UPDATED: HMV Castlepoint to close (From Bournemouth Echo)

Id rather they didnt close any stores but why close the biggest one bournemouth have? I much prefer castlepoint store to the avenue centre as there is a larger range and wider variety!

BowlingKing wrote:
Id rather they didnt close any stores but why close the biggest one bournemouth have? I much prefer castlepoint store to the avenue centre as there is a larger range and wider variety!

...and free parking!

Unfortunately the rent at Castlepoint will be very high so it was always likely this would be one of the stores to close.

I find HMV quite expensive. I realise not everyone has the option of using the Internet to buy things but I expect the majority do, so they've just priced themselves out. I'm amazed WHSmith are still selling CDs, DVDs and books on the high street too.
Shame for the staff in HMV though, they're usually very helpful.

The choice of quotes from the public was heavily one-sided.

Two old dears who can't use technology said they wanted it to stay open? What a surprise.

Why not interview the other sections of society? The ones that are indifferent to the existence of such stores as the world has moved on.

Any kind of optical disk technology is so far out of date, it should not still be sold.

If you must sell music and videos in retail outlets, sell them on a memory stick.

Castlepoint was always favourite to close, massive rents. 73% of music and dvds are still bought in a physical format, and record sales are increasing by over 20% a year.
The modernists thought records were dead, they arent, youngsters love them, and are buying decks. The physical format may have decreased in sales now, but who is to say they wont recover?
. The smug ones who think empty shelves, no cds, no books etc are the way forward seem a bit souless. Like those who think a 500 pound I Phone is the bee all and end all.
Just because thats what some want, and we are talking 25% of the poulation here, they think they are in the right, and the rest are in the wrong.

Ps. The number of small cd and record stores have recovered from a low of 250, to 310 and rising. Perhaps the outmoded way is the large chain store idea, judging by the number closing.

Adrian XX wrote:
Any kind of optical disk technology is so far out of date, it should not still be sold.

If you must sell music and videos in retail outlets, sell them on a memory stick.

I disagree slightly in that I love Blu Ray. There is nothing to rival its picture and sound quality in the consumer marketplace.

Although to be fair its only a collection of digital files so the format it comes on is almost irelevant.

Adrian XX wrote:
Any kind of optical disk technology is so far out of date, it should not still be sold.

If you must sell music and videos in retail outlets, sell them on a memory stick.

Not everyone has fast broadband, never mind super-fast, for downloading movies in a reasonable time.

Shame for the employees however HMV simply have too many stores. Surely better to have the two local town centre stores than Castlepoint which is just a glorified traffic nightmare.

spooki wrote:
I find HMV quite expensive. I realise not everyone has the option of using the Internet to buy things but I expect the majority do, so they've just priced themselves out. I'm amazed WHSmith are still selling CDs, DVDs and books on the high street too.
Shame for the staff in HMV though, they're usually very helpful.

Found them helpful? Last two occaisions I was in there I struggled to find one at all and when I did spot one they were off out the back before I could get to them.

Very poor.

spooki wrote:
I find HMV quite expensive. I realise not everyone has the option of using the Internet to buy things but I expect the majority do, so they've just priced themselves out. I'm amazed WHSmith are still selling CDs, DVDs and books on the high street too.
Shame for the staff in HMV though, they're usually very helpful.

Agreed,
There are several online companies (amazon/tesco/play) to name but a few which 'operate' in the channel islands in order to avoid paying tax on their sales, coupled with the lower rents for warehouses in the middle of nowhere, it is hardly surprising that the high street retailers have struggled to match the prices offered online. I just hope that the tax avoidance practices are confronted and prevented by the government before its too late & we lose more valuable UK brands and jobs.

The rent is about 120k per year at castlepoint.

Shame, I quite like a browse at Castlepoint. Funnily enough I was in the Avenue branch on Sunday. They didnt have the cd I was after and the assistant said it was because they were reducing stock at the branch because they were closing down. She seemed to think that it was Castlepoint that was staying open.

The Liberal wrote:

Adrian XX wrote:
Any kind of optical disk technology is so far out of date, it should not still be sold.

