RIP John, local legend. Would love to find a way to keep this place going. John was rude, opinionated and kept a cache of private stuff you couldn't buy unless you caught him in a rare good humor. That being said he was iconic, and too few of these places exist. He and it will be missed! read more

Crazy that this place is gone. I guess everyone who loves music in North NJ should have visited this place once, at least. The service was rude, the selection lousy, but sometimes you could find a decent priced item. RIP to the cranky proprietor, maybe he's listening to right-wing radio and telling people how to flip through records in a better place. read more

Needed a live buying experience after pandemic lockdown. Came to store today and front door sign says will be back after 2pm, at dentist. It's 3:30 so I'm leaving. Inside of store is divided into two aisles not sure what's lurking in those bins. Window posters look dated and very little inventory in front window. Reviews are not promising. Music Fix Fail. read more

Music Merchant - Music & DVDs Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

GATEKEEPER, warning. I went to this "store" for a particular album. The owner told me "you will never own that album." Same day I went home and bought it brand new off Amazon for under $25. I will drive 20mins out of my way and pay $20 more than give this place my money. read more

What an awful experience- the place is a disorganized mess and the owner is rude and abrasive. While I've been there in person the rudest encounter was just before RSD a few years ago. I had a question about a title- I didn't ask to put an LP aside or anything even remotely about that but the owner was an incredible jerk about it all. I will not return to that store and honestly I have no idea why or how it has survived. read more

My husband and I were walking around Westwood and saw this record store. We walked in and were looking at a few LPs in the back when an old grumpy man walked out and said "those are not checked." My husband asked what he means by that and he replied "what do you think I mean when I say they are not checked?!" He then told us to get out. In this day and age, I have never been so disrespected by a business owner! How does this man expect to run a business with such poor customer relations! We didn't even do anything! I will NEVER go back here again and I warn everyone to stay away from this place. I'm not sure if they carry good records or what their prices are because we never had a chance to even look! read more

Music Merchant - Music & DVDs Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

Clearly, the guy's nuts. Not five minutes after I'm in the door and he's fuming about how climate change is a hoax, and that Donald Trump is a patriot. It's not his age. 45 years ago (yes, true!) I entered this shop and was treated rudely, and vowed never to go back. I didn't walk the streets of Westwood again until today (i'm from Stony Point). Amazed the shop was still there, I broke my vow and went in. In retrospect, it was surely him behind the counter back in 78. Wow what a trip! read more

Shopped here for years before I moved out of New Jersey. I used to argue with the owner's brother about politics (he would initiate the argument out of nowhere just because I was young and he knew I was most likely a leftist). Of course, I would always win the arguments - he was somewhat of a low information Fox News viewer. Loved getting into those arguments. The owner is often cranky, which is just part of the charm of the store. I bought my first record here back in the early 00's. Great selection , and a "must visit" if you are in the Northern NJ area. FIVE STARS! read more

Love this place. Tiny old school record shop that's been around forever. Owner has quirky sense of humor. He enjoys talking about music or whatever. I was talking to him about beer. He said he had to open early because there was a long line for RSD & the neighbors complain. Workers and the customers are friendly and helpful. I was reading a list of records I wanted. They helped me find them and knew if they were sold out. read more

I don't Yelp much, but I had to for this place. You would think that an audiophile like me would love that there's a shop so close to home that sells vinyl. But I don't. The store is an unorganized mess. The stock is often not priced, but what is priced seems expensive. And like other people, I felt like I was being followed around the store and nagged for browsing the wrong stuff. When I tried to initiate a friendly conversation about the recent popularity of vinyl in mainstream stores, the man reacted as if he was annoyed with or offended by me. Needless to say, I chose to leave without making a purchase. I can't believe I'm saying this but you'll probably have a much better record-shopping experience logging onto eBay than coming to this store. read more

