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Sound Exchange

557 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB
33 reviews
Claim this business Last updated: Over a year ago
Listed in: Record Stores

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Sound Exchange, Winnipeg Reviews (33)

3.2
33 reviews
5 Star
13
4 Star
6
3 Star
1
2 Star
3
1 Star
10
By Auburn Pinniped on Jan 21, 2018
Guest Review
Yes the son is more reasonable and personable. Great place to sift through and make discoveries. Usually try to avoid going when the mom is working. Her perception of prices for stock makes me roll eyes and she becomes agressive and verbally. Always better to put object down and thank her for her service. It is a vinyl institution and a place that I’ll frequent and support. Yes that front door heap should get cleaned out. But not sure they have any place to put it. Jeff’s stories are great and it’s good to support local !
By Cinnabar Lamprey on Sep 22, 2016
Guest Review
I have being getting back into vingl and cassette,s and found this store 3 year,s ago.I was one of those people who sold my record collection and went to Cd,s I have got every record that I.gave up and then some.Yes there is a lot to,take when you walk into the store but that is what is so special.The price of the record,s and cassette,s are great value,Jeff really know,s his music and has turned me on to some great record,s.It is a great store to start to listen to vinyl or build up your collection you will not be disappointed.,
By Cobalt Wildcat on Sep 21, 2016
Guest Review
Finally got up the courage to read these reviews after speaking to a client on the phone today for the first time.

She expressed surprise that I was friendly and wanted to help her, even though it wouldn't have generated a single penny of profit for the store. She mentioned she'd read these reviews and what she heard on the phone didn't match up with the negative comments featured here.

Yes, we're cluttered with far too much material in the store and I am trying to methodically sort away that clutter. Yes, some of our records are without price tags, I find them peeled off and flicked on the carpet by people hoping we'll charge less if they remove the tags I carefully apply working dilgently late at night in an effort to improve YOUR experience here with us.

As to the comments about us being rude, yes... There are days it would seem that way. I invite anyone who feels that way to literally walk a mile in our shoes and spend a day in the store with me as a member of staff. See what we see, hear what we hear and try and get through the day without a tylenol. Most days are crammed FULL of awesome people and great times, but eventually there will be those rainy days.

We're trying to create an environment where people who wholeheartedly love music can get together, perhaps expand their musical knowledge and meet like minded individuals. If you find something you wish to own you can purchase it. If you leave without spending a dime you will always be welcome in the store on your next visit. If it was all about the money, we'd be selling car insurance instead.

However. If you come in, make a mess, mishandle vinyl causing damage, act rude and then accuse us of being idiots for charging more than VALUE VILLAGE for truly scarce or interesting items... Well, how would anyone handle that without incurring the anonymous wrath of the Internet?

So, if you want to know what it's all about you can call me personally and see what it's all about firsthand.

Some night I should recall the many stories of what we've seen here in the 42 years we've been open. We could do it in a comedy club. You'd laugh, you'd cry... you'd be angry for a moment... and then you would want to do it all over again with us.

No one is perfect and not everyone can be made happy. But I make it a point to try and discover what it is about music that will make you happy and share in that. I will never make fun of your taste in music, though at times I do sound sarcastic, but that's a laughing "with" , and not "at" scenario.

I do find it funny in a really sad way that one of the negative reviews on this site was left by someone who LITERALLY intentionally ran down a member of our staff with his CAR, then drove home and was writing a mean review about US while the police we're attempting to arrest him for assault and Hit & Run. Would he have written a POSITIVE review if the employee was killed by this disturbing attack? Now imagine you walked into the shop 5 minutes after this had happened? Would you blame us if we seemed a little distracted?

I personally would like to still be in this industry for a long time. There are far too few people who enjoy what they do for a career as much as people who work in a music store.

So, enough faceless criticism, if you like another shop more, great! Winnipeg has a number of AWESOME stores with great staff and quality music.

We can do some fantastic things if we all work together.

