fopp no more

I read that too. A very sad day. I can't make out of the shops are closing immediately or in the next few weeks. I was planning to pop into the London store tomorrow.

Thread also in 'padded cell' folks

Gutted - I love Fopp, we had two branches in Bath. You can't beat (or it seems make money on) £5 CDs.

worm

Actually, from what I've read it seems that selling CDs cheaply wasn't what did it for them (although that seems to be the way some are spinning it), but rather an over-ambitious bout of expansion.

regards, Tam

Tam,

As covered in Padded Cell thread, I think you've hit the nail on the head.

Peter

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quote:
Originally posted by Rasher:
I was given £20 Virgin gift voucher for Christmas that is still in my wallet because I just can't bring myself to pay £14 for a CD when I know I can get it from Amazon for a fiver.



I am sorry boys but this is the attitude that is killing bricks and mortar shops, I like going into shops to buy my CD's and Vinyl and I will put my money where my mouth is I buy all my Music from shops (Sister Ray, HMV, Rough Trade, Phonica, Sounds Of the Universe, Rays Jazz, Sounds 323). Expecting to pay less for a CD than 20 years ago is bloody lunacy to my mind. This subject pisses me off with the attitude of people "Oh its a shame that shops are closing down" and then they won't put their hands ion their pockets to change the situation. If you go into HMV you can buy CD's from £5 to £25 so I suggest having a look next time and they have a selection of music that makes Fopp look pathetic. If your ever in London and want great advise and be able to find the best in new music from all genre's I suggest you go to the "Independent Record Shop Of The Year" SISTER RAY in Berwick st it pisses over Fopp by a large margin.


As you can probably see I never really liked Fopp limited selection to my mind just go into a large HMV or Virgin and you'll see what I mean.


Fopp have gone under because of their massive expansion in a short time and also if you read the news piece properly they are looking to their bank to help them out and say that they are still profitable so the situation might change.

Here's some good News for Indie lovers Rough Trade are opening a new store just off Brick Lane E1 soon, but are closing the Covent Garden store, the new store is supposedly quite large. I shall be checking it out soon and also there are another two independent stores over at Brick lane Beats Workin' (S/H) City 16 (Dance) in Chesire st. Also Reckless records who went under a few weeks ago their store in Bertwick st has re-opened under a new name and a great selection of S/H records and CD's can be had.


If anybody wants to know where great music can be purchased from independent shops send me email (deant@nildram.co.uk) and I'll tell you where to go in London. Or if you want I could put up a sticky in the Music section if the Mods allow it.



This subject of buying from record shop is dear to my heart and pisses me off with attitude of why should I pay more when I can get it from Amazon at "silly prices". If you want shops to stay alive PUT YOU MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS you might be surprised how "Competitive" some of the shops I've mentioned are.



Anyone who doesn't live in London, can they suggest shops in their areas which are great to go to.



Dean...Buys CD's and Vinyl from £5 to £20 from a BLOODY shop.

I'm not interested in keeping shops alive by my acts of charity any more than I expect charity to keep my own business going. I'm not going to spend £2000 on a PC when they now cost £299. I'm not going to spend £25 on a T-shirt when I get one in Tesco for £4. The market has changed and it's up to shops to adjust accordingly. It isn't anyones responsibility but their own.

for most of the time i live in southampton, and recently fopp opened a second branch here...as some may know, as nice as the city is, it isnt very big, and there is no real reason for a second fopp in a place of this size, maybe there is truth in the fact that the company expanded way too fast and couldnt cope...
i also agree that music lovers should try to purchase music in stores rather than on the internet to keep businesses alive, because without custom, we may lose our HMV's and Virgin's for good, go we really want to buy everything online in the future???

This sounds like a thoroughly shitty affair with the staff being treated appallingly, I visited Fopp only the other weekend and there were signs everywhere saying 'cash only' due to technical problems. I have spent a lot of money over the years in these stores, the choice was not always as extensive as HMV but the range of CD's for a fiver was always good. I think the days of high street record shops is coming to a close. I live in Sheffield and will now buy my music from either HMV or Record Collector.

I feel an independent Record Store that stocks a wide range of genre's on Vinyl and CD will survive and also a S/H store thats reasonably priced and grades their stock has a good chance as well.