I refuse to shop here. Went a few times and was yelled at by the owners for: 1) flipping through records too quickly 2) texting my friend 3) not putting the plastic sleeve back on the record correctly 4) asking about a price (nothing is priced - you have to ask, which apparently annoys them). I had a stack of records and just walked out after being berated for having a cell phone out (he accused me of taking pictures of his albums to then "buy on Google." Massive thumbs down. read more

Customer service is horrendous. If you wanna walk into a store and be treated like a piece of ignorant trash, come on in... Owners, or whatever trolls work here are the rudest and most condescending people in the galaxy. I mean, they're 70 years old, so know one knows more than them? I came in here once a few years ago to look around. I was literally in the store for 2 minutes when I was told I was looking through the records too quickly. I left immediately. Never even said a word... just walked out. Before I left though, I did notice prices were insane, way too high. Records marked at $20 to $30 when they should be $18-$20, tops. I figured, maybe it was just a bad day, and I would return some other time. Well, that day was today, folks. I peek at the price of my desired disc, $25 after tax... WOW! By the way, there is only one song on this record. Before I left the store I asked, "is this in good shape?" I am told, "yes, brand new." I take it home, and it's cracklin' and static-ridden. Good grief! I return immediately. I tell them the record's a mess. Before I can even utter the words, a loud guff emits from the cashier who is literally hunch-backed from lurching over records for the last 50 yrs. He plays it, and as you may have guessed, he states there's nothing wrong. It's how it's supposed to sound! I told him I have records that are 40-50yrs old that sound better and this is unacceptable. He refunds me, the incorrect amount, but not before Victor Hugo himself rises from behind a pile of boxes like Nosferatu and lectures your humble narrator for 5 minutes on how they've been doing this longer than me. I could have guessed that on my own, just not sure what it has to do with a record sounding like a bowl of rice krispies. Anyway, the refund, which I didn't notice till I was almost home was for less than the amount I paid! I now have to go back, and deal with the two grumpy old men all over again. I'm sure it will be interesting. If you do journey here, you'll see for yourself just how rude and condescending the staff is, and how grossly overpriced everything is, then you'll say, "man, I should have listened to all the reviews on yelp." read more

I think this little store represents all that is good in the world. Is is as hip and hipster and cool as some record stores in NYC? Nah. Does it have the absolute biggest selection of vinyl? Nah. But it is cool. And it has a big selection, including current releases pressed on vinyl. The proprietor is knowledgeable and friendly. It is jumbled and a little dusty, in the best way that good second-hand stores should be. And it is a little storefront in suburban NJ, trying to keep something neat and important alive. Patronize this shop. Even if you don't have a turntable, they sell CDs too. read more

If you're looking for an authentic old-school record store, you'll find it at the Music Merchants. They even have music on reel-to-reel! It's a fun place to poke around. read more

Music Merchant - Westwood Ave - Music & DVDs Near Me - Westwood, New Jersey

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It's a small record shop in the suburbs. I guess that says it all right there. Nice that these kinds of shops hang on. Selection is limited but decent. Many, many items don't have marked prices, and the ones that do seem on the high side, so I wasn't tempted to inquire. Found a couple of good selections in the 99 cent & under bin. One of the proprietors (I assume) felt it necessary to school me on the proper way to flip through a stack of records, which was my cue to leave. I might stop in again if I'm in the area but not planning to make another special trip like I did today. read more

Great record store. Not too organized but the guy has most things and can get what he doesn't have in stock. Great place if you collect vinyl. Not sure what some other reviewers are complaining about. I found the guy reasonable and easy to talk to. read more

I been coming here for years never had any bad experience I buy cds vinyl and never got any bad merchandise the guy was great with me maybe u caught him on a bad day everyone is in titled to have those days. read more

Drove quite far to support this store during record store day. The older gentleman at the front was very rude. I asked if they had something in stock and the man judged my music taste and ignored me. Store was also a mess. They wouldn't get my business. read more

Awesome Store, really passionate nice staff. Would give 20 / 10 if possible. Great place for music, equipment, and games. Carry CDs which are awesome to see alongside music instruments and magic cards. read more

