The absolute worse record store I've ever been to in my life. Over the past 30 years, I've have shopped at record stores and online dealers numbering over 500 and this owner is the worse.
If you read the reviews and are wondering what exactly happens, I will give you the shorten version. The owner (Rich Rosen) will not show much warmness towards you, you get the impression that he doesn't want you even looking at his collection. He will ask you what you are looking for and if you are not quick with a reply he will sorta have a bit of scorn. He will tell you his records are for collector's and are very expensive. He will tell you that as many as two to three times. He will then tell you if you want any records, bring it to him (he sits behind his desk) and he will price it for you.
The last stop I made this year ends it for me. I grabbed some Mobile Fidelity records, 2 different Marty Robbins gunfighter records, Pearl Jam's RearViewMirror and Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream. I gave it to him to "price it" For people who want the gospel truth on how he prices, he will look it up on popsike.com find the highest price it ever sold at (regardless of pressing!!!) then charge that and may even ask for more. Now, you heard people say he charges two to three times more than average. Well, actually, that's not the case, many times he charges 10+ times the value. He will also flat out lie to your face about pressings and literally just make things up. If you are a person without a strong personality, he will walk all over you and try to dupe you into buying a record he picked up for $3 and wants $400.
So, you want to know the prices quoted me: Pink Floyd MFSL pressing of Dark Side in VG+ condition = $450. Marty Robbins Gunfighter Ballads = $80 (he said it was a 1st press, it was not but could cut me a break an do it for $60) More Gunfighter Ballads = $50. Pearl Jam RearViewMirror (new) = $4,000. Yes, you read that right not $400 but with the extra 0, before I asked him why that insane a price, he told me it was sealed it could be a "white variant vinyl" and that's worth $4,000! Finally for a 1st press of Siamese Dream I was quoted $325.
I am willing to pay fair market value which to me would have been a total of around the $550 range and a normal dealer would have thrown in the Marty Robbins records. His fair market value was a touch more than $4,900. Do the math people, that is 9 times the market value.
If you are interested in seeing the store out of curiosity, I would tell you to stay away. It's not worth it. Wax Trax is closed sometimes when it is suppose to be open. The place does have a top 5 record collection in a store in the USA but we now all know the reason why, the stock does not move. His collectable record section has basically remained unchanged for years (for example: Pearl Jam Riot Act new sealed has been there for over 8 years! because no one has jumped at his cheap price for it at $800). You will not have anything remotely near a positive record buying experience and leave feeling disrespected and just be wasting your time.
Many people who collect records know of this seller for over 30 years. He is deeply disliked by many and I have run into people in Las Vegas who used to do business with him who will never do business with again. Sometimes someone wants something really bad an would buy a $20 record from him for $60 and you would think he would appreciate repeat buyers and maybe be fair with them for once. Not this guy, you could drop your life savings at his store and next time you are there, you are still a nobody to him.
A word about other stores in LV for people looking to buy. Zia is solid but very hit and miss for records, both their locations stock tons of new records and I would say they specialize in that format. Moondogs is sorta pricey for rarer stuff, however, you can strike deals with owner who is friendly and if you lowball him, he won't get offended, he will just say he can't do that but let's see what else you interested in and he will strike a fair deal. Moondog's has the best collection in town for rarer records priced to find new homes.