Dr Wax

Totally going out of business. Sad times.

A favorite place of mine when I used to work in Evanston back in ’97. Because of this place, I made a dent in my CD collection and bought over a hundred used CDs at rock bottom prices. I go here from time to time and still find unique buys. Nice staff.
Miss your Berwyn Avenue store.
UPDATE: Just went to downtown Evanston today and it’s closed 4 good! :(

I loved loved loved coming here! Bought so many good albums from Mono, Blonde Redhead, Fugazi, Nina Simone. Great selection of used and new. And the guy behind the counter was always quick to help me. Also a good place to rummage through the fliers for things to do. You guys really don’t need to be so harsh; I honestly think their prices are so much better than Vintage Vinyl (whose collection is most likely still sitting there from 4 years ago gathering dust). It’s places like these that got ruined by ipod and itunes (I know I am guilty of buying online too) and it’s such a shame one of my favourite places to go to after school for 4 years will be gone before too long.

I used to come in here periodically during college days, but I’m not sure why. They had used and new copies of the mainstream stuff that I listened to back then. But… the dusty, beat-​up used CDs cost only a dollar or two less than the new ones. Why did I come here?
In the last nine months, I’ve been in twice to try to find a CD which was being released only to independent music stores. Not only did they not have it a few days after release, and not only could they not tell me when it was coming in, they had never heard of the release and in one case hadn’t heard of the artist (Josh Ritter… fairly well known for an indie act).
High prices, poor selection, the customary pseudo-​cool hipster snobby attitude… why shop here? Either get your music online or find a friendly independent store with some character.

How many copies of used Phish and Dave Mathewes Cd’s can one store have. Sorry, I was bashing the music college students listened to like 10 years ago. This place is the most like the store in High Fidelity of all the used CD stores I’ve visited. Either arrogant music snobs, or disinterested college students work here. It isn’t the best organized and some of the prices are almost as high as new Cd’s. That being said, I almost always find a diamond in the rough in places like these. As snotty as some of the employees were, and as high the prices are, I will always give this store props for having Freedumb by Suicidal Tendencies. I probably would have never even thought to look this one up on the Internet. A solid silver lining.

If I do not buy my CDs from 1) Amazon 2) Rasputin or Amoeba back in the Bay Area, then I come here, namely out of convenience and support for local record stores. They have always had what I was looking for in terms of CDs, not so much in terms of DVDs. I would say that the staff is neither rude nor friendly, but I can say that when I have needed help, which is pretty much every time I stop in, the staff on hand has been helpful and that is really all I require.

Although Dr. Wax sells great music of all styles, it’s definitely an alternative to large chain stores. Prices are okay. Marketing (esp. clarity about what the store sells) could be better.