If you must sell music and videos in retail outlets, sell them on a memory stick.

Not everyone has fast broadband, never mind super-fast, for downloading movies in a reasonable time.

I agree with your comment about broadband, but I was talking about selling stuff on a memory stick in a retail outlet.

But you don't actually need superfast broadband to download a movie. Many people are happy to wait two or three days for a DVD to arrive from amazon, so therefore they can probably wait a day or so for a movie to download.

they have the music so loud not surprised

The Renegade Master wrote:
Unfortunately the rent at Castlepoint will be very high so it was always likely this would be one of the stores to close.

Yes it is the rents which kill off shops and businesses far more than business tax or rates. How many people work from home these days on computers and just hire an office space for a day or even meet at hotels for a long lunch to have a meeting thus not having that massive monthly rent bill to pay. Also outside of London dorset has a population with the lowest disposable income so if your streamlining your business then you start hear.

wayneofafcb wrote:
Ps. The number of small cd and record stores have recovered from a low of 250, to 310 and rising. Perhaps the outmoded way is the large chain store idea, judging by the number closing.

You've hit the nail on the head! The idea that 'bigger is better' is a failure throughout industry.

this was always going to happen one day. with or without a reccession. you only need to look at hmv.com to see you can get better deals online.

I'm pleased that the Oxford street one isn't on the list, though. London wouldn't the same without it.

joncon wrote:
I'm pleased that the Oxford street one isn't on the list, though. London wouldn't the same without it.

Only a matter of time, I fear.

Despite the 'nostalgic' wishes of some folk, the HMV idea of selling music as 'hard copy' has no realistic chance of a profitable high street future.

I want to sell you my music....

I can either make, print, and package CDs - rent a shop - hire staff - pay high street business rates...

... or I can set up a website and let you download it.

No staff, no shop, much lower costs....

You do the maths.....

joncon wrote:
I'm pleased that the Oxford street one isn't on the list, though. London wouldn't the same without it.

Alas, it is to go, the premises are being sold. The potential new owners will strip the business for anything saleable, to get their investement back, and the Oxford St branch is up for sale, just the building.

Arjay wrote:

joncon wrote: I'm pleased that the Oxford street one isn't on the list, though. London wouldn't the same without it.

Only a matter of time, I fear. Despite the 'nostalgic' wishes of some folk, the HMV idea of selling music as 'hard copy' has no realistic chance of a profitable high street future. I want to sell you my music.... I can either make, print, and package CDs - rent a shop - hire staff - pay high street business rates... ... or I can set up a website and let you download it. No staff, no shop, much lower costs.... You do the maths.....

Whilst you make some fair points, consider this. Small music shops, increasing in numbers year on year. We were told cars would kill railways, and lines were shut by the hundred. Guess what?/ Record rail journeys.
Cds would kill vinyl, but record sales going up every year. Dvd and vhs would kill the cinema, Cinema attendances up year on year.
The point is, the chain store concept was good then, not now. Things are swinging back. Yes, digital sales are going up, but then the Adele buyers stopped buying in HMV years ago.
Real music fans, and they are the bulk of music buyers, want hard copy, tackle the illegial downloads, things will improve.
If asda can sale physical media well, why is it HMV cant? Price, big factor, yes, same with books. Close that price gap on the net.and it can make a difference.
To do that, takes stores with lower overheads, and as mentioned, the big online sellers reeled in on their tax practices, which can artficially widen the gap between online and shop prices.
Things will change, if you are happy with digital only fine, but you are and still will be in the minority.

Its no surprise HMV at Castlepoint is closing down on the few occasions I've been in there its almost always empty, especially when compared to the busier stores in Poole & Bmth - To be honest I'm surprised its last that long, in fact I'm surprised so many people still visit Castlepoint full stop given its horrid mix of cheap shops and traffic congestion.

Having a dog with accute hearing sit that close to a grammar phone speaker is cruel. I'm surprised the RSPCA didnt close them down years ago.

Einstein11 wrote:
Having a dog with accute hearing sit that close to a grammar phone speaker is cruel. I'm surprised the RSPCA didnt close them down years ago.

