Rasputin Music

This stores main focus is movies, not music, the music section is tiny, and half of it is on the floor and not very shoppable. I won’t make any special trips to this location, head up to Ameoba 2 blocks away, much better there.

..I came all the way from Santa Rosa specifically to sell a great deal of books and other things… and the first thing that happens is this ‘somebody’-in-a-jacket barely looks through the books ive brought, most of which are in good condition–
Then says ”due to the quality” of which hes not even looked through that. ”1 dollar” is what theyre worth. then he says something about ”eeehhn well you shouuldhnt have puut newspapers on my dee-​eesk”
Now who is it were talking about here. It is 1 a guy who works there, 2 some guy with brown hair about 5′ something wearing a trashy looking jacket, and one at that who not only tried to sucker someone out of a huge box of merchandise but who was rude as could be to a customer who tried to be nice to this 9 – 5 person– who presumed to know the emotions of someone he hadn’t ever met, and acted like a total prick to– someone the one trying to sell books under any other circumstances knocks people down for less who talk to him that way for no reason the way this person at this store did.
Newer coming back to this place again to support the jobs of people like this, recommend a particular business learn humanity again by them not receiving your dollar which matters apparently more than Rasputin is understanding anymore. this is not the only incident where this occurred with this guy with people I know, but I didn’t want to believe it. never doubting them AGAIN.
independent ”staple”?
Don’t even kid me, Ardvark is a better place than this trash.

Mostly movies, not a good CD selection. Have to wonder if this is a ‘spite’ store, opened to spite the Amoeba store just up the street.
There are much better Rasputin stores in the Bay Area. And Amoeba is the best choice in Upper Haight. This seems like a missed opportunity, although they may not have the square footage to really make an impact.

While not the best store in this massive chain for used records or CD’s the store has huge depth in terms of new stock. The fact that it’s within a couple of blocks of 3 more record stores also means it doesn’t get picked through as much as some other places do. They can do special orders, cool staff, open late.
I always find a reason to at least pop in when I’m in the Haight, and usually find something to buy! I’ll be back soon!

I went here solely for the purpose of selling my CD collection. I did a test. I chose 10 CDs and brought them to Amoeba and then to Rasputin. The results for those exact same CDs were $ 5 cash or $ 10 store credit from Amoeba and $ 11 cash or $ 13.20 store credit at Rasputin. So, for selling, it is MUCH better to bring your CDs to Rasputin. And no attitude! When I brought in the rest of my CD collection (approx 300) to Rasputin they didn’t bitch or moan, or give me any grief — they were very cool.

This is an independent staple of the Bay Area; a store I’d heard a lot about from friends who used to live up here. So, being a total consumer of all things entertainment, a stop when I was in town was a must.
They’ve got a good selection in here, lots to choose from in every genre and medium of media. The record selection was a bit weak, especially the soundtracks section (my usual haunt), but pricing is nice. I ventured to the Blu-​ray categories and found more than a few titles, brand new, that were going for at least a few bucks less than major retailers. Even cheaper than Amazon in some cases, which surprised me. I was able to nab a copy of Paul Schrader’s «Cat People» for under $ 20 new; that’s a damn steal.
It’s small, but they make the most of their space. Add in a good selection and equally good pricing, and it’s easy to see why this place has lasted so long, even with Amoeba right down the block.

hey so i gotta give the max amount of stars just for customer service alone. i worked @ tower years ago and although the pay sucked back then, it was my favorite job ever just to be exposed to all types of media/​entertainment. the workers here @ this location remind me of those times. all were very friendly & willing to help. i can’t tell u how much that type of service is lacking these days. especially @ the other rasputins location on powell. u get a completely different experience @ the other location which is why i dont go there anymore. but the haight street store. i bought in a whole bunch movies to sell and not once did the buyer moan & groan. he was very friendly & easy going as well as all the other workers … i also got paid too which i have to say this place pays more than most. i did consider store credit but their music collection was a little lacking in selection. i like out of print stuff from the 80s & 90s that u can’t find on itunes. anyway this place is off the chain !! great job in focusing on the customer. all seemed to be in a good mood & that alone just did it for me …

Decent record store, it’s a small local chain, I liked this location more than the one in Union Square. Good selection of DVD-​s, CD-​s, etc. Good service as well. It’s hard to miss it if you stroll around Haight-​Ashbury area. Prices are OK.

