I. LOVE. STANDARDS. honestly my favorite record store ive ever encountered. heavily steeped in punk and hardcore, but spans over plenty of genres( i've bought everything from Venom to the Maytals and Poison Idea to Johnny Cash here) great compilations and hard to find items available and new items regularly coming in. great place to pick up new patches and tees without feeling ripped off!! I NEVER leave empty handed. They have a smaller but equally good and eclectic CD and tape selection constantly rotating too :) Each time i come in, i have to make the hardest decision of the week and choose what i have to leave and hope will be there when i revisit! i also love that they will gladly throw on album while you shop so you can try before you buy or look up an item you're looking for and offer to order it for you as well if you'd like them to. &I always look forward to music discussion with Colin :) I give standards a solid 5 stars, BUT, i do have two personal "cons" 1. No/slim pickins when it comes to psychobilly/rockabilly - not really a downside because there REALLY is so much to choose from even without it, but good to keep in mind that if you're looking for that, you wont find any here. everything in this store really feels like it was personally picked out by collin and you can tell he really knows his stuff across the board so i am still overly impressed with the selection each time i come in like i said. 2. I hate shows here :X its a personal thing, and by no means do i want to put down anyone who feels differently. the bands that ive seen there have been good and i love that he offers the north county community a space for people with common interest to express and connect with each other, but its too small and no one has ever been quoted saying "yeah i went to this AMAZING show and no one moved around or danced or misbehaved" I respect the place too much to enjoy myself here in that setting IMO, and it makes me want to scold my friends for having fun/pissing off the owner because i dont want my precious happy place gettin shut down. Capishe? anyways if you're a fan of punk/metal/hardcore/d-beat/reggae/ska/new wave/jazz/oldies/not so oldies on vinyl, you gotta check this place out!! read more

Love Standards. I'm from Seattle, and Standards reminds me of the legendary "Singles Going Steady" punk record store downtown. If you've been record shopping in Seattle, you've probably been there. Yes, I love punk. And yes, there is much more than punk in the bins here. But my favorite thing about Standards is that Colin rotates the stock on the regular. Every other SD area shop I visit has the same stuff sitting in the bins, sometimes for years! I can go to Standards once a week and there will be significant amounts of new stuff to comb through. Love that. The only thing limiting me is my bank account. Pricing here is awesome. You won't find a cheaper place for used records, or new records straight from the distro with barely any markup. Yeah, there are $35, 180 gram, double gatefold, pressed from Morrissey's hair Smiths reissues. Those are expensive from the distro, Standards isn't setting those prices so don't be down on the shop just for carrying them. So yeah, just go here but be careful... You might not make rent on the 1st if you spend too much time browsing. read more

This is by far the best record shop in San Diego for metal/punk/hardcore. After going to so many record stores in San Diego, I finally found the perfect place. The prices are so awesome as well. I found so many records and the best part is the cheap punk bin they have. I appreciate the owner for writing bio's on all of the records. It's a great way to find out about new music. I'm officially in love with this place. I would give this place a hundred stars if I could. read more

I miss Portland, Oregon, but just discovered Standards today, and felt like I was back there. Colin is THAT sort of music enthusiast. He's not ignoring other genres, so don't stereotype him or the inventory by the predominantly punk decor. And one visit is never enough when his stock can change in an instant - bring in your old dusty CDs or lonely vinyl and let him adopt them out to a new home. He dragged out a stack of new acquisitions that hadn't even been priced yet and I snagged three of them. I've been divesting myself of vinyl for a while, so that side of the store I'll leave for the connoisseur. But a store for used music media is a GREAT addition to Vista's downtown. I'm sick to death of one more cheap-chain hair-hacking joints, discount beauty supplies, and cookie cutter corporate calorie cafes. Recycling music is sustainable. And as Dillon said - support your locals. It's the right thing to do. read more

I knew I was at the right place when I walked in and they're playing Iron Maiden Live After Death. Great original prints at a good price. read more

