EZ 2 Collect - An Old School Record Store Experience

[@darlenegoodwin]

It's great to see old school record stores. They will never die.

[@ExileOnMyStreet]

They will if they continue charging $30 for cassette tapes worth less than $1. Who is going to purchase a used Mr. Big VHS tape for $20? They'll be eating a lot of inventory at those prices.

[@melvincalladine8187]

Well don't buy them . Simple

[@147decibel]

Another superb video. Was surprised to see the VHS tapes still in shrinkwrap and the variety of great cassettes, some great titles, Badlands, Hurricane and Heavens Edge! Was almost like going back in a time machine seeing those items brand new shrinkwrapped! Another great shop.

[@billypaice8956]

Reminds me of the old Tower Records days. Piles of albums, CD's on and on. I worked there too. Lots of fun and cute girls.

[@BrendonSnyder]

I loved Tower. So sad when they all closed. I grew up working at Peaches, Tracks, Blockbuster Music, and some independent record stores. Such fun and good memories.

[@billypaice8956]

@@BrendonSnyder True. There is an entertaining documentary about Tower called "All Things Must Pass" as in the George Harrison album title. It is the Tower Story, and many people I worked with and for are in it. I worked in Mt. View California, first in the tapes section and later I managed the Book store next door. So much fun. Cheers Brendon. Love your channel. Brilliant!

[@iselect1012]

Cool little shop. I like it when you take us along with you. It’s interesting how every record shop has its own flavor.

[@RockStarParking10]

Amazing looking record store, I could spend days looking through the inventory, thanks for posting!

[@BrendonSnyder]

You’re welcome!

[@melvincalladine8187]

Great stuff

[@riverrat55]

Thanks for info on recent inquiry

[@Hicks-g1m]

Very cool record store tour Brendon it's really good to know stores like that exist in todays digital world I think there will always be a place like that for people who want that nostalgic feeling of owning their favorite music

[@BrendonSnyder]

I feel the same way. Always glad to see a real brick and mortar record store. Especially one that is so full of product.

[@kekambas79]

OMG!!! wish I could visit this store! Be like a kid in a candy store!! Love these kind of record stores!!

[@BrendonSnyder]

Being in a store like this takes me back to my youth!

[@jorgeamartineze120]

I still remember walking every month through my favorite record store looking for the "new arrives".

[@BrendonSnyder]

I remember those days too! Still it’s my favorite rack to visit to see if something I didn’t know about was released.

[@jorgeamartineze120]

@@BrendonSnyder Mr. Snyder! You know what is the great news? There always will be something new! 🤘

[@mrantonio77ful]

Impressive wall of cassettes!!!!

[@purpletemple1]

Waow! Great selection. The artwork from that Helloween tape you pulled out was made by a friend of mine (he did a bunch of Helloween covers-mostly Live and Maxi Singles), he also did the covers for Metal band Channel Zero and one for my very own band back in the late 90's. Lots of goodies! Cheers.

[@JasonJames72]

Omg it would take me 3 months to get thru that lot. What an awesome shop. Great video B thanx J

[@BrendonSnyder]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@King_Of_Dreams]

Cool to see still sealed music VHS and MC. Very impressive for me. I would definitely take a few.

[@knownpleasures]

This is how most people shop for records in real life in the old school manner anyway . Good 👍 man Brendan

[@BrendonSnyder]

Very true and it’s the way it should be.

[@tapanim6576]

This record store looks awesome. Some of the prices seemed high but still very cool place.

[@leslieyao3073]

A lot of nice stuff

[@BrendonSnyder]

A fun place!

[@the-record-lab]

This place was the most joyless crate digging experience I’ve ever had. I went in looking to browse for jazz albums but they all packed in so tight and not organized in any way. The owner asked me “what do you want” and I said I didn’t know and that I wanted to browse (ya know, like every other record store on earth). I looked through some bins and found something I was interested in-but it wasn’t priced. He took it into a back room for ten minutes and checked it on discogs and eBay and quoted me an obscene price for a record with mold visible on the sleeve. I said no thank you and left. It was truly a miserable experience and a journey into one man’s mental illness. Such a shame.

