Vinyl record collectors are always looking for new places to discover their new favourite album or retrieve that classic album that just needs to be in their collection. Since the pandemic, we’ve had plenty of time to dream about looking for Vinyl. We’ve also spent time reflecting on what we’ve learned from years of crate-digging, and strategised what we’ll do as soon as the shops open their doors again.
But have you ever thought about record hunting while abroad?
Here are Runout Records’ top tips for finding vinyl gems on holiday.
Record hunting in a foreign country
Crate-digging in your local area has many benefits – you’re familiar with the best music stores, you know the traders, the best days for deliveries and you know the times to avoid the crowds. Crate-digging locally also makes you appreciate that you’re restricted to a limited turnover of new finds.
So it makes sense to cast your net a little further every once in a while...
Don’t be fooled though. Crate-digging in a foreign country is a crapshoot. We’ve learned the hard way, digging in the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Iceland, and the USA with varying degrees of luck. But, when you find a gem, it’s well worth the searching.
Record Hunting Rules
Going crate-digging abroad without a plan would be ridiculous. Here’s how we’ve perfected our search for collecting vinyl records in a foreign country. Follow these Runout Record rules and you’ll find those gems in no time!
1. Research the area and decide the stores you want to visit
It’s worth taking the time to scope out your destination for record stores ahead of your trip and prioritise the best ones first.
Some shoppers like to immerse themselves in the experience and take their time, while other collectors adopt a focused technique that makes the most of their time. Both systems are fine when but remember that the internet will always be your friend regardless of how you like to shop.
Using Google or trusted record forums will help you get the lowdown on the stores in your area. It’ll manage your expectations of what you might find and help organise your time. There’s nothing worse than wasting time in a shop when you could be by the pool or sightseeing.
2. Use Discogs
Discogs is a great tool for crate-digging. It’s worth checking to see that the stores you’re planning to visit have a Discogs site. You can look before you go and while you’re on holiday and check their current stock, and whether they stock anything that may interest you. We travelled to Dusseldorf, Germany, and used Discogs to research all the possible stores before we left. During our research, we pinpointed a couple of stores to visit and decided to see if the stores had Discogs stores. The majority did, meaning we reviewed their stock before we went.
Admittedly, we did miss out on a couple of items that had sold before we arrived, but this disappointment was soon diminished when we found a couple of real treasures which weren’t listed on their Discogs stores.
The best bit about Discog – you can also see if you’re paying a fair price for the records you find by reviewing the listing on the Discogs database. Just always remember that any record is only worth what you are willing to pay for it.
3. Be prepared and be focused
The worst feeling is going somewhere from your research, getting there and then being completely overwhelmed.
When Runout travelled to New York, we visited three record stores with some luck. It was during a conversation with one record store owner that we were told to check out a store called The Thing, out in Brooklyn. After some quick research, we decided to go, and it was an experience we wish we had been prepared for.
‘The Thing’ has a basement dedicated to vinyl but while most stores usually have some kind of categorisation, this place did not. It was a true vintage store and while we tried to get into our usual swing of reviewing what was in front of us, we just couldn’t do it as the place was input overload. We eventually had to walk away, which was the worst feeling as it could have held all kinds of gems for us. We were gutted. But trust us, next time we visit New York we will tackle it again with better results.
So, rule number three is to be prepared and be focused. You must have an idea of what you want before you walk in. Always remember that the fun of crate digging is finding that hidden gem, but it doesn’t mean you have to find every single possible rarity every time you visit. 4. Talk to the owner or staff
Like our experience in New York shows, trust the knowledge of locals. These people know their stock and probably know what other traders have as well. Find out if they have what you want ahead of your trip, if they know somewhere that might, or if they’re prepared to source it for you to pick up during your visit.
Trust us, we know this can be daunting especially when in a foreign country and you may not speak the language. We found that a little goes a long way. Music and love of vinyl records are two things that you have in common – build a rapport and who knows what you’ll find. Happy crate-digging! These are Runout’s four rules for successful crate-digging abroad. Want to know more? Feel free to contact us if you have any further tips or want more information about crate digging. Stu - Runout Record Club