Bucket O' Blood Books and Records — Attraction in West Chicago Township

It’s cute inside and I love that there’s an option out there for sci-fi/horror/heavy metal fans and I really did enjoy looking around at foreign horror movie posters and exploring films I’ve never heard of. But…..

just shop on Amazon or eBay. There is the smallest selection of used books/records, so you're going here to pay for a new record and a new book at that new type of cost. The fun part about record shops is the fact you’re finding gems for $6. I was looking up some of the vinyl I was holding online to see how much money the difference was. Was weirdly surprised how much more expensive they were HERE. I don’t think you should say your a used book/record store when 95% of it is new, overpriced items, some very mediocre.

What I did like was a few cool stickers and such and that they sell records by locals/smaller musicians. If pricing on records does not bother you, they have a very cool range of actual good music and good music only. The owner wasn’t pleasant and didn’t acknowledge us as we were the only people in there. It was uncomfortable being there even when there were other people there too. It just felt like the owner was being interrupted by our presence. I don’t like leaving reviews for any small local business that isn't 5 stars only, but with a bit of price gouging/expensive records and a store owner who looked at me stupid for asking where the non-fiction (biographies/science/etc) section was, that they don’t sell unless true crime related, he talked to me like an idiot and that I should have known that. It’s a shame because what a brilliant idea for a store. If you have money to splurge whenever you want on things like this, guess this...

I don’t know if y’all just don’t like Black people or if you just hate beauty in general. Either way, the energy was off.

I walked in, took out my earplugs to soak in the space, and immediately felt the vibe shift. They greeted every other customer—every white customer—but when it came to me? Silence. Cold stares. Like I didn’t exist. And I looked good, by the way. Maybe that was the issue.

I asked a simple question about the price because the tag said $20 but it rang up $22.04. The guy acted like I had just asked him to sacrifice his firstborn. Sorry I like to know what I’m spending money on?

The decor was cute, I’ll give them that. But being surrounded by dusty books and bad attitudes is not the literary fantasy I signed up for. I came to browse, maybe buy, maybe support local—but I’m not gonna give my coins to a place that can’t even fake basic respect.

To the staff: you’re not mysterious or intellectual. You’re just rude. Maybe learn to read the room before you try to sell me...

I really want to like this place, I do find awesome records, the decor is cool and I do like checking out the horror films too. However, I have a very uncomfortable experience whenever I come here and it has happened more than once so I know it's not just me over reacting. It's just that I don't like being watched when shopping as if I'm going to steal and it's only because I am a person of color, I wasn't the only person in the shop either, there were at least five others (all caucasian) but I'm being watched like a hawk and then a customer was even looking at me funny even after I bought a record. It's just an overall horrible experience and I will no longer come here....