Razzle Dazzle Music & Movies

Razzle Dazzle Music & Movies in Cedar Rapids is a bright, inclusive disc-media shop built around records, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, 4Ks, VHS tapes, and a healthy sense of fun. The shop sells new vinyl, keeps a used vinyl selection of roughly 700 to 900 titles, and has become especially focused on disc media: rap, punk and metal CDs, horror DVDs, Blu-rays, 4Ks, and boutique movie titles.

The store buys and trades in vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, DVDs, VHS tapes, memorabilia, and merchandise, with condition, demand, and format all shaping offers. Sellers can reach out first, or bring items in, but busy shop days may affect how quickly collections can be evaluated.

Interview with Razzle Dazzle Music & Movies

Razzle Dazzle is a name that promises fun before anyone touches a bin. What's the personality of the shop behind it?

My hope was that the shop would develop as a welcoming and inclusive space, and the first step in that process was to try to not take any of it too seriously.

The shop's name is silly, which I hope goes a long way in shrugging off some of the historical pretentiousness associated with record stores. And slapping a coat of pink paint on top of it all seems to have gone a long way in reinforcing that sentiment.

How do the music and movie sides share the space - and the customers?

It's been a minute since I've done number crunching on this, but last time I looked into it the ratio of movie sales to music sales was about two to one. That being said, the shop is fairly equally divided, with music to the right when you walk in and movies to the left.

This is only the shop's eighth month with a brick-and-mortar, but prior to opening the doors I imagined it to be a music store that also happened to sell movies. The opposite has become the reality, in no large part due to streaming fatigue.

Whereas music streaming services still host almost anything a person could want to listen to, movie services are far more fickle. As that trend continues, I suspect more and more people will continue to grow weary of relying solely on streaming services and apps, particularly when their prices continue to rise while their libraries simultaneously become increasingly fragmented.

What do Cedar Rapids regulars hunt for most - and what sells here that might surprise people?

I don't know that there's anything that sells particularly well here compared to other areas, but it's consistently surprising which super-niche titles do and don't work in the shop.

Take, for example, some real kitschy action movies from the 80s, which do quite well online, but haven't yet found their audience here in the shop. On the flipside, we have success selling funky boutique Blu-rays and 4Ks. Our wall of weird is regularly updated, featuring new titles from the likes of Severin, Arrow, Synapse, Troma, and more.

Which section - vinyl, CDs, movies - has been quietly strongest lately?

Day in and day out, our single best selling format in the store is still the DVD. Personally speaking, I'm a DVD guy. It's practical, the format works well enough, the picture quality is good enough, and the price is definitely right. The average customer in the shop would seem to agree with me.

If someone wants to sell records or movies, what's the best first step - and what makes a collection worth getting excited about?

We're moving into a phase where the flood gates are soon to be opened up to the community, so that anyone looking to sell or trade in their collections will be able to do so.

My hope would be that the first step in that process would be to reach out to see if there's any interest on our part, but for some, the first step has been to just bring their things on in. That's cool too, but how busy we are dictates how quickly we can work through sells and trades.

From my side of things, we're in perpetual need of a few things specifically: rap, punk and metal CDs, horror DVDs, and just about any Blu-ray or 4K. While we do sell new vinyl records and have a collection that drifts between about 700 and 900 titles, we're primarily a disc media shop, and that's what we're looking for on a day-to-day basis.

What condition problems do sellers most often underestimate, across formats?

We have disc resurfacers which are able to take care of most cosmetic surface scratching issues, but I do get a little picky about making sure we're also putting items out on the floor that are free from stickers and cracks, or are messed up in some other kind of way.

Thrift shops and other second-hand stores have set the bar pretty low for quality in this regard, which is a trend we're really focused on with the items we put out. So when people bring in an old tub of common DVDs, halfway crusted in a tomb of dust and what I sure hope was just a spilled can of Diet Coke, it can sometimes be a challenge explaining why those items might not fetch the premium prices they're seeking.

What's a find or customer story that captures the shop?

I would love to hear more feedback to this from the customers' side of things, but what I've gleaned to this point from sources like our Google reviews is that the shop is clean, friendly, the prices are fair, and the atmosphere ain't too shabby.

The one area that's a drawback consistently, and that I feel is a negative aspect of the shop, is that it's hard to keep sought-after titles in stock. That's been consistent feedback we receive: a question of why we don't have a certain title or artist.

It's a two-fold problem. We primarily deal in used items, so aside from vinyl records or boutique movies, that means we don't have access to replenishing things once they sell. And to make matters worse, our prices are competitive compared to online marketplaces and local competitors, so when cool stuff is put out on the floor, in many cases it doesn't last long.

First visit to Razzle Dazzle - what should someone check first?

Rather than putting out new inventory here and there, we drop new arrivals in the shop every Friday, making something of an event out of it.

There are new arrival racks in the front windows and back by the register featuring new CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, 4Ks, and VHS tapes. There's also a new arrival overflow bin near the back of the shop for additional movies, and regularly we add new arrivals to the vinyl racks and boutique movie shelves, so there's a little something for everyone.

Additionally, we have value bins that get cycled out weekly, located by the front doors. Depending on the day, those items are priced between 25 cents and a buck. No matter what you're into, or when you stop in the shop, we try to make sure there's something fresh and interesting to look at regardless of budgetary considerations.

FAQ

Does Razzle Dazzle buy used records and movies?

Yes. The shop buys and trades in records, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, 4Ks, VHS tapes, cassettes, memorabilia, and merchandise, depending on condition and demand.

What is Razzle Dazzle most interested in buying right now?

The shop is especially interested in rap, punk and metal CDs, horror DVDs, and just about any Blu-ray or 4K. It also buys vinyl, but the owner describes Razzle Dazzle as primarily a disc-media shop day to day.

How big is the vinyl section?

The vinyl selection usually drifts between roughly 700 and 900 titles, alongside new vinyl records and other physical media formats.

What condition issues matter most?

For discs, cosmetic scratches can often be handled with resurfacing, but stickers, cracked cases, dirt, and generally rough condition can affect whether an item is suitable for the sales floor.

What should first-time visitors check first?

Friday new arrivals are a major part of the shop. Visitors should check the new arrival racks for CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, 4Ks, VHS tapes, vinyl additions, boutique movie shelves, and the rotating value bins near the front doors.

Last updated: 2026-07-16