Staff rules!!! Love these guys. Good selection and low prices if you compare to Amoeba.

I definitely like this place better than amoeba’s. While Amoeba has a larger music selection, Rasputin’s on Haight Street is way more organized and makes it easier to find what you want. No rude employees, so that’s a plus! Definitely coming here again.

I hope the flagship store isn’t suffering from the same problems plaguing the Haight St. location, which was a gross disappointment compared to the many hours lost and dollars I’ve spent at the Rasputin on Telegraph Ave.
This location is tiny and has an incredibly poor selection of vinyl at ridiculous prices, the exact opposite of what I know of Rasputin. The LPs were terribly disorganized, especially since we stopped in just after opening. There was no shortage of snarky signs accusing hipsters of ruining their catalog system, however. I left feeling kind of sad that the Haight St store wasn’t even comparable to the Berkeley location, a place that holds a very special place in my heart.
On the flip side, at least Rasputin hasn’t yet given up on selling VHS movies for 50c a piece.

The smallest Rasputin’s location that I have been to… but on the plus side, they have more t-​shirts than Amoeba and a good number of fairly priced DVDs (many are $ 3.95 and $ 5.95). There are two rooms inside. One houses the DVDs and the other the CDs and vinyl. T-​shirts can be found at the back of the store. You can get Bauhaus, Joy Division and 45 Grave t-​shirts. Some t-​shirts are Bay Area specific. They also sell posters and mugs.
The selection is definitely much smaller than I’m used to. I couldn’t find several bands that I was looking for and the goth/​industrial vinyl section had about a dozen records. The punk and indie sections are much better. I can’t really see them offering anything different or better than the Amoeba down the street.
You can buy, sell, or trade your CDs, DVDs, LPs and more for cash.

I went to Ameoba where they had a wide selection of CD’s and Vinyl even though I didn’t walk out with any (see review on that) and came here with what seems they mostly carry are movies. If you want to buy a DVD that is common or cult classic, this is your best place. Staff are really friendly.

Do you remember buying records? Going into the store and shuffling through bins of over-​sized vinyl discs? Studying the artwork? Reading the liner notes? At last, taking your record home, peeling off the plastic, and carefully removing it from its sleeve, so as not to get fingerprints on it? Dropping it on the turntable, lowering the needle, hearing the first crackle as it slides into the grooves and then plopping into your beanbag chair and really listening to the full album, in its entirety? Some of the most epic rock groups of all time, made albums that were meant to be listened to as entire entities, created as complete experiences; Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Doors come to mind. And then iTunes came along ushering in a new age of digital downloads, that cost less than a buck and less than a minute to have a tune twanging in your ears.
If you’re anything like me, and you still prefer those Frisbee shaped slabs over digital, then we are cooler than we realize. Records are having a renaissance. According to Nielson SoundScan data, 3.9 million records were sold in 2011; and sales were up 16.3% from that in 2012. Many record users say that they have a fuller or warmer sound than digital, and this may be true. It could also be as simple as we humans, still needing those few moments of ‘me’ time to sit idly by and get lost in a musical journey, from the comfort of our bean bag, while basking in the glow of our lava lamp. Either way, there are tons of great indie record stores across the country – (asides from the behemoth that is Amoeba!) We thought we would start sharing some with you. First up; Rasputin!
Rasputin is actually the largest chain of independent record stores in the bay area. They have been around since 1971, with their first store in Berkeley. Until recently, I was a regular at the Union Square location, trudging down on the #38 – (undeniably the bumpiest bus in the City), but with the distinct advantage of having a stop right in front of my favorite Irish pub on Johnny Foley’s on O’Farrell. Trust me; you will want to stop in here, both before and after the bus ride. However, last year, the clerk at this location asked me if I knew they had opened in the Haight? I was stoked at the news and asked her where, in which she replied, and I will quote, «I’m not really sure, but it’s a really cool building with a mural on the outside.» For those who have never been to the Haight, that is EVERY building in the Haight. The Haight is one of those neighborhoods where the street is art.
The Haight is one of my very favorite neighborhoods. I never get tired of coming here. The colors, the texture, the character is something to be experienced. Rasputin Music at 1672 Haight Street is literally in the hub of the scene. The #33, #71 or #43 buses all stop right here. A block or two in either direction finds you feasting and drinking on the best food and brew around no matter what your budget. There’s Alembic a fantastic cocktail bar, Magnolia a high end gastropub and brewery, Hobson’s Choice; an eclectic Victorian Rum House with cheap drinks, Cha-​Cha-​Cha an inexpensive tacqeria and so much more. The first thing you will notice about Rasputin is that it is clean and well kept. The murals are intact, the floors are clean, no gum stuck to the outside, no dog crap to gauntlet your way through. In the Haight, this is something of note. The store itself is bigger than you might originally think; filled with all things music; shirts, DVD’s, CD’s, Bu-​Rays — and of course, vinyl! This is a record lover’s paradise! The sections are divided into logical genres; jazz, rock, indie punk, classical, world, soundtracks, etc… The top shelves contain new, remastered and box sets; Nirvana, Jethro Tull, Janis, Led Zeppelin and on and on. The main shelves are where dreams come true. Here you have everything and priced to move! $ 1.95 and up! The next shelf down has the $ 1.00 records and one more shelf down, you find .50 cent records. I have found treasures and purchased from all of the shelves. The quality in the dollar bins, are actually pretty great. Of course there is new vinyl here as well, with an average price point of about $ 13.95. Almost eighties prices! My only complaint about the vinyl section is I wish there was more of it.
It’s true, this store is not Amoeba. Amoeba is bigger – (ridiculously huge actually); and some may prefer that. But this is a nice sized store, with a reasonable selection, great prices and lots of little gems tucked away. It’s definitely worth the visit and a great addition to The Haight.

