to make sure I was not imagining all this. They are a collector's dream.

And he is a bad nightmare.
And beneath my contempt.

Avoid this dick.

-Jefferson

Posted 05/12/08 | Report Abuse

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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I have over 26,000 titles in my personal collection, but I had heard about this place, and decided to visit. When I arrived, it was not open. When the owner eventually pulled-up in his car and got out, I told him I wanted to shop, but he launched into a tirade over whether he wanted any customers that day or not. He did finally let me in. Once inside, he mirrored my every step, and seemed to be trying hard to size me up as far as my knowledge of music and my ability to pay. The over-arching theme here is that the owner seems to believe he runs a museum rather than a used vinyl store. His stock is way over-priced, you are strongly encouraged not to handle merchadise, and he seems to cast value judgments on your ability to pay through a series of never-ending questions about where you are from and what you are looking for, coupled with your knowledge about what your "want list" items are worth. Also, he sells bootleg recordings, a legal no-no. I finally exited without purchasing anything, walking over to the nearby quick mart for a soda to relive what was a horrible experience. This guy is a jerk. Too bad; I had budgeted $2,000 to spend that day on used vinyl. Idiot!

Posted 04/09/08 | Report Abuse

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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This store has some nice stuff ,but unfortunately I think the owner believes this place to be a Museum .he made some weird comments & would not leave me alone to look always trying to size me up.He asked if I was a dealer & I said "yeah sure" .What vinyl collector isn't . He preceded to tell me we would probably not be doing any business today .Any way I picked out some nice stuff knowing he was going to charge me up the ying yang .
He would not give me prices as I inquired along the way . Anyway I picked up about 30 items or so . In my head I figured out about 1500.00 worth wholesale but i would probably pay 2200.00 if pushed .I thought about 2600.00 low retail & 3500.00 high . He looked at it & gave me a price of 11000.00 . We proceded to trade jibes back & forth for 1 minute then I left.I will never return .

Posted 01/21/08 | Report Abuse

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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I've never been in this store, and after a negative experience over the phone, I never will.

I called up asking for a particular CD.

The owner said they didn't have it and hung up.

There wasn't even a pause between when I asked and the owner's response. In other words, HE DIDN'T EVEN CHECK FOR ME.

I tend to judge the places I shop or intend to shop by first impressions. I'll never call this place again, or even go inside.

Posted 08/18/07 | Report Abuse

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I went to this store today & must say I was blown away.
The man had some great records & they are priced out of this world.
If there is an lp you are looking for he probably has it,but are you willing to pay his price?...uuh,probably not!

I will say the condiotion of the Lp's I looked at were good to mint.
but that being said He rolls prices off the top of his head probably based on mood,psychosis,the dogs mood-
& what kind of car your driving! who the hell knows,it wasn't anything rational.

He seemed really fond of the # 45 today about half of the records I asked about were $45.00!-prices went up from there,he seeemed just as fond of $75.00 & 150.00 needless to say or negotiating payed off somewhat,I entered the store & asked for the crazy mean s.o.b. owner I'd read about online,we laughed & proceeded from there but his best is knocking a 50.00 lp tp 40.00 or a 75.00 lp to 50.00.

the numbers seem almost like a poem he is just pulling them out of thin air when inspired!
they are all over priced but if you want a record bad enough,it may be here in good shape I found two Black Sabbath boots that go for up to
80.00 on ebay I got them both for 50.00 each.

not a great deal but older vinyl boots from the 70's I felt I was glad to see them in good shape & in person,but I know what people mean common lps 25.00 we got a few for 15.00 but would have bought so much more if they were priced remotely affordable-

The man may have a goldmine w/prices higher than gold!

Posted 07/24/07 | Report Abuse

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Many of your guys' complaints are what I love about record stores like this one. Keep bitchen till they're all gone. Crotchety old store owners! Oh No!
I was in Vegas, so I called the store to get directions from the hotel, and he says.. "I dont know if I want any more customers today... what are you lookin' for?" I gave him a couple of titles and he says "Alright, you can come." That kicked ass! Then he quizes me as I'm looking at his records. Once I passed, he let me into the back room. Lotsa cherry ass shit back there. Its Vegas, so he's gonna see what your wallet will bear- like every one else in that town. Not just a store, an experience. Wizard. Knows his shit. Probably been selling records since before you were born.

Posted 05/26/07 | Report Abuse

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Visited that store recently.. The owner was rude and insulting as soon as we stepped foot in the door. We ended up walking out after only a few minutes of his horrible demeanor. That guy has some serious issues/screws loose. It's amazing that he's even in business (supposedly) severing the public????? Would never go back even if he had every LP I was looking for.. Would give him a penny for anything after the way he acted.

Posted 02/28/07 | Report Abuse

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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I visited this store all the way from L.A. hoping to find a couple of records to listen to. The owner was nice enough to let me browse through his beat up records even though he was closed. The guy was kind of rude, smirking, and insulting my intelligence of music I actually listen to. There were no prices on any of the records, and most were not even in good condition. I chose 2 records that at most would go for $50-75 each. The guy wanted $150 each!!! I wouldn't waste my time or even bother supporting a store whose owner is rude and overpriced. In addition to that he wanted $25 + for a common Clash Lp. Ridiculous!

Posted 08/29/05 | Report Abuse

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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Wax Trax is the worst used record store that I have ever went to.

the "store" is a redesigned house that is completely crammed full of junk.

many records are in poor condition, they also violate the law by offering bootleg records, CDs, etcetera.

the people running that store are unbelivable to me, I tried rummaging through the place looking for some old records when they first opened for business. upon finding something I was interested in I noticed there was no price tag.

so I asked "how much does this cost?"

"oh that's super rare, it will be $15.00" was the reply.

I then decided not to purchase that album ... but I returned to the store three weeks later only to discover they still had not put price tags on their merchandise!

that place is a terrible scam.

PROS:
CONS: beware of cramped quarters, disorganized sections, and no price tags!

Posted 08/04/05 | Report Abuse

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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