Record Store Etiquette

Record Store Etiquette

Rules to help you and other music fans in our New Orleans shop have a good time.

If you love music and you love vinyl, it's very pleasant to browse the shelves of your favorite New Orleans record store in hopes of finding a rare treasure or that just-released album you've been waiting for. Following a few simple rules will help make the most of the experience for you and for everyone else, not excluding your humble hosts.

Treat records with care.

When you handle unsealed records, please make sure your hands are clean and that you are holding the records by their sides. Also, after inspecting a record, please take the extra moment or two required to carefully ease it back into its sleeve. Don't force it lest you damage the sleeve.

Please don't open sealed records.

It's a big no-no in the world of vinyl. Of course, it's fine to check an unsealed used record for scratches. But if a record is sealed, please assume that it's either brand-new or an expensive special edition that is in good enough condition to buy without an inspection. If you do open a sealed record, we would like to be the first to congratulate you on becoming the proud new owner; you open, you buy.

Keep your phone in the off position.

For many vinyl enthusiasts, half the fun of visiting a local record store is listening to what's playing at the store or chatting with others who share their enthusiasm. So make sure your phone stays silent to avoid unnecessarily disturbing others.

Respect the personal space of other browsers.

In general, steer clear of other browsers and strike up a conversation with others only if they seem interested. Some people prefer to shop solo. Staying in your lane will help ensure that everyone has enough personal space to enjoy a great crate digging experience.

If you shop at Mushroom New Orleans and find the records you need here, please buy them here.

Local record stores are the hub of the New Orleans music community. This is where you go to meet other enthusiasts, chat with staff about new music releases, and see and touch the records. That's stuff you can't do at online sites, such as those that begin with the letter "A" and have a "z" in the middle that shall remain nameless. We really appreciate it when you give us your business in return for making the offline experience possible.

Stop by the longest-operating independent record store in New Orleans anytime between 10 a.m. and midnight. Our friendly staff is happy to answer any questions you may have or to order an item if you don’t see it on our shelves. And keep in mind that we buy and trade used records. Happy record shopping!


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