I first discovered music merchant about 15 years ago. Westwood has a very nice downtown with a good number of shops and restaurants. Unlike Ridgewood which is almost all restaurants now. There is a very good selection of new compact discs Records, as well as of course, used compact discs and records. John is usually upfront at the register and his brother Tommy is in the back often filling the bins with used vinyl. Anything that they don't have in stock can be special ordered. I have bought many new and used records and compact discs. The prices are very reasonable on new records and compact discs. Often below what Amazon charges. There's a very good selection of used records and the prices are reasonable in this area as well. Both John and Tommy are "colorful characters" John has a lot of knowledge of musical acts and I have often talked to him about many different artists and performers. I'm very happy to support a nice local business rather than go to some big corporate entity. Stop by and I think that you will really enjoy your shopping experience read more

This is a rare review for me but I decided it was time to put it out there. I have been going to this place on and off for a few years now and it's mainly because I just find parking to be a hassle in the area. Music Merchants is one of those community spots where you go when you have a list of finds that you're looking for and you haven't been able to scoop them up anywhere. Honestly it should be your first stop because chances are high that this gentleman has at least a couple copies of what you're looking for on hand. He is a nice older man who can honestly come off strong to some people because he has a very old school personality. However, if you talk to him and engage in conversation, you'll find him to be an interesting person who is just so passionate about his profession that he will talk for hours. His store matches his personality a bit in that a lot of stuff along the back LP walls are not priced or sometimes not even checked into inventory yet. That is because he gets so many piles of records to sort and pick through, that there is no way for this one guy to piece through each one at all times. He does, however, have a perfectly equipped front section that has new LPs with proper prices from all genres. If you find an unmarked item within his treasure, he will be more than glad to tell you if it is for sale yet and give you a proper price. Today I bought 1 33 front his front section and 2 unmarked 33s from along the wall. I brought them up and he not only gave me a great deal, he educated me in why certain issues are more rare than others. He has a wealth of knowledge and I walked away with not only 3 great records for $12, I got a little something extra out of it as well. This should go without saying but if you treat someone and their business with respect, then they will reciprocate it. I highly recommend this store for all your hard-to-finds and everyday wants! He also has a large, fairly priced assortment of cds and 45s. P.S. he will kindly ask you to not take pictures of his merchandise without his consent. This is because he had an issue from previous customers and he now asks politely to not take pictures in the store. Granted perhaps a sign out front would be good, but he will just calmly ask for you to put your phone away. If you respect his wishes as the business owner, then there will be no problem. Just put it away and rummage through the incredible stuff he has! read more

Lots of stuff very disorganized. Very grumpy man not willing to help. Unless you have hours to browse I would say go elsewhere

The owner/person that worked their was one of the most rude people I have ever encountered. He walks up to me and tells me to put away my phone. While the request is unheard of and without purpose, I obliged. Having no more use in the store I exit (Spotify and Amazon have eliminated the need for this type of store). He then came out to tell me that it was his store and he could do what he wanted... read more

This place is a waste of time. The guy behind the counter tries to look up his shitty records, then come up with an even shittier price, while having a really shitty attitude about it. The other guy is pleasant. Bottom line is I am not gonna go through countless bad records, find one or two decent things, to have some clueless schmuck make up prices by going on discogs.... read more

I read Kurt's review and then shockingly had almost the exact same experience. I had the joy of being scolded on my record handling (I've only been at it around 25 years), talked down to, told a dollar bin record was "very rare" and $25 (bought that same record for $2 a while back) and then got a very strange leture when I said I did not want a scratched record for full / made up price. Pretty hilarious experience over all. Plus, my brother, who is new to vinyl got to have his first cranky record store guy experience! read more

