Been to a lot of vinyl stores around the US and UK. It's like the one thing I tend to do when visiting cities. This one is smack dab in the middle of a great little downtown area called Royal Oak. Cute shops, walkable, cafes, so I guess I had my hopes high the store owners would know what a prized spot they had, next to Detroit, and one of the few vinyl stores in the area. They'd make a killing with the right stock and atmosphere. Bummer. Mediocre on both fronts. Came to Yelp to see that lots of people feel the same way. They don't seem very interested in embodying the audiophile atmosphere of the classically great vinyl shops. They have the sound blaring nicely. But their stock is bare bones. Almost no used high desirability issues. Their jazz section was the most interesting. But dang, almost nothing you'd find on DisCogs for ten bucks cheaper. The store assistance was just one guy in the back who seemed unapproachable. But really once seeing the stock and prices, there wasn't much to bother him for. Maybe it just doesn't have the high patronage to support a lot of effort especially with high rents for retail spaces. I'm sure it's hard to run a business these days. And then guys like me who have never ran a vinyl store come onto Yelp and leave crappy reviews. It must kinda suck. So I'll just say this place is good. Three stars is good. But someone could invest some money and time and make this a very very popular music store. Someone with money has gotta be living in all these new condos in this town. And vinyl is selling more than in decades. UHF could have a renaissance with some TLC. Maybe I'll return later this year and will see it's a different situation in Summer. I wish them well. Support your local vinyl shops! read more

UHF is a my favorite record store in the area. They have a great selection of records and their staff is very knowledgeable!

Dropped in to buy a birthday gift for a friend and fell in love with this little gem in Royal Oak! Has great hipster vibes and a wide selection of music. They were able to check on the phone if my product was in stock and hold it until I was able to pick up. This ensured I had a quick, socially distant transaction which is always appreciated. The CD I was looking for was available I'm used condition for a total steal price. read more

UHF - Interior - Vinyl Records Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

In the growing list of vinyl record shops in the metro Detroit area, this one is definitely a few notches higher than most. Comparatively speaking the space is small, but they've definitely tried to make efficient use of it without making the aisles unbearably tight. There's a nice assortment of new and used vinyl. They've also done a fantastic job with organizing the 45 record selection. A handful of other items are available, including books, cleaning supplies, and posters. The staff is super knowledgeable and friendly, and they're always a pleasure to work with. This store handles record store day especially well. About the only negatives are the overall small size, and their slightly higher prices. read more

UHF is my go-to destination for fee free tickets. Shows at Royal Oak Music Theatre, The Majestic, and Magic Stick are fee free at UHF if you pay cash and there's just a $2 fee if you pay with a credit card. You can purchase tickets in the back of the store and leave with your paper ticket in your hand. I buy my tickets for Mo Pop fest here every year. As for vinyl, seems like they have a decent selection. They had quite a few used classic rock albums from Jethro Tull, and Zepplin and other bands for cheap prices around $5, however newly packaged albums from bands like Incubus, Nine Inch Nail, The Black Keys, Tame Impala, and Jenny Lewis were really highly priced at $22-$29. They also had a very limited selection of pre-owned cds, and quite a few DVDs and some band t-shirts as well. I'll be back for concert tickets for sure. read more

