I've been going to this place since they were cheapo discs in the 90s, and it's like a second home. A must visit for any music lover - especially if you like your music in the physical form Great service. Great selection. Great prices on the used material Additionally, each used vinyl record is rated on quality - Fair, Good, and Fine (being the best). Super helpful when selecting which records to buy read more

We're from out of town and stopped by to check out their stock. I'm a huge vinyl enthusiast so I always have to find a great local record shop! I wish I had more time! They have an amazing collection of classics and new music! The pricing is competitive, but always a great thing to support local businesses! They have a small parking lot for customers. They also have bathrooms available. Staff was great and I would definitely come back next time we're in town! read more

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This was my first time stopping into Cheapo and it was pretty great. I'm more on the lookout for used blu-rays nowadays and they had a nice selection. Also had a great selection of used series. Wide CD and vinyl collection to choose from with genre after genre sprawling through the store--the indiest of indies would find something to their liking. And, it's super helpful that it's organized so well. No frustrating hunt through endless CD racks. I'm diggin' this place. read more

Cheapo Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

AWESOME place!!! It has amazing selection of t-shirts, posters, CDs and vinyls. It has that vibe of Tower Records and Amoeba Records, so Cheapo Records won't disappoint you at all. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. This place is treasure to the music community!!! I highly recommend! read more

I would consider the biggest pro of Cheapo Records to be the fact that they have such a large inventory, so you're bound to find something you like. Their used albums seem to have a pricing scale based on their condition. I picked up a few "FAIR" records for $2.19 each and they sound great. A big con is that their staff just isn't friendly or warm. If you are the type of record shopper who enjoys making conversation with the store employees and shop owner, go to a smaller shop because you will not find that here. read more

A solid affray of used and new records. I particularly enjoyed the punk and hardcore offerings. The wall of posters which includes a slew of movies, music icons and bands alike. There are some lovely band tees and if you are thirsty for the frustrating nostalgia of rewinding cassette tapes until weird indents on your finger tips they have a wall of these too. Terrific and wonderful. read more

Cheapo Records - Posters, so many. - Music & DVDs Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

Smaller than the Minneapolis location however still found some gems. Almost missed out on one of the greatest finds for my collection, so be sure to check the new arrivals section on the bottom floor. They also had plenty of other memorabilia and media care products such as plastic vinyl sleeves, and replacement jewel cases. The prices are not outrageous and found used CDs from the price 95¢ to $4.95. Store is organized and easy to navigate. Hope to visit again. read more

Cheapo Records - Store front - Music & DVDs Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

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Manager "Sam" is a textbook definition of a badly paid , bitter, unhappy record store manager. Poorly dressed and smelly. Yes, I do understand that working at that moldy store all day is a miserable job: the hours are long and the pay is low. Going home to your lonely one bedroom apt late night after a long shift and throwing that frozen burrito from Trader Joe's in the microwave at midnight; then going to bed and doing It over again the next day isn't helping him cope with his growing mental health issues. Sam was seen yelling and screaming at a customer forthright high crime of using a card for a three dollar transaction. He also went postal on customer for parking too close to the the door ( even though there is no sign saying not to). He also seems to behave and act excessively nice (in a fake American way) one day- And exceedingly vindictive to customers on a different day. Depends on his meds. Basically he is a functional psychotic who's textbook narcissism is so classic, and so Cliche- it's boring its banal!! Yawn.... He also seems to have become an expert on mask placement. Be warned!! This guy spotted a customer from 50 feet away who's mask was one centimeter off one way; he then fake called the cops threatening to throw the customer out- and banned him for life. Even though the customer complied and moved his mask up 1cm. . Maybe he should get a job at TSA in mask enforcement. Ok he can't Cherry pick all the used records that come in all day; but It would probably pay a lot better and he would be a lot happier. read more

