Shop vs Internet

[Thing Fish]

This has probably been discussed before but it been bugging me lately so thought it worth mentioning again.

There has been a lot of postings lately regarding local record shops and i'm all for that. Its a good thing as far as i'm concerned I love pottering around looking for elusive records. Its exciting.

Recently I have been dismayed by the price difference between shops and the internet.

Example of the last 3 albums I have purchased -

1. Neil young - After the gold rush (remastered vinyl)
Sister ray (shop) £39.99
Rock box (Internet) £18.99

2. Neil young - Harvest (remastered vinyl)
Sister ray (shop) £49.99
Still daddy (internet) £24.99

3. Jimmi hendrix - Winterland box set
General shop price £126.99
Amazon.com £49.00

If I had purchased these 3 items from a shop it would have come to £216.97
Using the internet I paid £92.98

I'm all for helping local shops but when the difference is so large it make your head bleed there is something wrong. I would happily pay slightly more to help a local shop but not £123.99 more...!!!

I am currently looking at the Pink Floyd remasters on vinyl. The internet price seems to hover around the £18.99 mark. I have yet to see the shop price but something tells me it will be at least £10 more.

Frustrated rant over...:)

[Reid Malenfant]

Yep, we are all going to end up looking like Jabba the Hut whilst clicking a few mouse buttons :eyebrows:

Or is that Pizza the Hut? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33n-IS8a1S4) :lol:

[Wakefield Turntables]

Whilst I have some sympathy for shops the traditional "shop" is on its way out. In todays climate every penny helps and that difference of £123.99 would probably feed a family of 4 for a week. I'm afraid i get stuff as cheap as I can whenever I can. I shop at Wall of Sound in Huddersfield and fortunately the vinyl is cheap enough and because I've been shopping there for a while I get some discount, if the same records appeared on the net cheaper i would have to buy them from the net. Its out of principal being a Yorkshireman :lol:

[Audioman]

Some of the cheap internet deals are actualy from physical shops. If they overcharge by a vast amount they will simply go out of business. I have no sympathy for rip off vinyl prices. The 'discount' prices aren't cheap in relation to prices a few years ago anyway.

[MartinT]

There are simply no good record shops in my area and I can't always drive elsewhere to buy my music. I therefore rely on Amazon and, to a lesser extent, Diverse Vinyl, who both give excellent service and have a great range available.

[Thing Fish]

Some of the cheap internet deals are actualy from physical shops.

Correct Paul, in fact most of the internet dealers I deal with are in fact shops and must still be making a profit.

If a shop can sell a record for £18.99 and still make a profit selling the same one for £39.99 is just having a laugh in my book.

Most people just don't have the money to throw away these days (me included)

Adapt or die. Sad but true...:(

[colinB]

Every record shop in London sells the Beach House double vinyl for £42.
On there record labels web site ( bella union ) they sell it for £15. :scratch:

[Thing Fish]

That's no small difference Colin...:confused:

[DSJR]

We have no record shops here at all now, not even chart-based ones. WH Smiths only sell popular DVD's now and of course Woolies has long gone, replaced here by a "Peacocks" clothing store.

Alex will hopefully come along and speak up for Ipswich, but as car-parking charges are quite high, we only venture there to shop in dire need..

The few discs I buy usually come from Amazon and I've not been let down yet, even from one disc imported via Amazon US from Australia...

[MartinT]

All the Amazons are faultless, you can buy from any of them and use the same account. Also a word here for hmv.jp for a good source of SACDs and other hard to find discs. Their delivery is superb - within a week!

[prestonchipfryer]

Amazon has served me very well, even when buying from the states, no problems at all. There are no shops here in Weymouth to buy new. HMV are nearest in Yeovil but the choice is very limited.