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Since getting in to rock this past summer, my daughter has been on a quest to find her favorite records throughout the area. She has been to this place about three times in the last couple of months. It's a record store, sometimes you find what you're looking for, sometimes you don't, but for a lot of us, it's also the experience of being there and being nostalgic and exploring that makes it enjoyable. With that said, I have to say though that customer service here is terrible. On the first visit, the cashier was short with my 12 year old when she asked for help looking for a record. She still found something and left, wanting to come back again. On the second visit she found what she wanted on her own, without too much interaction with the same person. However, after opening the record when she got home, we found that it was damaged, (the label/sticker in the center of the record was peeling and bubbling up, causing the record to wobble since it wasn't laying flat. I took it back for a return and was given a store credit, but not without being given a hard time, (since it played fine on the store's record player). Either way, the record was defective and I should have been able to get a cash refund. No matter, I knew my daughter would still want to get something on her next visit. Today, she returned to use her store credit, again found what she wanted on her own, using her store credit balance and buying even more. While waiting to pay, my wife and daughter kept hearing the cashier asking and offering other customers about their rewards program. When we asked about joining and what was involved with the rewards program, the cashier was short and rude, again. He added that our purchase would not count towards any rewards. Our experiences, as a family, shopping here in the four times that we did, feel that this business is biased towards some of their customers. There is no reason to be rude in general, but to be helpful and courteous to someone, then switch your attitude once someone else asks for help shows bias. We thought that in Royal Oak, we could find businesses where the owners are inclusive of all peoples. This isn't one of them. read more

I just stopped at UHF the other day and I was really impressed. UHF is the vintage vinyl store concept from the same owner of Lost & Found Vintage, located next door. UHF is a modern, swanky store. It's a long space with records on the walls and in the middle. I'm not a vinyl connoisseur but it seemed like they had a really big selection. It certainly has the most vinyl recordings that I've seen in many moons. I also saw a section dedicated to just 45s if that's what you're into. In the back of the store was a type of makeshift stage. It seems like it would be a great venue for local bands not seen in the area since Record Time in Ferndale closed. There are also some vintage record players, headphones, a typewriter and other similar paraphernalia. One of the best ideas was a rack of CDs by Local Bands at the front near the cash register. I think it's a great idea to be a destination to find local music since it can be difficult at times. The store has a really cool aesthetic. The staff seems to be some of the same people who work at Lost & Found. That's great because that means they are very nice and very knowledgeable. If you're into vinyl and/or local music make this your first stop. read more

Customer service matters. My experience with UHF has been great so far. The biggest reason I'm writing this review is because of a good customer service interaction. On my second or third trip to UHF, I purchased a bunch of used 12" LPs and some 45s. I started playing everything as soon as I got home and noticed there was a serious flaw with one of the 45s. My bag and receipt had already been tossed but the UHF tag was still on the 45 sleeve so I figured I might as well set it aside and see if they would exchange it. About a week went by and it slipped my mind to contact the store but I thought "You never know til you ask" so I sent them an email explaining the situation. I received an email right back saying it was no problem and to bring the record in for exchange. I was back in the Royal Oak area a few days later so I brought the record with me. I brought it to the counter, explained the situation to the young lady working and barely got through the whole thing before she said "No problem, I'm sorry that happened, did you want a return or exchange?". I grabbed a couple used LPs and finished up the transaction. I was extremely pleased with the whole operation from top to bottom. Myself and a friend just recently had a terrible service issue from another Michigan record store so it was nice to see a different Michigan business pick up their slack and in return, their business! Great selection of used and new vinyl, fairly priced and almost all used records are in plastic sleeves which is cool. read more

Absolutely horrible customer service. Didn't respond to my emails for 5 days and when I called to talk about it they hung up on me 3 times in the process of canceling my order. The guy was seriously the absolute rudest person in any sort of customer service situation I've ever experienced. What a mistake trying to try a new store out and deciding with on place read more

Awesome local record store! Great selection, neat and tidy, friendly staff, and plenty of stacks to lose yourself in digging for a while. The focus here is on records, both new and used although there is a smaller collection of cds. If you're looking for vinyl though this place is for you. They update their new arrivals area regularly and announce it on their Facebook page if you're itching to go digging when there's a fresh batch of records in. Also love the focus on local music. They often have in store performances and also sell tickets to local shows without all those pesky online processing fees (cash only so hit the ATM before you come in). In this day and age when a lot of record stores go bye bye it's wonderful to see this one around and thriving. read more

