Is this the end for HMV?

[JQW]

Looking for a particular DVD in London just before Christmas I was directed by another shop to Fopp in Earlham St WC2. I hadn't come across them before and didn't linger to look at the classical section in the Christmas rush but they may be worth seeking out when shopping in London. I believe they have stores in other cities too. They had the very thing I was looking for, Borgen Series 1.

Fopp has been owned by HMV for several years, so they're equally in peril. HMV bought a few stores when Fopp went under after purchasing Music Zone about five years ago.

[Lateralthinking1]

The loss of HMV is a tiny bit sad but only from the perspective of wanting to see some sort of record shop on the High Street.
They, Our Price, Virgin etc were very largely responsible for putting proper record shops across the UK out of business. The ones which kept prices down, ordered things specially and even promoted local talent. They have been hoisted by their own petard.

As for closing tax loop-holes, if this is being done for one then let's do it fairly and include Amazon etc. I know that people enjoy the cheaper prices but there are vast numbers of unopened and undamaged records to be sold by the public. They have no such concessions and are being priced out. Time to stop companies bucking the market, however much they want state protection.

All this bodes well for Sainsbury who, boosted by the idea that libraries would be closed, expanded into this market in 2010/11. Their audiovisual department calls itself a library. At one point, I was pointing out here that they were going to arrive in the local town - we have been waiting for a new supermarket for years - just as the library was going to close. I gave it to the local press, along with details of all the links between that company, Government and especially the Council, including people very close to where the decisions were being taken. The library has stayed open and they haven't arrived - but close monitoring will continue.

[Flosshilde]

Looking for a particular DVD in London just before Christmas I was directed by another shop to Fopp in Earlham St WC2. I hadn't come across them before and didn't linger to look at the classical section in the Christmas rush but they may be worth seeking out when shopping in London. I believe they have stores in other cities too. They had the very thing I was looking for, Borgen Series 1.

FOPP started in Glasgow in 1981

However, they too nearly went out of business a while ago, & if you do a Google search for 'fopp' the first hit is this - http://www.foppreturns.com/ - where they thank HMV for rescuing them. So what happens now is anyone's guess.

[Flosshilde]

Yes, Play.com's Jersey tax-haven status has not delivered the level of benefits they need vis-a-vis EU regs and they have had their VAT loop-hole closed by the inland revenue.

I think you'll find that it's the UK tax regulations that created the Jersey anomoly - which has been closed by that nice Mr Cameron.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

As for closing tax loop-holes, if this is being done for one then let's do it fairly and include Amazon etc. I know that people enjoy the cheaper prices but there are vast numbers of unopened and undamaged records to be sold by the public. They have no such concessions and are being priced out. Time to stop companies bucking the market, however much they want state protection.

My attitude towards Amazon has changed since Corporation-Tax-gate. I'm testing them, having ordered a CD of Eine Alpensinfonie with the Netherlands PO conducted by Haenchen I don't think it exists. If I'm wrong, I suppose I'll be stuck with my 73rd version of the work. Watch this space!

[Beef Oven]

I think you'll find that it's the UK tax regulations that created the Jersey anomoly - which has been closed by that nice Mr Cameron.

Yes, I am aware that goods under £15 from outside the EU did not attract VAT - formally. I don't agree that Mr Cameron is nice, but I respect your opinion and your right to express it.

[Lateralthinking1]

My attitude towards Amazon has changed since Corporation-Tax-gate. I'm testing them, having ordered a CD of Eine Alpensinfonie with the Netherlands PO conducted by Haenchen I don't think it exists. If I'm wrong, I suppose I'll be stuck with my 73rd version of the work. Watch this space!

Goodness. You can't lose. Either you will receive a smashing CD or sever links with Amazon.

[cloughie]

Let's not forget how Naxos started selling in the UK... via Waterstones book shops.

I thought it was Woolwrths!

[Vile Consort]

How the devil is HMV supposed to compete with Amazon and other multinationals when EU tax laws allow them to pay very little corporation tax? R.I.P. HMV

Amazon doesn't pay any VAT in the UK either. When you buy from Amazon you are trading with a company in Luxembourg, and the VAT - all 3% of it or thereabouts - is paid in Luxembourg, not the UK.

[Beef Oven]

Amazon doesn't pay any VAT in the UK either. When you buy from Amazon you are trading with a company in Luxembourg, and the VAT - all 3% of it or thereabouts - is paid in Luxembourg, not the UK.

Those bloody EU tax regulations again!!!

[MrGongGong]

Those bloody EU tax regulations again!!!

So is there ANYTHING that isn't the fault of the EU
so why is it the fault of the EU that we in the UK allow companies to fiddle tax ?
surely the answer to this is to harmonise tax

[Beef Oven]

So is there ANYTHING that isn't the fault of the EU
so why is it the fault of the EU that we in the UK allow companies to fiddle tax ?
surely the answer to this is to harmonise tax

I don't know MrGG, you tell me. I am only commenting on the fact that 75% of the UK's laws are not made in our parliament in Westminster by our elected representatives, but are made by unelected managers in Brussels.

[Vile Consort]

If we harmonised taxes, some countries would be absurdly rich, and others absurdly poor. Even harmonising taxes across the whole of the UK leads to inequality; across Europe the disparity would be very painful.

[MrGongGong]

I don't know MrGG, you tell me. I am only commenting on the fact that 75% of the UK's laws are not made in our parliament in Westminster by our elected representatives, but are made by unelected managers in Brussels.

75% hummmmmm

are you SURE of that

and 98% of kipper statistics (like that one) are simply just made up nonsense .................a quick search will find that one out

and also since when did we have an "elected" government in Westminster ????

[Beef Oven]

If we harmonised taxes, some countries would be absurdly rich, and others absurdly poor. Even harmonising taxes across the whole of the UK leads to inequality; across Europe the disparity would be very painful.

Egg wetter gree. Maybe each country could set and collect its own taxes according to the needs and circumstances of that particular country. In that way Amazon, Starbucks, Apple etc would not be able to avoid paying corporation tax on the supernormal profits that they generate from their UK sales.

We could use this revenue to pay for hospitals and other socially desirable projects.