Employment

Hi-Voltage Records is an independent record and book store on Tacoma's 6th Avenue.  Must be 18 or older.

Before applying, please note that we will get many, many resumes and while we wish that we could respond back to each and every one, please know that you will hear from us if we would like to proceed with an interview, otherwise we have decided to pass on your application at this time. If this page is up, we are still reviewing candidates. Please do not call or come in to ask about your application — email only when sending your resume.

We are looking for someone who genuinely loves other people. Our customers are collectors, casual listeners, curious readers, and longtime regulars, and the best thing you can do for the store is to make every single one of them feel welcome and taken care of. A warm, friendly presence and a real commitments to excellent customer services is extremely important to us. 

We want to be upfront: this is a genuinely fun place to work, but it's still a job. Receiving shipments, restocking, cleaning, and the unglamorous day-to-day stuff is just as much a part of this role as the fun parts — and we need someone who shows up for all of it.

We're looking for an experienced vinyl buyer to join our team full time.

A quick note before you apply: We know that you love music, maybe you even play an instrument, sing, do karaoke. We love that. But, what we want is to know how you are as an employee, so make sure to showcase your work ethic and history, not just your passion.

Note: This is not a back-office role. You'll be on the floor, talking to customers, and actively participating in the day-to-day life of the store — buying is just one part of what you'll do here.

What We Need You to Already Know How to Do

• Accurately grade used LPs
• Buy collections of all sizes — from a handful of records to a full estate
• Price used vinyl competitively using Discogs, eBay, or similar
• Manage and organize used inventory from intake through the floor
• How to be fair and walk people through your decision making process in a calm manner
• Upstock, organize, and merchandise the vinyl section throughout the day
• Keep the department clean, organized, and visually appealing — racks, displays, and understocks
• Receive and process new vinyl shipments

What We're Looking for in You

• Speedy, accurate, and productive — you don't need to be told to stay busy
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Strong work ethic and self-starter mentality
• You read the room — selling a collection can be emotional, and you'll know how to handle that with sensitivity
• Friendly and comfortable talking to strangers
• Ability to lift boxes - records are heavy and this job involves a lot of movement
• Deep knowledge of and passion for recorded music
• Comfortable helping customers on the floor and making recommendations
• Able to communicate trends and customer feedback to the rest of the team
• Awareness of new releases, charts, and what's moving in the store

Bonus points

• Experience selling on Discogs
• Experience with Shopify or other POS/ecommerce systems
• Any other background in the music industry
• Experience buying new vinyl is a mega bonus
• Enjoy reading!

Compensation & Benefits

• $20–$25/hour based on experience
• Paid vacation
• Retirement account with 100% employer match
• Employee discount on records and books

To Apply

Email a resume and cover letter to jobs@hivoltagerecords.com with the word BUYER in the subject line. Email only please — do not call or come in to inquire about the position