Awesome record store in St Paul. The employees are always helpful and the layout of the store makes it easy to find what you are looking for. Definitely would recommend if you are looking for vinyl or even cassette tapes. read more

if there's one thing I want to say about Cheap-o it is that it is super well-organized. As a kind of OCD organizational person myself, it's something I really appreciate. Everything is clearly labeled and priced. Things are put in the right category. Things are put in alphabetical order. And things are grouped together in a logical way. If only all stores were so well-maintained. I imagine this has to be difficult given the amount of inventory and constant turnover Cheap-o has.... but they really do an admirable job. We have found lots of hidden treasures here and enjoy the local music section very much. We also have found an impressive number of DVDs and Blu-Rays to pick up on the cheap. It's a lot of fun to browse and hear the clack-clack-clack of people sorting through the cases. Give yourself at least a half hour to look around -- it's a lot of fun to browse and see what you can see. Prices are generally fairly reasonable, but note that there are brand new items mixed in with the used. The used can be a steal but the brand new prices are not discounted. The staff is friendly and helpful. read more

Poor customer service. I am a first time record buyer and the album I was returning did not work on my suitcase player (which is a common problem) so I decided to return it. I was told by the associate working at the counter that the store "takes a hit" when customers return new products for store credit. I found the tone in which this specific information that was given to be very antagonizing. Upon leaving the store, I could hear and see the same associate shouting about the issue from the entryway of the store. I'm feeling very confused by their reaction, as this transaction should be a routine process as per their store policy for refunds. I never write reviews, but felt compelled to do so by the lack of professionalism from this individual. read more

I absolutely love this store. Extremely organized for the crazy amount of vinyls, cds, etc there are in this store! Amazing prices as well! read more

Cheapo Records - Music & DVDs Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

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WARNING: When you round the corner excited to waste an hour(+) of your life browsing for music, you're going to see a giant Buffalo Wild Wings where Cheapo used to be. You might panic. You may even shit your pants or start uncontrollably wiggling your limbs in frantic despair. ... I mean, I didn't. Someone I know did, of course. Ahem. Clean yourself up, look to the sky and harden your heart; you're going to need to head directly across the street to the other Cheapo that used to be reserved solely for vinyls. It seems much of the inventory has been relocated here. You'll find CD's, DVD's and records all frolicking in close-knit harmony reminding us all that co-existing is indeed possible. Who knew that some fuckwit buffalo* coming along and taking your land would initiate such peace? What a twist! Not all is milk and honey in this new land, however; it's tighter in here and it's easy to tell that the inventory from the other place is 1/4th the size it used be. It's too early to know if they simply took the fallen location's stock temporarily or if it's a permanent solution. Regardless, there aren't any signs up indicating this (I just took a chance and went inside) and I saw several people that pulled into the old parking lot and just left. The rear of the building houses the vast majority of the records (though there are some displayed with the CD's in the middle) and the front of the store is almost wholly comprised of DVD's and posters. Having been a somewhat frequent visitor to the previous location, it's clear to see that this new arrangement is sort of a clusterfuck; there simply isn't enough room to house all the merchandise. Also, the parking lot literally sucks Danny DeVito's saggy chode. It's one of those angled spot deals and there's only about ten to fifteen spaces; this may have been fine when the traffic consisted of a handful of hipster kids looking for ironic records, but I could see this being an issue in the future. All this aside, however, this is still a good place to blow a couple hours, sample some CD's and play the classic 'try to avoid the guy that smells like a freshly mowed field of wild onions hovering around the new arrivals section' game. ... Don't look at me like that. You know what I'm talking about. * Well played, buffalo. Well played. read more

Cheapo on Snelling is radical. Discs are cheap (as the name proclaims)!!! Take that Uptown Cheapo!!! Furthermore, you must be in ultimate browse mode to make a legendary Cheapo run. LUCKILY, the layout of the store promotes this. When I reach the end of an aisle, the only thing holding me from jumping to the next is whether the Cheapo date I've brought with me is: a) bored, b) a woman, b 1/2) a woman I want to have sex with (and if so, IF I have a chance). Seriously, go to Cheapo discs, have a very loose "things to get" list and see what finds you. If you know more than thirty bands, I guarantee you'll walk out with six discs under $40. read more

Got a used Kinks CD for $5! The prices seem reasonable.

