Yep, Rasputin is a bargain hunter's paradise ... a lot of good stuff winds up in their clearance bins. Over the years, I've found a lot of good stuff (and took my chances on some veritable crap as well) in those bins. Great way to spend an afternoon.

It's a shame that they only cover Northern and Central California, because I think they have a great business model. The Rasputin store closest to my house lost its lease due to redevelopment, and I'm surprised at how much my music buying has declined since then. I used to sell back my old CDs and DVDs, and occasionally take advantage of their 60% return policy (they'll refund 60% within the return period on any CD you buy).

In other communities, Rasputin is a godsend and a lifeline. They took over the leases at several former Tower Records locations when Tower got liquidated. In places like Stockton and Fresno, Rasputin is the only deep catalog music store within 50+ miles.

P.S. Funny that you mention onesidezero -- I picked that one up as well several years ago, so I guess it remains a fixture in Rasputin's clearance section. IIRC, I took a chance on that album because it was on Maverick Records and Jason Bentley (KCRW DJ) at that time was working A&R for that label. I think I played it once, didn't really like it, and returned it. Can't go wrong taking a chance on something for less than a buck.