A wonderful selection of collectables that goes beyond vinyl and cassettes. An impressive collection of vintage magazines, paperbacks, stickers, books and more! What a cool shop and a great place to buy gifts for friends (which was my mission). Unfortunately the experience was ruined by the two (very rude) young women working. They chose not to acknowledge me and my friend at all. They appeared to ignore us completely and then decided to talk among themselves, only to glare at us a few times in disgust. It was impossible to get them to take time away from their phones to assist us with our needs. It was very uncomfortable to say the least as they seemed prejudiced. I saw a few items I wanted to purchase such as a wonderful paperback adaptation of the movie Sorcerer, a reissue of a Sun Ra album, and some very cool stickers in the front case. My partner refused to allow me to spend any money as she felt judged and unwelcome. Maybe with a new, enthusiastic staff this place could be on par with some of the nicer record stores in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. read more

A bit overpriced but they have a nice selection of vinyl. It always seems to be a shop for hipsters that are willing to pay too much and you certainly won't find any 'deals', but they also have some harder to find stuff that sometimes justifies those higher prices. The shop was revamped over the past year or so and I like the new selection of books up front. Probably my last resort for record shopping in the area, but I always stop in if I'm on foot nearby (parking is nearly always of the paid variety, so I don't go here unless I have another reason to park the car). read more

The record store for people who don't know what a decent record store looks like. Everything here is consistently overpriced; new records, old records, and even out of print records are constantly $5-$12 over what feasible prices are at record store contemporaries like Underground Sounds, Found Sound, and the like. The staff is consistently unfriendly. They also have very little of what one would consider essential records in stock. Instead of having copies of staple modern classics on vinyl, they seem to only stock what is new (which sells out quickly) and odd side projects. Seriously, if I am in the Pink Floyd section why wouldn't you have copies of The Wall but have copies of David Gilmore solo records? Also what is the big guy doing in the back with the used records? Is he wiping them with a cloth? So either he has no idea that that damages vinyl (unlikely) or it's a quick attempt to make their used vinyl look better to an uninformed consumer. Despicable. This place must appeal to younger, naive music fans in Royal Oak because this place doesn't have anything to boast about other than it's conveni location. A dreadfully pretentious place. read more

Great little record store. Friendly staff and strong selection of new and used vinyl. THe location is great. The used vinyl prices are reasonable although beware of aggressive low priced used vinyl- it is that cheap for a reason. But if you know to let the pricing be an indicator of quality, then you will be just fine. read more

I've shopped here for years. Spent hundreds of dollars on new and used records. Some of which were lucky finds at a decent price, some over priced for sure. My latest visit, the first this year, was quite an experience. Upon entering I was told glove and mask up or leave. As I gloved up and explained my medical exception to a mask, the owner haggles with me for a minute, accepting my offer to call the ADA before saying I could shop, just respect 6 feet from everyone. That's fine. I go on my hunt to be alarmed at the police interrupting my shopping experience saying that I was trespassing. I explain my medical exception and that the owner said I could shop and the cop's masked face lit up. We talk to the owner, who apologizes. His buddy though still wants to complain about not wanting my purchase over getting a fine for me shopping unmasked, legally unmasked. The policed kindly repeated multiple time how in the wrong they were but their only concern was if they could be fine for my presence. What kind of respectable business man attempts to entrap a disabled person because I don't look "disabled"? read more

Why UHF make's me happy. 1) Organization I mention this before selection because I appreciate presentation and order. Yes, the thrill and allure of record shopping stems so much from the "hunt," but the hunt is so much sweeter when you have a little direction (especially when you come prepared with a shopping list). 2) Selection Wonderful selection, both new and used, and I love the little industrial section. Quality is key here. I always leave with what I'm looking for + new and old find's in excellent condition that I don't think I have (or maybe I do, but I'll buy it anyway because it doesn't hurt to have two copies...) + once in awhile, something I've longed for. 3) Friendly staff I haven't chatted up the staff too much, but they've always been cordial and will greet you with a smile. You know, how you expect good people to act. ;-) 4) In store concerts Granted, I've only been to one, but I had a great time and still had room to shop. Nice stage set-up in the back. Great addition to the handful of record stores I frequent in the area. I'll be back for more! read more