How obscure do you like your music? Chances are good that no matter what you like, and no matter how rare, obscure or indie it is, you will find it here. I've spent hours browsing through their dozens of rows, happily listening to the "click-clack-click" of CD cases being flipped through by patrons trying to locate everything from the most recent popular stuff, to a rare gem of a world music album they haven't found anywhere else, to a dusty copy of an album they haven't heard since high school. Cheapo has a vast selection of used and new CDs, and they recently added DVDs to their inventory (new/used) as well. There's a coffee shop in the front of this newly-renovated location. While I prefer to download most of my music from online retailers nowadays (because it's easy and I can pick exactly what I want), there is something soothing and fun about rifling through the stacks at Cheapo on a rainy weekend afternoon that downloading just can't replicate! read more

So I stop into this place yesterday looking for a DVD of L.A. Confidential and I couldn't believe that with thousands of DVDs not a single copy was available. So I resort to a back-up disc, The Prestige, and what do you know, none. Sure this store has everything, but only when it doesn't. My complaint is why not keep a stock of a classics like L.A. Confidential along with fourteen different exploitation flicks presented by Quentin Tarantino (a fan, by the way)? Hell, maybe I'm unloading on Cheapo for something many stores contend with... I left with a CD selection from a local band, so I guess all is not lost. Now if they would only buy or contract listening stations that weren't broken 99% of the time. read more

This place would get 5 stars from me if they carried vinyl. I have a feeling that if I asked, they'd probably special order it for me. The employees have always been super nice and helpful when I've been there. It's organized and clean. Being that it's in St. Paul, I feel that I can usually find what I want because it might not be too 'picked over' or sought after. It's sort of divey in appearance, but I like that. read more

This is a review of the vinyl shop, located on the west side of Snelling. If you want used vinyl, this is your location. If you want CDs, movies, or anything else, you'll need to cross the street to the other location. Cheepo's strong suit is the breadth of its offerings. Oldies, classic rock, modern rock (plenty), jazz and a solid classical section mean you will probably find something on your wish list. Many non-used offerings as well, both new releases and reissues. Prices are the lowest I have seen locally, things are reasonably organized and grading appears accurate. Hymie's has a deeper oldies section and better atmosphere, but for one stop shopping this is your place. read more

This is an awesome music store; one of the very best in the country. I enjoy visiting Cheapo when I come to the Twin Cities for work. This St. Paul location, in particular, is the best. The record and CD collections are gigantic and virtually every genre of American music is available. The store even has a large local music selection. I've never left Cheapo without making a purchase. I've bought both new releases here, as well as used CDs of some of my favorite artists. Many of the used CDs are only around $4.00. This is a wonderful store to work on adding CDs and vinyl albums to your personal collection. read more

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So this Cheapo is my local shop, for better or worse, but mostly for the better. Their staff is a funny selection of typical music-shop type dudes who are consistently helpful and engaging in shop talk behind the counter. They've got a crap-ton of parking and great hours--something Cheapo is known for--so the structure is there. The selection is pretty thorough for what appears to be (and what is, really) a run-down strip mall business. They've got curated selections of all the hip new stuff, comprehensive jazz and classic rock sections, and a very complete local music area. It's almost all there. I lament the absence of a bigger electronic music section, but otherwise there's really nothing to complain about. There have been some changes over the past few years I've shopped here, such as the relocation of the vinyl and the minor shortening of the hours, but it's remained a reliable spot to support my highly destructive music collecting habit. The prices are neither too high or too low, I find. It's certainly disappointing to find something you've been looking for and discover that it costs $19, but that's mostly made up for by their pretty awesome collections of used stuff. The Uptown store is a bit more filled out, but Mac/Groveland certainly has nothing to be ashamed of. I lust for Electric Fetus every so often but Cheapo does the job just fine. read more

I love Cheapo, honestly it's probably my favorite place to shop. They have a huge collection of CDs, DVDs, records and more. Has a calm vibe and music is always playing read more

This place is closed. :( It's so closed, it's a Buffalo Wild Wings now. :( There are more Cheapos around the metro area; check their website. read more