[@the-record-lab]

Please note: I want to support small businesses. I arrived with $300 cash and expected to have a normal crate digging experience. I did not expect the merchandise to not be priced and then be overpriced based on the top end sales on eBay and discogs. I’ve visited lots of NJ record stores since-Sound Exchange/Factory Records/Scotti’s/Spina/Revilla/etc - all of which are run properly by sane people who enjoy the hobby.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Hi John, I had a similar experience where the owner kept asking me what I want. The whole point to going in a record store is to browse. I informed him that I own over 11,000 CDs so I wasn’t looking for anything but instead hoping to find something I didn’t know I wanted. This seemed to be a foreign concept to him. I guess he is used to the causal music fan who going on looking for that one very popular album and nothing else.

[@MartyMurray]

Wow, what a store!

[@67rockker]

Wow, I think I need a weeks vacation in New Jersey!! Gutted I was there a few years back but only there for a few days!

[@theflipside-vinylcommunity]

Very rad video

[@BrendonSnyder]

I’m loving all these new ones that I’m finding here in NJ.

[@7freefall]

Love these vids

[@BrendonSnyder]

….and I love making them!

[@thomaswery3087]

I remember it well.I'm going to have to make a road trip to my closest store

[@BrendonSnyder]

Have fun!!

[@mikemclintock3893]

You are a lucky person to have so many great stores near you. I found myself pausing the video during each new CD section and scanning what they had. I didn't realize they were still releasing VHS videos that late, I saw a Britney Spears tape when you were going through them. Would love to find a store like this or the previous one, I want to find the two Dwight Twilley Band albums on CD but they are very hard to find. Loved the video!

[@BrendonSnyder]

For most of these kinds of videos I film the store owners have said they will ship. You might try calling the stores and asking if they have what you’re looking for and maybe get lucky!

[@paulkowalski7378]

Oh wow Paradise

[@BrendonSnyder]

I love these record stores that are packed floor to ceiling with so much stuff it could take a week to explore it all.

[@michaelhenderson5946]

Very cool store! You can buy the Accept, Warrant, and Ozzy Osbourne CD's brand new on Amazon for $4.99! So paying $9.00 for a used copy is absolute craziness! 😎

[@DorianPaige00]

Ya mite jus b gettin a cd-r with good 'ole Amazon.

[@williamgainford9332]

shipping price negates any bargains tho

[@BadEnglishRecs]

Wow quite stacks of different kind of things. Are cassettes prices going up. 30 dollards for Badlands!! NIce looking store. mr. Finglish (Bäd English Recs)

[@Nephilim-81]

What a great store. Get the Perfect Symmetry disc. :)

[@BrendonSnyder]

I own it already and it’s really good along with Parallels.

[@davidmolinaro4993]

Damn, l loved hearing the songs playing in the background and seeing the prices of the CDs. They seemed expensive but that shop is jam packed. I’d love to spend an afternoon there. The VHS were really expensive but maybe they are rare. The cassettes were insanely expensive! You’d have to be very selective about what you buy.

[@gowanis]

Those prices are obscene. And the horizontally stacked records tell you the store is junk. $20 for that Foreigner collection? Every one of those records you showed I've consistently found in dollar bins. You need to get down to Princeton Record Exchange.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Yes I agree the prices were far to high but horizontal stacks of records say nothing except the store has a lot of product. Keep in mind this isn’t the only store I go to. Each store has its pluses and minuses and the key is to figure that out for each one and go to the store in special cases.

[@relayernj]

Agreed. $10 for a used CD is insane. At PREX, you're talking $2.

[@dimitriosmetalos]

A real old school record store!

[@BrendonSnyder]

It sure is!

[@krudetube795]

Circus of Power - Vices on cassette. Never seen that before Tommy Bolin- Private Eyes on cassette looked like an original

[@topographic1973ify]

You could get lost in there pretty fast.😁. I was really a little surprised by how many of those albums you pulled out I have. As always, the record stores are great fun. The number of vinyls Rockin' Rudy's in Missoula has would stagger your imagination. It's like the warehouse in Raider's Of The Arc, you'll have to track it down if you ever get there. Anyway, I really enjoyed this.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Yeah if parking outside wasn’t limited to 1 hour I’d have spent longer inside and definitely gotten lost!