Cheers,

~Jeff
By Crimson Persian-Cat on Sep 08, 2016
Guest Review
The place is a real mess but also a gold mine. The son is more reasonable to do business with than the mother. Better effort to organize themselves with result in better customer browsing. Especially the tape rack at entrance who for 5 years has been blocked by an amounting pile of records. But the fun of sifting and finding treasures still gets me back there once or twice s year.
By Lava Albatross on Jun 13, 2016
Guest Review
Jeff always has a new story to tell that other lady is grumpy you would have 5 stars if u had pro per hours
By spinmeround on Apr 30, 2016
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I don't go into this store very often as yes, I do think their prices are outrageous depending on the item and their manner can be off putting I guess depending if they took their meds that day. One time I went in there and the guy was very friendly but the lady (don't know if it's his mother or not) was very rude to me! I basically ignored her and focused my purchase through him. The best way to deal with this store is go in and purchase what you want but say as little as possible! I'm amazed they have been around I believe since the '70's. The store is a mess and you have to look through piles of stuff sometimes.The place has fire hazard written all over it. I think they would rather not sell their collectibles. I knew an antique store like this. It almost seems that they want to chase you out of their store.
By elfideas on Apr 23, 2016
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The first time I visited this store, I was quietly looking for records that I wanted to buy and I was able to purchase some without any problem except that some were--like some here had mentioned--without price tags. When I asked the person how much those were, he looked into each of the records while observing my reaction. Afterwards he gave me a relatively high price. But because I like the album and I felt kind of awkward to not buy it anymore, I ended up buying it nonetheless.

The next time I dropped by to buy records again--it was around lunch time--the same person was quite unfriendly that day and had a menacing look on his face. As I am the type who looks at the records really one by one, I sort of took the time to check out the records individually. When I was about to approach the cashier area to pay for what I got and to ask--again!--for the price of untagged ones, he suddenly burst into transforming into a rude, almost seething scary guy, telling me, "Then don't pick records that have no prices on them. Better yet just don't buy anything at all!" He also told me that I didn't put properly the records back into where I got them, when I actually did; or if ever not perfectly, still the approach was very unbecoming and bordering mental/behavioral problem on his part. He then actually went to the racks and shove the records violently.

I still paid for the records I got without saying a word. He slowly became a bit apologetic as I was paying and as I was leaving, but still...that was a scary experience, especially that we were the only persons in the store at that time.

I left the shop quietly, thinking I would have loved to return because of the good selection of records the store had, although the behavioral issue of that guy was the factor that intimidates me to do so. The next time I drop by there, I might just bring a friend or my wife so I am not alone.
By Azure Harrier on Jul 08, 2015
Guest Review
While the general disarray of the shop may take some getting used to, it is a wonderful place. Jeff is extremely knowledgeable about the products he offers, and is very fair, and flexible with his prices. Besides a ridiculously large quantity of vinyl they also offer more niche formats, like 8-track, reel-to-reel, and cassette tape, (I have even seen a few LaserDisc films lying around!) as well as more conventional formats such as CD's. Besides this, their products occasionally veer into audio components such as, turntables, amplifiers, speakers, receivers, and other miscellany. The atmosphere is very relaxed--I'll walk in expecting to be there for a snappy twenty minutes and end up talking with Jeff for two or more hours. However, try to get there in the afternoons–when his mother is not working; she has a tendency to be quite cantankerous. That being said, it if one of my favourite places in the city; I would recommend it to anyone!
By bigbrianpopbottles85 on Apr 11, 2015
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I go in there Jeff's always got some entertaining and useful info a teacher .you out there complaining just aren't listening use your ears not your mouth to listen rock on exchange
By Bole Orangutan on Apr 02, 2015
Guest Review
Went in to find sme vintage rock albums and was pleasantly surprised by 'Jeff' and his knowledge of his product. From Beatles, to Johnny Cash, to Dire Straits. Jeff was really helpful in finding what I needed. Took the time to find out my musical tastes and made some excellent recommendations. I came home with a few recommended records and can honestly say, Jeff, you turned me on to some winners! Very fair prices and personable service. Hope to be back in the city again soon to do more shopping at The Sound Exchange.
By Red Bedbug on Apr 18, 2014
Guest Review
I don't know if it just me but these owners are completely delusional. To me in my opinion I believe they think that they are superior to others because of their age and think they can get away with rudeness. They also tend to think they are right and know more due to life experience and age which is not true.
Been there a few times and always seen people being told "don't come back" or "take your business somewhere else."
I think they are always angry at their customers because they are getting old and going to die off soon. They feel if they are mean to people, they have power or feel they are paying them back by being mean.
The goatee sumo wrestler isn't much difference all this fat younger guy does is upshot for root beer, tease other people's taste in music and scare customers away. One thing for sure is that the guy should put those old bastards in a retirement home and keep them there.
I think that the senile fat prick and the old bag feel like they are entitled to everything and they don't think they should have to put in any effort to make things happen. They are probably thinking with the mentality of "I'm retired, I'm done working so why make someone else's job easier"
By Burgundy Jaguar on Feb 05, 2014
Guest Review
well this is one place... I've been in here a couple times and to be honest I've bought some very good records and got them for a good price, all in good shape as well. the problem is the people working here. they're like those jerk record store dudes who think that there music knowledge is so much greater than yours, and that they've been around for so long that they just thrust for root beer.