John :)

[michaelhigh]

I'm super-lucky. I can buy a great assortment of used, good-condition vinyl, CD's and even 45's if I wish (one dealer stocks a huge room with 40,000 titles) from 3 different local used dealers in St. Louis, MO (USA). I have never bought vinyl off the internet and I know plenty of recordflippers who do. I do well at donation shops, one in particular always has a good assortment of CDs for $1.99 each...I could go there 2-3 times a week and come home with something at least twice a week. I'm so thankful for this and feel for those who are isolated or in areas where indy dealers are few and far between. It's the mom and pop shops that provide the conscientious service I thrive on, that and the donateables I reclaim at Salvation Army and Goodwill here in the States. :)

[MartinT]

You are lucky, Mike. There are three charity shops in Basingstoke and I always take a look when I'm in town. Sometimes I come away with a gem and the prices are always low because the young sales assistants haven't a clue and usually say something like "oh let's say 50p each shall we?".

[greenhomeelectronics]

I think it is fair to say that most people that have never run a shop have no idea just how expensive it is. Even a modest sized shop can swallow up 10 grand a year in business rates alone, certainly here in Bracknell that would be a very modest outfit. Then the insurances you need are simply ridiculous and can easily swallow another 100 per month. Then there are the energy costs, broadband, credit card terminals and charges, rent - another biggy at about 1.5K per month as an absolute minimum. The list of expenses is seemingly endless, if you are then to turn a profit you have to be over the VAT threshold so the tax man takes a big chunk of the selling price. If you then have to take on staff you are in a whole new world of pain. All of this is before the shop owner pays himself anything for the 50-60 hours a week he will probably put in.
It's hardly any wonder that our high streets in general and hifi shops in particular are dying if you do the maths. The gross profit margins on sales has to be high for the seller to stand any chance of staying in business, by the time the councils, insurance companies, energy companies etc have all had their cut there aint a lot left. Factor in the ebay phenomenon and it's easy to see where it's all gone wrong.
Dave.

[prestonchipfryer]

I think it is fair to say that most people that have never run a shop have no idea just how expensive it is. Even a modest sized shop can swallow up 10 grand a year in business rates alone, certainly here in Bracknell that would be a very modest outfit. Then the insurances you need are simply ridiculous and can easily swallow another 100 per month. Then there are the energy costs, broadband, credit card terminals and charges, rent - another biggy at about 1.5K per month as an absolute minimum. The list of expenses is seemingly endless, if you are then to turn a profit you have to be over the VAT threshold so the tax man takes a big chunk of the selling price. If you then have to take on staff you are in a whole new world of pain. All of this is before the shop owner pays himself anything for the 50-60 hours a week he will probably put in.
It's hardly any wonder that our high streets in general and hifi shops in particular are dying if you do the maths. The gross profit margins on sales has to be high for the seller to stand any chance of staying in business, by the time the councils, insurance companies, energy companies etc have all had their cut there aint a lot left. Factor in the ebay phenomenon and it's easy to see where it's all gone wrong.
Dave.

How right you are. Here where I live there are plenty of empty shops on the high street. The only shops doing well are the supermarkets. There is no chance it seems for the small 'guy.' Who knows what the situation will be in five to ten years' time? Plenty of internet trading and the supermarkets but the smaller retailers, well what chance have they?

John :)

[Thing Fish]

How right you are. Here where I live there are plenty of empty shops on the high street. The only shops doing well are the supermarkets. There is no chance it seems for the small 'guy.' Who knows what the situation will be in five to ten years' time? Plenty of internet trading and the supermarkets but the smaller retailers, well what chance have they?

John :)

The fact is the world of retail is changing as is the world itself.

Yes retail shops will die and that's sad but it's inevitable. We can't stop a speeding train.

I've had to adapt my work ethic as a result of the global economy. High street retailers will have to do the same.

The high street for better or worse will be a totaly different beast in the years that follow.

[Reid Malenfant]

The fact is the world of retail is changing as is the world itself.

Yes retail shops will die and that's sad but it's inevitable. We can't stop a speeding train.