We were taking a walk on Westwood Ave earlier today when we came upon Music Merchants. Curious and with some time on our hands we went in to see if we could find some gems to take home. While the store has a good stock and a lot of discounted records and CD's. Their new stock is ridiculously over priced. Add to that a staff of two crotchety old men who follow you around the store while they yell at you. At one point one of the guys yelled at me. "That's overstock!" "What are you looking for?!" One of the worst shopping experiences I've ever had. A nice swift kick to their adult diapers is highly recommended. read more

Very helpful in tracking down almost anything that I have been looking for. John the owner is able to order most things and get them the next day. It is great in this day and age to find a live person to help find the music you are looking for. I have purchased many used CD in the used section and have always been satisfied with the quality and value. Ordered a bunch of CD's and he did not even ask for a deposit and they were there the next day. Not personally into records but this guy has thousands of classic vinyl albums for sale. read more

these guys know absolutely nothing about music. they will order you something they don't have but don't expect them to back it up. hope that if you do buy something there are no issues because if there are issues you will not get help. they will just call your foul names when they are unhappy with your being unhappy. they are rude and I will never shop here again!!! BUYERS BEWARE!!!!!! read more

As a resident of Rockland County, I'm sure others can sympathize with me on the pain of having almost no local record shops. And in the digital age of iTunes and the Pirate Bay, I'm not really surprised in their lack. So when I first heard about Music Merchants, I ran over as soon as I could. Pretty decent looking store with a pretty decent selection, and everything is also organized pretty well. Vinyl prices are a bit steep in a few places, but the CD prices are good (well, if they actually charge you the listed price). The guy who runs the shop unfortunately ruins the entire experience. During a recent visit, me and several friends decided to stop by and check out what they had in stock and maybe buy a couple things. While in the shop, I noticed that we were the only ones there for the entire 45 minutes we were there. During this time, I was told to put my phone away and to not use it in the shop, and also told not to "flip so hard through the records". Now I'm a person who treats vinyl better than myself, so I can assure you we were in no way harming the vinyl. He then proceeded to return to a phone call and say "just yelling at some kids". Now to elaborate what I had said previously about them charging you the listed price; during a previous visit, I bought a used CD for the listed price of 7 bucks. Pretty good deal right? until I payed for it, received a receipt, and checked it when I was home to see that I was given the wrong amount of change, and was subsequently overcharged. So after remembering that, my most recent visit wasn't something I was looking forward to as much. This place is honestly a hit or miss. If you happen to go there when the other guy is working (you'll know who he is when you meet him), then your experience will definitely be better since he is incredibly kind and will talk to you about some of the music. But if you happen to go when the other guy is working by himself, and you're under the age of 40 or considered a "kid" by his standards, then prepare to be harassed. read more

One of my favorite spots in North Jersey. The two gentlemen who run the show are always willing to share their stories or give suggestions on new music. Also, never have I ever seen such a large selection of original Beatles albums. Just a super cool chill vibe throughout the store, definitely worth a visit! read more

God bless you guys for staying in business all these years. I've been going to M.M. since the 1970's and there isn't a better music store in the area. John (the owner) is mega-knowlegable in all music and is very helpfull in tracking down music on virtually any media regardless how difficult you would think it is to get. In these days of iTunes and music downloads, it's refreshing to know there is a local store that you can still go to to "touch and fell" before you buy. Thanks M.M.!!! Hope you stay in business for another 35 years.. read more

i looked at the lp in this store today, the owner said those are are not for sale and i said why there here! the owner say again this is my store i can do what i want! i said ok then i left!!!!this store is suck! read more

I am an avid collector and have been to the shop a few times. I have found a few niche finds, but after a couple visits, I see the selection of the genres I prefer, punk, industrial, etc. lacking, read more

Absolutely love the vintage atmosphere! Loud music playing while looking through more than a million records of everyone's taste! Such a cute small space with lots of character!! Love this place so much, in fact, I left a wonderful note hidden and they appreciated it so much, they were so so happy! You can't find record stores much anymore, and this is one that you'll appreciate! The owners are very kind and love to help without making anyone feel uncomfortable or isolated. Come on down to Westwood for an enjoyable time and hunt for your favorite records! read more

