5 places to buy cassettes online

Building a cassette tape collection is as easy as stopping by a thrift store or record store and perusing their inventory, but if you live in an area where the options are limited or you’d prefer to find more specific tapes elsewhere, the good news is that the Internet is there. Whether you’re looking for a new cassette tape of a local band or your favorite dad rock album from the ’80s, you’re sure to find something cool online from a variety of sellers and retailers so you can close Spotify and get back to basics.

There are many places online where you can find cassette tapes, old and new, in all different conditions, price ranges and editions. The online cassette tape world is yours to explore. So pull out your old Walkman or your new favorite retro tech device and enjoy some cassette nostalgia.

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1 Most established Discogs

If you’re an audiophile, you know that Discogs is the first place to look for anything.

Audiophiles love Discogs, not just for its catalogue but also its marketplace. Discogs sells a wide variety of CDs and records, but also a ton of cassette tapes. If you’re looking for a specific cassette of a local band you loved in the ’90s, there’s a good chance you can find it on Discogs.

Discogs allows you to filter by a variety of criteria, including genre, year, currency, condition, seller location, etc. This gives you great flexibility when searching for cassettes in general, but also helps you narrow down your options when looking for cassettes of a specific genre or artist without being overwhelmed by too many choices.

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2 Take an (online) trip to Tapehead City

Cassette tape specialty site

Tapehead City is an online store based in Long Island, New York that has been selling mostly cassette tapes since 2014. As such, you can find a wide variety of tapes on the site, from new to hard-to-find older tapes. They sell both new cassettes and used ones in good condition.

The site allows you to narrow down your selection with filters like genre, label, and when it was on the site, and also lets you see pre-orders and new releases, so if you’re not after anything specific but are looking for a variety of cassette tapes, you’ll be able to find plenty to suit your tastes. They also ship worldwide, making it a great option for anyone, regardless of location.

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3 For new tapes from current artists, check out Bandcamp.

Your favorite local indie bands and world-famous artists are all selling here too

Many bands today still produce cassette tapes alongside CDs and records, and it’s easy to find cassette tapes for sale on Bandcamp. Many bands, both hugely popular and more niche, use Bandcamp as a way to distribute their music and sell merch, so you’ll find cassette tapes on the site.

Bandcamp allows you to filter by genre and even subgenres, or look for artists from a specific country. You can search for bestsellers, new releases, or just the cassettes you want. Bandcamp also occasionally hosts Bandcamp Fridays, where all profits from music and merchandise sales go to the artists and Bandcamp gives up its cut, allowing you to support your favorite artists as much as possible.

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4 Cassette Place, another tape specialty store

They’ve been in business since 1982 and have thousands of tapes to choose from.

Don’t be fooled by the appearance of the website, The Cassette Place is not a site that hasn’t been updated since 1998. It is the best place to buy cassette tapes online, selling high quality tapes in new or near new condition, across a wide range of genres. They source their second hand tapes from specific sources, and they don’t buy cassette tapes from just anyone, so it’s clear that they are passionate about sourcing and selling high quality tapes.

It is operated from the US and offers free shipping on orders over $60, as well as shipping worldwide, meaning that even if you live outside the US, you can shop here. With a huge variety of cassette tapes to choose from, from rare special edition cassettes to new popular cassettes, there is something for every cassette enthusiast.

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5 Join a bidding war for cassette tapes on eBay

Varying quality but cheaper options

This is a classic alternative: eBay has just about anything second-hand you can think of, and cassette tapes are no exception. It’s a lot like Discogs in that it’s a marketplace of private sellers, but unlike Discogs, it’s not necessarily an audiophile community, so these listings might not give you detailed information about the condition or edition. If you’re unsure, you can always ask the seller a question and find out what you’re buying in advance.

Being able to bid on items on eBay also means that tapes can usually be had at affordable prices, so if you’re willing to put in a little extra effort to get your hands on your favorite tapes for a little less, eBay is a great option. Just be careful with shipping costs, which can often be more expensive than the tape itself.

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