Park Ave CDs — Local services in Orlando

I’ve been visiting the store since my teenage years. I’ve seen a lot of change, as expected when the medium itself changes. I remember begging my dad to make a pitstop here so I can get the latest CD. I moved away and came back over a decade later with my wife, and I wouldn’t shut up about the place. I’m glad to see this store has more vinyl than ever before. After settling in, we were finally able to make it to the shop, it was like Candy Land for me. Books, cassettes, CDs, vinyl, collectables, you name it. We went from getting just one vinyl per visit to multiple every time we go. There is a well-rounded selection of genres, and if they don’t have it, they have ways you can get it. I love they are still deeply rooted in the community and even host numerous community events. We just got done with the A Day to Remember album release party and that was a blast and probably the best event I’ve been to here. With all of this being said, there are some places that I’m sure they will improve over over time as the boom of vinyl has rapidly increased their popularity so they’ve had to adapt quickly. However, a few things that sour the experience are a couple of the workers that look like they don’t want to be there. I’m sure with how busy it gets it can be incredibly stressful, but I don’t wanna feel like I have to suffer as a customer because you’re stressed. I think also the sudden spike and popularity over the last couple of years has led to a lot of chaos around the store. For example, I recently went to the LINKIN PARK From Zero album release event and due to the tight spaces the defined line where you check out was not fully clear and I was trying to find the proper place in line and not skip anybody. I was told to wait by the guy at the register at a certain spot and I did. A few moments later, I’m getting looks from other customers and from him, and he suddenly tells me to relocate to what was now defined as the back of the line. I tried to tell him that I was just following what he had told me to do, and he essentially brushed me off with attitude, but I complied and went to the back with no fuss. However, because of the miscommunication, a couple in front of me was under the impression, I was trying to cut the line and tried to make remarks towards me and it made the overall experience very uncomfortable. I let the guy at the register know that I was not pleased and he acted like I was yelling at him, getting shaky in his voice like he wanted to fight me or something. I didn’t say anything negative or derogatory, just that it was kind of ridiculous that happened and essentially, I was shrugged off. I left very heated, but at least happy I was able to get my record. I had a similar situation happen during RSD last year. I guess Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo had albums the same week and all of their fans were in attendance to try and get exclusive stuff, but it caused a huge mixup and what lines we’re supposed to go in at what times and where the lines were located. This led to me experiencing people thinking I was cutting where I was told to go and wait. There definitely needs to be more organization during these kinds of events as it makes me, a local, not want to attend. I don’t say this thinking it’s going to affect business , just as a point that I hope the owners see this and can hopefully apply more organized measures moving forward. I love supporting local. I’ve loved this shop since I was a kid. Any of the negative things here are just constructive criticism that I hope management/owners at Park Ave CDs will look into if they haven’t already. Love the other community events, I love the atmosphere, even if it’s a bit cramped nowadays. I know mileage may vary with everyone on their experiences as most of mine have been positive at this place. I hope this helps somebody and hopefully everyone that visits this place for the first time will have the same feeling I had when I first walked into this place years ago. Much love Park Ave CDs. Keep building and I can’t wait to come back...

The prices here are simply too high. I have shopped at Park Ave CDs since it was literally on Park Avenue. I remember the dark days when digital music was rising, vinyl had not yet resurged, and I was concerned Park Ave CDs would close. At one point, they were literally accepting big box stores' gift cards as payment to compete. There is nothing worse about Record Store Day than trying to find a record you desperately want, only to find there are none because some joker bought them all and is selling them on ebay for twice the actual price. On the most recent RSD, I found the record I wanted at Park Ave CDs. There was no price sticker. I was surprised by the cost of the record when I checked out, but I bought it anyway. I later found the record at another mom and pop record store for 25% less that what I paid at Park Ave CDs. I then went online and found numerous copies (from online stores, online shops for physical stores, and ebay) for less than what I paid at Park Ave CDs (even with shipping figured in). If the RSD vultures are charging less on ebay than what Park Ave CDs is charging its customers directly on RSD, then there is a problem. I thought about returning the record for a credit (they would not give me my cash back), but as I shopped around I literally could not find a single item on my list of seven or so items that I could not buy elsewhere for less money. I am not trying to flame Park Ave CDs with a dishonest review (I have given them 3 stars for their history, cool store, good selection, and generally friendly staff). You can't blame someone for trying to make a buck, and we live in a "buyer beware" world. It's my fault for not shopping around, I guess. But I cannot help but think the prices are simply too high. Park Ave CDs got $10.00 of my money that I would have saved at another brick and mortar, locally-owned store, but they have lost me...

First of all a disclaimer to prospective vinyl traders. Do yourself a favor and SELL your records elsewhere! They will absolutely rip you off with a cash offer and their trade in value is not much better. How unfair are they? They will buy one from you for $2 (and I mean a VG+/VG+ or better copy of something that will sell all day) and sell it for $15-$20. Most reputable stores give a percentage and are upfront about what they offer for trade and cash. They don't do that here. They just decide to give you $2 for a record and mark it up 900-1000% because they can. Selling CDs? You'll be lucky to get 50 cents or $1-2. You won't save any money buying new vinyl here versus another retailer. Trust me, you will pay top dollar here. Their used prices for records are grossly out of line as well. Go online or spend the time looking and get the same record they're asking $25 for, for less than half of that. Their used vinyl prices are downright laughable if you'e a collector or have been around the block a few times. There is no dollar bins anymore, those are $5 bins with a horrible selection to boot. I will never bring my business here again! They rarely if ever have anything in stock I ask for. Half the staff is rude and totally unhelpful and are too cool for school to be otherwise. I was a long time customer and used to love their smaller original store when it was on Park Avenue during the 90's and I always made a stop when visiting Orlando but the price of used and new items have gotten so out of control that it's no longer fun or even worth it to make the trip. I would buy and sell online over bringing them my business any day and sell my records to a store where their buying is fair, honest,...