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UK's HMV In Administration

M

Middleman-77

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 29, 2012
139
61
Last edited by a moderator:
Surely we all knew this would happen?

I used to do the classic male thing of wonder around HMV whilst shopping with the Mrs who was taking three weeks to pick out socks. However, I rarely purchased anything - don't want CDs, DVD alphabetising had a 99% failure rate, overpriced speakers/headphones etc. Plus most of the staff looked like they had never learnt how to dress themselves or had any concept of grammar.
 
iStudentUK said:
Surely we all knew this would happen?

I used to do the classic male thing of wonder around HMV whilst shopping with the Mrs who was taking three weeks to pick out socks. However, I rarely purchased anything - don't want CDs, DVD alphabetising had a 99% failure rate, overpriced speakers/headphones etc. Plus most of the staff looked like they had never learnt how to dress themselves or had any concept of grammar.
Click to expand...

Occasionally, you'd find a nerdy music specialist behind the counter, which would be a pleasure.

Although I still buy CDs, my tastes are so esoteric that I rarely found anything which I wanted in the High Street - space constraints meant that the better selling stuff which catered to popular demand was what you found - so, while I browsed, in recent years, I rarely bought.

Over a decade ago, HMV and Virgin both had excellent classical (and world music) sections but these were gradually reduced in area and consigned to the less well trodden parts of the store.

Nevertheless, while I'm not surprised, I'm still sorry to see it go; buying music in a High Street store on a Saturday was always a far more engaging experience than simply buying CDs or anything else online. I like music stores - and I alike the fact that occasionally, you might come across something you had not seen before; unexpected discoveries are do not tend to be a feature of the online 'retail experience.'
 
What about the Genius feature in iTunes? Thats a good way to find new music. A lot easier than wandering through a HMV store on a Saturday afternoon. Lets face it with online shopping and downloads, the only media shops around in 10 years (probably 5) will be specialist and few and far between.
I'm 38 so remember when all your music came on records or tapes (and then of course CD's). I buy a lot more music now than ever through iTunes because it is so much easier.
Welcome to the digital age!
 
It's unsurprising, but disappointing regardless.

Their movie selection is very solid, and their offers are usually good. I like browsing their London store. It's easy to lose track of time browsing through everything they have.
 
Apple fanboy said:
What about the Genius feature in iTunes? Thats a good way to find new music. A lot easier than wandering through a HMV store on a Saturday afternoon. Lets face it with online shopping and downloads, the only media shops around in 10 years (probably 5) will be specialist and few and far between.
I'm 38 so remember when all your music came on records or tapes (and then of course CD's). I buy a lot more music now than ever through iTunes because it is so much easier.
Welcome to the digital age!
Click to expand...

Yes, but I actually like wandering through a HMV store on a Saturday afternoon; it was a relaxed, and - I now realise - strangely satisfying experience in a purely physical way. For I am one of those people who liked the way CDs (and earlier, LPs), looked, smelt and felt when you actually held them in your hand - and that was long before you actually managed to get them home to listen to their contents.

Nothing wrong with the digital age - but the pleasure of choosing in a leisurely sensual way what one might listen to is sadly increasingly becoming an experience confined to a few specialist music shops (which yes, I tend to patronise). Sigh.
 
The thing I'll miss the most about HMV closing is not being able to browse and buy stuff on a whim. I've bought loads of CDs and DVDs on a whim purely because they looked or sounded interesting. It's not the same online. You have to plan everything you buy :(
 
OnceYouGoMac said:
The thing I'll miss the most about HMV closing is not being able to browse and buy stuff on a whim. I've bought loads of CDs and DVDs on a whim purely because they looked or sounded interesting. It's not the same online. You have to plan everything you buy :(
Click to expand...

Exactly. I buy online - but such purchases are always something I have already planned to buy. I never buy online on a whim, whereas browsing and pondering possible choices made the stalls of music shops - especially the very well stocked ones - a pleasure to visit. Many happy hours were spent in such places........
 
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