I've had to adapt my work ethic as a result of the global economy. High street retailers will have to do the same.

The high street for better or worse will be a totaly different beast in the years that follow.
Hi Dave, i do agree with you.

However i can see things getting worse for the consumer in certain respects, & for the manufacturer come to that :rolleyes:

All the time things are changing from smaller more specialised shops to bigger ones. Forty years ago there were very few supermarkets, now there are very few independant shops simply because the big supermarkets can price them out of business...

We all know things appear to change on some kind of exponetial curve, so i'm wondering what things are going to be like in say 20 years... The big supermarkets will be swallowing each other up & forcing down the purchase price of goods even further (poor farmers :rolleyes:) & as they'll have even more of a monopoly they'll charge what they want :doh: You can see this with the energy suppliers :mental:

The only way things are going to go is bigger. There will come a point where no government will be able to break up firms due to having a monopoly as the firm will effectively own the government :eek:

It's heading that way now, i'm sure a load of people can see it, but while those up top happily make money in shares etc there isn't a lot that is ever going to be done about it...

Get ready for the multinational corporations :(

[Beechwoods]

Going back to the original poster's comments, Sister Ray have been around for years, advertising in the back of NME, Sounds, Record Collector. I think they maintain their premium via mailorder to wealthy climes, and tourist income (they're minutes from Soho) as a shop I've always been unimpressed by the prices and stock they hold. I remember smaller shops with greater diversity going back a few years. I'm sure they will still be around in 5 years regardless.

If there was still a good local independent store (like 'Imperial' on Bristol's Park Street used to be, or Birmingham's 'Swordfish') I'd be down there paying a premium, so I could 'flick' - 'flicking' on the internet just does not work!

[Thing Fish]

If there was still a good local independent store (like 'Imperial' on Bristol's Park Street used to be, or Birmingham's 'Swordfish') I'd be down there paying a premium, so I could 'flick' - 'flicking' on the internet just does not work!

Unfortunatly for me at least it comes down to price. If paying less means no flicking then so be it.

I won't pay to flick.

There is another shop just down from Sister ray's called Vinyl junkies and their prices are slightly better but still too high imho.

I generally flick in these shops and then buy on the internet. That way I suppose I get the best of both worlds.

[Beechwoods]

Sadly 'Imperial' closed 6 or 7 years ago, despite my patronage. It's a shame because it was really popular. I believe the rent doubled overnight though. With the exception of a couple of specialist dance shops, and the regional chain 'Rise', which is quite a lot like FOPP (ie. not good for obscure stuff) there's nothing left in Bristol for real record shopping. A real shame because the internet is killing the shops on the High Street.

[Marco]

Do none of you guys haggle with the price when you buy with cash from independent record shops?

I never, ever, EVER pay what it says on the price stickers, even if there is a deal already being given on bulk purchases! When I walk up to the till with 20 or 30 albums, I'm still expecting a further discount - and I bloody get it ;)

Sometimes I even get stuff for FREE!!

Maybe you're all just shy little petals or it's a London thing? :scratch:

For me, that's the beauty of buying music from independent shops, not only can you flick, but you can secure major cash discounts, which makes the whole experience not only more pleasurable, but CHEAPER than buying on-line.

At least, that's how it is round my parts, folks! :cool:

Marco.

[Beechwoods]

I always used to have a chunk knocked off if my purchase was over £50, it definitely made me feel valued. I'm not so much one for haggling though!

[Thing Fish]

I tried once and the guy looked at me with horror in his eyes like I was about to rape his daughter.

So it must be a London thing.

[Audioman]

Hi Dave, i do agree with you.

However i can see things getting worse for the consumer in certain respects, & for the manufacturer come to that :rolleyes:

All the time things are changing from smaller more specialised shops to bigger ones. Forty years ago there were very few supermarkets, now there are very few independant shops simply because the big supermarkets can price them out of business...