[@michaelhalford9709]

Love places like this until I see the prices. I get the stuff is not being made anymore however there is an abundant supply as so many people want to unload their collections. The huge amount of stock tells me many feel the same. I had a store like this in the late 90s-early 00s and turnover was mandatory. What kept people coming back was the constant new stock we put out. Thanks for the memories Brendon.

[@BrendonSnyder]

No this store definitely has stuff priced way too high. I don’t think they’re moving a ton of product. Nice to know it’s there if you want it but most of its outside of what I’m willing to pay. But it’s still a fun place to visit.

[@danb.9891]

Hey, really enjoy the channel and like seeing the various shops you visit. However, $10 for used CD and $30 for cassettes..?? Maybe inflation is worse than I thought...🥺

[@BrendonSnyder]

The CD’s that were all marked $10 were actually 3 for $20 making them not too bad, except when you only find one or two that you want and have to pay full price haha 😂

[@willietrotter6530]

Does that include cassettes?

[@grumpyoldgeezr]

Not extremely cheap.. but wow what a cool and diverse selection of different stuff and formats!

[@BrendonSnyder]

Yeah the sheer quantity of stuff was what amazed me.

[@MrArchos504]

Did the price gun get stuck on 9.99?

[@BrendonSnyder]

Haha…😂

[@richards3862]

I like that place a little better then sound exchange in wayne plus it's 10 times the size iits in elmwood park nj ez collectibles rte 4 nice place

[@BrendonSnyder]

I found the prices way too high, even for the “sale” items. But I do appreciate the quantity of stuff and since the store has lots in the back perhaps next time I’m looking for something rare I’ll be able to call and they will have it.

[@nickcarroll5034]

This store owner is insane. He thinks every record is worth $20 or more no matter what it is. He has nothing priced and has to look up on the computer what he's going to scalp you for. He also follows you around as if you want to steal. It's more of a hoarding house than a store.

[@vicrules6666]

Extreme hoarder

[@joshd2597]

I find a lot of old school store owners like showing off their collections more than selling them.. when you love something it’s hard to let it go.

[@BrendonSnyder]

I think this store owner must service a specific cliental to where he can price things the way he does. Fortunately most stores don’t operate this way. If there is a cheaper way to get it I will find it.

[@berntmansson]

I am surprised that you got out of that store alive. I probably have stayed there for hours and perhaps helped them organize their stuff. There is something there for everybody.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Whenever I’m in music store when I find things misfiled I always refile it correctly to help them out and for the music fan who might be looking for it so they can find it easily.

[@motley123rock]

The ST Blue Murder was the very first CD I ever bought.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Great album!

[@razormangaming]

Where is this. Wow

[@BrendonSnyder]

EZ 2 Collect is located in Elmwood, NJ.

[@jeffschielka7845]

Hey Brendon! Noticed you looked at a copy of Keys To Ascension. Did you watch your DVD yet?😎

[@BrendonSnyder]

I have not yet but this is where I bought it from.

[@brucekalter4206]

I've been to this store quite a number of times, & I usually end up buying something. Yes, the prices are a bit higher than other places, but if you want something bad enough... you pay. The biggest problem with this place is that it has far too much merchandise for the amount of space it has. So records are stacked everywhere, and the bins are WAY too tight because they are overfilled. The CDs are also packed too tightly, & under-shelf stuff is not organized. I get frustrated after a while in this store, because it just becomes too much WORK to look through it all. if the owner lowered his prices (or had a "sale" every once in a while), maybe the shelves and piles would thin out a bit. Instead, it's a hazard to walk in the place. Again, I HAVE bought stuff here, and the owner is providing a good service... but it does get tiring going thru the place. And the owner dude is helpful; if you know what you want, he probably knows if he has it and where it is.

[@jimmycampbell78]

I found some of the prices for second hand stuff too high, the store owner needs to realise people can get some of the things you showed brand new off Amazon for less than their prices. I do wish there were CD stores as big as this in London, UK though. Rat Records in London closed a couple of weeks ago. I am down to Reckless Records in Soho, the Rough Trades, Eel Pie Island and the Camden stores basically but they are also overpriced. I have been checking out charity shops lately like Oxfam and found some absolute bargains in those, but their selections are usually tiny and a very mixed bag.

[@MrArchos504]

100% agree

[@BrendonSnyder]

That is the general consensus. I only bought two items because the rest was so expensive.

