Al’s Music Video & Games

I will admit I mostly come here for the video games. They are about on par with other places as far as pricing goes (with the uncommon and popular titles being expensive because, well, they always are). I’ve never seen a price I didn’t agree with in the cases. They keep the shop pretty organized and clean which is nice. The customer service is great though. I had purchased an NES here and was having trouble replacing the pins, I took it in to ask for advice or help, and the guy at the counter was more than happy to help me out with replacing them. I come here often and I don’t regret it. If you’re looking for deals, buy online, but if you’re looking to help a great little store out definitely come here or the federal way location.

I love this place. I LOVE THIS PLACE. Seriously, this place has everything your heart could want when it comes to retro music and games. If you collect, this is the place to go.

I’ve been through all of the various incarnations — Second Time Around. Nanoo’s. Al’s Music. Al’s Music and Video (over in the Chevy’s strip.) This new location? I don’t know what happened but they forgot to move the customer service.
I don’t expect much out of a record store, honestly. I used to work promotions for a record label, I know — deep, deep down — the kind of «I’m cooler than you and can’t help you» a lot of record store employees like to try and cultivate. These guys are worse than that, they simply don’t care. I’ve known many of the employees over the years who chatted their way through ringing up the latest additions (or re-​additions — what’s with exes stealing records?!) to my sprawling record collection. These guys are too busy laptopping to even look at me or ring purchases correctly.
What I would give to have Penny Lane and Second Time Around back again.

Just for the record, I am a middle aged married 30 something guy. Spent my childhood BMXing around with the guys, playing NES during rainy days, and chasing girls to the tunes of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. My hair was in a fashionable mullet, ripped jeans, and T-​shirt covered with surplus army camo vest.
So, coming here was more of a walk in the past than a shocking experience.
Location: 2.5 Stars
Located off 38^th Street near Tacoma Mall, in a mini strip next to a Subway and a 7 – 11. Parking is available but the lot is tiny and most of the spots are reserved for the aforementioned Subway and 7 – 11. Getting in the lot is okay coming from the east, but having to cross 4 lanes in crazy mall traffic coming from the west is crazy train-​ness. There used to be a Border’s across the street and behind the location is a crappy Guitar Center and an odd Japanese place. I also recall a Bouncy Place being there and some Hippe organic store and a Michael’s. Nothing special. But not in the «bad» part of town at least.
Ambiance/​Selection: ²⁄₄ Stars
Décor is pretty much 1980s Pawnshop style. Honestly it is just racks of old recording equipment, game systems, Beta-​max etc on shelving on the east side. In the middle 3 aisles are shelves filled with games, videos, etc. All at least organized by type, and more or less alphanumeric. In the rear are some old guitars, and on the west side are more consoles, videos and brac.
Posters of old bands, out of published advertisements and such litter the walls. There is a cash station on the south side of the place usually manned by a single nonthreatening person. Old kung fu movies or the like playing. Near the cashier are display tables with more of the valuable items such as best selling games, small easy to steal things, and adult theme items.
Now with selection and prices. One can find some really good bargains here. Most of the rotating inventory are at moderate second hand pricing and I have not had any issue with items not working. They do have a return policy, but one needs to have receipt and no cash returns. (trade or credit only)
They also have a lot of unlicensed item such as «clones» of systems or off-​beat copies. Videos are a hit and miss, same with the more modern video games. With 70−80s era games there are a great selection from Atari 2600 to Sega Geneses. Also in the display booths in front are the more popular and well know games for sale, but again the prices are reasonable and not overly inflated.
Service: 3 stars
Service was interesting. Nothing threatening, but nothing very open either. You walk in, sometimes the cashier will look at you sometimes they do not. They pretty much let you do your thing, through I did see that they did have a eye on the security camera monitor hidden behind the desk, but never bugged anyone that I known for doing anything legit.
Now they ARE willing to help you and are open to questions or helping reaching items on the top shelf or locked behind cabinets. I never had an issue there. The service reminds me of those old records stores from back in the day in which someone lax dude behind a cash machine would be watching Kung Fu and not pay attention to anyone unless you go up and ask. Dude I am ready. And they process your order and you are good to go.
This is no Nordstroms nor even a Wal-​Mart. A step up from a fleamarket in service, but cleaner and more legit.
Again, a great place to find vintage game consoles and accessories.

I’ve been visiting this place on and off through it’s different iterations (2^nd time around) and its different locations for +12 years. I always find something unique and always have a good conversation when I visit. They give VERY fair prices on used games and consoles. When I was younger I paid my rent by selling them used vintage video game consoles I picked up at other 2^nd hand stores for a good price. I’m planning on visiting today with my daughter who is just under 3 and hopefully this place will still be standing when she is my age and she can appreciate it like I have through the years. Thanks Al’s !

Seriously! This place sucks!!! Now I’m sure they’ve got some sweet deals, but the lack of CUSTOMER SERVICE mainly makes me NOT WANT to patronize this place at all!
Went in there to ask two questions… one was to sell some old XBOX games I found, figuring I was going to throw them away anyway… no problem there outside of getting nearly nothing for my sell. Expected that though, that wasn’t the bad.
Second question I had (which I asked at the same time as showing up with my games) was if they ever thought about marketing. Provided, NO one likes talking to a Advertising and Marketing Sales person, but please… have a LITTLE people skills here too. This person could be a prospective customer… or worst off, someone who would take a few minutes to share this NEGATIVE type of review.
Don’t know what it is… but a little courtesy could have prevented me from TOTALLY BOYCOTTING this place forever! Seriously!
Good luck with your business dudes… Blah!

I love this place! Its the best place in Tacoma to find new and used CDs and video games. Plus the guy who works there is super cute and friendly. If your looking for something specific or just want to browse this is the perfect place.