I went past the Cambridge Circus Fopp today and the shop was closed and everything was still in place if the article I read is true and Fopp were profitable but expanded to quickly you could see Virgin or HMV buying the stores and keeping the name and attitude to pricing. Seems easy pickings for the big boys with all that unsold stock and lots of loyal customers now gutted that Fopp has closed.



The new Rough Trade will be open soon well see how that fairs to gauge the market.



Dean..

quote:

I never really liked Fopp limited selection

You ever been to the Tottenham Court Road branch?

Jonathan

The HMV where I live is one of two stores in the country to undertake a pilot scheme - it will close next week and re-open in September as a virtual store, selling hardware (phones, iPods etc.) with download booths and a coffee shop.

I went in there today to get rid of the last of my gift tokens. At £16 for non-chart CDs it's astonishing that anyone would buy there rather than the little indie round the corner or the internet...

My recent forays into both the local HMV and Virgin stores saw me exit empty-handed; the few CDs I did consider buying were put back on the shelves as the prices were far more expensive than internet sources.

It is a pity that FOPP did not at least keep their internet operation going - in recent months I have bought about 30 CDs from them, having found both the selection and pricing structure to my taste.

Okay, as an update to this thread, I managed to get to Virgin in the city today as I had to go get my eyes tested (still no need for gregs, thanks for asking), so I finally made the effort to get rid of my £20 gift voucher card thingumy.
I was going for Pearl Jam's Gorge live concerts boxed set that I saw on Amazon new for £17, and from Amazon themselves at £23, so I thought that would be a good target. No. Virgin wanted £32.
I bought a couple of things I didn't really want plus the Miles Davis Trilogy set that I had previously seen for £7, but it was now £10 - what the hell, I got it. Last night I unwrapped it from all the cellophane & security stickers to find that they had given me an empty box, so I had to go back today. What a pain in the arse.
I really won't be bothering again.
Amazon rule.

Rasher,
I really can recommend the Pearl Jam boxset.....its brilliant. No overdubs as far as I can tell. Just great performances.

Ryan

Thanks Ryan - I've just ordered it from Amazon on the strength of that.

quote:

I'm not going to spend £25 on a T-shirt when I get one in Tesco for £4.

Try to make sure it doen't have the sweat of child labour impregnated in it before wearing for the first time.

quote:

Originally posted by Simon Matthews:

quote:

I'm not going to spend £25 on a T-shirt when I get one in Tesco for £4.

Try to make sure it doen't have the sweat of child labour impregnated in it before wearing for the first time.

Good point, well made.

I like paying less for stuff now than 10/15 years ago, but it does worry me.

Jono

quote:

Originally posted by Simon Matthews:

quote:
I'm not going to spend £25 on a T-shirt when I get one in Tesco for £4.



Try to make sure it doen't have the sweat of child labour impregnated in it before wearing for the first time. Winker

Are you sure the £25 T shirts don't also have that?

Spot on Howard. Gap & Nike will sell you a T-shirt for £45.
Okay, it's old news, but it underlines the point.

In making the point I wasn't trying to claim the moral high ground. Like every other Western consumer I am price driven and when I see a 'bargain' it is difficult to resist. However, just because something is cheap we shouldn't assume that it doesn't come without a price.

At their best, good independent music retail outfits bring enthusiasm and a love of music into the equation. Maybe even the opportunity to spread peoples musical horizons. Personally I have always been happy to pay a little extra for this as the seaching and buying and the whole tactile experience is all part of the pleasurable process. I can literally lose hours in a specialist vinyl outfit. Amazon and internet shopping, although quick and cost effective, represent an impersonal experience in comparison.

Rough trade opens up a new store in Brick Lane this week. They have a schedule right through the coming months of in store promotions, live music and events. This includes showcasing a lot of local young talent. Somehow I can't quite see the same thing happening from the inside of an amazon wherehouse stuck in the arse end of nowhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Malky:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6923511.stmden

Music and book retailer HMV has struck a deal to buy the Fopp brand and revive six of its stores.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6923511.stm

That's what I tried to say, thanks Steve.

quote:

Originally posted by Malky:
That's what I tried to say, thanks Steve.