HMV - What a horrible experience!

Just returned from my local HMV and found the experience to be something of a reality-check. It is about six weeks since my last visit.

The shop has had a re-design. It has always been on two levels with the basement offering about one third of the ground floor area in my estimation. Where the basement used to offer classical, jazz, soundtracks, blues, world etc, with an extensive rock and pop section on the ground floor, now all music is down there. The ground floor seems to be mostly given over to games, dvds, posters and books.

This seemed as graphic a demonstration as I could get of the relative unimportance of CD as a physical carrier of music in the high street branches of HMV. Perhaps I had previously been in denial about the downloadable future. One thing I know is that I like physicality of records and CDs. It looks like CDs might go the way of vinyl, as a very small part of the total market where consumers will pay more for a niche product.

Correspondingly, in my branch of HMV the limited vinyl selection is about the same as before, albeit downstairs. Presumably this is because the latest Madonna or Cat Power at £23 and £20 respectively, offer enough margin to justify the floor space.

I would also say that there was no one under forty either looking at or buying music in the basement. And that the upstairs was a lot busier, with mostly younger customers.

Overall, a somewhat sobering experience.

Regards, Chris

I have used HMV over the years. I appreciated the ability to use the headphones to listen to what was in their jukebox - and bought some albums as a result.

A few weeks ago the headphones were dead, and then found it was true the following week, so I had a chat with the manager. The headphones had been turned off as this was where the teenagers gathered to remove the RFIDs to steal the product.

I pointed out to him that as this was perhaps their only edge it would only encourage me to listen on the web - and then buy from the cheapest source.

He offered to open any CD if I bought in a personal CD player!

As I am always looking to expand my musical listening this wasn't the best suggestion!

I am now buying far more off the web - which I dislike as it doesn't support local employment.

M

My local record and CD shop closed some years ago, so from time to time, I visit HMV in Manchester. A few weeks ago I had been thinking of buying the Mackerras/SCO Beethoven symphony cycle. At £31 from HMV online it seemed a bit of a bargain, but I'm glad I didn't place my order. Instead I bought it for £20 in the shop. OK, this was an HMV sale price, but HMV online were still £11 dearer.
I will certainly continue to shop there.
And maybe I should have a whinge about the online premium.
Ken

Yeah, HMV in Manc is not bad - one of the few shops outside London that still has a separate room for jazz/classical, and a respectable selection of both. I try to pop in whenever I'm in the neighbourhood.

welcome to being not young anymore