[@davej.meister5421]

Do you ever come across any records or CD's by the late Benny Mardones (of "Into The Night" fame)? And I bet that Badlands cassette cost a pretty penny (like $30 or higher.) Makes you wish you bought the album when it was in print.

[@davej.meister5421]

Benny Mardones songwriting partner was Robert Tepper (of "No Easy Way Out" from Rocky IV fame.)

[@dennisdittes4420]

Another if your subscribers said it. Princeton Record Exchange! A real mecca

[@BrendonSnyder]

That one is a little over an hour away. For now I’m sticking to more local ones that closer.

[@moussegarbonzo8352]

In my more than 40 years of collecting music, this place was hands down the worst experience I ever had in a record store. They follow you around like you’re a thief, you aren’t allowed to check the condition of records, and the price gouging is more out of control than any record shop I ever went to anywhere including NYC, LA, San Francisco, and other spots in big expensive cities across the globe. Seems like there’s a good selection, but everything is stacked in a manner that all the records are likely warping, and it’s hard to dig when you have someone breathing down your neck constantly. I’ll never go back.

[@paulkowalski7378]

Are the cassette's new or used? I have both Badlands that are priced at $29:99...and the Killers(Paul Dianno) Maybe I should think about selling my collection of around 1000 titles that I'd imagine have many rarities.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Haha…I don’t know anyone that will pay $30 for a cassette even if it’s new. I’ve bought a few $3 cassettes out of nostalgia but otherwise if I’m spending $30 it better be a CD. But that’s just me.

[@RunwiththePack83]

I hate seeing vinyl records stacked. guaranteed warping. Love those Badlands albums!

[@tjbullitt]

Nice store but the prices seemed to be a little steep. Im all for supporting local mom and pop shops but i can see why they have so much inventory.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Yeah at a certain point you have to lower the prices if you want to move content. But I guess selling only a few items is the same for this store as another with lower prices that moves more product. Fortunately I have many other options for buying things.

[@Mrajtheartist]

✨⭐✨💞💖💞💖💞💖💞✨⭐✨

[@BrendonSnyder]

🤘

[@timholt9948]

Must be nice being able to shop in person for music.there is nowhere in this little town to buy music.i did get raise the roof by plant and krause.hank Williams Sr and preordered chronic town by r e m. Have a great fourth

[@BrendonSnyder]

It really has been a dream to find these kinds of stores again after so long of not being able to go to them.

[@timholt9948]

@@BrendonSnyder shopping for cds at Walmart now is about as thrilling as shopping for a can of corn.

[@kekambas79]

Have to agree with some posters, prices are rather high! VHS tapes should be almost free.

[@BrendonSnyder]

IDK about “free” but I agree I’m not paying more than a DVD. I see VHS the same as cassettes they’re cool for nostalgic reasons but I’m not going to watch or listen to them they way I will a CD or DVD so the price is too much for me.

[@jaredl.8465]

Place looks like another "honey hole" for you. It's weird how these kinds of stores tend to have a similar "dusty old stuff" smell. And I know you already own that 'Every Mother's Nightmare' CD, but it sells for big $ (might be worth picking up a 2nd copy). Lastly, I'm sure that all of the vinyl collectors who watch this will be cringing at the piles of records. Clearly, the lack of space is an issue. But they should really crate those vs. piling them up. Yet another way CDs are the superior format. Stack 'em to the ceiling -- you can't hurt 'em!

[@Farstarlover]

Uhhh I hate it when records are stacked. That’s not a good look in storing records. But this is a store I want to check out…but it’s in New Jersey

[@BrendonSnyder]

IDK, stacked record don’t bother me. What I hate is when the rack is stuffed so tight you can barely pull them out. For me that causes more damage than loose laid stacked records. But I’m a CD guy too so that probably tells you a lot 😂😂😂

[@Farstarlover]

Yeah, CDs are safe and are stacked. That is the way and the CDs will never warp lol

[@willietrotter6530]

Thanks for the instore video👍☝️🤟🤙😎 I have 99.99% of what u showed! Nice variety,but Overpriced!!! I think the owner should have reduce prices!

[@MAR-zx5wn]

Do yourselves a favor and read the Google reviews.. not only are they true, but they are HIGHLY entertaining.

[@BrendonSnyder]

I’m sure they are!