This branch of Cheapo, along with its sister store in Minneapolis, was one of my key shops for record collecting when I lived in the Twin Cities. The St. Paul store -- located on Snelling Avenue -- doesn't quite match the Minneapolis branch in terms of CD and LP selection, but it's still pretty good. As of this writing, it looks like a Cheapo is also open in the Twin Cities suburb of Blaine, though I've never been to that location. Cheapo sells new (i.e., still-sealed) CDs and LPs in several genres (rock, R&B, rap, country, blues, classical, etc.), but what makes the chain's stores stand out is the used stock. Cheapo has long been known for sorting its "new arrivals" of used CDs and LPs in bins with days of the week listed above them, letting you know when the products have been put out for sale. Many seasoned customers head to these bins first, hoping to score a freshly placed rarity before someone else can get to it. Indeed, there tend to be some pretty good finds available in the used bins, especially for CDs as people in these times continue to dump them for cash. A few years ago, someone had sold off their Time-Life "Sounds of the Eighties" collection at the St. Paul Cheapo, and I was able to pick up 20-some discs (almost the entirety of the excellent series) at good prices. Overall, the Cheapo stores in Minneapolis and St. Paul probably have the biggest and best stock of used CDs in the Twin Cities, and the selection of used vinyl (33 1/3s and 45s) is among the deepest, if not necessarily of the highest quality. If you're building a vinyl collection and want a decent copy of a mainstream pop/rock LP from the 1970s and 1980s, Cheapo is your best bet. They have more of that kind of album than anywhere else in the Twin Cities. As far as new product, Cheapo does have sizable amounts of still-sealed CDs and LPs. The selection tends to be hit or miss and the prices aren't always so great (despite the store's name), but then again I've made some decent finds. One thing I like about the new-CD bins is that used discs that don't sell within a week get mixed in with the new stock. The St. Paul Cheapo used to be housed in two separate buildings near each other. At one point, one of the stores was for vinyl and the other for CDs. The last time I visited in 2014, everything was under one rooftop on the west side of Snelling. Bottom line: The St. Paul Cheapo branch has hung in there through some tough times in the record store business and remains a key source in the Twin Cities for CDs and LPs -- especially of the used variety. read more

I have mixed feelings about Cheapo. I like the fact that it is locally owned. The staff here seems bored and pissed off all the time. It is like they just walked out of "High Fidelity" and I expect John Cusask to be waiting in the back someplace. Also, trying to find anything in here is near to impossible. They categorize everything in this weird/funky way. Siouxsie and the Banshees is in "goth." Anything that is alternative and made in the 1980s is in the pop section. I've given up on Cheapo because their category scheme is just frustrating and wrong. read more

I have been to several Cheapo locations. I have always encountered pleasant service. This location is one exception. I was on a family vacation on 8/23/14. There was a fair amount of us in the store at about 1:00 in the afternoon. The clerk was eyeing up my two brothers and one nephew as if they were going to steal something. Very offensive and unnecessary. He was very unfriendly and hostile. There was no reason for him behave this way. We were quiet and just going about our business. We all vowed to never step foot into this store again. I know this man's negative attitude doesn't represent the entire Cheapo chain but next time, I will think twice before entering a Cheapo store. I would rather order from Amazon; a $4.00 CD is not worth the hostility. Please address this particular individual about practicing better customer service. read more

Can't believe it took me a year of living in St Paul to set foot in this place. Well, the store front is uninspiring, the sign is bland, and I was never actually sure if it was still in business. It's an annoying left turn across Snelling going south. Not to mention, a coffee shop takes up almost the entire frontage of the building. I just gotta get in there and OPEN THE DOOR. As used CD stores go, Cheapo is top notch. Sure, it has all those staple albums nobody needs but you know you can always get (Phil Collins, REM's Monster, N*SYNC) but so much more. Off to one side is a walled off jazz, classical, and world section with appropriate music being piped in. In the main section, there's a full wall of cassette tapes, a couple rows of vinyl, and several rows of rock, pop, and hip-hop. A large section of local music. You could spend hours browsing for stuff you forgot you wanted. Of course, as one reviewer mentioned, looking for specific items may be frustrating, but that's what amazon is for. This store is all about the spontaneous discount find. You can preview the albums on headphones if you're unsure. And the staff is very knowledgeable, yet they will let you shop without that annoying and automatic "can I help you find something?" An A+ experience. read more

I want to like this Cheapo more but they make it hard. Anything that is decent and used will be sealed up in a poly bag with tape making it impossible to evaluate its condition until you bring it to the front counter. Depending on the employee and the day, this may be met with a helpful hand opening it with a razor blade, or general scorn as they watch you fumble trying to open it without completely destroying the outer sleeve. God forbid you don't purchase the record you just opened as you will be scolded for holding up the line, of one person, to actually see the condition of a used record in a record store. New records are generally priced on the high end compared to other shops, but not unreasonable and the selection is decent. A recent trend is an abundance of shady counterfeit pressings of classic titles. There is no way to identify them as such unless you are familiar with pressing variations of the particular title, so beware if you are buying new. Despite the surly employees, the manager is very nice and helpful. I've found some good stuff here over the years so I'll keep checking the recent arrivals. read more

