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    Merle's Record Rack

    2.6 (45 reviews)
    PriceyMusic & DVDs
    Closed 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

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    This is considered a $10 album so full of small scratches it won't even play through. Goodwill vinyl at 10x the cost.
    Joe P.

    Update: Had time to kill today and popped in to see if anything changed and I'm actually lowering my rating. Their albums are way way way overpriced. For what they charge they should come in plastic dust covers and one would think they would at least clean them before putting them on the shelf. All were filthy. I swear one had a short and curly. I bought Rufus ftr Chaka Khan for $10. My fault for not checking the album first, but there's tons of micro scratches to the point it won't even play through without multiple skips. And I'm using a high end Pickering D750 with a NOS stylus less than a year old. The seams are all split there's a stain on the cover. This should have been in a $2 bin not $10. Whoever is grading these must have 75/75 vision. I haven't even tried to listen to the others yet, but given how bad this one is not expecting much. I won't ever give these guys a dime again. If you want Goodwill quality vinyl at 10x the price this is your place. Pictures uploaded of this terrible G+ at best Rufus album after I cleaned the filth off it. Go elsewhere. Pissed off right now. I have to agree with some of the other reviews here. Everything is dusty disorganized and smells weird. When I walk into a record store I usually have a budget on what I want to spend. The fact that nothing has prices until you ask is frankly stupid. And the excuse of people don't want to ruin their cover peeling a sticker is stupid as well. Most record stores I shop at have a poly sleeve on anything of value where the price sticker goes. And as overpriced as this guy is he can afford poly sleeves. I went once, wasn't impressed, the prices were out of line compared to other stores and it was just awkward. I don't like surprises when checking out and that's what you get here. The best thing about it is they have record cleaning solution, cleaning supplies accessories and things like phono preamps. I don't care if they've been there for 33 years or how much experience the owner has. His prices based on grade are high, the lack of pricing is annoying and there's 33 years of dust on everything including the owner. Could be great too bad.

    Mike Papa working his magic on a vintage tube radio.
    Randy R.

    Is this place quirky? Yes. You have to ask for pricing on vinyl, there's a little workshop in the back with Mike works on everything from vintage tube amps to solid state amps (he just wrapped up work on a Phase Linear 400 Series 2 and a Carver cube amp!), and you have to dig around for stuff. But does Merle's have the selection? Oh, it definitely does. Walking into Merle's reminds you of how records shops used to be, where records was the focus of the store not some afterthought because vinyl is hot again. Merle's hasn't wavered from vinyl and it shows. Does it deserve some of the scathing reviews below? I don't think so. This place is for aficionados and all of their media comes with a guarantee. If you're looking for cheap stuff, then yes, go rummage through your local discount store. But like all things quirky, you accept the idiosyncrasies and the pricing that comes with it. If you're looking for cheap because you expect that an "old" media format should be cheap, then you've got it all wrong. Try developing film these days from a 35mm film camera. It's a medium that's disappearing, but it doesn't mean it should be cheap (and it's not). So go to Merle's for the experience, the opportunity to gawk at the repair bench in the back and all the vintage phono players, and for the no compromise media guarantee. Don't go if you're cheap, you'll be disappointed.

    The WORST Record Store in Connecticut ! .... arrogant, unprofessional, terrible customer service, overpriced scratched records !

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    1 year ago

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    1 month ago

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    1 year ago

    Great store! Mike is very friendly and knowledgeable and is always helpful. He recently repairing 1959 Grundig console and it works great!

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    5 years ago

    Mike and his staff are very friendly and extremely helpful! You can tell they really care about their customers and business!

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    14 years ago

    What a greatplace to find old vinyl and other cool music. The owner Michael Papa helped me find the record I wanted!

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    9 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Merle's Record Rack

    Review Highlights - Merle's Record Rack

    The guy who helped me, I think his name was Mike, was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and efficient.

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    GameXChange

    GameXChange

    (17 reviews)

    $$$

    Walking into this game store felt like stepping str8 back into my childhood. If you're into old…read moreschool gaming,this place is the place to be!They have everything even Atari systems which you don't see every day. It's the kind of spot where you instantly slow down just to take everything in. What really caught my eye was the collectibles. From Super Mario items to WWE figurines to Pokémon cards there's so much cool stuff to look at. Whether you're a serious collector or just someone who loves nostalgia,there's something here that'll make you say,"I remember this!" They also have walls of Funko pops,racks of dvds/blu-rays/video games, & boxes of comics. The setup is organized in the best way like a treasure hunt(heck even the games/dvds/blu-rays are in alphabetical order). You never know what you're going to find next. The staff was super chill & clearly passionate about games which wowed me even more. You can tell they actually care about what they sell & the history behind it. Overall, this store is perfect if you love classic games,rare finds,or just want to relive the good old days. I came in just to browse & left feeling like a kid again. Def a spot worth checking out if you're into retro gaming & iconic collectibles. The only complaint I have is it's kind of on the pricey side.

    Why don't they ever answer the phone? Are they closed? I've tried 1/2 hour after they opened and…read moresometimes throughout the day then one day I pulled in and saw no customers inside and they still wouldn't answer.

    Merle's Record Rack - musicvideo - Updated May 2026

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