MDT R.I.P

[Pianoman]

I haven’t used MDT for some time now as Presto and the other download sites made music ordering so much quicker and easier, though I will miss them for the odd Bluray or opera dvd.

[Petrushka]

I very vaguely remember that shop. To think of a 'classical' record shop in a place like Derby these days invites incredulity. Mind you, so does the idea of a record shop, let alone a 'classical only' one.

It was in Old Blacksmith's Yard, off Sadler Gate. There used to be another classical store tucked away in Duckworth Square, Derby (long since demolished), called Collector's Record Centre, which had a wonderful selection of LPs, then CDs. Had many a happy lunch hour in those.

[Alison]

One of my favourite sources for discs, very sad news.

Brilliant service.

[Nachtigall]

One of my favourite sources for discs, very sad news.

Brilliant service.

Indeed – and thanks to Petrushka for clearing up what had been a mystery to me. I suspected that they had ceased trading but couldn't find any confirmation. Theirs is a story of business contraction over a long period of time. I used to shop at their outlet next door to the Coliseum in St Martin's Lane and at the one below the Festival Hall. Online I very often compared Amazon CD prices with MDT's and almost always ended up ordering from MDT. They undercut Amazon regularly and also offered free first class postage – unsustainably, obviously.

[prb]

Indeed – and thanks to Petrushka for clearing up what had been a mystery to me. I suspected that they had ceased trading but couldn't find any confirmation. Theirs is a story of business contraction over a long period of time. I used to shop at their outlet next door to the Coliseum in St Martin's Lane and at the one below the Festival Hall. Online I very often compared Amazon CD prices with MDT's and almost always ended up ordering from MDT. They undercut Amazon regularly and also offered free first class postage – unsustainably, obviously.

I think the shops in London were Music Discount Centre (MDC) - as well as the branches you mentioned, there were at times one in the Strand and one in Rathbone Place off Oxford Street. Also much missed

[Nachtigall]

I think the shops in London were Music Discount Centre (MDC) - as well as the branches you mentioned, there were at times one in the Strand and one in Rathbone Place off Oxford Street. Also much missed

My mistake – erroneous connection.

[Jonathan]

It was in Old Blacksmith's Yard, off Sadler Gate. There used to be another classical store tucked away in Duckworth Square, Derby (long since demolished), called Collector's Record Centre, which had a wonderful selection of LPs, then CDs. Had many a happy lunch hour in those.

It was about 1/2 mile from where I lived when I was a student between 1991 and 1994. I often called in there, more often than not just to have a browse and I (somehow!) restricted myself to 1 CD a term which I always bought from there.

Very sad to see this news, like others, I found the website unavailable this morning and assumed it was a technical hitch.

[Bryn]

I think the shops in London were Music Discount Centre (MDC) - as well as the branches you mentioned, there were at times one in the Strand and one in Rathbone Place off Oxford Street. Also much missed

Indeed, and at least one contributor here used to work in one (the Strand branch, near Charing Cross station, if memory serves me right).

[VodkaDilc]

I was shocked to read this. In recent years I have used MDT rather than Presto; the prices were often slightly cheaper and the free postage was a big incentive. My last order arrived a couple of weeks ago, but with one item missing. I contacted them about it and the price of the missing item was immediately refunded, with no reason given. I emailed to ask if the missing CD would become available soon, but there was no reply. That was unusual and I suppose it is now possible to guess why.

MDT was always easy to contact by phone, which I liked, and which seems quite unusual in these days of anonymous online selling.

I'll go back to using Presto more regularly now - always very efficient and approachable, and with a very informative website. I would never use any larger, non-specialist source for CDs. Like many people, I still miss The Woods in Bognor for their unrivalled telephone service, but Presto and MDT have served me well since The Woods closed down.

I am confident that some firms like Presto will survive. We are also fortunate in having the thriving Blackwell's Music Shop in Oxford.

[Bryn]

I was shocked to read this. In recent years I have used MDT rather than Presto; the prices were often slightly cheaper and the free postage was a big incentive. My last order arrived a couple of weeks ago, but with one item missing. I contacted them about it and the price of the missing item was immediately refunded, with no reason given. I emailed to ask if the missing CD would become available soon, but there was no reply. That was unusual and I suppose it is now possible to guess why.

MDT was always easy to contact by phone, which I liked, and which seems quite unusual in these days of anonymous online selling.

I'll go back to using Presto more regularly now - always very efficient and approachable, and with a very informative website. I would never use any larger, non-specialist source for CDs. Like many people, I still miss The Woods in Bognor for their unrivalled telephone service, but Presto and MDT have served me well since The Woods closed down.

I am confident that some firms like Presto will survive. We are also fortunate in having the thriving Blackwell's Music Shop in Oxford.

I was sorry to see Blackwells close their small Eton shop around a decade or so ago. They only had a very small CD section, but the items found there were always far above the standard set by the likes of HMV. I have only ordered from their Oxford-based website once, and then because their price was less than half that quoted elsewhere for the Claves Bilson and students Beethoven percussive keyboard sonatas set*. It took ages to arrive but they honoured their quoted price (in the region of £45). This. also, was over a decade ago.


* note the glaring error in this review. Bilson and co were a decade and a half behind Malcolm Binns in recording the 32 sonatas with opus numbers. The former were only the first to record the WoO 47 sonatas.

[silvestrione]

Sad news. I liked their Pre-releases page in particular, and often ordered in advance from it.

As for actual shops, the best I know now is in Foyles in London, the main Charing Cross Road shop.

[VodkaDilc]

I was sorry to see Blackwells close their small Eton shop around a decade or so ago.

Blackwell's in Oxford still has a good selection, though, of course, it can't compare with the days when Ray Glaspole managed the record department in Holywell Street.

They can get CDs in quickly and the last-but-one manager would always guarantee to match Presto's online prices. I don't know if the present regime will do that, but the latest manager is a very approachable and long-term member of the Music staff; it might be worth asking.

Best of all at Blackwell's is the Music Books section, with a friendly and knowledgable manager. The Printed Music section is still very much "old Blackwell's", so be prepared to be insulted!

[MickyD]

I think the shops in London were Music Discount Centre (MDC) - as well as the branches you mentioned, there were at times one in the Strand and one in Rathbone Place off Oxford Street. Also much missed

Indeed...I spent a great deal of my wages in all of those during the 80s. Very helpful staff, and often had great sale bargains. The other one I remember was Direction just off Oxford Street, which also had lovely staff and good free coffee to make you linger longer and browse!

[pastoralguy]

Very sad news indeed about MDT. I've had excellent service both from them and 'Englishpostbox'. So now it's really only PRESTO or AMAZON.

[vinteuil]

Indeed...I spent a great deal of my wages in all of those during the 80s. Very helpful staff, and often had great sale bargains. The other one I remember was Direction just off Oxford Street, which also had lovely staff and good free coffee to make you linger longer and browse!

.... and keepin' on the nostalgia - Templar Records in Irving St just off Leicester Square - and Cecil Court -

Into my heart an air that kills
From yon far country blows:
What are those blue remembered hills,
What spires, what farms are those?

That is the land of lost content,
I see it shining plain,
The happy highways where I went
And cannot come again.






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