Pretty lame. This is a record store for people who like only the idea of a record store. Come here to not find what you want, or, if you’re lucky, pay too much for it. Why bother when Amoeba is so close?

Cash for my what was left of my physical-​music inventory. No hassles and very straight-​forward. They took most of it.

I honestly think they opened up this location to piss off Amoeba. If you’re looking for music go to Amoeba, however this is a tight location for movies. Found a lot of stuff here I couldn’t find at the other locations. This girl was nice but she couldn’t find a movie for me that I ended up finding three copies on the floor anyway… I know it’s because their computer system really sucks and is straight out of the 90s. Time for an upgrade Ken?

In a day and age where music and dvd stores are a disappearing breed, I can’t help but give Rasputin credit for taking the initiative to open up a new store in the Haight. Not just anywhere in the Haight either… only a block or so up from that venerable giant Amoeba Records! I am not religious, but talk about David standing up to Goliath! I do love Amoeba too, but every time I go there, it is big, cold, and impersonal… I guess one could say it is like the Costco of music and movies, but that would almost be an insult to Costco.
Obviously, by sheer virtue of the difference in square footage, the selection can’t compare, but even then when it comes to things like used dvds, this Rasputin does quite well. I’ve found this location to be highly convenient and unlike Amoeba, an easy store to pop into and out of. I’ve bought quite a few dvds from their used section for only $ 3.95 and $ 1.95 as well as some great used Blu-​Rays like «The Pirates! — Band of Misfits» in like new condition for only $ 13.95. I absolutely love that movie… great claymation, pirates, storyline, and even a dodo named Polly that the pirate and crew absolutely adores. Highly recommended for kids (and adults) of all ages.
Don’t know her name, but the dark haired girl working the register is always very sweet and fun to talk to. I always seem to get her when I go up to buy something.
When I used to work in Fremont years ago, I was heart-​broken when their Newark store closed and feared that they might one day all close. So happy that this new store is here to offer an alternative to the monster down the street.

Don’t know why they bothered. Staff knows nothing about helping you find something but it really doesn’t matter because they don’t have it anyway. Happy to see an independent trying but with Amoeba down the block they gotta step up.

Rasputin has taken over the old Villains space, and I couldn’t be happier. The record section is much smaller than I expected, but they had some gems in there. Their prices also seemed to be a bit lower than Amoeba. Hopefully that record section gets a little bigger though…
The t-​shirt selection is actually much better than Amoeba’s. I’m excited to see Rasputin come into its own on Haight Street. I do hope they incorporate the old Villains painting backdrop into their sign and not just stick with a big banner over it. It would be a shame for such a cool mural to go to waste.