We all know things appear to change on some kind of exponetial curve, so i'm wondering what things are going to be like in say 20 years... The big supermarkets will be swallowing each other up & forcing down the purchase price of goods even further (poor farmers :rolleyes:) & as they'll have even more of a monopoly they'll charge what they want :doh: You can see this with the energy suppliers :mental:

The only way things are going to go is bigger. There will come a point where no government will be able to break up firms due to having a monopoly as the firm will effectively own the government :eek:

It's heading that way now, i'm sure a load of people can see it, but while those up top happily make money in shares etc there isn't a lot that is ever going to be done about it...

Get ready for the multinational corporations :(

What applies to supermarkets does not apparantly apply to record shops. All the big chains other than HMV have gone under. The remaining independents have shrunk in numbers but those left are able to survive as they now match demand, concentrate on vinyl, and do internet sales.

Legislation actualy exists to prevent monopolies. So one firm controling the whole market is unlikely as ignoring the problem does not win elections. Problem at the moment there is a sort of cartel in energy for instance made worse by drive for green power. (makes no difference in world terms of course).

[Audioman]

I tried once and the guy looked at me with horror in his eyes like I was about to rape his daughter.

So it must be a London thing.

In my experience used record dealers are always willing to knock something off the price. London may be different due to tourism and proliferation of the rich and overpaid which doesn't apply in most of the provences.

[Thing Fish]

Sadly it would cost me too much to sell my house give up my job and move in order to secure a more lucrative record deal...:eyebrows:

[Wakefield Turntables]

Do none of you guys haggle with the price when you buy with cash from independent record shops?

I never, ever, EVER pay what it says on the price stickers, even if there is a deal already being given on bulk purchases! When I walk up to the till with 20 or 30 albums, I'm still expecting a further discount - and I bloody get it ;)

Sometimes I even get stuff for FREE!!

Maybe you're all just shy little petals or it's a London thing? :scratch:

For me, that's the beauty of buying music from independent shops, not only can you flick, but you can secure major cash discounts, which makes the whole experience not only more pleasurable, but CHEAPER than buying on-line.

At least, that's how it is round my parts, folks! :cool:

Marco.

Wall of Sound (Sorry for the plug, I dont make any money from this :() is good in the respect that if you show your face and actually talk to the guys about music or ask there opinion, they'll get extremely animated and then run around the shop recommending things. Buy an armful of vinyl and they'll give you a discount and usually the plastic cover with the record as well. I'm pretty lucky in that I can hop onto a train and go to Leeds or Wakefield and still buy vinyl from a shop but I think the best place I went to recently has to go to Nottingham, I think I found about 5-10 places where I could have spent a fortune.

[kininigin]

I tend to buy records from both the internet and record shops.

Yes,it is more enjoyable searching racks and finding hidden jems.When in record shops im usually not looking for anything in particular and buy what ever i find interesting.

When buying on the web,it's the opposite,im after specific albums ect,which i know my local store doesn't have.I have just bought 10 albums,all doubles,from ninja tune site,£12 each with free delivery.Sometimes it's best to click a couple of buttons to get what matters most,to me anyway,and that is the actual music.

I think you just need to strike a balance between the two,as we don't want to lose our record shops.

[Marco]

Hi Andrew,


Wall of Sound (Sorry for the plug, I dont make any
money from this :() is good in the respect that if you show your face and actually talk to the guys about music or ask there opinion, they'll get extremely animated and then run around the shop recommending things. Buy an armful of vinyl and they'll give you a discount and usually the plastic cover with the record as well.


You've hit the nail on the head, my friend!

Engaging in banter with the guy(s) who run the shop is precisely what Snapper and I do whenever we go to these places, which like you say, goes some way to securing a discount later! ;)

It's all about talking to people and being friendly :)

And it's this friendly interaction that is one of the primary reasons why, whenever I can, I prefer to get out into the real world and buy music from real people, rather than sit cocooned in my house in front of a computer.

