[Closed] Do you have any HMV vouchers? You might want to spend them ASAP

Or the way of Jessops

I hope they don't go, but it's looked grim for them for a while now. Don't say I didn't warn you!

You didn't warn us.

I hope not. They will close Fopps too. No 🙁

What's Fopps?

A brilliant little Entertainment store chain taken over by hmv

Not in the least bit surprised. I buy shedloads of music but rarely anything from HMV, despite visiting regularly. Generally too expensive and very narrow range.

I was in HMV today, yeah as crap as I remember it and expensive agreed.

Oh FFS, we gave our childminder a Jessops voucher for Christmas, and I got HMV ones in my stocking!

If you've broad musical taste then they're OK on price, you just need to be prepared to buy music 6 months after it's been released. 4 albums for £18 last week 🙂 All 2012 releases too...

I hope not. They will close Fopps too. No

It's just Fopp.

I doubt if the Fopp shops would close. The ironing is that Fopp overstretched themselves and got bought out by HMV, and then proceeded to actually make money, compared to HMV, who don't seem to have the foggiest idea about selling music. HMV's prices are ludicrous, it's little wonder Amazon hits them hard. I go into the Bath store, and frequently see cd's I'd like, but they're £15-16, while a quick scan with Redlaser shows the same disc available elsewhere for half that.
Even HMV's online prices suck, I'm just looking at the results for the David Byrne/St Vincent album I scanned in Bath, the shop price I can't remember, but I think was well over £12, HMV online is £10, Amazon is £7.07, but base.com is £13.29!

Be a shame it's the nearest thing to a record shop round our way. The only other options are super markets selling the latest x factor Weiner.

thegreatape - Member
Oh FFS, we gave our childminder a Jessops voucher for Christmas.

#

I can think of better presents!

Countzero theyd go straight down like Jessops odd star stores did. Like a collective on a bad balance sheet.

I can think of better presents!

Bag of hindsight?

So can I, but from someone for knows f all about cameras, to someone who's right into them, it seemed like a good idea. And she got flars and wine as well.

HMV's sales figures were dreadful over Xmas run up / New Year, significantly down on last year, so they're drinking in the last chance saloon.

I never understood why they didnt have terminals where an mp3 player could be plugged in and an album purchased and downloaded...

coolhandluke - Member
I never understood why they didnt have terminals where an mp3 player could be plugged in and an album purchased and downloaded...
POSTED 13 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST

It was popular in Japan for a while and trialed in some London stores around 2002 but the British public were slightly sceptical and the MP3 players not yet standardised so a variety of connections was needed. Before any long term money was invested in europe it was thought MP3 players would eventually connect to mobile networks and downloads could be made this way. Sony (who own lots if music wrights) were keen to push their Walkman phones and it never really took off. iTunes was the final nail in the coffin.

I had my own record shop and worked at HMV too for a while. What people want in a record shop is a broad range of CDs at good prices. However CDs are graded on popularity something like an xfactor release would be grade 1 then slip down grades with age. Dark side of the moon for example would be a grade 5/6 slow selling but always popular. Having grade 12 to 20 cd's isn't viable as the rate they sell is too slow. HMV is expensive online but it does have those shops to prop up. I can't see it lasting viably in its current trading model. Keep a few key locations for high grade CD's and move online while the brand has value.

the music industry is desperate for HMV to be successful and has been a pillar of support without which the company would have gone into administration.

BTW HMV's chief exec joined last year from guess where? Jessops.

The key will be the suppliers and banks outlook. it's the last high street retailer for music and film and that carries a hell of a lot of weight behind it, at least for the music and film industries.

Is the company dead, no but it is on life support and it could be argued that it's the modern day equivilant of King Canute standing on the beech commanding thenseanto turn back.

the last few times ive checked them out online theyve been pretty competitively priced

"[i]but from someone for knows f all about cameras, to someone who's right into them, it seemed like a good idea[/i]"

I probably shouldn't say it, but it's equivalent to buying Halfords vouchers for someone who's into bikes.

I'm surprised people give vouchers at all given the present climate on the high street.

Jessops and now HMV guess that means 2 more restaurants on my high street that I can afford to go to with the money I've saved shopping online.

Sky News have just Tweeted to say the Administers have been called into HMV

Glad I spent my vouchers today 🙂

[url= http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c4096aee-5e82-11e2-a771-00144feab49a.html#axzz2Hyxj2IrJ ]FT[/url]

Who's next?

Wouldn't be surprised if it's Debenhams. Far too many sales/offers all the time

Argos I reckon. Pure speculation.

Who's next?

How much is that going for now? Don't have much of their stuff.

I can't see it being debenhams-my wife likes to shop there and it is always rammee whenever we go. Argos maybe. Or ones of those naff shoe shops that always seem to open on a new retail park. Is it Brantanos?

