In this day and age of chain stores selling nothing much but top of the pops CDs and band t-shirts…read morewith singers on them who appear still to be foetal, Marbecks is welcome respite. Any music lover will adore Marbecks. You get that feeling of being in an actual place when you visit, rather than in just another cloned merchandising experience. You also get a real Alice down the rabbit hole feeling because of the wonderful range, and it's one place that actually makes me feel excited about buying music. The staff here are excellent and great at fielding all kinds of questions, and very accommodating to importing things especially for you and that kind of stuff. They also have a dangerously tempting range of books and a decent stock of vinyl, so there's a lot to keep you busy once you get there.

Although getting music in these times is a heap easier and often cheaper, I do miss the days of…read morespending hours in a CD store waiting for mum while she does the shopping. The ritual of waiting for an album release and going to buy it the day it comes out with everyone else, made it even more exciting. And I think buying a CD is a real testament to your love for a musician. Marbecks is literally the only CD store I can think of that's still in business, and it is a doozy. Hidden away in Queen St Arcade, i'm sure a lot of people still have no idea it's even there, despite it being around since 1934. But once you do discover it I challenge you to suppress the smile from your face. It is full to the brim with music of all different styles and in many different forms. Top 40 CDs, to classic and rare vinyls. The staff are extremely knowledgeable, it's clear they're massive music lovers and big fans of this dying medium. A great way to spend the day and probably the best place to do it. Give Marbecks the helping hand it needs and go have some fun there.

Here are some of the records I have bought from Alien Records:…read more - a Serbian '80s electro pop record - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will by Mogwai - a NZ country music compilation - a recording of Shostakovich's 9th Symphony When people ask "where are all the good record shops?" the answer is: in a warehouse down a driveway in New Lynn, close to the RSA. Alien Records is run by what I can only lovingly describe as music nerds, one of whom will never fail to ask you if you play an instrument. This is endearing the first time but less so after the fifth or sixth. It's full of oddities, hits, classic hits compilations, and lots of top quality new pressings. I'm always slightly amazed they're still in business as it's got to be the most hidden specialty shop in Auckland, but they do know their stuff and it's good fun to spend an hour or so rifling through the bins so unless your ears are made of stone you're bound to find something you want. They also sporadically hold gigs in the room next door.

In this day an age of music downloads and streaming services it's rare to visit a physical record…read moreshop and it had been a while for me. There is something very satisfying about flicking through racks of real music productions. I ended up spending a long time in this reasonably small store, it's easy to fall into a kind of trance while pondering and exploring new artists. It works out more epensive than downloading but I left with a couple of new albums as recommended by the staff. I am happy with the purchases, and have even ripped them to my computer!

As we all know, the days of wasting away hours in a CD store are behind us. I remember I used to…read morehang out at the CD stores while mum did whatever shopping she needed to do. Then came computers and downloading and it all faded out. Until I went to Rhythm Records I can't even remember the last time I went to a music store. I heard a lot about Rhythm Records form a little feature they do on 95bfm and it made me think I should go visit. There is nothing like buying a new CD, or better yet, a new record. This place has both. Though not large, the range is really big and you can find something for everyone here. The staff are probably my favourite thing about the place. They are true music lovers and aren't lame about it. They love to share their knowledge and were super interested in what I was into. I love going here because it humbles me. Just when I think I know music I am confronted with pretty much a whole store of musicians I have never heard of. Love it.

Having read Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, and then watching the movie of Nick Hornby's High…read moreFidelity, there's something that will always appeal to me about small, independently-owned music shops. Also I am a nerd and a bit obsessed with music, so music shops in general are just neat, in my opinion. Musiquarium satisfies all my requirements. It's small, has little natural light, and is painted a lurid shade of green. Also it has an excellent range of CDs, both popular and obscure. Their stock covers a range of music, but seems to be particularly extensive when it comes to 90s alternative rock and 50s/60s rock & roll (disclaimer: it is possible that it just seemed that way because I like those two styles). They also focus on New Zealand music in a way that other places would like to look like they do, but actually don't.

The music acts are always first rate. No cover is great. Drink prices are higher than normal, but…read moreyou've got great music and a place to dance if you wish. My problem with this place is that after multiple visits, I've come to the conclusion that the wait staff behind the bar give very poor service. I've experienced several different sets of staff and they all offer poor service. No personality. No water unless requested. Long wait times for even an acknowledgement that you are even sitting at the bar. Management needs to improve their interviewing when hiring. Yes, I'll go back there often because of the music, but I'm certainly not going to tip for poor service.