Since originally first shopping at UHF until now they continue to consistently have one of the best if not the best record store in the Detroit area. Scotty is super friendly, they're consistently bringing in interesting used records that you want in your collection as well as a nice selection of new albums. One slight gripe might be that they tend to run out of popular releases, but that is probably due to the popularity of the store, as well as scarcity in the area of stores stocking such albums. They sell some concert tickets as well, which are fee-free and take cash only for those. Really good store overall. read more

Very good record store. UHF is a standard newer record store in the heart of Royal Oak. Although UHF might not impress if you're swinging by from NYC, LA or Chicago, it's an outstanding shop for the area. Their new and used selection is wide ranging, well thought out and they don't mess around with stuff you don't want in your collection. For newer titles, the prices here are pretty standard and for used titles I found the prices excellent. Other reviewers complained that this place was overpriced but objectively, it isn't. You might slash off a buck or two off a title if you drive all over Southern Michigan but that's a cost in itself and the prices will be comparable to anything you find on an online marketplace. One thing that's neat is UHF's local music section. If you're down with Michigan music or hang out at the Royal Oak, check this section out. Also, the vibe here is great. Friendly staff and a presence that reflects the nearby scene. If you live in the greater Detroit area and you care about vinyl (and the music scene) stop by this place. read more

Great customer service. Friendly staff , always available to help. They have plenty in stock all the time

Won't be there in 6 months? Sorry doubting Thomas, this place is gonna make some loot as the ONLY store in the Detroit metro that stocks this much new vinyl. CD's are dead...kids are buying downloads and collecting lp's. I don't think the owners intended this store to be another flytrap to collect the heavy hitters (and sell on eBay) and blow out their average stuff to the local consumer. Just a guess! Anyhow, they have a great aesthetic and a stage that will hopefully become a steady place for bands to promote their new releases. Congrats to UHF! read more

Hipster elitist time warp. Won't be returning based on the service. I came in for the first time today to buy a ticket. The girl working the front counter was pleasant enough and directed me to the back desk. I asked for a ticket which I was anticipating to be $15 for early bird; the guy said "$25" and when I politely asked about the early bird price, he shrugged disinterestedly and just pointed at his envelope that had $25 written on it. I handed him my card and he said "cash only" like it was obvious, when I can't remember the last place I went that was cash only. Got some judgy stares on the way out; normally I'd think I was just being insecure but my friend noticed too. Not sure if I didn't meet their standards or if they're too cool for customer service. But it's 2015, get an iPad and a square and at least take a credit card. read more

They have an amazing selection of used and new records and the staff are really friendly. Laid back, and friendly. I always manage to find what I'm looking for. I also really appreciate their relevance in the local scene and how they've got all the promotion flyers near the entrance. From time to time they have in-store performances which is great considering how cozy the setting is--it's a pleasant change from the ruckus that can evolve from a ROMT concert. It can get costly but the huge selection makes up for it. Lastly, I really appreciate how often they post updates on their facebook page, which means I can just drop by when I feel like it or when I see something up for grabs on short notice. read more

Annoyed. Annoyed. Oh Annoyed. Small collection. Nothing impressed me about this place and I won't return. Even the music they play in the store is very bad. NOPE, NO AND NEVER AGAIN read more

They have an amazing selection of used LP's. I can usually go into UHF and come out with a gem. Have a question about the quality of an album, they have a listening station set up to tickle your ears. I would definitely recommend going out of your way to shop here. read more

First off I LOVE THEIR LOCAL SECTION, and the staff is extremely friendly. The first time I went there, I'm sure that my questions annoyed them but they didn't let it show Lol! Anyway, UHF is small, but they have a very diverse selection of vinyl, the store is seriously clean and organized. I found everything from Madonna to weird psych rock, from The Everly Brothers to Foo Fighters. My only suggestion to you as a customer, don't go here with only a few dollars in your pocket. They can be overpriced, in my opinion. Personally, I'd check out UHF about twice a month because of their local section of music, and they also have in-store performances, so that's definitely a bonus. read more