I'm struggling to think of any other companies that always have some sort of "sale" on, either through issuing discount codes to everyone or just advertising it on their website.

I'm sure that if I think long and hard enough about it whilst browsing this site, something will pop up.

Most of the obvious candidates have gone now.

Possibly a kitchen retailer or furniture company next as house sales are still suppressed.

EDIT: Thinking about it I never worked out how WHSmith and The Edinburgh Woolen Mill stayed in business even pre-recession.

Please let it be the Edinburgh Wollen Mill to go next!

Wonder what we happen to the Hmv venues, we have the institute in brum that was rebranded Hmv and I'm sure the academy is as well?? The old dome night club is an O2 venue now. Lots for them to sort out!

The EWM serves it's own "niche" customer base - mostly the well-off elderly. I reckon they are safe for a while - especially as the pensions are going up.

With 4000 odd HMV staff kicking their heels soon the world of online Dungeons and Dragons will never have been so busy!

HMV venues was sold off a few months back to raise cash.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/dec/03/hmv-live-music-assets

Wouldn't be surprised if it's Debenhams. Far too many sales/offers all the time

Well given the accuracy of your previous tip, cheesyfeet, I'm off to short sell Debenhams. What's next after them?

HMV. Where did it all go wrong? Well, I reckon the rot set in when they failed to tackle the rise of the music download and instead pretty much shunned music. HMV stores used to be about 90% music.You used to be able to wander in, have a browse and walk out with that obscure scandinavian thrash metal band's latest limited edition gatefold double CD with the piccolo solo.

Now, the music seems to be confined to the highly marketed manufactured pop nonsense or bargain basement reissues of 30 year old albums you've already got. Browsing the music has lost its appeal.

And then there's the seemingly hundreds of thousands on DVDs and BluRays. Well, HMV, we're all watching stuff on demand now, so that's screwed as well. Lots and lots of top price new releases available for a fraction of the price via your TV. So, what do they do, prop it up with bargain basement reissues of 30 year old films you've already got / watched a zillion times.

So what else can they be. I know an electrical retailer! Hang on, that sector ain't exactly the cash cow now is it? I might have a quick look at their overpriced novelty speakers that look like they belong in a nursery, or maybe some of the latest 'look at me' headphones. Do I buy anything? No I don't, 'cos I'm all grown up now (although some may dispute this!).

So, it looks like it's probably RIP for HMV, as shame 'cos it used to be an OK place to shop.

Having said that, it was nowhere near as good as the legendary 'Shades' in St Annes Court, just off Wardour Street in London. Now that was a proper record shop!

legendary 'Shades' in St Annes Court

Just to say thanks to Cheesyfeet for the original PSA - I was given a £40 voucher for Xmas so I made sure I got in there on Saturday morning and spent it!
With 25% off I got 6 albums for my £40. All good 🙂

An interesting sign for me about the changing nature of music formats is that I've had a separates system and CDs since the early 90's because I always wanted the best sound quality I could get. Not a massive hi-fi buff but 'bothered' about sound quality. For the last year I've been running Bose PC speakers through my laptop and iTunes and more than happy with the sound quality, in exchange for the lack of CDs in my lounge and easy accessibility of my tunes through iTunes.

So even a semi hi-fi buff prefers downloads and a PC... hard formats are dead IMO.

It's confirmed, administrators appointed

http://news.sky.com/story/1038057/struggling-hmv-calls-in-administrators

Is it just me that feels more than a little bit upset about this?

OK, I'm looking back to the late 90's, when HMV was in its heyday, but I will miss it. Yes, I can confidently say I've spent maybe £50 inside the last 2 years with HMV, but there was a point when I spent at least £50 a week with them!

I can see how its failed, the business model hasn't lent itself well to changing buying habits for music and film, but I'm still a little bit sad. Also hope Fopp survives, as though they're few and far between, they are an awesome store for picking up a few bargains!

[url= http://www.philipbeeching.com/2012/08/why-companies-fail-rise-and-fall-of-hmv.html?m=1 ]Read This[/url]

It's been struggling for years barely hanging in and not changed anything. I pre-ordered Skyfall from their website as they had an offer on and doing an exclusive box. Guess I'm going elsewhere now then.

I think it's a shame, but then I only bought massively discounted box sets from them so I'm hardly in a position to complain. Only us old folks still buy CDs.

I still buy CDs (online) - they are often cheaper than the downloads.

You can use your vouchers in Anne Summers. They must be looking for new customers to spend there Xmas gifts in store. Glad I bought all the youngsters I tunes vouchers instead 🙂

piedi di formaggio - Member
Wouldn't be surprised if it's Debenhams. Far too many sales/offers all the time

POSTED 11 HOURS AGO #[b]

Nope, Debenhams are doing well, their strongest performance in some time.

Announcement just now - HMV not accepting gift cards or vouchers

Hopefully this will change, but oh dear. Much grimness on the high street

Oh. Please protect Fopp.