That's also one of the reasons why I detest London with a passion, because apart from everything being so bloody expensive, with queues of every description and hustle and bustle everywhere, and the filthy and claustrophobic hell that is the underground, no f*cker talks to each other, and so there is no banter or friendly vibe in most of the shops you go into.

People don't even smile at each other in the street, or exchange a friendly word. Indeed, do so, and you're met with the cold and snooty aloofness Dave described - or worse, folk think you're some kind of nutter! :rolleyes:

In London, you could probably drop dead in the street and people would just walk over you and carry on with their business..........

It's a TOTALLY alien world compared with how I'm used to life in North Wales, and like I've said many times before, I'd never thank you to live in any big city these days, never mind the (for me) hell-hole that is London!!

Marco.

[Thing Fish]

I own a turntable no one rates amps everyone hates and now it seems I live in a hell hole. I'll get my coat...:lol:

[Marco]

Lol - ignore me, Dave, I'm just not a big city person! ;)

Marco.

[Thing Fish]

Don't blame you Marco...:)

[Rare Bird]

I don't live in a City but i won't speak to anyone around me, i hate people in general, they are out for one person only & that's themselves, even on Forums.

Back to Shoppin: internet everytime cos shops are just to expensive, not their own fault of course.

[Marco]

I don't live in a City but i won't speak to anyone around me, i hate people in general...


:lolsign:


Back to Shoppin: internet everytime cos shops are just to expensive, not their own fault of course.

What happens when a cash discount in a shop results in you paying far less for albums on vinyl, which would definitely cost you MUCH more on-line?

I guarantee you, dude, that most of the fuzzies Snapper and I picked up on our recent buying trip from small record shops, locally to me, would've cost significantly more on eBay, and such like! ;)

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

What happens when a cash discount in a shop results in you paying far less for albums on vinyl, which would definitely cost you MUCH more on-line?



I wouldnt give Vinyl the time of day :lolsign: but yeah i know what your saying however your talking used music i was refering to new goods.tbh there is no way on earth i could buy half of what i do without online shopping.

[Marco]

Lol... New music too, dude! I can go into record shops and buy brand new vinyl for I bet less than you'd be able to find on-line..... I could probably do the same with CDs, if they interested me enough.

And why? Because the owner knows me as a good customer, and so he looks after me to secure my future business! That's a win-win for both of us, and what shopping is all about.

Yet another example of the benefits of supporting your local record shops ;)

Marco.

[Thing Fish]

I wouldnt give Vinyl the time of day :lolsign:

Thats not strictly true is it Andre. What about those vinyl underpants you own...:eyebrows:

[Rare Bird]

Nay..100% black leather :eyebrows:

[Marco]

Mine are 100% frilly!!! :lol: :lol:

Marco.

[sparrow]

My only local record shop in Stirling called Europa ..never gives any discount and his prices are usually more than online..Only his mainstram stock is reasonably priced but is of no use to me.

[Thing Fish]

So you end up shopping online John. He go's bust and in the end no one wins...:scratch:

[Marco]

I take your point, Dave, but TBH, the guy's an idiot for not giving a discount, and if he fails and goes bust, it'll largely be his own fault.

Even knocking a £1 off makes all the difference, if the shop can't afford any more, as it's the gesture that counts. Doing good business is all about BOTH the salesman and customer leaving with the feeling of having gotten a good deal. Quite simply, not giving even a small discount to customers leaves a bitter taste in their mouth, so chances are you won't see them again!

That is precisely what I've done with the asshole in Wrexham market who, despite telling him to his face that I'd never be back again if he didn't give me a (small) discount (after having asked him nicely at the start), proceeded to take not one penny off of the 20 or so albums I bought, so he won't be seeing me again... :steam:

And given how much I spend on buying vinyl, *THAT* is most definitely HIS loss!! :wanker:

Marco.

