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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 9, 1997)
i 1 ember 9,199 | Tuesday • September 9, 1997 Lifestyles iatro Secondhand sounds \From jazz to country to heavy metal, used CDs provide inexpensive entertainment without compromising quality ollege life isn’t cheap. Everyone must decide how to stretch their hange purse in order to survive hese years with a relatively lealthy body, decent social sta- us and happy state of mind. It’s no help when tuition, Dooks, housing and food take a Dite out of your budget. The good news is 40,000 fel low consumers share this win- er of ill-bill content. The Bryan-College Station metro- )lex has risen to the challenge of providing cheap entertainment for students beyond $1 longnecks md “Sundays Free” newspaper promotions. It’s second-hand but never second-best — it’s the ised compact disc. Used CD stores provide affordable alternatives to shelling out hard earned cash for the latest Ever- :lear album. CDs last longer than tapes or vinyls, Chris Martin columnist Ri RONY, larc Daly, a senior construction science major, scans .used compact discs at CD Warehouse on Northgate. and if not scratched, a used CD will provide the same experience as its brand-new counterpart. Brett Edwards, manager of Half Price Books Records Magazines said the store has a small but eclectic used CD selection. "We’ll make an offer on anything recorded, as long as it’s in good condition,” Edwards said. “We don’t offer a large amount [of used CDs], but it’s all in good shape.” Decor: Grandmother’s attic sans moldy cheese and cobwebs. Clientele: Professors, bicycling activists and town folk. Used CD selection: Lots of mainstream pop with a dash of country, jazz, classical, Christian, internation al, movie soundtracks and easy listening. The most common price for a used CD is $7.49, with a few $2 to $3 specials. Run away from: Half Price Books is the only store to feature eight-tracks. Only the strong shall survive this bin, home of the “Cher Superpak” featuring “Blowing in the Wind” while heinously omitting “Dark Lady” — Superpak indeed. Don’t miss: Half Price Books features a star-stud ded cavalcade of used vinyl. The bins have loads of new wave, classic rock and most other genres ranging from $3 to $6. Special pick: Color Me Barbra by Barbra Streisand hits a rock-bottom low of $.99. Marooned Records is a well-known stop for used CDs. Use extra caution if scouring the aisles for Dook- ie, however. “If I see one more Green Day CD come in here, I will shoot somebody,” said Sarah Suniga, an employee at Marooned. “People can sell back their CDs for $3, $4, sometimes $5, depending on stock or availability. We’re always looking for more dance music, ska and classic stuff.” Decor: High school rock fan bedroom. Clientele: Local bands, skaters, backpackers. Used CD selection: Modern rock with a small amount of country, dance, rap, soundtracks. The av erage price for a used CD is $6. Run away from: The large $1 CD section is both a curse and a blessing. Music scavengers can find great picks, like a single of Glen Bi anca’s “Symphony No. 9,” but it shares real estate with Hammer’s Please Ham mer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em and Too Legit To Quit. Don’t miss: Great $3 section that houses C’mon Kids! by the Boo Radleys and oddly enough Let’s Get it Started, Hammer’s first album. Special pick: The 6ths’ sad and sweet Wasp’s Nests album for $6. Disc Go Round is but a stone’s roll from Marooned. The store features a large selection of import CDs, 83 of which are devoted to Depeche Mode. “We like to buy Bob Marley, the Doors and Top 100 albums,” said Jana Herd, assistant manager of Disc Go Round. “We buy back for around $3 to $4, some times $5 if it is new and in great shape.” Decor: If you were tie-dyed, you’d be home by now. Clientele: (see above) Used CD selection: Disc Go Round has a large se lection of recently-released albums, as well as coun try, classical, rap and blues. The prices for used CDs range from $5.99 to $7.99. Run away from: Import CDs are almost as afford able as the General Use Fee. Don’t miss: Eight great listening stations where you can listen to any CD before you buy it. CD Warehouse is another one of the fine used CD emporiums located in Northgate. Gina Marquez, a CD Wharehouse employee, said the store has a selec tion of Top 40, classic and modern rock. “We specialize in mainstream music,” she said. “We try to stay away from the more weird titles.” Marquez said CD Warehouse will let consumers trade two of their recently-released CDs for one used CD. Decor: Plain and simple, like a bargain store should be. Clientele: Neo-normals and radio-heads m RONY ANGKRIWAN/The Battalion Used CD selection: If it’s a staple of classic or mod ern rock, it’ll be in the bins. Most titles average around $7.99. They also carry a good selection of country, soundtracks and imports. There is a $5.99 bargain sec tion to fulfill all your Stone Temple Pilot needs. Run away from: Avoid the huge Pamela Anderson Lee poster at all costs. Don’t miss: Two listening stations and the huge Pamela Anderson Lee poster. Hastings claims to be the entertainment super store. Despite its new and flashy corporate face, a creamy center of used CDs may be found inside. Henry Martinez, music manager, said Hastings will buy any genre of music as long as it is in top condi tion and is something they don’t have in stock. “I get tired of people bringing in the same country artists all the time,” Martinez said. “We have enough Travis Tritt — that and Green Day” Decor: Megapalooza media megalamania. Clientele: Mom, dad, 2.5 kids and the family dog. Used CD selection: Hastings has every genre, from jazz to Christian to Spanish to rock. Prices range from $5 to $9, averaging $7.94. Run away from: The 25-cent listening station. It’s not the money; it’s the principle. Don’t miss: The “nice price” bargain bins. Hast ings is a dumping ground for CDs other stores can’t sell, Martinez said. Special Pick: Guided by Voices’ beautiful Bee Thousand album in the bargain bin for $4. In July of 1993, Garth Brooks publicly decried the evils of used CDs. It seems that Garth discovered a lit tle something America likes to call a “free-trade econ omy.” Your frugality at college may not please Garth Brooks, but it sure as heck will put a star-spangled smile across Uncle Sam’s face. Chris Martin is a senior journalism major. Co-op Internships Full-time Jobs CAREER CENTER On-Campus Interviewing Begins Soon Mf Graphics Editor Radio Editor ht News Editor Web Editor 3b Editor )ffice Manager i, Chris Huffines, Jeremy avid Johnston, Donny Mason Jackson, Anna Post* nrton, Kendall Kelly. Artie Alvarado; MarissajW a Burk, John Adam Hailes, n Rogers, Derek Demere,Ri i, Amy Dunlap, Pat James, on Bollom. Quatro Oakley; Ed Good** Aallam, David Hoffman, Jot* oit, Gabriel Ruenes, Mike i, Eli Chavez, ery. n of Student Publications, a unit ol i: 845-3313; Fax: 845-2647; t- ampus, local, and national display aid, and office hours are 8 a.m, ay of The Battalion. Mail subscripts tmerican Express, call 845-2611 ;ers and Monday through Thursday* ostage paid at College Station,IX College Station, TX 77843-1111. Off Campus Aggies Presents: The 1st General Meeting of the Year! Tuesday, September 9th 201 MSC @ 8:30 Meet New People, Get Involved and HAVE FUN!!! Welcome Class of 2001!!!