Standards: A Record Store - Vinyl Records Near Me - Vista, California

Just finished checking this place out. I ended up walking away with some pretty cool stuff at a very reasonable price! The place is pretty small but they have a decent sized inventory. If I didn't have to be somewhere, I would of definitely stayed longer and looked through their dollar bins. I will definitely be back. I recommend this place if you love records. You'll for sure find some good stuff! read more

My husband and I just became owners of our first record player (Merry Christmas to us!) and as such, like the picky vinyl snobs (or should I say noobs?) that we are, we want to buy specific records that have a lot of sentiment to us, but even more specific we want records from places that aren't so, well, Barnes n Noble or Frys. So we started Yelping for record stores and came to find this treasure trove. Sure it's small but there is a certain appeal to it. The selection and organization of the vinyls, CDs, DVDs, cassettes (and I think I saw 8tracks too?!) and t-shirts are both excellent. Every genre you can think of or perhaps have never thought of is accounted for. It just feels how a record store should feel; equipped with a couch covered with records in the front portion of the shop and the aesthetic of being a little grungy while being one totally respectable business: it's great. The gentleman that rang us up for our Black Holes and Revelation album ($20 and change) let us leave with it for $20.00 (even) since we were paying cash, no need for digging through coinage or breaking a dollar. We were looking for Dark Side of the Moon, but no luck. The guy, so well-aware of his stock, let us know he was out of it at the moment but they would definitely be looking to buy more Pink Floyd. They buy every single week. They even buy record players! They had my favorite Styx album for $3! Should have bought it, but I know I'll be back again and I'm willing to pay whatever for the music I love (but hopefully no one else likes the Styx as much as I do and that vinyl is still there!) read more

Great selection of records in various genres but those into jazz, metal, or punk will especially enjoy the selection. There are hundreds of $1 used LPs and 2/$1 45s to search through and they are awesome enough to leave low chairs around just for that purpose. They also pay a very fair price for any records you might want to sell. I'd suggest at least an hour for this treasure hunt. Fair warning: this is not the place for CDs (not that I'm complaining). Records rule the land with T-shirts in second and some cassettes thrown in for measure. Great local record stop. read more

Love to stop in here whenever I am visiting Southern CA. Awesome place to buy your music & tshirts~ \m/ read more

Standards: A Record Store - Vinyl Records Near Me - Vista, California

Amazing store! Great selection, I usually find any specific records I'm looking for but also if I'm just browsing I always find something cool and for a great price. They're also incredibly friendly and helpful. Overall, a great environment to find music you love or discover new stuff. read more

While staying with a friend in Oceanside, we decided to check out the 3 vinyl stores in the area (see my reviews of Lou's Records & Spin Records) and search for some of the LPs on my husband's list. Standards was a great find. Yes it caters to the Punk Rock vinyl collector, but I found 2 LPs on my list: Santana III ($5) and Miles Davis' In a Silent Way ($12). Plus a bonus LP: Introducing the Beatles ($3). I had never seen this Beatles album! The only reason I'm not giving Standards 5 stars- they don't give you a printed receipt for the sale. read more

I stopped in about six months surprised to see a vinyl store in Vista. Right away I found some albums that I had been looking for at a pretty decent price. I traded in a bunch of vinyl that I did not need anymore and worked out a very good trade for what I had and was able to pick up copies of albums by Big Star, Velvet Underground, fIREHOSE, as well as Exile on Main St and the recent Beach Boys Smile release. If you are into punk, this place specializes in it and you will likely be able to find what your looking for or the owner may be able to track it down. I like supporting local business when I can and suggest anyone looking to buy or sell their albums to come to Standards. read more

This is my wife's guilty pleasure. She loves to drop in every few weeks. Great prices. Great selection. New stock seems to come in pretty regularly. Love the location in Vista. When my wife was looking for a particular vinyl album from her youth, Colin found a copy for her quickly. He's super knowledgable about music and includes helpful, informational blurbs about each album in the shop. Love the store. Hope it stays in Vista for 30 years. read more

