About us

iPodMeister was founded by a group of musicians and students after we made the following discoveries:

• Selling CDs to a used record store is usually a humiliating experience and a waste of time and energy.

• CDs that are almost worthless in the U.S. often fetch higher prices abroad.

• Many people in the U.S. have “gone digital” and switched entirely from CDs to digital music. The overwhelming majority of people in many other countries still like to listen to CDs (see chart on left). Many people in developing countries won’t be able to spend $200 or $300 for an iPod for years to come.

• CDs do a lot of damage to the environment when thrown into the garbage. They are difficult to break down and there are no ways to recycle them.

• Many people are reluctant to part with their CDs even though they are just collecting dust and taking up space. It is easier to declutter if one knows that one’s CD collection will be appreciated again.

Our business model is the logical conclusion of these observations:

iPodMeister offers a NEW iPod, iPhone or iPad in exchange for used CDs and DVDs. Our customers recycle their used CDs and we find a new home for them. Our customers get a new iPod in exchange for their used CDs without having to pay for the device. This barter trade is easy, quick and fair: all shipping and handling costs are covered by us. 

Since 2004, we have grown organically through word of mouth, internet postings (Burning Man, Park Slope food co-op, Conscious Snob, John Jotting’s Reviews, among many others), and referrals from previous customers. Most journalists who have written about us were customers first and reporters later. Many writers, musicians, and bloggers have turned their friends on to iPodMeister. Special thanks to Yahoo! Music, Napster, Pandora, Time Capsule, Etherea Records, Galapagos of Williamsburg, Stereophile magazine, Spun, Grammophone magazine, Fangoria, Audiophile, Flavorpill, Brownstoner, Brooklyn Vegan, My Rockness, Freecycle, and Swap Tree!

The people working for iPodMeister are either artists or students. Our goal is to create a work environment that is understanding of the needs and schedules of musicians, students, actors, composers, video artists, fashion designers, etc., who need part-time work to support their creative projects or who want to get through school without too many student loans.

Over the years, we have changed locations frequently and moved all over the place every couple of months: Dumbo/Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Park Slope, East Village, Cobble Hill/Brooklyn, Astoria, etc.  . But we have stuck to our “no frills” philosophy:

• We are thrifty and mobile.

• Our website is basic and without flashy animations.

• We run our business without tricks, scams, or gimmicks.

• We offer our customers the attention only a small business can provide.