HMV Gone, but not forgotten

[stevebrock]

Really bored of hearing how CD is dying?

Rega are about to release a revised Planet CDP, Naim have just released the updated CD5i - now tell me CD is dying.

Why would I want to download a horrible MP3 or AAC when I can buy the CD, rip it to ALAC then have best of both worlds.

I really think CD is here for a long time to come yet!

Just a shame it hasnt been used to its full potential by mastering engineers apart from a few!

I have some great sounding CDS, they are convenient too.

My whole CD library is on my Hard Drive and streamed to my DAC for convenience, but a lot of time I put a CD in my CDP!

 

[BigH]

As for hearing before you can hear about 50% of cds on spotify, then just decide which ones you like enough to buy, or don't bother and just stream spotify.

 

[Tonestar1]

If browsing was the big benefit of HMV, then they should have somehow marketed it and exploited that aspect.

But without the opportunity to listen to any CD that you pick up, how can you make a buying choice without already knowing what the CD sounds like?

On Amazon etc, you can browse and listen, follow links from people's "must have" playlists, and also see the " If you like A, then why not listen to B, C and D artists".

If you then like what you hear, it's a simple "Add to Basket" or wishlist.

HMV was a dinosaur waiting to be picked off as it limped towards the mirage of a waterhole.

A real pity, and means that I'll have nowhere to hide when the Cobalts head off to the shops next time. H&M and Dorothy Perkins do not have the same appeal.

(And I'm too old to hang out in Hollister - I'd get arrested

I really liked the listening posts although choice was limited and I didn't really enjoy having to stand whilst listening. They could have exploited that idea more and set up some sofas, started selling coffee etc. Then again what do I know, didn't do borders any good did it? :doh: :doh:

 

[floyd droid]

With the exception of Truro thats nailed Cornwalls towns bang on the head.

Give it time and all high street shops will be gone. Lets face it Tescos sell pretty much everything baring Cars and Houses*, give em a while and they will sort out that anaw.

* Unless I'm mistaken ?.

 

[stevebrock]

[

 

[floyd droid]

I avoid our local Tescos because its full of knuckle dragging low lifes (well our local one is ). Plus I disagree with how all the big player supermarkets are allowed to dominate. Its not too difficult to spread things around a little. Aldi and Lidl is my shoppie.

Take Austria for instance. Spar / Target / Aldi etc are not allowed to sell news papers and fags , therefore the Tobaconists/news agents can still earn a crust. Ok tis a small thing you get my drift.

@Stevebrock, yer post disappeared ??.

 

[matthewpiano]

Anybody expecting Amazon's low prices to continue if HMV goes is going to have a shock. Amazon is an unsustainable business model long-term and they have simply been running at low or even no margin to take customers away from the high street. Once that mission has been accomplished their prices will rise.

As for Tescos et al doing everythying, it is a nonsense. They play at lots of different areas of retail but the only one they really do well is their traditional one - food and household consumables. Their range of music, films, games, and books is pitiful. Their consumer electronics offerings are generally poor too, mostly covering cheap and nasty low-end tat and with absolutely no expertise on hand. I can't believe that British consumers are happy to put up with such lack of choice for very long.

 

[BigH]

Anybody expecting Amazon's low prices to continue if HMV goes is going to have a shock. Amazon is an unsustainable business model long-term and they have simply been running at low or even no margin to take customers away from the high street. Once that mission has been accomplished their prices will rise.

As for Tescos et al doing everythying, it is a nonsense. They play at lots of different areas of retail but the only one they really do well is their traditional one - food and household consumables. Their range of music, films, games, and books is pitiful. Their consumer electronics offerings are generally poor too, mostly covering cheap and nasty low-end tat and with absolutely no expertise on hand. I can't believe that British consumers are happy to put up with such lack of choice for very long.

I don't agree cds in USA are generally cheaper than here, why can't Amazon sell over here for more money? Look HMV went because people did not buy enough cds etc at high prices, these type of shops have been struggling for years, look at Our Price etc, how many cd shops are left in you town. Yes I agree that less competition could mean higher prices but many people now are buying downloads or not buying at all.

 

[floyd droid]

I can't believe that British consumers are happy to put up with such lack of choice for very long.

Because they think they have bought a bargain, cos twas cheap.

I agree totaly with all of your post Matthew , well almost regarding the food bit. Why folks buy meat from there or Sainsbugs is beyond me , its still bloody breathing for christs sake. Pink awfull tasteless tack , yuk !.

 

[matthewpiano]

I can't believe that British consumers are happy to put up with such lack of choice for very long.

Because they think they have bought a bargain, cos twas cheap.

I agree totaly with all of your post Matthew , well almost regarding the food bit. Why folks buy meat from there or Sainsbugs is beyond me , its still bloody breathing for christs sake. Pink awfull tasteless tack , yuk !.

I agree with you about the meat.

 

[hammill]

If browsing was the big benefit of HMV, then they should have somehow marketed it and exploited that aspect.

But without the opportunity to listen to any CD that you pick up, how can you make a buying choice without already knowing what the CD sounds like?

On Amazon etc, you can browse and listen, follow links from people's "must have" playlists, and also see the " If you like A, then why not listen to B, C and D artists".

If you then like what you hear, it's a simple "Add to Basket" or wishlist.

HMV was a dinosaur waiting to be picked off as it limped towards the mirage of a waterhole.

A real pity, and means that I'll have nowhere to hide when the Cobalts head off to the shops next time. H&M and Dorothy Perkins do not have the same appeal.