[@hovz-zo8lf]

9.99 for used cd's is excessive. The shops around me have them in the five dollar range. More for box sets and the like.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Same here.

[@DorianPaige00]

No it's not! Classic rock on cd is getting rare with exceptions for greatest hits and stuff that is really popular.

[@ExileOnMyStreet]

Those prices are ridiculous! Maybe that's why the store is empty...LOL One example, random choice...Bon Jovi "New Jersey" is only $1 more on Amazon brand spanking new. Price gouging at its finest.

[@BrendonSnyder]

I thought the same thing. To be fair, they told me the CDs were 3 for $20 which makes it a bit better.

[@DorianPaige00]

Brand new today might be a cd-r. No kidding!

[@gary6956]

UGH! I hate stores that store the CDs open side down like that. You can see in your video how the booklets slide out and get caught in the case. For those prices they should take better care of their merchandise. Great and varied selection there but their prices... I would never pay $30 for a used cassette or VHS tape, no matter how rare. I can see why they have so much stuff still on their shelves.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Yeah their prices are higher than most. I was shocked by the price of cassettes. To me, no matter how rare the album, even those Badlands, a cassette is just for nostalgia. I would only pay $30 if it were CD. But my guess is there are some that are willing to pay otherwise I’m not sure how the store stays in business.

[@SteveAuger2021]

Boy at least the music they played in the store is decent compared to the usual shit that comes out of these places

[@BrendonSnyder]

Haha…right!!

[@jameshuseby9931]

Cassettes are too high priced there

[@ClassicGREATS]

This is not an old school record store to me. Look at those CDs. It'd be nice pain to flip through

[@BrendonSnyder]

Then perhaps you’re not familiar with what record stores were like 30 to 40 years ago. This is the exact type of store I grew up on making it an “old school” record store.

[@bobby666666]

Old School. More like a complete mess. Brilliant he has cassettes and VHS, but he would do better to take them out of the shop and sell them online. He then would have more space for the overfill he has that is untidy. I think I would Walk in the door and straight back out again.

[@tjtotheb]

just here as an update, owner is horrible and prices are just as bad, it’s even more of a mess now

[@BrendonSnyder]

That’s too bad to hear. Maybe the Owner will read the comments and take note.

[@petergoldberg6293]

This guy is basically a hoarder. He has so much stuff but a lot of it is over priced. $30 for a badlands cassette? He’s friendly but unrealistic with his prices you missed a whole section of rows of box sets both cassette and CD. I guess you didn’t buy anything this trip. Isn’t it uncomfortable to wear a facemask in a nearly empty store.

[@BrendonSnyder]

Why would wearing a face mask be uncomfortable? You must be wearing the wrong kind of you feel that way.

[@petergoldberg6293]

@@BrendonSnyder I don’t wear a facemask anywhere anymore done with that. Of course it’s uncomfortable you can’t breathe the right way no matter what type of facemask you wear. You can choose to wear one if you want. I don’t know why anybody would want to with plenty of vaccine shots and booster shots especially that you were in a nearly empty store I doubt there was any virus floating around in there that you would’ve Had to be concerned about.

[@BrendonSnyder]

I breath just find and so does the rest of the world who understands science. While I’m full vaccinated that doesn’t prevent me from still getting it. I simply choose not to get it. Who likes being sick? Not me.

[@petergoldberg6293]

@@BrendonSnyder Understand science perfectly well I just don’t choose to continue to wear a Facemask. So do most of the people now they’ve moved on and may only wear a mask in extremely crowded situation indoors You could choose to wear a mask ( Even when you’re in an empty store or no one else is around you) of course personal choice I went to that store a few times. I really couldn’t find anything that was priced reasonably pretty except for some of the cheaper records in the front. If you’d lower some of his prices I’d say to him he would move a lot of the stuff quicker. Because he does have a lot of great box sets in the back of the store I found two Simon and Garfunkel box sets cassette and CD. I got them for a fraction of the price off of eBay sealed. I might’ve bought them there if they were $20 each instead of 40 and $50 each for the cassettes and CDs respectively. Most of the stuff in that store will stay there except for the stuff he does move enough to pay rent

[@section8usmc53]

A mask ? 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@BrendonSnyder]

Yes…do you have a problem with it?