[WOStantonCS100]

I keep finding UK pressings of albums that were only available in the US as CD's and/or cassettes. During the '90s, US retailers were pretty much strong armed into excluding "black circles" from their shelves. Until vinyl started making it's comeback, two things kept my spirits up. The first was the independent shops whose primary focus was and continues to be used vinyl (and what new vinyl they could obtain) and, second, the internet, which has become invaluable to me. I don't like being limited in my appreciation and acquisition of good and worthwhile music and shopping stores that have gone online in the UK and France and Spain and Germany, etc. has been an utter blessing which I won't soon be giving up.

As far as retailers who stick it to the consumer with unreasonable markets. Eh, no big deal. They simply don't truly have a grasp of the situation. I can and will get it at a fair price; because, there is always a way to do just that: fact of globalization.

[Thing Fish]

Just a point - I was looking at Neil Youngs Harvest reissue in a record shop. He had it up for £39.99 which I thought was a bit expensive.

I eventually bought it online for £27 which I thought was fairer.

I was back in the same record shop yesterday and he has put it up to £49.99...!!!!

What the hell is all that about? I tell you what its all about. Greed!

[webby]

Just a point - I was looking at Neil Youngs Harvest reissue in a record shop. He had it up for £39.99 which I thought was a bit expensive.

I eventually bought it online for £27 which I thought was fairer.

I was back in the same record shop yesterday and he has put it up to £49.99...!!!!

What the hell is all that about? I tell you what its all about. Greed!
Why not pop in and ask him how many he's sold?

[WOStantonCS100]

Just a point - I was looking at Neil Youngs Harvest reissue in a record shop. He had it up for £39.99 which I thought was a bit expensive.

I eventually bought it online for £27 which I thought was fairer.

I was back in the same record shop yesterday and he has put it up to £49.99...!!!!

What the hell is all that about? I tell you what its all about. Greed!

The are actually 4 record shops within driving distance. One of those shops is in a college town. His prices used to be reasonable. Then when the "vinyl resurgence" started happening the guy started seeing dollars signs. Everything became "we'll price it at the counter" and suddenly everything was "rare". Pure shite! I used to be a regular. Now he's lucky if he sees me once a year and out of spite limiting my purchase to 1 or 2 pieces.

Another shop always had prices almost double of what my favorite haunt would price there stuff. This establishment is now only open on the weekends. Karma?

The other two places are doing good business and just moved into bigger shops. I wonder why? Of these two, I visit one more than the other; the one I worked at for a while just for kicks. As a record grader I was always told, "...the "book" may say it's worth that much; but, we don't want it to sit in inventory forever, the point is to sell them, if they don't sell, we don't stay in business..."

The remaining place is also very good and carries a ton of new and reissued vinyl. As a bricks and mortar shop, their prices are higher than the internet but not exceedingly so. If I just have to have something now, I don't mind paying extra for it BUT... there isn't that much that I can't wait a few days to get. And if I feel like I'm being jerked, I am most definitely going to save the money on gas and get my "clicking" finger ready.

Retailers write their own ticket everyday and many of them are writing themselves out of business. Though I enjoy "record shopping" the point for me is the exchange between the musician(s) and me. Like them or not (and some I do) the retailer was the guy standing between me and my music (or any material goods) and I was somewhat at his/her mercy. Times have changed. The retailer needs to recognize the shift and adjust accordingly to prolong his/her existence. If not, c'est la vie. I'll miss the respectable ones a bit. I won't miss the opportunistic, greedy SOB's one bit.

[Marco]

I'm sorry, guys, but I also don't buy the excuse of 'there's no independent record shop in my town', and so you just buy from Amazon.... That's sheer laziness in my book. We've become spoiled and expect everything to be handed to us on a plate these days! The fact is, the computer age has made us lazy.