Wow, I am absolutely stunned there are only a handful of reviews for Cheapo! This was my favorite record shop when I lived back home and I've even made a couple trips here since I moved away. I have many fond memories of coming here and the video store (that used to be?) next door. It's a big store, though a couple reviews mention a coffee shop taking up the front now. That's news to me. I always really, really enjoyed the used section; I think it's superior to Easy Street's here in Seattle. When I'd stop by I start there and could easily pick up 20 discs and then have to decide what I really wanted. I hardly ever needed to go to the new CDs! I sold CDs here a couple times too. The local section is good, though I suppose the Twin Cities' music scene makes that pretty easy. The staff were always nice and helpful, not too hipster for thou. I would be very sad if Cheapo closed. It even survived a fire back in the day, so please do your part as a concerned citizen and patronize this local establishment!! The Minneapolis shop is good too, but I have only been there a couple times. read more

Cheapo Records - (photo courtesy of the internets) - Music & DVDs Near Me - St Paul, Minnesota

I visited this location to check out the vinyl records. The variety of records is ridiculous. I seriously found two Sisqo singles. Yes, not one, but two singles from Sisqo. I didn't buy them, but it just shows that the selection at Cheapo for records is great. I also appreciated the well organized vinyl section. I will definitely be back and recommend the location for anyone looking for a good selection of vinyl records. read more

Love this place. Always open. Great vibe. Uf you are a music junkie this is a place to be your go to time waster. Browse I have found things here that I didn't know existed. Support it live it live it read more

"Click click click click click!" Ah, the sound of Cheapos patrons browsing through the ever-changing selection. Not as big as the Uptown store, but not as busy either. Lots of colleges around, so some great stuff being hocked for beer money. The vinyl is in a separate store across the street. Only downside is nothing is cataloged (though sorted very well, to be fair) and new stuff is usually a little pricier than some other local independent stores. read more

Great store good for purchasing USED media especially vinyl. Employees can seem unapproachable but are generally helpful and nice if they aren't preoccupied and you give them a chance. Vinyl selection is very good. The CD and vinyl listening stations at Cheapo are a great way to expand your musical horizons by exploring new music prior to purchasing. I go in here specifically to discover amazing and obscure used, older records from the 70's and 80's that I've never heard before. Great hours- being open 'til 10pm is a big plus. Pay with cash if you can. read more

I have never written a bad review about a business in my entire life, however this place unfortunately has changed that. The customer service at Cheapo is very poor and with attitude. Cheapo does not seem to be interested in building customer rapport and this was evident in the way I saw employees handling other customers around me. Will not be making a trip back to this store anytime soon and would highly recommend any other store in the twin cities that can cater to your music needs before trying Cheapo Snelling. read more

I am updating my review due to an exceptionally positive experience I had last week being served by a guy who I believe was the manager. No nasty "Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons" vibe this time. A big plus for the discount bins where one can get three DVDs for $5. read more

I go into Cheapo's vinyl store. and always come out more than satisfied with my purchase. They have a good selection of new vinyl, mostly good priced, but the gold mine is in their used vinyl. I often spend an hour browsing through the aisles, and aisles of records. The staff are helpful, and if need be, you can listen to the record before you buy it. My only complaint is that some of the categories are odd, and they don't have any Miles Davis! I recommend stopping in here some time if you have nothing else to do. read more

I only like buying records, so I'll focus on the building to the west (across the street) of the "big parking lot". Nice big room full of vinyl. Unfortunately, I didn't find the records I was really looking for. I'm trying to finish up my Redbone collection. I did find two reissue copies of The Skull Snaps, which made me happy. I was kind of rushed on time, so I only about 20 minutes browsing through some of their records. Most stuff seemed well organized, the store is incredibly clean, as well. Maybe I'm just more used to dust/must piles of basements and back alley "record shops" east of the Mississippi. Was a nice chill experience on a warm sunny April afternoon. My next big record shopping trip will definitely include a stop at Cheapo's. read more