I Just checked this place out today and was pleasantly surprised. They have a pretty good selection, lots of punk which everyone else has already stated. I picked up a copy of DSOTM and M83's Hurry Up We're Dreaming, so I'm sure you'll find something you'll like. The dude was really chill and let me know when they get new records in. They accept credit cards too, which I really like (I hate carrying cash). Give these guys your business!! read more

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Colin at his excellent Standards record store. Standards is one of those special, off-the-beaten-path destinations for serious record collectors. I've been a die hard vinyl collector for close to 30 years now, and I walked out of there with a hefty stack of platters, including several titles from my want list and even a couple that I had never seen in person before. My last visit to Amoeba Hollywood yielded NOWHERE NEAR this results. The store is rooted in Punk/HC for sure, but its selection is much wider than you might expect. In fact Standards boasts a very impressive variety of old and new titles of many genres, including a most excellent selection of Reggae LPs. Standards is a record store worthy of the attention and support of any record collector. Whether you're a local or passing through town on a record buying mission, you need to make Standards a regular stop when you're on the hunt for rare vinyl. read more

Best record store in north county,hands down!! They have a great selection of music from punk,thrash metal,metal, hardcore,and rock! Colin is awesome to talk to and staff are really friendly! Highly recommend standards for great music and fantastic vinyls! read more

Great Punk selection. You'll find some goodies for sure. If you're in the area, check it out.

I love Standards! What a breath of fresh air in downtown Vista. As a vinyl lover, what excites me the most about this local shop is the incredibly varied selection of records available for purchase. Any genre you can think of, Colin probably has it! From hardcore punk to rootsy dub reggae, you can find it at Standards. Colin is so friendly and always down to chat about music, and the prices are so fair. If you ever venture into Vista be sure not to miss this wonderful hidden gem! read more

I got the chance to make it to Standards on my last trip down to Vista and I was absolutely blown away. Not only is there collection of new and used Punk vinyl extensive, the also carry TONS of tee shirts from all the legendary punk and hardcore bands. One of the best record shops I've ever been too. very helpful and knowledged staff as well. Fuck yeah Standards! read more

OK, so it's mainly a punk record shop with punk T's, patches, etc. My boyfriend is a punk so of course he dragged me in here as soon as he found out about it... and even I love it!!! The owner is REALLY nice and definitely has a passion for music and the punk scene, and he is fun to talk to. They have CD's and records BESIDES the punk stuff so there is something for all of us! So far I have bought a few records (Beethoven and Heart... I know, random) and I few CD's (Blink 182, Reel Big Fish... etc.) and I love them! This store is totally awesome! I am definitely going back read more

Great record store. A lot of what you want & not a lot of what you don't:) I'll be headed there are record store day for sure!

Tons of awesome hardcore and punk records. The best record store in North County. The guys that work there are super-knowledgeable and can help you find anything you are looking for. They go the extra mile by writing a little mini-review for each record they have! Now that's dedication. Don't walk, RUN to this record store! read more

GREAT RECORD STORE! Played here with my band and was able to check out all the records. They carry a lot of great stuff and prices are very fair. I suggest buying anything from this place because your local record store is important and these are good people... stop in! read more

I like this store. Very local vibe with some interesting characters behind the counter

Been a few times since it opened, including opening day, and I'll keep coming back. Collin knows hardcore and for a record creep like me that's perfect. He keeps coming up on some cool collectibles as well as has relevant classic hardcore and punk releases and a good selection of shirts that are relevant to my interests, plus you can talk about GISM with the proprietor. read more

Come in at least once a week. Never have I left disappointed! Amazing selection for hardcore and punk

