HMV even further on the skids

Well, Chris, I just went to HMV Canada online, the prices seem much higher than Amazon for CD's.

I tried Amazon for the first time a few weeks ago, ordered 10 CDs, 10 new discs show up in my mail box a few days later, very satisfied with the price and service. I don't know what it's like in Britain, but HMV can't continue on with this business model. I went into an HMV store here a few years ago, prices were really high, and they were selling a lot of junk besides CDs and DVDs, etc.

Dave

My CD buying habbits have changed of late. No longer do I browse HMV on a saturday but now browse on Amazon during the evening. Much cheaper and to be honest If I want a CD badly, it will generally arrive before the weekend anyway.

There seems to be a lot of independant record shops sprouting up which I still like to browse in though.

Our local HMV has turned into a sub iStore, with DVDs at the front "electrical" store in the middle and what CDs they have hidden away at the back.

Some of the charity shops have more CDs.

I buy mainly from Amazon and Play but used HMV regularly at one time as well. Their prices and service were generally pretty similar with none always being the cheapest so a quick comparison was always worthwhile.

I confess I've not used HMV in recent months.

I went into HMV in Worcester a couple of weeks ago. What a waste of time, music hidden at the back of the store poor selection, no vinyl.

The biggest crime is the lack of "value add" in the stores.

RIP HMV is just around the corner I feel.

Jono

Our HMV here in Vancouver has essentially stopped selling music. They are focussing on DVD and Bluray now. This is a dying business as well, as more people just stream HD video on demnd into their homes. Our cable HD on-demand service is quite limited, but the quality is OK and definitely a sign of things to come. I use Amazon for CDs.

My local HMV in Bonnie Doon Mall isn't too bad, just a bit further down the mall there is a CD/DVD/Record exchange store and some of the CD prices are higher than HMV especially if you can utilize the HMV 2 for $20 that is about 13 squid in English money. However I do prefer to buy from Amazon.ca, just ordered the two Rolling Stones boxed sets on vinyl - hope they are good!

I think we are lucky in Edmonton we have 4 or 5 record exchange stores and even my local hi fi dealer the Gramophone stocks a good selection.

Tim

My local HMV closed two weeks ago.

I made a point of going back three times in two days to say thank you to a couple of the guys who were knowledgeable, and had good recommendations; BUT this was for DVDs, not music.

Neither had a job to move onto.

M

Timbo, I'm formerly from Calgary, I remember when West Edmonton Sam the Record Man had the best vinyl selection around. Don't know if it's still there, but used to be a vinyl store in Kensington in Calgary called Hot Wax records, he started collecting vinyl in the '70s or earlier, I believe, used to have an amazing collection of vinyl in the basement. "Bonnie Doon" mall, there's a name I haven't heard for years.

Dave

Hi Hawk:

I have heard of Sam the Record Man, I don't think he is still operating. I have a few nice record stores round my way. Sound Connection and Blackbyrd Myusik on Whyte Avenue and Permanent Records just off Whyte on 103 Street. There is Revolver in Bonnie Doon Mall - which is really looking like a relic from the sixties. We also have a few on the north side which I haven't got around to visiting as yet.

Tim

I don't think Sam exists anywhere in Canada anymore. Now that I'm in Toronto, lot's of nice vinyl stores. Some have a turntable, amp, and headphones at the front of the store. You can listen for a few minutes, see if the disc is in good shape. Prices are great, and people keep emptying their basements of vinyl, so there is a steady supply.

Dave

Slightly off topic but I found this lovely shop in rural Indiana last year, sadly only open on Saturdays.

Jono

Hi Dave:

It's been a while since I was in Toronto, never seemed to have a chance to look around. However I found a nice record store in Ottawa and what a beautiful city, although I was there in the summer :-)

Tim