I used to be a habitual HMV customer – and a strong advocate of the retailer on this site - but I gradually kicked the habit. Because, while CD prices have been plummeting from online suppliers and supermarkets, HMV’s prices look stubbornly high.
I was reminded of the gap last weekend after leaving my local HMV branch empty-handed (again), after recently visiting Asda, Wal-Mart’s English subsidiary.
Sample price comparisons of product currently interesting me were startling:
* Morrissey Greatest Hits De Luxe: HMV £19, Asda £14
* Van Morrison Best Of v3: HMV £13, Asda £5
* Morrissey Who Put The M in Manchester DVD: HMV £18, (has been widely available elsewhere @ £5)
* Led Zep DVD: HMV £30, (has been widely available at Asda and elsewhere @ £13)
HMV might well manage to turn round its ailing chain, but until its prices are back in line with the marketplace, I won’t be contributing.
Gerry Smith
Showing posts with label HMV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HMV. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Friday, February 16, 2007
New Neil Young product - and why HMV is getting less of my music spend
When, aeons ago, I first discovered HMV’s massive London Oxford St (aka Circus) store, it was like a premonition of what Heaven might be like. For years thereafter, I could easily waste half a day immersing myself in the sheer breadth and depth of the product on offer, before shuffling off home, wallet considerably lighter.
HMV remained my music supplier of choice until a couple of years ago. But – familiar story – my music buying has gradually widened, to take in supermarkets, Amazon, iTunes and, most notably, Fopp.
Seeking to catch up with new Neil Young product recently, I was reminded why my infatuation with HMV has cooled. Just compare some prices:
* Living With War – Raw: £15 at Fopp, £12 FNAC, Valencia, £21 at HMV, £7.11p on iTunes,
* Heart Of Gold DVD: £22 at Fopp, £25 at HMV, £12 in FNAC, Valencia
* Live At Fillmore: £11 at Fopp, £13 at HMV, £3.16 on iTunes
* Live At Massey Hall: CD-WOW is taking pre-orders at £7.99, delivered; I don’t use HMV online, after an unsatisfactory experience, but the in-store price is unlikely to compete.
From an annual spend of £500-£1,000 at HMV, I’ll be surprised if I spend 20% of that this year. If there are many other consumers like me out there, the company’s in trouble – a pity, because I still have a soft spot for it. I can still be wooed back - but HMV’ll have to try harder, and not only on pricing.
Gerry Smith
HMV remained my music supplier of choice until a couple of years ago. But – familiar story – my music buying has gradually widened, to take in supermarkets, Amazon, iTunes and, most notably, Fopp.
Seeking to catch up with new Neil Young product recently, I was reminded why my infatuation with HMV has cooled. Just compare some prices:
* Living With War – Raw: £15 at Fopp, £12 FNAC, Valencia, £21 at HMV, £7.11p on iTunes,
* Heart Of Gold DVD: £22 at Fopp, £25 at HMV, £12 in FNAC, Valencia
* Live At Fillmore: £11 at Fopp, £13 at HMV, £3.16 on iTunes
* Live At Massey Hall: CD-WOW is taking pre-orders at £7.99, delivered; I don’t use HMV online, after an unsatisfactory experience, but the in-store price is unlikely to compete.
From an annual spend of £500-£1,000 at HMV, I’ll be surprised if I spend 20% of that this year. If there are many other consumers like me out there, the company’s in trouble – a pity, because I still have a soft spot for it. I can still be wooed back - but HMV’ll have to try harder, and not only on pricing.
Gerry Smith
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