Chemical Records

I havent bought records for a few months now but when i do i always buy them from here. the online store is superb and im sure all other record stores are envious of it. the abilty to easily preview records is the best i have seen. also the delivery service is second to none, if they say next day delivery it is just that and no messing. i have also bought some equipment from there too and for one reason or another have had too send it back, theres no problems at all and they refund straight away. i would certainly recommend this place.

Chemical Records, you have a retail area and someone has chosen to drive to your door wanting to spend money. Do you
a) Go to great lengths to help them, and ensure they leave satisfied, happy to recommend you to friends
b) Treat them with a reasonable level of interest, attempting to be helpful where possible
c) Be indifferent, rebuff your customer’s concerns, and if you think you might actually have a helpful answer, stop — count to five — and say something dismissive instead.
Judging by my experience, along with other reviewers (Rob E. and Ian D.), Chemical Records chooses © every time.
Maybe they’re great for vinyl, but I went there for DJ equipment. I chose to go there because they are a Bristol retailer with items in stock, rather than an online seller I’ve never heard of with only pictures. And I truly wish I had not bothered.
What I was after was a laptop stand, of which they sell several different types priced from £30 to around £80. Neither member of staff would let me see or even measure the item I was on the verge of choosing, unless I placed and paid for my order — and «no refunds», even if I just peek in the box right there in their shop.
So I found myself in the surreal position of having to choose between several items by looking at the limited photos on their own website, using the staff computer right there in the shop.
I start to wonder whether this is really any better than the «online seller I’ve never heard of» option. Apparently not: at least then I could return the product under statutory rights.
But no, I’m glad I tried to complete my purchase in the shop because it proved how awkward and indifferent the people at Chemical Records can be. I wanted to compare dimensions of two items. One product page gave dimensions, the other didn’t.
Staff reaction: «they’ll be just the same»
Me: «But there’s £15 difference in price, and they look different in the photos».
Staff: «…»
I kid you not. Oh and this is almost funny. One of the photos was upside down (laptop stands have a lip to stop the computer from slipping forwards, but the picture had the lip at the bottom). I pointed this out light-​heartedly.
«No it’s not,» came the female reply. «It sits on the edge of the desk». «Hmm… OK, but why do the others all have the lip on the top and this one doesn’t?»
«Yeah, well… which one do you want?»
Ever realised that some interactions are just not worth your time and effort? I pulled up a web browser on my phone and Googled the item number of the KAM laptop stand in question. Up comes
they had exactly the information I wanted. The more expensive stand was adjustable to nearly 80 mm higher than the other one. That, Chemical Records, makes a difference.
So despite having to pay £3 more to order online, despite having to wait a couple of days for delivery, and despite even being stood two feet from the chap who had it in stock —
is where I chose to buy it.

Chemical records have good prices and a large catalogue of equipment, records, and clothes.
I think the only drawback of Chemical records is their lack of floorspace and resources. Although they have quite a large warehouse, the shop front is geared toward DJ listening stations (think argos for DJs!). This is a fine and much valued service for DJs, but if you want to buy clothes or equipment you aren’t really able to try on the clothes or demo the equipment. The staff (sometimes coldly) remind you that they actually operate mostly as an «online only» business and they don’t offer you to try things out or try things on, even though you are right there in the store.
This is fair enough I suppose, just thought I should point that out because if you are travelling there in person to try out something prepare to be disappointed!

There are few shops that I am willing to wander around for hours without pulling my hair out, just taking the place in and browsing. Chemical Records is at the top of my list for this particular activity. There is a huge range of music there, and that’s not all they have cool clothes that you can’t find everywhere and good equipment. However, I didn’t find the staff particularly helpful when I did ask for some help. The drive down is motivated by my support for Independent stores, I don’t make it regularly but that makes it more special when I do.

It’s quite a trek to reach this place from town (or more like a car ride if you plan on buying a quantity of vinyl or you’re just plain lazy), but it’s well worth the effort. If you’re a DJ, you’re no doubt acquainted with this place, which lets you listen to their whole range of stock from an amazing digital booth system. What’s more, they colour code things to include the key of the tunes and their BPM, so that you can be sure that something will fit into your next set. I personally like to go to this place to while away a few hours, searching for new music and listening to what comes blasting out of the shop’s speakers, as it’s guaranteed to be something awesomely new and brutal. Honestly, get chatting to one of the staff and be prepared for so many new names that your head will spin.

They call themselves ‘The Music Lifestyle Store’. I don’t know what that means but it does make them sound mighty pretentious in my mind. It’s fortunate, then, that their actual business is stricly no fuss.
It’s basically a warehouse full of CDs and records. I guess you could categorise everything here roughly under the title underground, with funk, drum & bass, and trance among the things that get a look in here. Despite what I said about their marketing blurb it is pretty damn cool, with something strange and wonderful usually blasting out when you go along.
There’s clothing as well (I guess that’s the lifestyle bit) and specialist music equipment here too. It’s all about the massive range of music really though. You buy stuff by finding it on a computer and although I do miss sifting through boxes a bit this is probably an easier way to shop.

Cunningly disguised as just another warehouse as part of a trading estate, we used to drive past this not clicking that it is the shop. However when you walk in the banging tunes tend to give it away…
Sparsely fitted with some vinyl for decoration and several computer stations for you to find what you want to buy — vinyl, DJ equipment, clothes and some silly gadgets. You take your order to the counter and then someone will find what you want in the warehouse storagy bit and bring it to you. Yes — it is like a super cool Argos.
We’ve bought vinyl and some pretty expensive electronics from here — not that they are expensive, in fact they are willing to negotiate on price a little for the big items if you find it cheaper online. Good for just browsing as well as going in with a purpose, a highly recommended vinyl heaven.