Colin is such an amazing shop owner. His store has a lot of bitchin' finds and you'll end up wanting to buy every single record you uncover. Plus, Colin himself is an awesome person to hang around with. He'll educate you with the history of Punk music and you'll walk out of the store with a lot of knowledge. read more

This shop is as good as it gets. There is something for the punk rocker in all of us (and even plenty for those with a lamentable lack of inner punk rocker.) There is a great selection of used vinyl including a great selection of original and rare pressings, not to mention new records and recent represses of some great stuff. For those in need of some new tshirts and patches this shop has you covered with a great selection (growing all the time) at a great price. The owner is incredibly personable as well as knowledgeable and is a pleasure to do business with. This record store is exactly what I have been looking for and I couldn't ask for a better place! read more

A Mom & Pop record shop if there ever was one...well its kind of a pop record shop but this pop is, like the reviewers below stated, extremely knowledgeable and passionate. Although it really may seem like it caters to the participants and followers of the alternative lifestyle that is Punk Rock, there's all sortsa good stuff for listeners of all ages and trains of thought. The buy, sell, trade deal is a smooth operation and there's a substantial new shipment every Sunday. Some people get turned off when they see the A-Z tabs rather than ones for individual artists, but chances are he's got the one you want. (And if not he'll do the best he can to help ya out). Skip the other stores in the greater North County area (which shall remain nameless), and go to Standards! read more

It's alright. Alright guys, better records. All in all 5 stars, it's alright. I found 2 records I wasn't expecting to ever find (Spider-Man Blues, Spider-Man is a Menace). V rare albums TBH. This store is alright! read more

The prices are okay but employees are lacking some customer service skills. A buddy told me to check this place out, it's exciting visiting places like this, but I definitely will not be coming back or referring anyone to shop here. read more

If I had a record player I would definitely check in here occasionally, but my brother and I were looking for a CD. They have a very small CD selection, but there may be a lot I'm missing since I was looking for music in general and not just records. read more

I love this place. The selection is awesome and I like the fact that the owner goes through each single record. I'm a vintage stereo broker so I get to see a lot of records stores and Standards is one to remember. read more

Colin is the shit! Awesome selection on tunes. Pretty decent prices. If you're were bored it's a fun place to just dig through bins and you can usually find some awesome gems. read more

THE BEST! Such a chill, mom and pop place with great music options. I found my fav stones album that isn't the easiest to find FOR FOUR DOLLARS!!!!! Highly highly recommend read more

What a great store!! Great selection of punk & metal as well as respectable sections of Jazz & blues. Lots of rad 7"'s , t shirts and even a few CD's! read more

TASTY lil store, nice owner, killer selection.

If you like punk, metal, and all that is punk and metal mixed with some rock and other stuff then go here. I came out with some great pulls at extremely reasonable prices. If I wasn't from out of town I'd go here all the time. The owner is super nice and a knowledgable. I can't say it enough, GO HERE!!!! Suppot awesome local brick and mortars. read more

This is what a record store is supposed to feel like. Not too polished and fancy... just tons of well selected music. Its not a pile of randomness. Colin and team show that they put lots of effort into stocking their bins with different and interesting vinyl. We stop in as often as we are able. PLEASE SUPPORT BUSINESSES LIKE THIS IN VISTA. We need them here. read more

Friendlyness does enhance the shopping experience and Standards is a good vinyl record store to get your groove on. Small but packed I found their selection competitively priced. In my other reviews I've mentioned that I comparision shop a few records that I am familiar with selling on eBay and discogs and then check out the stores prices. If a store is overpriced I'm outta there in few minutes. For me it makes no sense to flip through records at an overpriced store. Half the fun of record shopping is finding good deals. A cool Project record player is playing some heavy metal that I'm not into but that's ok. They have a good selection of Metal, Punk and classic Rock. Their bargin bin area has 500 + records priced at $1. They don't seem to throw anything away because I even found the dreaded Reader Digest box sets! In short worth the drive and I'm glad I stopped into here on my San Diego vacation. read more