Econo Jam Records

These guys are great! Great store, great prices, everything. They do repairs! That’s not super clear on here but they have a tech and they’re reasonably priced considering they’re the only place in Oakland that does turntable repair at this point. Go here! It’s worth it!

I’ve been collecting vinyl for 20+ years and have worked at a few storied record shops in my time so I know a great record store when I see it. I’m consistently surprised by what I find here – almost always find something I’ve been hunting for. Staff are super nice, helpful, and most important the prices are decent. Great stuff on the wall. Good stuff in the bins. Happy digging.

this is a great record store. The prices are reasonable, great selection of jazz, soul, rock… the best thing are the employees I encountered. They are friendly but not overbearing. One of the young men took the time to talk to me about turntable set up. Some other record stores are stuffy and stuck up. These guys are great. While it’s a hike for met to get there from the Peninsula, I’ll be back.

You know how bookworms go into a library or bookstore and get swept up in a frenzy of browsing shelf-​to-​shelf, losing all track of time (and money in the process). That’s how I feel in this place. It’s not terribly large, but the vinyl selection is fantastic. I got an amazing array of albums on three different visits. It’s especially robust in the ’65-’80 rock catalog. The only places that really lack depth are the hip hop, soul, and movie soundtrack sections. Otherwise, this place is music Nirvana. The clerks are nice and the prices are incredibly cheap for new and used albums. I got Abbey Roads for $ 2. $ 2. Smh. Do not sleep on this place.

Good selection and prices, friendly and interesting staff, and they pay the most for vinyl than any other store I’ve been to in the Bay.

Great selection, decent prices and really nice people.
If you like vinyl, you shouldn’t hesitate to check it out!

Great store. Everything is organized and the used records are very clean. Must be using a VPI which I think helps with the selling of records. They have a decent amount of Record Store Day releases and new reissues. He has a cassette section also!
What I like most is that he does consignment for local artists. That’s dope.
The one thing I wish he had a wider selection of was funk, soul & hip hop. I can’t be mad though. He’s only been open less than a year.
Great store man!

This is my favorite record shop in the East Bay to buy vinyl for the following reasons:
–Good selection of common and collectible vinyl (they conservatively grade the vinyl and jacket on the price tag and it’s always an honest grade)
–Reasonably priced.
–Constant flow of new items on the floor. I always find something to walk out with.
–Owners/​employees are very friendly and helpful. No snottiness — just dudes that like talking about records.
They also sell used stereo equipment and turntables that appear to be very reasonably priced.

Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote, in Twilight of the Idols, that «Without music, life would be a mistake.»
And while I’m as guilty as the next person of embracing many of the technological innovations that my proximity to the Silicon Valley affords, there’s something to be said for tradition. There’s something to be said for purity. And there’s something to be said for ritual.
At the end of the day, there’s nothing quite like a needle dropping onto vinyl, the dusty scratchiness of empty space that’s suddenly filled with hi-​fidelity music, the melodic voice of Taylor Swift (or, you know, whoever) filling the room through a pair of wood-​grained speakers, enveloping you and altering your emotions and your mindset instantaneously.
So come to Econo Jam, pick up some vinyl. Grab your favorites, new, in pristine condition, and get a few from the dollar bin while you’re at it. Check out some art. Chat with other patrons and learn what they’re listening to. See if it might be something you’d want to enjoy as well.
Embrace vinyl, and save your allotted internet monthly bandwidth for cute cat videos and gay porn, as God intended.

Well I keep finding gems at Econo Jam. Tom and his staff are getting great vinyl in for the collector as well as the person looking to just buy good vinyl. Got a couple of HUGE RSD finds that I never would have gotten at the «other» stores not to mention I didn’t have to wait in line. If you are looking for RSD vinyl they still have plenty of great finds.
Econo Jam has become my go to location. If you ever decide to part with gems from your collection Tom is fair with prices and its a great way to trade up.
Thanks Tom, Nick Matt and the rest of the crew, Dave

BEST RECORD STORE IN OAKLAND BAR NONE!
I cannot give this establishment enough praise. First and foremost, the staff here is always welcoming and understand the importance of building a rapport with the customer. I was relieved to find the absence of the stereotypical «pretentious record store owner /​music snob» behind the counter as is commonplace these days.
Secondly, the inventory here is outstanding. Econo is a dispensary of old school blues, punk /​indie rock, 90s hiphop and new releases amongst many other genres. I’ve spent countless hours browsing through the selection here and have always managed to leave with a few golden gems in my bag. For instance, last week I found Odessey and Oracle, Liquid Swords, The Human Expression, and What’s Going On all in one setting.
«But wait PimpDaddy» you ask, «What about the prices? Can you please reign in on this insanity and clear it all up for me. Im so lost!».
Well rest easy friend because you will simply not find a better bang for your buck at any other record store — and trust me I’ve been to more than I’d like to admit in this region. Most new vinyls are under 20 dollars and I’ve typically saved about 5 dollars per itemized purchase here compared to other venues.
In short this is, in my opinion, the best record store in Oakland. The only problem with this store is the location. EconoJams is inconspicuously hidden somewhere around 25^th and Telegraph between a cell phone shop and like 20 Ethiopian Restaurants. I am confident that this is the reason this shop does not get the attention it deserves. This place is a diamond in the rough that is definitely worth your time and money.

What a great record store! Found so many gems today. Tom was really helpful and I even picked up a sweet record cleaner to dust off some old records and I must say, it did wonders. Can’t wait to go back and dig around again!

My favorite record shop. Great prices, fun staff, and a nice selection. I always find something.

This is an awesome new little record shop. They have a great selection and friendly staff. The selection was the best I have seen in years. The prices were the best I seen in years for what they were selling. I will most definitely be back.