86 replies to this topic

[JohnM]

OMG!!!

[JohnM]

This just in...It not just high street retail that is in turmoil.....Youtube, Twitter and Facebook are to merge.
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To become YouTwitFace.

Edited by JohnM, 16 January 2013 - 08:53 AM.

[Futtocks]

It's not only the internet which is competing with the likes of HMV, as has been suggested, supermarkets are a major competitor.

Which is a major problem, as they will only stock a very narrow range of CDs and DVDs - Chart stuff plus 'same old same old' compilations, endlessly repackaging the usual golden oldie suspects. Basically, the equivalent of that bin full of cassettes you used to find in petrol stations.

HMV left me behind as a customer, as there seemed to be less and less actual music each time they revamped their branches. And we have to remember they were part of the unofficial cartel that kept album prices artificially high for so many years, and fiercely defended that practice.

Still, it's a shame, especially when you hear interviews in the shop from people who freely admit to browsing the shelves of record shops, then placing orders via Amazon. They will have no right to complain when their record shop dies, but they'll complain anyway, thanks to their pointy-headed sense of entitlement.

That was one of the things that brought the excellent Borders down too. The free Wi-Fi meant that they actually paid for people to shaft them.

[JohnM]

Which is a major problem, as they will only stock a very narrow range of CDs and DVDs - Chart stuff plus 'same old same old' compilations, endlessly repackaging the usual golden oldie suspects. Basically, the equivalent of that bin full of cassettes you used to find in petrol stations.

HMV left me behind as a customer, as there seemed to be less and less actual music each time they revamped their branches. And we have to remember they were part of the unofficial cartel that kept album prices artificially high for so many years, and fiercely defended that practice.

Still, it's a shame, especially when you hear interviews in the shop from people who freely admit to browsing the shelves of record shops, then placing orders via Amazon. They will have no right to complain when their record shop dies, but they'll complain anyway, thanks to their pointy-headed sense of entitlement.

That was one of the things that brought the excellent Borders down too. The free Wi-Fi meant that they actually paid for people to shaft them.

Quite so, but you can very often listen on line to samples on Amazon. Then of course there is always Spotify.

[Bazz]

HMV CEO Trevor Moore was previously chief executive of Jessops.
He replaced previous HMV CEO Simon Fox in September last year.
Fox was previously MD of Comet.

And now Simon Fox is CEO of my company!!!

I think I may start looking for a new job!

[Severus]

IMO people will turn off online shopping as half of the time the stuff you receive is suspect (ie fruit that you wouldn't accept)
Unless there is a big raising of standards in that area anyway .

We had a couple of goes at online grocery shopping and that is the problem we had or substituted items not being similar to the items ordered.

I buy quite a lot of things online, including clothes. I know what size I am and have never had a problem with sizing. I have a couple of female friends who claim for some reason clothes bought online are a size smaller than those in the shops

[Severus]

Still, it's a shame, especially when you hear interviews in the shop from people who freely admit to browsing the shelves of record shops, then placing orders via Amazon. They will have no right to complain when their record shop dies, but they'll complain anyway, thanks to their pointy-headed sense of entitlement.

Amazon were very smart putting a barcode reader in their smartphone app. Pop along to a store, find an item you like, scan with your phone and hey presto immediate price comparison and one click ordering.

[hindle xiii]

Tenuous League in strange places as apparently new Bulls director Kate Hardcastle was on Newsnight yesterday regarding HMV and the high street in general...

[Ullman]

Tenuous League in strange places as apparently new Bulls director Kate Hardcastle was on Newsnight yesterday regarding HMV and the high street in general...

She was indeed. I watched it.

[Futtocks]

Breaking news: Blockbuster UK have just gone into administration too.

[Bedford Roughyed]

Breaking news: Blockbuster UK have just gone into administration too.

Scary that I thought they had gone bump years ago...

[Ex-Kirkholt]

One of those brands that I suspect we all think fondly off, similar to Woolworths but rarely used.

Buy most of my music as digital downloads these days and when I do buy CDs it tends to be when having a wonder around Picaddilly Records or Vinyl Exchange simply because the prominent choice was a little less "X Factory" and they give prominence to some stuff I'd never have found in a shop like HMV.

If you ever got the "Top 100 of 20??" booklet that Piccadilly Records produced every year, you would notice that a lot of the "more mainstream" selections would appear in the "2 for £5" section at HMV very soon after.

Obviously someone at HMV was doing a little bit of research - just not enough !

Edited by Ex-Kirkholt, 16 January 2013 - 02:53 PM.

[Griff9of13]

Good news(ish) for those with HMV vouchers. According to MSE some other stores will accept them as part payment.

[shrek]

If you ever got the "Top 100 of 20??" booklet that Piccadilly Records produced every year, you would notice that a lot of the "more mainstream" selections would appear in the "2 for £5" section at HMV very soon after.

Obviously someone at HMV was doing a little bit of research - just not enough !

I'll be honest that'd have passed me by on the basis that I'd have seen the list and bought from Piccadilly Records more often than not!

[l'angelo mysterioso]

Scary that I thought they had gone bump years ago...

me too

video shops eh: an important part of UK social history a symbol of the 1980s

Edited by l'angelo mysterioso, 17 January 2013 - 07:05 AM.

[Saint Billinge]

now that I download all my music I have no reason to go to HMV anymore

I just hope my nephew has spent the HMV vouchers I bought him for his birthday.

The voucher situation is a disgrace and should be looked at. Some of the companies in difficulty have continued offering vouchers up util the very last minute. Why anyone would be foolish enough to buy vouchers in future is beyond me!

[terrywebbisgod]

Breaking news: Blockbuster UK have just gone into administration too.

They just haven't got a clue what to do!

[gazza77]

The voucher situation is a disgrace and should be looked at. Some of the companies in difficulty have continued offering vouchers up util the very last minute. Why anyone would be foolish enough to buy vouchers in future is beyond me!

Unless specifically asked for them, I've never bought them. What's the point, when you can use the gift voucher that is universally accepted in all shops: cash!

[Saint Billinge]

Unless specifically asked for them, I've never bought them. What's the point, when you can use the gift voucher that is universally accepted in all shops: cash!

Agreed.

[Mumby Magic]

Blockbusters never recovered when Bob Holness left.