time warp... well just they have music knowledge and know all about which printing, import releases, and all that they forget this is a dive record shop on portage. they don't price the records so it's like a game they play at the end.

I've been in there with around $80 to spend and I got a good deal maybe around 12 awesome records, but I go in a find one or two and think maybe I can get these for like 12 bucks for something and i'll insulted like this is a blah blah blah print and he like takes it out of it's sleeve and cleans it and makes a bad joke about something and then say's it's worth like $40.

this store also doesn't offer anything of new music, they probably don't even know about anything of some indie label out of the west coast, or east coast. and probably think I'm such stupid university kid.

so back to the first statement... so where in Winnipeg can you buy some vinyl?

answer... Value Village is awesome if you go a lot and not always buy of course, Red River books is another one of these type time warp places in the city but always a much more pleasant experience. Music Trader and Into the Music are always a safe bet NEW and USED, other second hand stores you might find a gem if you look hard, in the Grant park mall there is a used music store that is awesome. also at live shows.
By Mitchell on Jan 08, 2014
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For all you complained about your negative experiences at the store, don't forget the two owners also smoke in front of almost every consumer that walked in the store which is not very customer oriented. What bothered me is that most (if not all) the positive reviews are pointing towards some guy name Jeff and not the old hag and the fat bag man in the store. Which means one thing in my opinion they just can't let go and get over the fact that their time has come and gone. They can't accept the fact that they are going to die soon, and that makes them angry. What we should do is punch these old bastards right in the throat, that should make them calm down a little bit, eh?
By Alchemy123 on Oct 09, 2013
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I phoned to ask if the store buys used cassettes. I do not know if any stores still take them and I understand there are still a few people listening to them and instead of throwing them in the dumpster I would rather try to recycle them. I was only asking questions and got treated in a very condescending manner. I thanked the man on the phone for the info. and it was like he wanted to continue to berate me and make a point of how trivial my quest to sell my used cassettes was and what a imbecile I was for trying. I always believe in treating people with respect and politeness and I had to write this review to warn customers of this disrespect.
By Rose Pony on Sep 12, 2013
Guest Review
I was morbidly curious to see if anyone else had the same experience. I come in and look around with no issues at first, then I decide to talk to the old guy and lady there telling them this is a great selection. I said to him I can really appreciate vinyl sound because I am a sound engineer and he starts on me like I know nothing of the value of these records like I'm some kind of moron. I was talking SOUND QUALITY NOT VALUE.I asked him if people drop off lots of records and he's like "This ain't no sally-ann." I meant no offense. If you ask me it looks like an episode of hoarders. He has MANY of them stored in stacks laying on their side which is a HUGE NO-NO for vinyl. It seemed almost as if he was trying to pick a fight with me. And he and his woman are going on about clientele that have $10,000 machines to play these on. so I asked how much some of his were and he said " As much as I can get for them." So I had enough and decided take my leave and politely said "I'm done now." and he's like "Oh goody." in a mocking tone.
By alexander0 on Apr 19, 2013
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I had a horrible experience at this store. I walked into the store and had a look at a few records. An older man and woman were working that day. I asked them about two records which did not have a price label. This made the man extremely irritated and he said "I have better things to do than put price tags on everything. I've owned this store for 30 years, I know what I'm doing." Then he asked me why I had come there. I said I was looking for some jazz records. "Well what do you call jazz" was his reply. I said I would be interested in anything by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans. He said "We don't have a lot of new music. You might find that in the cd section". Well, now that I knew he was ignorant I decided not to ask any more questions. I looked at records for another five minutes and then he said "look, if you're just going to walk around my store I'm going to ask you to leave". I've never been asked to leave a store in my life. What really creeped me out was that two white people were browsing longer than I'd been in the store and he was so friendly to them. I left the store and I never plan to return.
By Lava Tortoise on Mar 29, 2013
Guest Review
gotta love jeff love going there dont get as pften i would like due to living in brandon hope to see jeff in the spring. i will have to bring him a rootbeer
By Cerulean Reindeer on Mar 10, 2013
Guest Review
This shop is one of the coolest hole in the wall businesses you'll ever visit. It might look like a crazy place at first, but every piece of random memorabilia and beaten instrument seems to have it's own story. The records are somewhat sorted, but being able to thumb through giant mysterious stacks of wax is a hidden treat, and I find myself coming home with terrific albums I might not have purchased under conventional organizational methods.