My favorite part of UHF is seeing all the kids that come in to spend their money on vinyl. Royal Oak stores such as The Record Outlet, Off The Record, Blitz Records, Play It Again and later Neptune Records were a huge part in my growth as a child, pre-teen, teen and adult when it came to loving music and vinyl in particularly. And it seems UHF is carrying on that tradition for those budding collector/curators. The records...I tend to favor their used selection mostly. It's always revolving and there's always gems to be had. Initially, I was attracted to their selection of reggae/dub and soul. Also, there is a good selection of metal, punk, indie (what ever that is these days), jazz, folk, country, hip-hop/rap, world music, a small collection of electronic and the mainstream selection seems healthy (if that's your bag), as well. Something for everyone. It's rare that I don't walk out without a few long players in my hand. They also deal in used stereo gear and other odds and ends such as buttons. Staff seems knowledgable and is friendly. A must for any successful record store. After all, I met one of my besties who worked at one of the above mentioned stores. A testament to the power of music. Only 4 stars due to high pricing. Carry on... read more

Located on the never-busy Washington street in downtown Royal Oak, UHF is a fairly new player in the metro-Detroit record store game. I decided to see how UHF matched-up with the heavy-hitters on a nice warm October afternoon. This small sized store boasts a very clean and streamed lined store with very little wall clutter. The store walls a lined with record racks and center racks across the middle of the store dividing it in half length-wise. The jazz section is located on the left end of the center rack and was located fairly quickly. Consisting of about 7 rack-rows, the jazz section was small, but filled with a few gems. I managed to find a few Impulse! records that I have not seen elsewhere. Though I thought two of them were a bit overpriced, I bought them anyway due to their rarity in the area. The back of the store has a small stage for in-store performances, so it will be interesting to see what kind of performances this store will host. Not amazing, but certainly not at the bottom. read more

I am very happy to have been initially wrong about this place and I'm overjoyed to change my review. I have never been compelled to change a review for the positive like this so I'm over the moon. I would like to share that I celebrate record store day every year. this year, UHF made it MUCH easier for me by posting their RSD list online on time on facebook, ahead of time. because of that, i knew which store to go to without the stress of wondering what would be where. even though they ran out of the records i wanted, i was really glad they published the list. the real surprise was that two days later, UHF posted that they had leftover copies of the record i wanted on facebook. i was at work almost a half hour away and was willing to take off to go get the record. i called them to tell them i was going to be on my way, but they gave me an option to put the record on hold (at no extra cost!) they really worked with me and compromised. i was super grateful. my whole record store day was saved and i got the one thing i wanted most. i want to thank UHF for making that possible and working with my situation. best of all, UHF accomplished all of this through social media. by being very specific online about their releases and arrivals, i'm able to keep up with absolutely everything. if not for the social media interaction from start to finish, i would not have thought of going to UHF for record store day nor would i have known that they would have the record i wanted. they are prompt to answer you on facebook and answer ALL your questions specifically. the fact they show that dedication online to work with you even when you're not in the store is absolutely wonderful. more stores can take after this, it's the future! a lot of record stores can't keep up with modern technology but UHF makes use of it and keeps up wonderfully. sometimes it's not about how many records, what price, and all those things- sometimes it's just about that incredible customer service and being treated with respect and priority. thank you UHF. you're doing it right! read more

Not huge size wise, but absolute tops in quality and pricing.

Love this store. Great selection of vinyl and other stuff. Everything I could hope for in a record store.

