An unsatisfying used selection and painfully-hip inventory, featuring the best of retro-ironic-classics and modern indie/emo/hipster chic. Which makes sense for Olympia's Greener crowd, but is really rather unsatisfying for the rest of us. In part because there's nothing of interest in the small selection and we don't really want to be sad about not ironically-liking Joanna Newsom (and I really do hope that there is no earnest enjoyment of her shrill, banal music.) The move downtown only makes this more unpleasant, with potential shoppers penned in by the Quality Burrito NKVD and scorned at ironic eateries like the Creperie. read more

Full disclosure: I can be a bit of a snob when reviewing record shops. I've been to many, love them, and work in the business, so admittedly I'm grading on a more critical scale than the norm. With this said, on we go... Pros: Really, their pricing is quite on-point. For non-inventoried, mostly non-sleeved (more on that below) used record stock they don't get carried away and also aren't so dirt-cheap that the cool stuff never lasts for you to see it. Most times I've come away with something reasonably difficult to find and/or quirky stuff right in my personal wheelhouse -- radical labour folk, French imports, obscure old bluegrass/Americana, half-assed music with sundry vintage bombshells on the cover, etc. -- and really, this alone is plenty sufficient for me to visit every time I'm in Olympia. Organization is low-key but easy to follow, with a hearty selection of new arrivals from the previous couple weeks. I consider that to be a plus as many shops end up on either side of desirability, whether it be shelving before you might have a chance to come in or not shelving at all and leaving items in new arrivals basically until it finally sells. Cons: My biggest gripe is that it's so dark inside, often proving difficult to accurately judge condition on your used vinyl, only discovering out in the daylight that what you thought was a solid near fine is more like normal VG. I wonder if they aren't just trying really hard to bring down utility costs between the lack of lighting and air conditioning in the summer. Neutral: It really is a small shop, but they pack a lot into their limited space and the selection tends to be pretty impressive all things considered. I imagine the space limitations allow them to be more discriminating on what they're putting out, and that's A-OK by me. Also, I've noticed that they have been better about placing the more notable used records in poly sleeves. This is much appreciated, though I would prefer it extended to all non-clearance used vinyl. The staff is mellow and reserved. You don't get the fuzzy friendly atmosphere but I've never felt uncomfortable by that. read more

Rainy day is an amazing store and I love it. The staff is friendly and helpful and there's an incredible selection. It's great you can rent movies from there too. I think someone told me the store is haunted which is also pretty cool. read more

The records are very overpriced. They have a very picked over used section. The majority of their selection are brand new pressings with $25 (or more) price tags read more

Rainy Day deserves the utmost respect that i can post here. i am a long time customer and Rainy Day Records is a lifeline from our small town to the entire world of sound, past and present. Yes the clerks can be brilliant and charming one day and somewhat preoccupied another, but so what? you're an adult, deal with it. Also, as a fellow record store owner, i see wholesale price lists and can tell you that Rainy Day has a firm handle on appropriate mark ups. Whomever the fool who showed up from NY, shopped there for twenty minutes (?) and decided to rag on the prices must be living in 1982. Hello? Modern reissues are often of far better vinyl quality with more durable covers(and/or extra graphics,posters,information etc.). Not always, but often, and their twenty to thirty dollar price range reflects that. The prices at Rainy Day are comparable to any good record store in the country. Rainy Day is nothing less than a cultural oasis in a small area which, were it to ever go out of business, would make me strongly consider relocating my home. That's how dearly i appreciate their entire operation. read more

An iconic music store in downtown Olympia that features used CD's and vinyl records. Yes, they have new, but I go for the used CD's. I guess I'm still trying to rebuy the vinyl record collection I threw away in a garbage bin years ago. It's cool to just browse and dream. It's like a used book store for because I always leave with an armful of treasure. read more

During my brief stay in good o' Olympia, Rainy Day Records was always there for me. A decent amount of variety and a hit or miss used selection. Easy going staff and well versed owner. read more

I walked in this place and thought wow what a interesting fun place. I do not think records, etc. were priced too high. I think some yelpers are out there to hurt small businesses because they don't get it. You can't stay in business if it is free or cheap. This is not China. So to the Jason N (who lives in the Big City) and directs people to use the internet needs to go back in his hole and stay there. He likes to trash small businesses. Go back and shop at Walmart. read more

Pretty good selection - What they don't have they will order for you. The prices are higher than you'll find at larger retailers but it's a local business, I'd rather have the peace of mind that comes from supporting a shop in my home town. Customer service is either hit or miss though. Most of the people who work there are down to earth, friendly and helpful. When they aren't they really aren't - I've run into the "why are you bothering me by shopping here" attitude more than once - But not too often. Either way it's one of the few places in Oly that has that "Oly vibe" without being too exclusive - I don't often feel like I'm not cool enough to be there (which happens a lot in downtown Oly, unfortunately). read more

This temple of music is probably one of the best in the Pacific Northwest. They have a large selection of vinyl that rotates frequently, the prices are decent. They of course have the same type of High Fidelity sneering workers who aren't very helpful and then wonder why more people don't come into their store. However, some people weren't so bad. It's also par for the course. I have been here a few times, and will most likely come back the next time I am in Olympia. read more

This place is awesome and I am super sad I live so far away from it! They have used records you would actually want for as little as $1 each! I got John Lennon, The Beatles Blue Album, Talking Heads, Cat Stevens, Dj Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince plus more for a buck each! For newer albums they also have great prices and lots of good sales. I feel like good record stores are hard to come by and this one definitely made me want to come back! I actually had been going here for years as a kid, renting movies and then came back years later now that I am collecting records and this place is still awesome. read more

The customer service was amazing :) absolutely amazing and it beats a few Dallas record stores I've been.

