No Strings Attached

Theyre ok, i go to them a lot, everything i buy seems to break or have a shorter life span than i think it should have, bike (flat), 3 ipods (eventually stop working), but i do have something that still work (minifridge, calculator, gameboy/​classic pokemon game, dont judge me), i guess it IS resale so its automatically buyer beware, the prices are usually good though, but they can be a bit stingy with sellers, usually your only option in dekalb though. But to be honest I do think they are the best resale shop in dekalb, their location isnt bad and they come in clutch for the must need items for cheap like ipod/​apple/​android cords/​headphones/​chargers, extra controllers, games, etc.

This is a review of the vinyl record selection only at this store…
Once upon a time, DeKalb had a really nice «mom and pop» bookstore called the Junction Bookstore and a record store called Record Revolution. Unfortunately, over the years, both places were forced to close down, due to «lack of consumer interest.» Instead, for books, people decided Borders and Barnes and Noble were better, until both closed and left DeKalb dry. And for music, who knows, I guess Borders, Barnes and Noble, and Wal Mart were supposed to «handle it» …
In today’s world (2015), DeKalb is now basically stuck with NO bookstore, and consumers are left to scronge for records, either at Green Tangerine or No Strings Attached, rather than a «real» dedicated record store, like Record Revolution was. Once you accept the reality, that this is what you are having to do, then LP shopping at No Strings Attached can be okay, I guess.
The records here at typically mediocre. Many of the records they sell are honestly mostly G to VG– at best, as they don’t seem to be too picky about quality. And if close to over played classic rock and pop is what you enjoy, then you’ll do okay here. But the selection really makes one pine for an earlier period, when Record Revolution was still open, and you’d get better quality selections. (Books are still a problem, but that’s for another review…)
If you can make the trip out to Batavia or Naperville, you’ll honestly be better served by Kiss the Sky or 2^nd and Charles, and depending on what you are looking for, Green Tangerine, now out in Cortland. But if those aren’t options, and you can settle, No Strings might just do it for you. It’s definitely better here selection wise than Whatever or Cracker Jax. But that really isn’t saying much…
Mostly, this whole situation makes you wonder what happened to DeKalb as a college town. There’s all kinds of «resale» shops in DeKalb now, and none of them are really all that good. You can literally throw a rock and hit at least 2. If the town had just one or two, maybe they would actually be. But alas…

March 2016 Update. No Strings Attached is running closing sales with reduced hours.
Thanks for all the good stuff over the years John and Best Wishes in your new venture.
A-​OK no frills resale store of almost anything except large furniture. They did have an upstairs (why do people EVER put the furniture upstairs?) in the old downtown location for awhile that had furniture, currently closed. John is another gruff appearing owner but with a Big Heart and a better than average grasp of the constitution, local laws and what he will and won’t permit in HIS store.
IF you get to know John, which like any relationship takes time, he will be welcome in your foxhole, like he would be welcome in mine ANYTIME.
I’ve shopped here for over ten years with good enough results in vinyl and dvd’s, particularly specialty music. Everything from cell phones, just about any electronics, to knives, bikes, guitars. There has been a drift toward visible security, and I did see somebody that looked like they had a gun on their hip the other day. I’ve always thought that just about anything COULD happen in there but that isn’t much different from out on the streets in DeKalb these days. You are likely far safer in John’s store where you at least know who SOME of the good guyz are. Cash only.
Good Luck. FREE cold filtered water, and Bibles maybe. Goddess bless.
NEW address and phone — much larger store, off street parking
854 W Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL (in The Junction Center) 815.793.2115

Yet another resale store in downtown DeKalb. Stuff here ranges from treasures to slightly rusty flashlights and old tools. Large videotape selection and a corner of books that can’t be restocked that often, yet I usually find something there on every trip.
Worth a look.