One of my all time favorite record shops. Best thing about UHF is they're not over packed with a bunch of garbage. They have a great selection of records you actually want. Not rows and rows of Night Ranger and the like. read more

Hands down the best in Metro Detroit for new vinyl and clean used selection. I thought they were a bit pricey when I first started going there but when you look at the other shops and compare apples to apples their used records are way cleaner which means they're gonna sound better! I asked why a particular Doors record was so high when it was way cheaper at another local shop. The guy pointed out it was a first pressing with a slightly different cover. He then showed me the same one on eBay sold for $50 more then they had it priced. It was cool he took the time to explain why. They could have a better 45 section. Not very many new picture sleeve 45's coming in but I have found some killer 80's punk there. Their cd selection is weak but I don't buy them so no big deal. Also they need to have more live shows. But overall they are the go to place for now! read more

Expensive with condition problems. At first I liked this store. Then prices kept going up up up. And condition down down down. Not only that but the lighting is terrible. You will notice the guy in the back "cleaning" LP's with a rag? Well I think he's actually polishing them with something. see a wetvac? Nope you don't. Because they are not cleaning anything just grinding in dirt deeper into the grooves trying to make albums look better. Only a VPI type machine cleans records UHF. Wiping them down with a rag does not and polishing them with anything will destroy them. FOREVER. You can get cheaper on Ebay which says it all. This place wants top $ for lower grade they've destroyed "cleaning" Sorry but I cannot ignore this. Its a shame and a sham. Plus light up the store. Its to dark to see. read more

If you're a sucker for vinyl like me this place could be your worst enemy or best friend. Located on Washington Avenue in Royal Oak UHF offers patrons a great selection of new and used records. The inventory in the hip and modern store is well organized which makes shopping that much easier (and dangerous). Each genre is clearly marked and even separated by decades. In addition, Scotty Hagen is ridiculously knowledge about all genres from Alice Cooper to Sly Stone so ask away. The staff is friendly and never pushy, but always there if you have a question or need help finding something in particular. I was also really impressed at the selection of local music they carried. I managed to grab a Summer Pledge limited edition record which made me very very happy. So, for those looking to grab the newest Black Keys album or classic Ray Charles album UHF has got you covered. read more

Decent selection of rock, pop, and r&b vinyl. Condition of records is usually strong and there's a good chance you'll find a sought-after gem. That said, their pricing skews high and the staff is consistently lifeless and devoid of personality. read more

This place was fine. Found Sound has a better selection. The used records are also of a worse quality than at found sound. Don't think we'll be back. read more

Not bad. A decent selection of patches, pins, shirts, stickers and the like along with a ton of records. A bit overpriced and a bit unorganized, but staff seemed friendly. read more

Most record stores in the area have their strengths and weaknesses, but UHF seems to be in their own category among the dozen or so other stores. They are unmatched at new-release/sealed vinyl and have a very concise and clean survey of the basic used bins: Rock, Classic Rock, Blues, Jazz. Very small country section. They also maintain the de rigueur 'dollar' bin at the front of the store for the divers among us. Haven't seen a performance there, but the little stage at the back is both a throwback and pretty much unique for the area. It doesn't seem like they are selling as much playback hardware as they used to, but there are a few record players scattered around the store. The location on southern Washington street dodges the usual RO chachi's and shenanigans, and provides easy access by car, bike or bus. Easily the cleanest record store, very friendly, and among the least cramped spaces. Never feel the need to shower after leaving. Almost nothing out of the way or hard to reach - almost 100% 'stoop' free. On the flipside of this is the stock is small enough that you can't spend all afternoon here. But like Hello Records in Corktown you can be in and out in 30 minutes and feel like you got your 'browse on', get a few surprises in the racks, and when you get home the vinyl will be clean. read more

Here's the thing about UHF: You're probably going to find what you're looking for, but you're probably going to pay out the wazoo for it. I'm a lady who loves a bargain but it's hard to come by here. Otherwise they have an impressive inventory! read more

Off topic but some of that one star reviews make me laugh. Other than the people complaining that some records are priced a little high (all record stores have this problem to some extent) I've never experienced any of the complaints that are thrown around here. Anyway, new vinyl is a plenty here as well as used, and the used selection is reloaded with new titles pretty much weekly and they've been getting some gems in. Oh yeah, I still haven't seen any hipster elitist anythings in this store working. read more