Cool little shop to look around in. Great selection of vinyls, CDs, rental DVDs, Pins and other merch. Although they do not have a very big section of newer groups, the stuff they do have is good quality and sound Rarities. read more

So appreciate this place. A pretty good selection of vinyl and cds with a knowledgeable staff and great location. Definitely love getting my records here!! read more

Helpful people, set me up at the cd player with headphones and some listening copies of CD's I was considering. Competitive pricing.

Nice clean record store w/ a good selection of reasonably priced vinyl. Recommended!

Friendly and helpful staff, interesting selection, great prices on used items, fair prices on new and a willingness to order you anything you want. read more

I try to shop for my music locally and stay away from the big box stores as much as possible. I figured that I would give Rainy Day Records a try; luckily I called them first to see if they had a particular artist in stock. I quickly found out that they don't carry anything that would fall into the Goth/Industrial genre (they might carry Nine Inch Nails). They are more than happy to order just about anything I want, although I haven't tried for any of the more obscure/import artists yet. I do like the fact that I generally only have to wait 24-48 hrs to receive my music where it takes longer going through Amazon. All in all, I have not had too bad of an experience with Rainy Day but Amazon will probably always be my first choice. read more

This place has an incredibly diverse used vinyl section, and there are many other reasons to recommend it. I find that the best record stores are in college towns because of the sweet spot between (a) students with open-minded, interesting taste, and (b) students who need money sometimes and thus are more likely to sell back records for quick cash. Anyway, I was in here this month and the clerk did something amazing as I was checking out. She goes: "This LP is overpriced - I'll knock a few bucks off that." This is something that could *only* happen in the kind of store that recognizes the importance of great customer service. I left here having spent a small fortune and can't wait to do it again. Thanks Rainy Day! read more

Nice selection of vinyl priced $10 too high. Staff was semi friendly until I mentioned I was from a big city then they turned cold. Everything I saw there I could find back home except for the consignment section, that was pretty cool. My suggestion is find what you want there and buy online for a lot less. read more

i loved rainy day when it was on the westside. now, however, it has moved downtown and it's not nearly so... something. it's still an awesome independent record store/movie place, and definitely the best place for those things in town - but i feel like their move has possibly been bad for business. read more

This is probably my favorite record store, better I think than any of the ones I've been to in Portland, Seattle, & Bellingham. I can always find something I want to buy and find it almost impossible to leave this place empty handed. Their used records I've seen are always in superb condition and priced fairly. The staff is cool and friendly if you talk to them but will leave you alone if you don't initiate talking to them. read more

Love this place. What a used record shop should be. They have a bit of everything. They even sell custom mix tapes which is amazing, and makes it feel more like a community. read more

Pretty good selection, and they can order whatever you want (beats supporting amazon or whatever). Good selection of used vinyl. They also have a local consignment section which is nice for local bands looking to sell their stuff, and nice for people who are into supporting local musicians. read more

The store is cool and can be peaceful when not too crowded. However I've found the guy who runs the place to be not very helpful and rude at times. read more

Great selection, and one helluva knowledgeable staff. These guys, especially James, go the extra mile for you. It seems that whenever I mention I've been looking for a record, they find a nice copy pretty quickly. For example, I was looking for a copy of The Seeds "A Web of Sound" and a copy was located the next day. If you love old vinyl, I HIGHLY recommend this store. read more

Yeah, I'm about to judge the entire record store because of the staff. Sorry, but do you even know what customer service is?? I don't think being a smart-ass, record snob is part of it. Don't advertise on the outside of your store that you buy and trade records because OBVIOUSLY that was too much trouble for you!! Two times my boyfriend tried to sell his records. The first time, he didn't even look at the records because he got all offended that we recommended prices from another record store. He stated "I don't even know what this is." Well, they're records. We're at a record store. Trying to sell them. We have suggested prices. What do you think they're worth? Oh wait, sorry, guess I offended your pretentious ass. The second time, the guy took a look, but unprofessionally and disrespectfully looked through and tossed the records on the counter saying "I don't even want this...this ones warped....I don't even know what this is." Just 100% complete scolding. We felt unwelcome and uncomfortable. We wanted their expertise and advice, not their high school judgment and demeaning manner. He then went on to insult other record stores nearby, which in my opinion is very awful considering Olympia is a community and local businesses have to help each other out since they're all in the same boat. Just please don't even go to this store. They don't care about you and don't care about your records or musical taste because whatever they think is always going to be right over what you believe. I'd rather boycott this shithole than to buy another good record from this place. I don't offer good customer service at my job just to then go out in public and be treated awfully. Rainy Day Records is always having a rainy day. Cheer up boyz, you're not on a reality record TV show. read more