Jeff rocks. He's super-friendly and accommodating, and knows every album in his shop, and which of the teetering stacks of records contains that rare record or underground band from a forgotten eon - and some trivia about it as well.

Getting on his good side is pretty easy, too. Bring a root beer for him, buy music because you love the music, (not because you collect it) and don't be a dick.

That's it. The root beer is even optional.
By kingriek on Nov 06, 2012
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Not sure where the negative review comes from. Jeff is the most accomodating and knowledgeable salesguy I've ever met. Great atmosphere and great service for us vintage music junkies!
By derrick1 on Sep 12, 2012
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jeff is cool dude i love going to the store he is so friendly and always finds what i am looking for as for his parents they need to just let jeff run the store keep up the good work jeff
By LadyPenelope on May 10, 2012
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I happened to trip upon this store when visiting Winnipeg recently -- it is a treasure filled to the brim with vinyl, compact discs, cassettes, signs and various items of nostalgia/memorabilia. I met both owners and staff when in the store. They were polite, friendly and helpful. I left the shop with lots of ear candy for myself and for friends without spending a great deal of cash. I highly recommend for any music head -- and especially fans of The Guess Who -- to visit this gem of a record store. I'll have some sugar tonight in my tea, thank you.
By Charcoal Liger on Mar 16, 2012
Guest Review
I went in the store to browse after a class at the University. The owner was immediately ignorant, insulting and very rude. He was so intolerable I walked out informing him I would never give him my business again and proceeded to tell him what I thought of his attitude. He came out of the store, demanding I stop and approach him, I did not and warned him if he advanced any further I would call the police. This store is in complete disarray and in actuality is a fire hazard. I informed the better business bureau of his behaviour towards customers and they are investigating; I suggest anyone else getting treated like this to do the same. I will never return to his store and have informed as many people as I can at the University about his behaviour and they are doing the same. I have to rate this store to post this comment however if "zero stars" was a choice that is what I would choose.
By mustang88 on Feb 04, 2012
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phoned to find out if some records would be worth some money if they might be worth bringing into winnipeg but the lady that answered was instantly rude so if that is the way they deal with customers on phone then would not deal with them
By Blue Alpaca on Feb 04, 2012
Guest Review
phoned them and lady was really rude wont go there if that is the way they want to be
By quantumcop on Jan 25, 2012
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I was assaulted by the owner, and old guy, named Tom, Jan 2012 - called his son Jeff before making a report. The old guy shoved me after I asked too many questions about the items. The son told me on the phone he believed me even though he wasn t there, he said he's done that to him too, so I skipped the report...went in the next day, then the son accused me of breaking something and that the assault didn't happen, yikes, like father like son - omg - he did broker a deal with me on something and the cops wouldn't do anything anyways as it was just a shove, but nonetheless it was an assault on a customer, unprovoked! - the son said his dad had brain surgery or had a stroke and acted out like that so customers beware. Barry R.
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