Technology Killed the Record Shop

Here's an interesting article from the one of the Columbus OH freebie papers.

http://www.columbusalive.com

It really makes me sad when you think what might be down the road for record stores

Enjoy

 

“I’m waiting for the cassette renaissance,” he says. “Rare cassettes are the next thing.”

Sounds terrible, but could be true someday.

 

I'll still be glad I got rid of my cassettes as they do not sound as good as LPs or CDs.

 

I'm not sure about the record shop; but technology might have mortally wounded imagination.

Josh

 

Good point. Who needs melody; who needs real instruments? We've got technology...

 

Yes The Robots will be playing and conducting and arranging in the studio's who needs a human when you can build a machine with perfect pitch and have it play for you!

 

Grant, thanks for sharing the article. It is so sad. I've seen the decline of the used record store in Delaware. When I move here in April 2001, there was good local chain -- Rainbow Records. They had three stores, each of which had a very good selection of used CDs. Now they are down to one store, which is near the University of Delaware campus. I wonder if their sales are way down like the store near the Ohio State campus. Wouldn't surprise me.

We are now lacking in quality used music shops here in Delaware. The big shopping district in Wilmington -- Concord Pike -- doesn't have a single used music shop along the entire strip. So sad.

 

It's too soon to REALLY, even think about the "end" of ANYTHING.

These used stores, actually serve a purpose, for an industry ALWAYS in a technology transition, such as the recorded music business. Success, turns on how many "thinking and innovative" individuals, are out there to exploit a business opportunity.During these technology transistion periods...78's to LP/45's, vinyl to Cd, cd to sacd/dvd-a, etc....the used stores, actually serve the "legitimate" retail industry, by being a place to "trade/sell off", the former technology.

We have soon forgotten, when, during the vinyl to cd Era, it was a cheap way to "get into" cds, and trade off your useless vinyl inventory, AS WELL as a place, The Music Companies, could dump their promos and excess, unsold inventory OF BOTH technologies.

Vinyl is STILL a viable "used music item" isn't it ???? The article mentioned a couple of stores doing good business...BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE MONEY !

With SACD/DVD-A coming, to the mainstream, IF these used Music Stores are TRULY going to exploit a business opportunity, they SHOULD be re-tooling to take advantage....but, SOMETIMES, you "can't lead a horse to drink", so some of these used music stores are going to "die"...but due to a lack of imagination, NOT opportunity.

 

RIP!

 

In the Year 2525!

 

I buy most of my CDs and SACDs on line. The pricing is generally better and obviously the selection is better. These last few years, I have done less and less business with the local Best Buy chain.

 

Keith , Noticed your post about Wilmington and the Concord Pike ..I used to visit a Record shop in that area when visiting my Aunt in Kennett Square PA...it was called Jeramiah's Records....heard of it...is it still there...I made it a regular stop every time I went thru Wilmington ..last time I was there was probably in the mid 90's..heading up that way soon was thinking about another visit......

Thanks.....

Joe

 

It'll be a classic on Mars someday #1 with a Phaser Beam on stun!!!

 

Joe, Jeremiah's is gone. I never went there, but back about six months ago, I checked the Wimington Yellow Pages for used record shops and called Jeremiah's. Unfortunately, I got a recording staying that the number had been disconnected.

 

On the bright side in all of this, fye stores in my area are starting to sell used CDs. This seems to be a new development. I was in the fye store in Quaker Bridge Mall in New Jersey on Sunday, and they had two small end caps of used CDs. Then a week earlier, I was in the fye store at the Cherry Hill Mall in New Jersey, and they had a sign posted that they were buying used CDs. I didn't any for sale, but an employee told me that they had just starting buying used CDs and were sending them to stores in the Philly area for now. He said that when they build up a suitable inventory, they will start to sell them there.

The only problem with fye is that, like Coconuts stores, they keep used CDs in heat-sealed plastic sleeves. This makes it a pain for a collector such as myself to see the disc. When I go to the local Coconuts, I have to ask someone to open the bag so I can see the disc. I feel like an idiot when they open it and the disc is a boring US pressing. Of course, it's their fault for using those stupid sleeves.

 

I've recently grown tired of hunting down titles at the local stores. I just placed my first online order for discs. And unless their is some type of special sale at the local shops- or I must have a "fix" , I now have little reason to go there. This is mainly because the shops have failed too many times with not having the title I want. And like you said- the pricing is generally better online. No tax - free shipping- no wasted gasoline.

 

reb said:

This is especially true of Best Buy and Circuit City. With many older artists, they will only have a greatest hits compilation. I saw this at Best Buy with Level 42, for example. In some cases, they have the greatest hits compilation and the artist's best-known studio album. Anyway, the selection is paltry. Then go looking for jazz CDs at these stores. They have some discs, but the selection is pathetic. Borders has a good selection of CDs of all genres and higher prices to go with it.

Don't get me started with Circuit City's pathetic showing with SACD and DVD-Audio. It's a joke. Best Buy is doing much better, but they are slow to get in new DVD-Audio titles. It took them at least a month to get the new Steely Dan disc, and they still don't have the Beach Boys or Chicago discs. Their selection of SACDs is better, but they don't carry the Analogue Productions SACDs, meaning no CCR titles.

 

BEST BUY=WORST SELECTION!

I've been in the local BB prob half-doz. times in the last few weeks (dumb and slow to learn). Every time, I've checked 3 titles: Harder They Come (special ed), I WANT YOU (special ed) and new Jim Lauderdale w/Buffalo.

They've YET to stock the first two, which I would think are reissues w/good margins & sales potential; they had 2 Lauderdales the week it came out, but it was priced 15.99 so I passed.

Now, several weeks later, they've never restocked it.

I got the new Kings of Leon there last nite, then swung over to Media Play for the Marvin reissue.

IN a town of 155,000 w/the largest mall in the state, the two "best" music retailers still don't have the JIMMY CLIFF/HARDER THEY COME sndtrk.

(FYI, short article in new Rolling Stone on just this subject: how the chains are getting wiped out by strongest of the Indies; two reasons they cite: the indies cater w/knowlege and service on back catalog, while the chains are too dependent on low-margin new titles. The highest profit margins are on USED titles, which THE BEST indies are using to operate the rest of the store in a more consumer-friendly manner. The article also states that 600 record stores closed last year.)

doug

 

Thanks Keith.....shame about Jeramiah's I used to pick up all kinds of stuff there back in the early to mid 80's...

You're right about what a pain it is with used discs at Coconuts..they look at you like you have 2 heads when you ask to see the disc.....if they did'nt have them in those sleeves it would be much easier to do it yourself....

 

My local FYE does have a couple of endcaps of used CDs and they do use the heat sealed sleeves as well. They do so to try and control theft.

 

Thanks for getting that stuck in my head