Michael Aregood (maregood@comcastpc.com)
Fri, 15 Jan 1999 12:00:12 -0500
When i'm buying any new records, i avoid shops that don't have a preview
setup like the plague! I've felt that even when i'm shopping for cds
(just to listen to as opposed to working into a set, mixed tape, etc.),
the decisions i am making are based on price, and HEARING IT... and the
store is getting the better end of the deal by taking a few minutes to
grab the CDs for me because that $25 import i would NEVER have even
thought about buying until i heard how sweet it sounded. I can't stress
to you how important this is (for me... and i'm sure for many others). I
really have to know what i want and actually be looking for something
specific to make a "blind buy"... (i don't think i want to go record
shopping in Hong Kong as badly now ;-))
Throb in NY has signs up in front of the tables that say. "For every 10
records you listen to, you must buy one of them." They also have a jar
of bloody rubber fingers with a threatening note taped to it right by
the tables. =) You can also limit how many they bring to the listening
station at a time as well as any other reasonable request you can think
of. People might not always adhere to the signs, but if firm enough, i'm
sure it will have an effect on the majority.
oh hey... what is the problem with the DJ only buying 5 after listening
to 30? What's the big deal? is he hogging the table and preventing
others from previewing? taking up space in the store? practicing his
backhanded-scud missle-fallaffel scratch on all the new wax? Other than
those reasons (which can be remedied by the above), SO WHAT if he hangs
around for an hour or two... chances are if you treat them right, word
will get around and his buddies will be in buying records too.
As far as the dead stock issue... i guess it depends on how narrow your
target audience is. Your definition of "not so good" will not be the
same someone else's definition, and there's will not be same as the next
guys and so on... so i'm guessing there is a good chance of someone
roaming in and looking in the dead stock section and saying "holy shit,
John Denver's Christmas in Honolulu, i've been looking for this for
years!!!" Anyway, i think if you stay away from the SPICE GIRLS ;-) and
other similar nonsense, you should be ok. (just my guess, i never worked
at a record store mind you) Good luck and i hope this helped!
peace,
aRgo
-----Original Message-----
From: Calvin Ho [mailto:calvin@hklink.net]
Sent: Friday, January 15, 1999 5:54 AM
To: Acid Jazz server
Subject: Dilemma of a good record shop
I want a response from all of you record buyers!
In Hong Kong, nearly all record shops do not get an opportunity to
listen
to any of the CDs or vinyl at the shop. The only shop is HMV that supply
this service, only CD, but better than nothing.
Now for my business, my own record shop provides this service. However,
it aggravates me to the max how customers treat this. My time is lost
when some customer brings over 10 CDs and listens to them all and ends
up
buying only one. This customer has in mind of only buying one, but the
best CD in the shop at the time. Another customer, namely a DJ, would
source through 30 12" and after listening buys only 5. Some customers
listen and leave the shop.
In the long term, I might attract more customers to buy on the spot when
they hear "their CD", leaving many not so good titles in my shop as dead
stock. This is not to say that I want people to buy my shit stock.
However, when I order records, I am not able to listen to it myself.
Even
Tower in Hong Kong does this.
Should I stop this? What are the repurcussions? I would like to get your
response from a business point of view and as a customer.
Thanks for your time guys and gals.
Calvin.
Atomic Attack! Records
3C, Vancouver Mansion,
6 Kingston Street,
Causeway Bay,
Hong Kong
Email calvin@hklink.net
Fax (852) 2561-9197
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Fri Jan 15 1999 - 18:07:03 MET