Prepare before you go
- Write a short wishlist: ten albums you really want beats a vague idea of a genre.
- Note the specific pressing if it matters to you, such as country or catalogue number.
- Set a budget for the day and decide in advance how much a must-have is worth to you.
- Know what you already own, especially if your collection is large.
- Bring a tote bag that keeps records upright and flat-sided, not a backpack that bends them.
If you are new to this, our checklist for starting a record collection covers where to look and what beginners commonly regret.
Flip through bins without damaging anything
Records in a bin lean on each other, and careless flipping bends corners, splits seams and can push a disc out of its sleeve. The Library of Congress advises handling discs by the edge and label areas only and never touching the playing surface.
Tilt, do not lift
Tip each jacket forward by its top edge to see the next one. Pull a record halfway up only when it interests you.
Use two hands for heavy sets
Box sets and double albums can tear a jacket if you lift them by one corner.
Never grab the vinyl
If a disc has slipped out, slide it back with your palm on the sleeve, not with fingers on the grooves.
Keep bins tidy
Do not pile records on top of the bin or on the floor while you browse; they get stepped on and scuffed.
Check the copy before you pay
A used record is only as good as the disc inside. Ask before taking it out of a protective outer bag, then hold it by the edges and tilt it under a light. Look for deep scratches you can feel with a fingernail, warps seen from the side, and any mismatch between the label and the sleeve.
- Check that the right record is inside the jacket; mix-ups happen in busy shops.
- Look at both sides, including the area near the label.
- Read the runout codes if a particular pressing matters to you.
- If the shop has a listening station, ask whether you can play a minute of each side.
Our guide to buying used vinyl goes deeper into inspecting a copy, and identifying a pressing explains the codes.
Shop etiquette that makes friends
- Put records back in the same bin and in the same place. Misfiled records are lost records.
- Share the bins: if someone is waiting, move on and come back.
- Do not tear open shrink-wrapped new records; ask staff if you need to see inside.
- Use headphones at listening stations and keep sessions short when it is busy.
- Ask staff for help. Many shops know their stock well and keep a want list for regulars.
- If you change your mind about a record you carried around, hand it back rather than dumping it in the wrong section.
Record fairs and special days
Fairs bring many sellers into one room. Arriving early gives you the widest choice; arriving late can mean sellers are more open to offers. Walk the whole room once before buying, so the first stall does not take your whole budget.
Some days follow their own rules. On Record Store Day, around 300 independent shops in the UK and Ireland join in; the exclusives can only be bought in person on the day, in order of arrival, and shops cannot put copies aside beforehand.
Use your phone without slowing down
The most common digging mistake is buying an album you already own. The collection search in the CrateCore app works offline, so you can check your shelf in a basement shop with no signal. Keep a wishlist in the app too: save records you want, and share a card from it with a friend who might spot a copy.
When you get home, scan the barcodes of your finds or search by catalogue number to add them to your collection; scanning needs a connection. If a release is already in your collection, the app tells you before adding it again.