History of DALLAS HOUSE MUSIC: Bill's Records

[alvin]

DJ Jeff K

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Jeff Wade on Bill's

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DJ Kelly Reverb

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[name change request]

i heard about that store before i moved down here over 10 years ago and i used to go there all the time... my only complaint was that he would make up prices once you got up to the register and sometimes he'd see a 4AD album or something and it had that "made in canada" sticker on it and he'd call it an import and try to charge you like $25 for it even though you could get it for 16 or whatever at a regular store.

he always had badass records up there though and he had employees that knew wtf they were talking about most of the time too

[Gaylord Focker]

Originally Posted by name change request

i heard about that store before i moved down here over 10 years ago and i used to go there all the time... my only complaint was that he would make up prices once you got up to the register and sometimes he'd see a 4AD album or something and it had that "made in canada" sticker on it and he'd call it an import and try to charge you like $25 for it even though you could get it for 16 or whatever at a regular store.

he always had badass records up there though and he had employees that knew wtf they were talking about most of the time too

He did that so you could talk him down in price with his penis in your mouth.


Fact. He did it to everyone, its ok =)

[PeterS]

Originally Posted by name change request

i heard about that store before i moved down here over 10 years ago and i used to go there all the time... my only complaint was that he would make up prices once you got up to the register and sometimes he'd see a 4AD album or something and it had that "made in canada" sticker on it and he'd call it an import and try to charge you like $25 for it even though you could get it for 16 or whatever at a regular store.

he always had badass records up there though and he had employees that knew wtf they were talking about most of the time too

I've tried to rationalize that with the idea that Bill's does not have the same business model as say Tower or Virgin. You can get a GU disc in those places for $19.99 whereas Bill's HAS to charge you 30 bones just to even make a dollar.

As is evident, he didn't build an "empire" by doing that.

His store was also more for the purist or someone with a tuned up musical taste. You weren't going to find bitches running in there hoping to score the new Lady Gaga.

I hated the price markup as well but just going in there was a time capsule of sorts what with all the stacks of not only records but posters and shit he had.

[juandingo]

i've actually had sex with all 3 of those guys including bill. hows that for scary on halloween bitches..kekekeke

[Gaylord Focker]

Originally Posted by juandingo

i've actually had sex with all 3 of those guys including bill. hows that for scary on halloween bitches..kekekeke

lolz.

[juandingo]

reverb was the sweetest.

[adrian]

I was in Bill's store just earlier today. One woman walked in asking if Bill buys records, he told her "no, I can't afford to buy any records anymore." It really is sad to see a record store such as Bills starting to fade more and more. And his selection of new records is almost nill.

Yet I still spent $78.

[molecule]

never found many good records at bills. i'd walk to the counter with what i did find and he'd size me up and rattle off some insane number. i'd mention that he had 10 f'in copies of most of the records i was interested in just collecting dust and if he wanted money to buy new records how about selling some shit at a reasonable price and moving the inventory. but nope. he's an idiot, historical or not. maybe i was there in a bad era or something but his edm selection blew, his prices were stupid and he'd say creepy as shit that was way out of line.
not a fan of bill or bills.

[Johnny Funk]

Never had a problem at Bills. All of his prices came close to +tax total of a record purchased at Oak Lawn or Alien. Loved going up there and digging around. Well, till the dust started making me sneeze like crazy.

[jtoosweet]

Originally Posted by Gaylord Focker

He did that so you could talk him down in price with his penis in your mouth.


Fact. He did it to everyone, its ok =)

+

Originally Posted by Johnny Funk

Never had a problem at Bills. All of his prices came close to +tax total of a record purchased at Oak Lawn or Alien. Loved going up there and digging around. Well, till the dust started making me sneeze like crazy.

=

hmmmmmmm?

[Funkenstein]

Said this on here a long time ago, but this is how you had to do it back in the day.

Get the ONE record you know you wanted and then spend time looking for 3 - 4 others that are okay with not getting.

Walk to the front and put them down. When he names the exorbitant price, you just say that you are willing to put some back and then narrow it down so that you don't get the rape me price he wanted upfront.

It was either that or the tuck n twist if you wanted to play up to him or if you were cool like I was, you just talk to him about music.

/shrug

I can join the complaint for paying import prices for some of the domestic stuff, though. That did suck for when I bought my old Prodigy stuff before they signed with Madonna's Maverick label.

[J. Fees]

Originally Posted by molecule

never found many good records at bills. i'd walk to the counter with what i did find and he'd size me up and rattle off some insane number. i'd mention that he had 10 f'in copies of most of the records i was interested in just collecting dust and if he wanted money to buy new records how about selling some shit at a reasonable price and moving the inventory. but nope. he's an idiot, historical or not. maybe i was there in a bad era or something but his edm selection blew, his prices were stupid and he'd say creepy as shit that was way out of line.
not a fan of bill or bills.

yeah, i never liked his organization or selection that much. prices were bullshit, and bill was usually an asshole to me. oh well.

[david austin]

Originally Posted by J. Fees

yeah, i never liked his organization or selection that much. prices were bullshit, and bill was usually an asshole to me. oh well.

My general experience as well. I found some gems here and there and didnt mind paying a little extra especially since I could inspect and listen on site vs online. This was obviously back before online shopping was even close to being streamlined and shipping was always a toss up regarding the quality once it actually got in your hands. For the most part though it was tough sledding with organization, and I didnt have the time to spend hours and hours digging.

Being looked up and down like im bargaining for back room handjob just to price a few records didnt really keep me wanting to come back very often.

[Coyotl]

i remember being 16 and buying all the hard house, trance and hip hop my measley fast food paycheck could afford. the place looked and smelled like shit. no organization. looking back, his selection was not that great for the most part. one night we had a house party gig (in a garage) and we really wanted too short's "shake that monkey." he didn't have it. my homeboy was like "man we really need that record. that will for sure get the girls shakin that ass" and then bill was like " awww bless their little hearts." lol


i also remember how he would look at me all gay like with that rare aphex twin import in his hand (didgeridoo it was) and say " for you....this one's 15". being as boyishly cute as i am i got some good deals but at the expense of being really creeped out .

now that my preferred format is digital i kind of miss the reverie of digging around through dusty shelves of records looking for that "one more" purchase. you know the feeling. buying music was something i used to get so hyped about, and records were expensive to me so it was really a treat.

now i just thumb through my basket on trackitdown/beatport in between glancing over fraud reports at work. man....to be 16 again....