I reckon Argos is next. Buying stuff from a laminated book of dreams just doesn't make sense in the internet age.

I work it retail marketing / point of sale and I am wondering where this is going to end up. Can we really live without the bricks and mortar stores even if it's just for checking things out before buying online?

I reckon Argos is next

Have you ever seen a quiet Argos store?

This can't really be good at all long term. The likes of Amazon wade in and sell at such low prices that it puts it's competition out of business. Once it has no competition, where is the incentive to sell cheap?

Shades 😆 a regular place of pilgrimage.

What are the chances of Britain getting kicked out of the SDR, guy in work reckons that interest rates will rocket if that happens. Possibility of it happening in 2015???

I reckon Argos is next. Buying stuff from a laminated book of dreams just doesn't make sense in the internet age.

I think Argos is more protected than most, as they do not risk/suffer becoming a showroom for internet only retailers like Jessops/Comet did. Also, what they sell can't be replaced like a CD could, via internet downloads, which is what happened to HMV's core product.

Edit: [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20054168 ]This could all be nonsense, though.[/url]

According to Five Live this morning, the MD of HMV was informed a good few years ago by one of his managers that he faced 3 huge threats to the business. Digital downloads, online retailers and supermarkets.

His reply: "I've never heard such rubbish in my life!"

And there you have it.

I reckon Argos is next.

Yip. A mate works for them and they're all bracing themselves for the worst. Its all looking pretty grim!

Once it has no competition, where is the incentive to sell cheap?

There is always competition from somewhere - always someone wanting a slice of the action.

Re HMV - it was only 10 to 15 years ago when HMV, Virgin and the like were the bad boys of the high street. Their 'new fangled' Mega Stores put lots of small independent record shops out of business.

I reckon Argos is next.
Yip. A mate works for them and they're all bracing themselves the worst. Its all looking pretty grim!

I've been thinking it for years, sadly. It's an old, outdated business that can't really change. I just walk past and think it looks tatty.

I reckon one of the big DIY stores too, Wickes maybe. There's just never anyone in the one in Farnborough.

Are the shops shut as of today? Or likely to be a flash sale to
Clear stock???

They started a sale on Saturday - 25% off pretty much everything

If Comet are anything to go by, its looking like the days of Fire Sales are gone too.

By the sounds of it HMV owed an awful lot of money to its suppliers. And they'll all be looking for their stuff back before the funeral. In fact, I reckon most of them would have been outside the stores before sunrise this morning with a fleet of trucks!

Re HMV - it was only 10 to 15 years ago when HMV, Virgin and the like were the bad boys of the high street. Their 'new fangled' Mega Stores put lots of small independent record shops out of business.

Indeed. Last year they put the final nail in one of the best record shops in North Wales' coffin - COB Records. It's a pity to see HMV go, but as someone who liked many of the independent shops they forced out of business, it's somewhat schadenfreudesque to see them being pushed over by even bigger market forces

What's happened to Cob? They're still going in Porthmadog, aren't they?

25% pah, that's not a sale!!

it's somewhat schadenfreudesque to see them being pushed over by even bigger market forces

I hope its saved.

Is it just me that feels more than a little bit upset about this?

Personally I've been in HMV once in the last 5 years and that was just to buy the Military Wives single for the OH. I went online, music-wise, years ago and don't buy physical media any more.

When WHSmiths has gone, where will I go off man-wandering?

What ever happened to 'Andys Records'?

Been a long time coming. Not a shop I'll miss either.

Xbox720 & PS4 later this year, no physical drives on them. That will be the end of Game as well.

When WHSmiths has gone, where will I go off man-wandering?

Sale Water Park?

Xbox720 & PS4 later this year, no physical drives on them.

Oh really?

damn it, only saw this thread yesterday and was off to spend my Christmas vouchers this morning, ahh

sad, the HMV on Oxford Street has always been a stop on a shopping trip, having said that the last few years have always come out empty handed.

'Andys Records'?

Bloody hell, I remember them

I also remember them being awful, even back in the day.

What ever happened to 'Andys Records'?

I used to shop there all the time in Cambridge in the 80s. Parrot records was also a favourite haunt....

Hora,

Xbox rumour is strong at no drive, Sony less so as it is an easy way to push Bluray.

What's happened to Cob? They're still going in Porthmadog, aren't they?

Yeah, I think so. Bangor and Porthmadog COB split a very long time ago, so Porthmadog were't connected by the time Bangor shut

I'd laugh with you however I've encountered alot of HMV staff who genuinely have a shared passion for music and film.

Agreed. (p.s. note the "somewhat" in my sentence)

What ever happened to 'Andys Records'?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andys_Records

I'd heard that next X-Box will have a Blu-Ray in it

Andy's records, yep remember them.

Also remember buying in Parrot Records and the legendary Adrians in Wickford