Ok, so there might not be a shop right on your doorstep, but there might well be one in the next town or in one not too far away. Try Googling for 'record shops' in towns in your area, and you might be surprised at what comes up!

And if you find one not too far away, what's wrong with on a day when you're not doing anything else, jumping in the car or train to that town to check out the record shop(s) in question and see what they've got? Use the opportunity to have a day out, perhaps take a like-minded friend with you, have some lunch, and get to see some different scenery for a change! :)

Chester, Mold and Frodsham (all containing independent record shops) aren't exactly on my doorstep - all are a good 30-45 mins away in the car (and if I go to Cob in Bangor, it's more like an hour and a half!) but it's about making an effort, so I do and go, and in my experience, the rewards are always worth it.......

Also, why not find out if there are any record fairs taking place near you? Chances are, in some community hall, school or other, there are regular record fairs taking place in your area you didn't even know about! Or local car boot sales? Quite often someone there is selling vinyl.

So guys, let's all make more of an effort to support independent record shops near us, and 'go the extra mile' to achieve that. You never know what gems you might find - that rare first pressing on vinyl you've been looking for, in minty condition, or that album from your favourite artist which completes your collection...

Trust me, they're out there somewhere, and there are some serious bargains to be had - all for getting our backsides off of the sofa and leaving our computers alone for once!! :cool:

Marco.

[prestonchipfryer]

Marco is right when he says the internet makes us lazy but what could be more pleasurable than entering a record (vinyl) shop and just browsing the stock. The rustle of the record inner as you inspect the shiny black plastic, the tactile sensation when you get your 'new purchase' home and place it on the platter of your finest musical instrument. Hard to beat imo.

Having said that I do you use the internet for a lot of, otherwise unobtainable, records.

John :)

[Beechwoods]

The are actually 4 record shops within driving distance. One of those shops is in a college town. His prices used to be reasonable. Then when the "vinyl resurgence" started happening the guy started seeing dollars signs. Everything became "we'll price it at the counter" and suddenly everything was "rare". Pure shite! I used to be a regular. Now he's lucky if he sees me once a year and out of spite limiting my purchase to 1 or 2 pieces.

Another shop always had prices almost double of what my favorite haunt would price there stuff. This establishment is now only open on the weekends. Karma?

The other two places are doing good business and just moved into bigger shops. I wonder why? Of these two, I visit one more than the other; the one I worked at for a while just for kicks. As a record grader I was always told, "...the "book" may say it's worth that much; but, we don't want it to sit in inventory forever, the point is to sell them, if they don't sell, we don't stay in business..."

The remaining place is also very good and carries a ton of new and reissued vinyl. As a bricks and mortar shop, their prices are higher than the internet but not exceedingly so. If I just have to have something now, I don't mind paying extra for it BUT... there isn't that much that I can't wait a few days to get. And if I feel like I'm being jerked, I am most definitely going to save the money on gas and get my "clicking" finger ready.

Retailers write their own ticket everyday and many of them are writing themselves out of business. Though I enjoy "record shopping" the point for me is the exchange between the musician(s) and me. Like them or not (and some I do) the retailer was the guy standing between me and my music (or any material goods) and I was somewhat at his/her mercy. Times have changed. The retailer needs to recognize the shift and adjust accordingly to prolong his/her existence. If not, c'est la vie. I'll miss the respectable ones a bit. I won't miss the opportunistic, greedy SOB's one bit.

Great post, Biff. I know exactly the kind of establishments you refer to, and react in exactly the same way. There is a massive market out there, for bricks and mortar record sellers, but the people who will buy aren't suckers, not even the college kids. It's a massive shame that so many little 'market stall' sellers have gone to the wall, but nurture a market, with stuff they can't easily find online, or at least stuff they won't go looking for online (but will buy if they find it on the shelf) and the punters will come.

