HMV to close 60 shops across the UK this year...

[Threni]

Manchester's hmv was excellent until about two years ago when it merged more with jazz, easy listening, soundtracks etc. That was the last time I bought stuff there. I occassionally went in to buy new releases that weren't even in stock!

So went onto amazon and get them days before theyre actually due out at bargain prices too as I always order months in advance before they get the price right haha

[EdgeleyRob]

Manchester's hmv was excellent until about two years ago when it merged more with jazz, easy listening, soundtracks etc. That was the last time I bought stuff there. I occassionally went in to buy new releases that weren't even in stock!

So went onto amazon and get them days before theyre actually due out at bargain prices too as I always order months in advance before they get the price right haha

I haven't been to central Manchester for a long time but used to love browsing the excellent classical dept at HMV Market Street.Sounds like it's gone downhill since then.
There was also Gibbs (on Charlotte Street ?), don't know if it is still open but it was a super little shop for classical cds.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There was also Gibbs (on Charlotte Street ?), don't know if it is still open but it was a super little shop for classical cds.

I think that was a very long time ago - wonderful shop though.

[StephenO]

It's years since I bought a CD from HMV. In their Worcester branch the classical section, such as it is, is a sub-section of what they describe as "specialist music" and consists mainly of multiple copies of Katherine Jenkins and the like. They do have a decent DVD department but, in terms of price, they can't compete with Amazon. Plus the noise of thumping pop tunes from downstairs is generally enough to drive me out after a couple of minutes.

We're lucky in Malvern, though, to have a wonderful, privately owned bookshop which has an excellent CD department. Although it stocks mainly budget labels (Naxos, Regis, LSO Live, etc) it has an efficient ordering service, helpful staff and impressive jazz and sheet music sections as well as shelves full of classical discs. Other than that I tend to buy online, from either Amazon or MDT.

[BBMmk2]

In Brighton & Hove, there is only one decent independant, Fine Records, in George Street Hove, they have a really good used cd dept, also vynl to!! Plus they do mail order service as well!! And personal service, second to none!!

[StephenO]

We're lucky in Malvern, though, to have a wonderful, privately owned bookshop which has an excellent CD department. Although it stocks mainly budget labels (Naxos, Regis, LSO Live, etc) it has an efficient ordering service, helpful staff and impressive jazz and sheet music sections as well as shelves full of classical discs. Other than that I tend to buy online, from either Amazon or MDT.

I forgot to mention the shop I'm talking about is Beacon Books in Worcester Road.

[Stunsworth]

Gibbs closed years ago - I assume when the son took over. I bought hundreds of used LPs from them - I was going through an early Decca/HMV stage. I can't remember the name of the assistant - was it Philip? - but he used to let me rummage in the back room where they kept the stock that hadn't yet been put in the shop. Also he once reserved a wooden box set of Solti's ring because it was the sort of recording I was interested in.

These days I use Spotify more and more. I'm sure streaming is the future, or part of it at least.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

If they close down my local HMV, I shan't shed a tear. The 'classical' selection is abysmal, full of Katherine Jenkins, Andrea Bocelli, Russell Watson et al. If there is anything tempting there (the occasional new release), it's far too expensive compared to online sources - usually hmv.com where you'd usually pay half the price you're charged in store. Oxford Street is good to visit, especially if there are some bargain boxes in the sale to explore, but my purchases there are few and far between.

[Mahlerei]

IGI

My sentiments exactly. I popped into my local HMV in Bromley on Saturday and was appalled by the dark, cramped and very noisy cave that it has become. They used to have a reasonable classical section - but no more. Good riddance, I say.

[umslopogaas]

M20 brassbandmaestro

Praise for Fine Records of 32 George St., Hove! Oh yes, absolutely. I have shopped there for many years and I offer a most positive view. Helpful, never obstructive, often combative (is that the right spelling?), very VERY opinionated, but on the basis of very, VERY deep knowledge. This a good shop. Go well, Julian and Ian. I once heard Julian say he was going to close it down, but then he didnt. Julian, please dont. Its a long way from where I live now, but still a great destination.

C'mon lads, where are the next good items? I havent had a bagfull of good stuff for half a year at least.

Mind you, that Copland LP was wonderful.

[Paul Sherratt]

Article from BBC Business today :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12118619

[Flosshilde]

Article from BBC Business today :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12118619

"The record shop as a mass-market phenomenon now belongs to a bygone age. To its credit, HMV has been trying to move away from that business model for some while"

if it wasn't so sad.

"HMV's 285 stores in the UK and Irish Republic, of which about 40 now face closure" About 1 in 7 stores closing, so it's not a complete close-down.

"20 Waterstone's outlets also set to shut" I thought Waterstone's might be affected as well. They xseem rather to have lost their way, too. The closure of Borders should have encouraged them to improve, but (in Glasgow at least) they seem not to have noticed.

[Donnie Essen]

The only ones I use are on Oxford Street. I'd miss them, were they to go, but being the flagship stores, that's probably unlikely. I did read somewhere that they'd close outlets that are near their other outlets. I hope that don't mean either of these, 'cause if they closed one of them, I'd miss it, 'cause you can find different stuff in each, and sometimes at different prices. I usually visit both if I'm down that way.

The Classical section in the one down near Bond Street seems to have gotten way smaller of late, though, with other stuff imposing on its space.

[Tevot]

The Leeds HMV shop was very good (this some 5 to 10 years' ago) with knowledgeable staff and a great selection of Classical CDs. But as time progressed, shelf space shrank with all kinds of cross-over Chart topping fripperies encroaching on the limited space. Very sad. I still look for the odd bargain in shops - but as with many others I now use Amazon to buy CDs and movies / documentaries (e.g. O Thou Transcendent and A Time there was...) Am currently waiting for a copy of Stokowski's recording of Ives 4th Symphony. I doubt any HMV store would have it in stock!

Best wishes,

Tevot

[kuligin]

Mr Gibbs died last year , but the shop closed long ago because of a massive rent hike when the lease ran out.


The business, mainly a bookseller still exists on line and Mr Gibbs junior is always to be found with an ecclectic selection of bargin CDs before Manchester Chamber Society concerts at the RNCM