HMV

[soonforgotten]

I went to Oxford Street the Saturday before Christmas, after London got it's crippling amount of snow. I was shocked how little foot traffic there was. The weather killed that weekend for retail and was probably one of the worst things that could have happened to London's economy this Christmas.

I think HMV will survive, but we could see the end of Fopp (again) for starters. They really need to change things up and make it worth going to the shops again. I can understand why they cannot compete with online retailers and prices, so they need to find ways to give consumers more.

[TheDude]

Nah, couldn't care less for hmv frankly, they have always been too expensive and will follow Tower Records and Virgin sooner or later. b*ying online is cheap and quick and that's the end of it. I'm more concerned for smaller specialist record shops that have suffered because of it...

[valda]

I think this has happened because 1- there prices are extortinate compared to other high street retailers +online retailers AND the majority of people couldnt go shopping this year, so many resorted to onlinne shopping, and more than likely used price comparison sites for certain gifts
unfortunately HMV cant compete with some of the retailers around now!

Plus the way people listen to music is changing, loads of people download so don't need a shop to set foot in

[Rainey]

The thing is you don't realise how much you miss certain stores until there gone, I used to have a small Boots, a Woolworths, a pet shop, a independent shoe shop & a couple of clothes shops in the local high street, which I must admit is not filled with that many shops, they have have been replaced with things like plumbing show rooms or charity shops.

So gone are the days I can walk up the road, b*y a present for a kids birthday party or because I have run out of pet food......everything is now a drive into town.

The little shop I b*ght my first record (Madonna's Get into the Groove) at has long gone......but times change, my kids didn't even know what tape was the other day!

[weirdfilms33]

Is this the beginning of a much lazier human race? I do myself very much enjoy b*ying things online, especially on amazon, but I don't want the high street to completely die in favour of the likes of Ocado and Itunes.

And don't even mention facebook...

[lisapip]

I have a friend that buys online all the time and some times on amazon.
but if you you around the shop you can find it cheaper.
dvd are one,b*ying or renting online.
on the high street,you can get.......
the cheapest dvd to rent for new films 50p a day.
the cheapest new films to b*y 99p.(second hand)
Clash of the Titans,Prince of Persia,salt,expendables etc.....
all on the high street.
hope the high street stays.

[stuartboy]

I hope this store doesn't go the way of Woolworths and if it does we only have ourselves to blame. I like nothing more than to browse though DVDs here and this usually leads to a p*rchase. There is nothing better than to be able to be attracted by a DVD cover then pick it up and read what is on the back physically before making a choice and taking it home. Shopping online is easier, granted, for a p*rchase that you alreday know you want to make, but then there is still the 1-2 day delay before it arrives. No instant gratification from going home with your new p*rchase. Come on people. Use your legs! That's what they grew for.
We will miss it when it's gone.

[Cortone]

I do not understand why HMV and Waterstones do not sell things at the same price in the store as online. Sometimes I see something online, but need to b*y it quickly (e.g. for a present). But it can sometimes be twice the price in the store, so I walk out, and b*y it somewhere else.

I know the overheads are higher for a store, but they are driving customers away.

[yogi]

I do not understand why HMV and Waterstones do not sell things at the same price in the store as online. Sometimes I see something online, but need to b*y it quickly (e.g. for a present). But it can sometimes be twice the price in the store, so I walk out, and b*y it somewhere else.

I know the overheads are higher for a store, but they are driving customers away.

I think most people would p*y a small premium for the convenience of getting something instantly, but I think HMV take the p*** with some of its prices. I couldn't wait to get Up when it came out on DVD, and had some HMV vouchers, but it was about 70% dearer than its own online store.

Because you can't use HMV vouchers online and I wasn't prepared to p*y more than a couple of quid extra I went somewhere else.

It took me months to eventually spend my vouchers, picking up the odd thing in the sale here and there. I haven't b*ght anything in there with cash for years.

[mattymc13]

I was in HMV in Hatfield on Saturday. Ratatouille, single disc edition, £30. There is no justifying prices like that.