It seems in the UK that a lot of smaller traders have hit the record fair circuit. But a lot of these tend to sell 'remaindered' type stock, or massively overpriced 'rarities' that you can't guarantee the grading of. That is the market where the internet wins. Distance selling protection and all. It's a massive shame because the small niche sellers with market-stall type setups have been driven out by high rents, least round here. It's good to see the vinyl resurgence, but at £30 a pop sometimes... major shame.

[Thing Fish]

Don't get me wrong I love going to local record shops and much prefer it to shopping on the internet. Give me a record shop anyday of the week.

But I have to pay bills that are going up (it seems) every month.

If I had enough money to spare then sure i'd choose record shops but I dont have a choice.

Its cheap or not at all. Thats my point.

Record shops local(ish) to me. The sad tale...

Clockhouse records - closed
Memory lane records - closed
DJ records - closed
101 records - closed
Beanos - closed
Cloaks - closed
Showells - closed

[WOStantonCS100]

Don't get me wrong I love going to local record shops and much prefer it to shopping on the internet. Give me a record shop anyday of the week.

But I have to pay bills that are going up (it seems) every month.

If I had enough money to spare then sure i'd choose record shops but I dont have a choice.

Its cheap or not at all. Thats my point.

Record shops local(ish) to me. The sad tale...

Clockhouse records - closed
Memory lane records - closed
DJ records - closed
101 records - closed
Beanos - closed
Cloaks - closed
Showells - closed

Agreed. "Crate digging and flicking" is a wonderful thing I've enjoyed for most of my life and hope to continue; but, a roof overhead, food on the table and clothes on the back are always the first priority.

I understand it's the same objective for the shop owner. Still, there are two trains of thought there. One is to keep jacking up the prices when business slumps off and the other is to actually lower prices to retain customers and stave off disaster. One can't get blood from a stone. Everyone should get paid what they are worth and what their products are worth. But, very few people are getting that these days because the economy, largely, is not supporting that. Things are very, very different than they were four years ago. Two choices: don't adjust to the times and possible lose the business or take a little bit of a hit now to have a good chance of lasting longer than the down turn. Here at the computer shop we are taking the hit (continuing with free diagnostics and service fees lower than any of our competitors). Take home pay has suffered tremendously; however, we (for now) are still in business where as 3 other shops have shuttered their windows in the past 4 months. Sometimes you just have to suck eggs for a while. On the other hand, I can't afford to build an amp under a certain price point. So, I don't and I and the potential client both lose. I'm not bitter about that. The fact is, in this day and age, having a functional computer is much more of a must than having a custom built tube amp. That's no one's fault; just the way it is. Disposable income for many folks is non-existent or extremely limited; including money for unnecessarily over-priced vinyl records.

[MartinT]

I was in Southampton today and went looking for FM Music. Closed down :steam:
In fact, Bargate mall is virtually dead, with most shops closed. It looks like West Quay took what was left (but has no music shops).

Thankfully I decided to nip into HMV on the high street to see what they had. Well, what a difference from the Basingstoke branch! They have the entire basement dedicated to music (no 'movies' or computer shite) and they have a vinyl section, too! The manager was chatty and said he was trying his best to build up a good vinyl selection, including new releases - good man! I came away with a few discs of various sorts so the visit was well worthwhile.

[Marco]

Hey mate, at least you tried, and got a result out of it from an unexpected source! All power to the dude in HMV - respect!

Looking forward to our visit to The Sound Machine in Reading (link for the benefit of others):

http://www.thesoundmachine.uk.com/location.htm

It's amazing you didn't know about that place, being only 25 mins away! :eek:

Marco.

[MartinT]

Marco - I didn't know about it when I lived in Earley or Sonning - about 10 mins away!

[Marco]

Lol! That's the way the cookie crumbles... :eyebrows:

Marco.

[Thing Fish]

Speaking of HMV. The Oxford street branch in London has a fair vinyl section. Its quite expensive buy hey ho at least they have one...:)