The Music Merchant is one of the last few shops of its kind. There is a certain aura about this store than you can find few other places. Its amazing how much is crammed into one tiny storefront in Westwood NJ. Tapes Cds Records (45s 33s and even 78s) all under one roof. Need a turntable and speakers to listen to your new album? Yes this place has used equipment too! John the owner is a truly amazing guy. Ive never had a problem with him in all the years that I have been going to his store. If your walking in off the street with an armful of your parents records to sell, and did not bother to walk around the store a bit and make some small talk with John but instead just plop down your stack of vinyl and ask "How much are these worth?", yes you may not get the a warm reception. But why should you|? Walk around and browse what this store has to offer, want to just make quick cash, try Craigslist. I bring my young son in the store all the time and it always seems to brighten up Johns day. He'll put music on for him to listen to and always asks what hes currently in to. If your looking for something you do not see on the shelf just ask and I'M sure that within a few days your item can be tracked down and fairly priced. Some have commented on how many albums are "looked up" when you check out. This is because some of those albums sit for a long time and their price fluctuates. The price you pay is what the current going price is. I actually think that is a fair deal as compared to having to pay a sticker price that may have been determined years before. Give this place a shot. You will no doubt be pleasantly surprised. And if you send your mom in to pick up your albums, don't be surprised if you don't get what you want like some are. Do it yourself! Experience a record store! read more

The owner John is a miserable prick. I asked if he was going to get in certain vinyls for "record store black friday" and he responded by saying yes and he did update me with what came in. I sent my mom to pick up the vinyls, as I live in NYC and he told her I "specially ordered them and that she had to pay for all of them." For the record, I DID NOT special order them and have the correspondence in email to prove it. THEN, when I spoke to him about returning some of the majorly overpriced vinyls, he responded by telling me I had to return all of them....NEVER heard of that in my LIFE!!! To end this review of a place I will never step foot in ever again, I gave him specific titles and he still managed to f*ck up and sell me a wrong Vinyl that I did not ask for....asked for Phish's White Tape and he sold me Party Time. Miserable guy, miserable service, miserable place. I have no problem with people being stingy about business, but lying, making up policies, AND selling the wrong product is just bad business, end of story. read more

What has happened to old school music stores?? A lot of them had to close when B+N and other places made music more accessible for people, and oh that thing called ITUNES didn't make it better for them either. I'm one of those people always supporting the independent bookstores and music stores, and coffeehouses-stuff like that. This place, I feel, is a mixed bag. Yes, it has a good selection of current/popular music, as well as classic rock and other things, but there are other major problems. The layout is horrific, nothing is organized. It kind of looks like your parents' basement before they move to a smaller place, disorganized and scattered. The owner is a curmudgeon. For real- look it up in the dictionary and you will see this dude's face under the word curmudgeon. I also like that word and felt like repeating it a few times. Ok, I'm done now. But seriously, he's not talkative, or helpful. My friend bought a bunch of records and he asked her, "do you really need a bag? I don't have any right now". I 'm like of course she's gonna walk around town in her heels trying to hold a handful of records, cause that's really gonna work. I ended up giving her my shopping bag and shoving my stuff into a smaller one. Needless to say-if the guys is too cheap to spring for shopping bags, perhaps this is not the local business to be supporting. read more

If you like grumpy people with a bad attitude this is the place for you. Terrible service and terrible personal interaction. Can't see why you would treat customers with sarcasm and terrible attitude. People that are trying to pay you money. If I could leave ZERO stars I would have. Amazon and eBay it is. read more

Lovely shop. I went there on a whim after lunch and the man was very pleasant and made conversation about the 60s pop I was buying. I will definitely check it out again! read more

Although a bit pricey they have a large selection and in good condition. It is nice to see a real record store but I wish they would organize and price their records. They get bonus points for participating in Record Store Day. read more