local record shops vs online stores

[Mr_Happy]

last week when i was in my local record shop, chatting away to the guy who runs it he said this to me:

 

"its been quiet in here lately because everyone seems to be buying online. they oftern have more selection or cheeper prices"

 

granted the stuff he stocks (techno, breaks, house and the faster stuff) isnt in much demand in mid essex (everyone is into r&b or d& but for me his is the best record shop i've been to. has exactly the records i'm after (rare do i need to look else where). infact he has very simular tastes to music as me and when ever i'm looking to branch out a bit or unsure of what CD compliation to buy, he know EXACTLY what i will like.

 

ne ways - my point is this:

do you think the internet is killing off our local record shops?

 

granted record prices are more expencive, but then you have to pay for shipping online so it works itself out imo. plus theres no repleacement for the guy behind the counter once you've built up a repore with the owner (ie special deals he does, holding stock for you, personal e-mails i get telling me when items he thinks i'll like are in stock, etc). but if for no other good reason, the internet just doesnt have the same buzz when you put the needle down on a track and instantly fall in love with it. knowing you can take it home that very instant!

[Phil B]

i love going to my record shop, its more than just buying the tunes, its spending a few hours with a mate having brews, chatting and obviously listening to tunes.

 

i have made a great friend in the process of buying vinyl.

 

plus i get first dibs on all the promos and a discount

[Mr_Happy]

exactly my point! record shopping isnt just about buying records (as daft as it sounds)

[Bushy]

Personally i prefer the record shop, as you can listen to the whole track, and the flip side as far as i know no online store offers you a flip side mp3 to listen to.

 

Also as you said Laurence, you know you can take that track home there and then.

 

I also agree with the p&p makes the tracks to be the same as the local shop, or even more!!!

 

e.g: The other week i bought 3 tracks from Juno, and the total cost with p&p came to something like £18.70, that is about £6.33 a tune (yes i am a top mathematician), alas i went to the local record shop the other day and bought 6 tunes for £33, thas £5.50 a tune. Thats a saving of 83p a tune!

 

I have only just started buying tunes over the last 8-10 months, and used both the net and local shops to buy tunes, and i must say i much prefer the record shop to the net.

 

I know shaney_R has bought a shitload off the net, as he liked the 30 second sample they give you, only to listen to it in full when he recieves it and say it is shit, and then sell it on ebay!

 

I am slowly getting to know the lad in my local record shop and when i go in he always knows what tunes i want, even if he is still geting the odd ones wrong, but thats a learning curve. Especially when he's a prog house man also! lol

[LiquidEyes]

I wouldn't buy online unless I could listen to the whole record (every track, all the way through). It's not that I usually listen to the whole thing, but I like to listen to a bit at the start, a bit in the middle, a bit near the end etc. And I like to be able to visually see where the breakdowns are so I can listen to those too.

 

There are loads of tracks that sound great for 30secs, but when you listen to the whole track, either it doesn't develop enough, or has a really dodgy bit in it, or has a really dull breakdown etc. which makes it "unplayable".

[LiquidEyes]

Oh and shedloads of my favourite tracks are the "B side" or "B2". I.e. I only buy the record for that track.

[Tony P]

i guess record shopping in london is a little different thou Phil, then to get alot of pressure to buy and attitude that goes with it.

i know some shops however taht are just as you described, and these are the ones i use when out buying, but i also enjoy buying form the comfort of my own home.

[Phil B]

yeah, i know im lucky to be in the position i am. if you know what youre looking for and dont mind payin a little more (the odd occasion ive bought online its always been more expensive than the shop) then it can be better for some.

 

shopping online looks cheap as the prices for the actual tune are a bit lower, but by the time youve added on the shipping costs ive found it more expensive

[LiquidEyes]

QUOTE (Tony.P @ Mar 16 2004, 13:45)

i guess record shopping in london is a little different thou Phil, then to get alot of pressure to buy and attitude that goes with it.

I wouldn't go somewhere that put "pressure to buy" on you!

 

I have 2 favourite record stores in London at the moment - the ones I get 90% of my tunes from - and they both have really nice staff ... AND top tunes.

[Jimmy]

i prefer buyin online but im a lazy c*nt hehe

[Ian Cashman]

i usually know what i want b4 i buy it, so online is so much easier.

 

Most of my new tunes ive heard on Armin Van Buurens weekly radio show. He will play them a month or so b4 they are out so i know what they are b4 they are actually available.

 

Other tracks i just find out what they are from the comfort of a ( different) message board. then i buy them..

 

some stuff i find can grab you in a shop, then you take it home and never end up playing it. im always pretty much much loving a tune a while b4 its out b4 i buy it nowadays.. i tend not to take chances on stuff till ive heard it a few times

Edited March 19, 2004 by Ian Cashman

[Mr Moo]

QUOTE (Bushy @ Mar 16 2004, 00:11)

Personally i prefer the record shop, as you can listen to the whole track, and the flip side as far as i know no online store offers you a flip side mp3 to listen to.

chemicalrecords

[Tony P]

QUOTE (Mr_Moo @ Apr 1 2004, 03:18)

QUOTE (Bushy @ Mar 16 2004, 00:11) Personally i prefer the record shop, as you can listen to the whole track, and the flip side as far as i know no online store offers you a flip side mp3 to listen to. chemicalrecords i was gonna say most online shops i use let you listen to both sides of a track

[Bushy]

hmmm :scratch:

[Mr Moo]

Juno are good as a e-shop for variance etc, but absolute wank for things like wanting to listen to the flip side.