Vinyls are not just dusty pieces of plastic with only ancient music from the 1900’s. Artists such as J. Cole, O Wonder, and the Night Riots sell their music on CDs, iTunes, and even vinyls. Because of the way vinyls are made and the fact they aren’t compressed, they allow for a more vibrant and natural sound (eli.com). These classic pieces of polyvinyl chloride, or vinyl for short, may be found in certain music stores; however, Zia Record Exchange, with four locations: Chandler (on the north east corner of Elliot and Alma School, where this interview took place), Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix, provides stores that specializes in media. With sections ranging from CDs to vinyls to VHS tapes, Zia is the place to turn to to find the best media on the market.

Demetrio, assistant manager at Zia, started working at Zia Record Exchange in 2005 at an old location by Arizona State University; however, this located has since closed down. He explained the process of becoming an assistant manager by stating, “It took a year. I became a shift manager first… then worked my way up…”. He continued by saying the skills a job at Zia teaches a person, such as multi tasking, prioritizing, and the overall way Zia “shapes a person”. He exclaimed, “It’s fast paced, but it’s also fun to be here… it gets your core habits where they need to be….” Unfortunately, Zia does not offer jobs to those under 18, but it’s still the best place to buy new and used records because new records sell “anywhere from $15 to $20… but used are as low as $0.50…”. It’s the perfect place for high school students who want good music. Even though Zia does not offer student discounts, patrons may receive 20% off their next purchase when they complete a survey; a card is handed to the customer after each transaction. They do, however, offer different promotions and sales, such as the current one with Star Wars merchandise. Demetrio explained, “Sales last anywhere from a day to a week…”.

Zia’s pleasant and lively environment help both the workers and customers feel at home. From personal experience, Zia is a spot I visit weekly, looking for new and old records to add to my collection. It is one of my favorite places to go, for it is welcoming and I find something new every time I visit. Zia Record Exchange is only a short two miles from ACP, and they are open daily until 10 pm and 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. It surely is a spot all students at Arizona College Prep should visit before they graduate.