(And I'm too old to hang out in Hollister - I'd get arrested

Quite and I am surprised by all the nostalgia for the "good old days". Even if Amazon were not cheaper it is a much more convenient than having to go to a shop and has a much bigger selection. I find Amazon and the like have made my life much better - I don't waste my weekend trolling around shops because virtually everything is available online, not just entertainment but mundane stuff like coffee machine descaler or ironing board covers. Fortunately my wife and sons hate shopping too. Wouldn't you rather listen to music than shop for it?To avoid ambiguity, yes, Amazon should pay more tax but tax evasion is not just online - ask Sir Phillip Green and the directors of Starbucks.

 

[DandyCobalt]

To avoid ambiguity, yes, Amazon should pay more tax but tax evasion is not just online - ask Sir Phillip Green and the directors of Starbucks.

To avoid ambiguity, the term is "avoidance" which is completely legal. Ask anyone with a government-marketed tax-avoidance ISA >)

I don't think HMV paid much tax either You have to make a profit to do that, and Amazon probably employ more tax/NI-paying people than HMV now?

 

[Overdose]

Its problem simply comes down to cost, I wandered around one just before Christmas expecting/hoping to buy something but when they're selling (rock) CDs for £12-£15 which I can then go onto play.com and buy for £5-£10 then it's a no-brainer.

Not any more you won't.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-20953357

 

[chebby]

You could get the same stuff via Amazon for cheaper and most folk prefer to download these days IMO.

Old fashioned shopping in a New fashioned world!

"Then she generated the light, and the sight of her room, flooded with radiance and studded with electric buttons, revived her. There were buttons and switches everywhere - buttons to call for food for music, for clothing. There was the hot-bath button, by pressure of which a basin of (imitation) marble rose out of the floor, filled to the brim with a warm deodorized liquid. There was the cold-bath button. There was the button that produced literature. and there were of course the buttons by which she communicated with her friends. The room, though it contained nothing, was in touch with all that she cared for in the world."

 

[Tonestar1]

Interesting article on the bbc website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21028803

The relevant chart went up and I said, "the three greatest threats to HMV are, online retailers, downloadable music and supermarkets discounting loss leader product".

Suddenly, I realised the MD had stopped the meeting and was visibly angry. "I have never heard such rubbish", he said. He accepted supermarkets were "a thorn in our side" but not for the serious music fan.

"As for the other two," he continued, "I don't ever see them being a real threat. Downloadable music is just a fad and people will always want the atmosphere and experience of a music store."

 

[arashid]

HMW is gone into admin today only because of incompetant management.

 

[camac]

Feeling very nostalgic today, with them going into administration it brought back loads of great memories.
Still trends change, such is the way of the world.
But I will always try and buy a physical entity where music is concerned, you still cant beat the feeling that cover or case gives, DOWNLOADS , TOO CLINICAL, DESPITE THE QUALITY.
From the double album gatefold vinyl covers of a bygone age, through Factory Records boxed cassette cases that cost more than the contents.
H...M...M...M.
JUST GOING TO WALLOW SOME MORE

Good Luck H.M.V.

 

[Diamond Joe]

With the exception of Truro thats nailed Cornwalls towns bang on the head.

What, no travel agents or phone shops??!

 

[Blackdawn]

HMV have, in some ways, made the same mistakes as Woolworths in not really knowing what they are there for. They have watered down their offerings in their traditional core areas to make space for consumer electronics products which are very low margin and inefficient in their use of space. Consumers don't identify HMV with these products in the first place, and the company can't compete with online pricing of items such as headphones and ipod docks.

I agree, everytime I've gone into an HMV in the last few years the music section has decreased and DVD/Blu-ray, headphones and ipod docks have taken there place. They were just not specialist at anything. Pretty much everything in the shop could be had on Amazon cheaper. So instead of 1 or 2 albums from HMV I got 3 or 4 from Amazon.

 

[floyd droid]

What, no travel agents or phone shops??!

In my Town......

Travel agents 2 ( one went scat ) , phone shops loads , we will cash yer Giro places outnumber phone shops *. Empty shops loads.

Welcome to the affluent far SW.

* says it all really dunnit.

 

[stevebrock]

Resting on your laurels!!!!!!!

IDIOTS and yes imcompetent management

 

[jamesrfisher]

This article sums it all up for me

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2013/jan/15/hmv-enters-administration?INTCMP=SRCH

 

[Macspur]

Really bored of hearing how CD is dying?

Rega are about to release a revised Planet CDP, Naim have just released the updated CD5i - now tell me CD is dying.

Why would I want to download a horrible MP3 or AAC when I can buy the CD, rip it to ALAC then have best of both worlds.

I really think CD is here for a long time to come yet!

Just a shame it hasnt been used to its full potential by mastering engineers apart from a few!

I have some great sounding CDS, they are convenient too.

My whole CD library is on my Hard Drive and streamed to my DAC for convenience, but a lot of time I put a CD in my CDP!

Well said that Man!

 

[Anonymous]

Must agree, Tower Records in Picadilly is missed badly. I used to get lost there for hours, walk out to find darkness.

Real shame about HMV, I found some of my favourite bands there. Not knowing, just browsing, buying albums for the covers. Getting a feel of the cd. I remember certain CDs had a distinct smell too. Most of the time I lucked out and got some super suprising cool music.

Generations to come will never be able to do this.... though some may think this may be a good thing.

 

[MajorFubar]

I was never one of those people who hated shopping for music.

Shopping for it and browsing round the store was part of the experience for me.

Taking it home, unwrapping it, putting it on the TT or CDP for the first time. Brilliant.

Clicking 'Buy Now' and watching it download, losslessly or not, is not the same.

Sorry. I for one will miss physical stores and physical media.

Is it a generation thing? Maybe, maybe not.