While shopping today i decided to pop in HMV. The shop looked fab from outside.

Well i was looking to buy some soul CD's and having walked around the entire shop, past the play stations, past the apple mac section with teenagers all posting on facebook, past the DVD section, past the book section, past the magazine section i gave up looking for the SOUL / R&B section so decided to ask a member of staff. She kindly pointed me towards the 'URBAN' section of CD's. URBAN So full of enthusiasm i started my search. No No No soul of the likes of Aretha franklin, marvin gaye, sam and Dave, Al green in the URBAN section. So i thought i'd look in the ROCK and POP section, and behold there was aretha and al green But the collections of these artists was poor to say the least, and very expensive this coupled with 3 different songs blaring in the background was enough for me to call it a day and come home and settle down for some on line shopping

Why are record shops in decline? Well this visit was enough to put me off for a long while. Are record shops missing a trick? Yes they should stock bloody music!

ATB

KK - busy shopping on line

I find the prices of cd's and dvd's in my local HMV are much higher in the shop, than on their web-site.
It's like they want us to shop from them on line.

...Hmmm, buy on line from home and safe fuel traveling costs too! : )

nymph

It's not often I get to the racks as the shit music they play usually drives me out. If I do manage to actually look for some thing the number of albums is poor and the prices are ridiculously high.

So we love music and hate high street music shops

quote:

So we love music and hate high street music shops

Some music and some music shops maybe?

Never noticed if Fopp even plays music in their shops,if they do it's certainly not as intrusive as HMV's offerings.

went into the oxford street hmv store last week which is massive and tend to agree with you all....walked in couldnt find anything in music that interested me but would have had a field day if i was after dvds or games ! so spun around walked out and went straight on the pc to get everything i wanted cheaper, quicker, easier.....thats why these stores will go to the wall! and deservedly so.

I agree with all the above. However, I heard on the radio recently that HMV have reported much improved results, so they probably think they are doing a good job. Ironic really.

That will be financial results from selling PS3's, IPODS, DVD's, T shirts, posters, books, magazines but not from Music from the store outlets.

I understand the overheads are less on line but the stores should paint a better picture!

Well this morning i resumed to buying on line, a very relaxing experience and one that will continue fro a long time to come.

URBAN

KK

KK,

don't forget to check out the bargain cd's on playdot!

i've purchased lots of superb music cd's off playdot for 2.99
... and that includes p+p too ; )

nymph

I didn't used to mind paying OTT prices in HMV when they carried a good back catalogue and you could more or less guarantee finding what you wanted.

Those days are long gone and it appears there's a rush by High Street retailers to ditch CD in any meaningful form. Borders, for example, have been busy running down their stock for a good six months now.

I suspect the bricks and morter CD retail business is pretty much finished, in favour of the online model, whether you want physical discs or downloads.

God you miserable bunch of misanthropes its like the Naim equivalent of Grumpy Old Men.

HMV Oxford st has a fantastic selection of music especially Classical and Jazz but if you want more independently minded shops and I posted about them enough go to Sister Ray, Rough Trade, Phonica, Tape & Record exhange, Sounds Of The Universe, Revival Records etc etc... and prices will be more everyone is just used to the silly low prices on line and cannot anyone understand why running a big store in any major city might have more overheads thus higher prices.


YOU HAVE A CHOICE USE THEM OR LOSE THEM



Dean..

I must admit i prefer zavis .tel

I go into HMV in the High Street, Worcester, and whilst it certainly does not have the serene ambiance of my favourite independent record shop - The Outback in Church Street, Hereford - it does not strike me as the desert being described by some here.

Okay, they stock no classical music [and The Outback stocks only classical and Jazz], but I do buy films on DVD in there. Yesterday I got them to keep The Pink Panther set with Peter Sellars for me. The staff are pleasant, and if not too rushed often very willing to help find something or order it.

They seem to do a lot of trade, and so I suppose they must be doing something right. The music is less loud in the films section.

George

quote:

Originally posted by naim_nymph:
KK,

don't forget to check out the bargain cd's on playdot!

i've purchased lots of superb music cd's off playdot for 2.99
... and that includes p+p too ; )

nymph

Hi nymph,
Have a look here:-

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/navigate.do?&pPageID=3267

Regards

Chris

Ii shopped in hmv in Kingston this week for the first time in four years. Having read so much doom and gloom about music shopping in the uk I was pleasantly surprised at the choice and some prices were very good. I was able to buy a lot of good jazz releases.

No complaints from me.

Thanks for the heads-up Chris, I may have to raid the piggy bank now! : )

I completely agree with KeanoKing, that is exactly my experience of HMV, and Virgin (or whatever it has been rebranded as).

I also know that these shops were part of a cartel that kept CD prices artificially high before the internet allowed open competition.

I am saddened to hear that HMV is making a profit, I hoped that they would die out as web sales took over.

I love shops like Sister Ray and some of the other independents, sadly no good ones left here in Leeds (Jumbo is awful), but I suspect they will lose out as the web takes over.

In the end, with the web, I now prefer to buy direct from the artist if at all possible, if it costs a little more no problem, the money is going to someone I care about.

Jamie

To wish any decent company to fail is utterly deplorable. Many people work for an honest wage in such companies, and to wish their employer out of business speaks of an unworldly and beastly attitude concerning people no better or worse then you or me.

I hope you will take back that extremely callous, if possibly careless, remark.

George

Dear George,

i don't think Jamie really means it like that or wants it in for the employees of HMV, from what i know of him he's too kind hearted for that sort of carry on.
You've also got to consider that HMV have a thriving web-site that may be making the money to help keep their shops open...
This year i've purchased a couple of classical cd's from the HMV shop and after getting back home on my computer have seen the same cd's on the HMV web-site for a few pounds less with free p+p.
If anyone's got it in for the HMV shop employee's it's the HMV directors themselves promoting the same products on their on line service at far less cost.

It also costs me £3 in fuel to travel to my nearest HMV shop plus a couple of quid for parking... it ain't worth the hassle!

That's my excuse anyway ; )

nymph

Our local Zavvi in Northampton does seem to be making an effort. They have in-store performances by local artists lined up and have a section for local bands material. They are also apparently planning to re-introduce some vinyl (although this has yet to materialise).

The two members of staff I have dealt with recently have been very helpful, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. One of them also made an excellent music recommendation.