This is Auckland's best (and probably biggest) second hand bookstore. It's musty in a good "old…read morebooks" kind of way, and sprawling and welcoming at the same time. Set over two floors of one of Onehunga's old buildings, it's like a house full of books. Most rooms have a comfy old chair or two for reading, and visitors are encouraged to sit and do just that. The subject range is huge and varied, and the prices are of course, excellent. The staff are knowledgeable and will point you in the right direction if you are after something in particular. Which is helpful because if you haven't been here before you could get lost and never come back out. Sadly Onehunga has been on the decline in the last few years despite there being a number of really great businesses here. I would recommend coming for lunch at Luscious, followed by a fossick at the Hard to Find and then checking out Look Sharp Discount Store. This historic Auckland suburb has suffered from mismanagement for too long now but as while these unique places cling on, it's still worth a visit - there is so much character and potential.

What do you buy for the person who has everything? Something fun, interesting or ridiculous;…read moresomething they've never seen before. Hard To Find Bookstore is the place to go for the person who has everything - spend enough time in amongst the weird little nooks and crannies and you're bound to find something for that awkward person who requires a gift. Ohe of my most lovely memories of Hard To Find Bookstore was a Christmas morning, when the small family of academics I was sharing breakfast with handed out presents. All three of them had bought each other gifts from Hard To Find, and all were so appreciative of their gifts. Some of the books still had their HTF price tags pencilled inside but nobody cared - gift-giving isn't always about how much it costs, but how much it means. And to these bookworms, the gifts were priceless.

Superb! Everything was a breeze. I ordered from Christchurch and figures arrived really packed and…read morein great time. They constantly kept in touch throughout the delivery. Thank you so much, 10/10!!!

Just when you thought that a game you really wanted was just out of your price range, in steps…read moreVagabond Games and comes to the rescue (this store seems to be a collaboration with Livewire Games). These guys have some pretty good deals that can sometimes even beat the other gaming giants like JB hifi and EB games. They have a fair number of games for sale as well as some other game related products like figurines and other collectible stuff like that; you know, nerdy stuff that you don't need but want anyway. This store used to be located in a really hard to find part of that ridiculously designed Metro building (seriously it's so stupid with its escalators that miss out entire floors!), but thankfully they are now located on Chancery Lane) . They also have plenty of Anime DVD's and other related products. Check out their website as they often have a few good specials on there.

When JB HiFi first arrived in NZ, it was like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory of my favourites. But…read morenow I have been to several stores, they are seem the same layout, everything in almost the same spot. It would be nice to go hunting and seeing what new tech treasures you really really need to upgrade too. Don't get me wrong, I love these places, just wish the stores could think outside the corporate format and keep it fresh and interesting. As my friend Arnie once said, I'll be back. PS please please please please JB come to Pukekohe !!!!

The Manukau JB Hi Fi may be excellent at everything else, but the electronics section in Botany JB…read moreis awesome. I remember vividly the time I was searching for a laptop, and the salesperson, Amos, was extremely genuine, helpful and took a lot of trouble to ascertain what computer would be best for my needs. He gave me his card and said he'd give me the current discount if I happened to miss the sale. I thought that was super kind. The camera section is also good, but they aren't 100% certain sometimes about whether their new cameras will work in Apple computers. This is a bit of a short coming, and needs more thorough research.

I first discovered JB Hi-Fi on a trip to Australia a few years ago now and since then they have…read moreexpanded to NZ. They have an extensive range of anything to do with music, gaming, computers, cameras (basically entertainment technology specialists). Whenever I'm in JB Hi-Fi they seem to have some really good specials. I purchased some Sennheiser headphones there which have served me well. They have all the headphones out on display so you can listen to music on them before you buy. I keep seeing a lovely pair in there, which are brown, gold and amazing, but my budget didn't quite stretch to them at the time (sadly). JB Hi-Fi Queen St also do meet and greats occasionally when artists are in town - see photo of Ellie Goulding (whose album Halcyon is worth a listen)!

This JB Hi-fi has just undergone a refit/renovation to improve the aesthetics of the store. It has…read moreimproved remarkably. You can now see & find everything clearly without obstacle. They have a HUGE selection of gaming for Xbox one/360 & PlayStation which is fabulous! They encourage 'trade & save' or to buy pre-owned games: pure genius. I find the security guard highly entertaining & friendly, been here for years so a good go-to if you can't find a salesperson. The staff a bit nonchalant & disinterested (which is a shame), always been the case here. Great opening hours, you can sell your games, DVDs etc if you want some extra cash however (be warned) they pay peanuts. However, they do gift cards to any dollar value. Brill.

Before I developed my love for independant bookstores, Whitcoulls was my go-to for Christmas…read morepresents. A book (or board game, if I was feeling generous) for each family member and I was done. Despite being a chain, they've got a relatively good selection and the staff that i've interacted with seem to like and read a number of them, which is always a plus. Whitcoulls of course, also have stationery, magazines and a small selection of puzzles too. If you desperate for a gift, they're a one stop shop that's often open late but personally, now that we've got our own independent bookstore in Milford, The Booklover, I'd much rather support them and get a recommendation that's sure to wow!