Hot Wax has a real extensive selection of vinyl at a fair price, and if you feel like doing some digging to see what you can come up with, this is a good place to go. They do a pretty good job bringing in a good mix of new vinyl, and usually have something that I can’t wait to put on the turntable. Of the 8 plus times I’ve visited Hot Wax, no one has ever greeted me, or made any effort to talk to me past saying the dollar amount in which I am to pay at the register. I find it really uncomfortable in a store this size, and don’t like to spend too much time shopping because it feels like the guy doesn’t want me there. Don’t bother ordering records through them. I waited for 8 months, checking in every now and then to make sure they hadn’t forgotten about me, until I was finally told I «might have better luck elsewhere.» So that’s what I did, and he was right — I did. Now, unless something on the«New Arrivals» chalkboard grabs my attention, Melodiya Records tends to get the majority of my business. Don’t get me wrong — the prices are fine, the selection is incredible, and if you’re one to shop in silence with no intention of ordering anything, this shop A-OK.
Genre S.
Place rating: 5 Calgary, Canada
Hot Wax is the only five star music store in town(Classics Plus get four stars based on the obvious ‘profiling’ of visitors that occurs), and this is not to say that Hot Wax has EVERY musician and band that matters. Far from it. What raises Hot Wax to the five star level is ownership. The gentleman who took over the business a number of years ago did the community a service, because his love for music expresses itself in the shop. If you are looking for a particular artist and ‘Bob’(the Subgenii Godhead, perhaps) doesn’t not have them on hand, go ahead and ask his opinion. Tell him what brings you to that artist. Bob will give you suggestions which will permanently expand your ‘horizon of understanding’. Trust me. Like good art, this shop is, in a certain sense, bottomless and eternally expanding. Go for it.
Gabe A.
Place rating: 3 Calgary, Canada
The one time I managed to journey down here was during an unexpected traffic squall, and I was searching for very particular music(namely, electronic music from 2005-08), so I left quite quickly with empty hands. That said, I am sure this is a worthwhile record place to hang out in: it looks like a run-down Championship Vinyl, and the basement area is stocked with records. Most likely a lot of gems are down there waiting to be discovered. When I am in a used-record-hunting mood, I will definitely revisit Hot Wax.
Elizabeth W.
Place rating: 4 Santa Barbara, CA
One of the few remaining vinyl stores in Calgary and I enjoyed browsing their selection of rare records.
Jason G.
Place rating: 4 Calgary, Canada
Hot Wax is a great music store with a treasure trove of vintage vinyl records and a modest selection of used CDs. I got a kickass copy of the Easy Rider Soundtrack album there for $ 9.95. The cover art alone was enough to justify the price, and the record itself was in mint condition. It played like a dream, or a hallucination, I’m not sure which. But I am sure that Hot Wax is a great store to load up on that old time rock n’ roll. They’ll even serve it up to you on a patter — a big black spinning platter. I could spend all day thumbing through the nostalgic collection, which likely resembles the playlist of Wolfman Jack back in the day.
Dinah g.
Place rating: 4 Calgary, Canada
Hot Wax makes me feel like I have entered a music store in the 90s. Thats probably because it has been around for more than time. There is a great selection and good pricing but the records on the walls are being held up with a string that is pinned from one side of the store to the other, at times it is not even straignt. Plus the CD categories of band names are separated by those plastic card separations and the alphabet is drawn on each one by hand. So depending who was organising that day you have all these different hand written styles, with different colored felt pen. Then there is another area where stickers have been put on and peeled off to make other distinctions. Which is so old skool as well. I mean I don’t mind all the arts and crafts techniques for marketing, it’s kind of nostalgic, it just surprises me after all the sleek music places I have visited these days. I mean keeping your customers happy with knowledgeable service and good pricing is the most important thing anyways. The guys here are extremely warm and were bantering over some political subject which was kind of cute.
Christopher W.
Place rating: 4 Calgary, Canada
This place has been around for 30 years. Which accounts for their extensive record collection. The guy told me they have something like 800,000 of them. Which they need a whole basement to house. They also have a pretty decent used cd assortment averaging around $ 10 a pop. I found some good stuff here and if I still had a record player, I’d be in heaven. Some of their records go for $ 1. People sell and trade at Hot Wax all the time, so even the cd selection changes. It’s the best used cd place I’ve found in town…