Hardly a laughing matter 'Einstein'.

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote: Having a dog with accute hearing sit that close to a grammar phone speaker is cruel. I'm surprised the RSPCA didnt close them down years ago.

Hardly a laughing matter 'Einstein'.

I completely agree with you 'McFly77'. Anilmals are being abused all over the world and it certainly isnt a laughing matter.

Einstein11 wrote:

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote: Having a dog with accute hearing sit that close to a grammar phone speaker is cruel. I'm surprised the RSPCA didnt close them down years ago.

Hardly a laughing matter 'Einstein'.

I completely agree with you 'McFly77'. Anilmals are being abused all over the world and it certainly isnt a laughing matter.

I think using this comments section to try and make light of the demise of our high streets is not the work of a great intellectual.

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote:

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote: Having a dog with accute hearing sit that close to a grammar phone speaker is cruel. I'm surprised the RSPCA didnt close them down years ago.

Hardly a laughing matter 'Einstein'.

I completely agree with you 'McFly77'. Anilmals are being abused all over the world and it certainly isnt a laughing matter.

I think using this comments section to try and make light of the demise of our high streets is not the work of a great intellectual.

Quite right, not the work of a great intellect at all.

We should always be po faced and never seek humour at any time.

Imagine the world we would live in if everyone who thought of something funny did not keep it to themselves and simply said it. Out loud. Or worse, wrote it down for others to see.

Imagine.

scrumpyjack wrote:

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote:

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote: Having a dog with accute hearing sit that close to a grammar phone speaker is cruel. I'm surprised the RSPCA didnt close them down years ago.

Hardly a laughing matter 'Einstein'.

I completely agree with you 'McFly77'. Anilmals are being abused all over the world and it certainly isnt a laughing matter.

I think using this comments section to try and make light of the demise of our high streets is not the work of a great intellectual.

Quite right, not the work of a great intellect at all. We should always be po faced and never seek humour at any time. Imagine the world we would live in if everyone who thought of something funny did not keep it to themselves and simply said it. Out loud. Or worse, wrote it down for others to see. Imagine.

Imagine a world in which people talk to machines for the sheer pleasure of it. Talk for hours on end, and return time and time again. Stop imagining, because it's happening now.

Mcfly77 wrote:

scrumpyjack wrote:

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote:

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote: Having a dog with accute hearing sit that close to a grammar phone speaker is cruel. I'm surprised the RSPCA didnt close them down years ago.

Hardly a laughing matter 'Einstein'.

I completely agree with you 'McFly77'. Anilmals are being abused all over the world and it certainly isnt a laughing matter.

I think using this comments section to try and make light of the demise of our high streets is not the work of a great intellectual.

Quite right, not the work of a great intellect at all. We should always be po faced and never seek humour at any time. Imagine the world we would live in if everyone who thought of something funny did not keep it to themselves and simply said it. Out loud. Or worse, wrote it down for others to see. Imagine.

Imagine a world in which people talk to machines for the sheer pleasure of it. Talk for hours on end, and return time and time again. Stop imagining, because it's happening now.

Is that a quote from Terminator 2?

Einstein11 wrote:

Mcfly77 wrote:

scrumpyjack wrote:

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote:

Mcfly77 wrote:

Einstein11 wrote: Having a dog with accute hearing sit that close to a grammar phone speaker is cruel. I'm surprised the RSPCA didnt close them down years ago.

Hardly a laughing matter 'Einstein'.

I completely agree with you 'McFly77'. Anilmals are being abused all over the world and it certainly isnt a laughing matter.

I think using this comments section to try and make light of the demise of our high streets is not the work of a great intellectual.

Quite right, not the work of a great intellect at all. We should always be po faced and never seek humour at any time. Imagine the world we would live in if everyone who thought of something funny did not keep it to themselves and simply said it. Out loud. Or worse, wrote it down for others to see. Imagine.

Imagine a world in which people talk to machines for the sheer pleasure of it. Talk for hours on end, and return time and time again. Stop imagining, because it's happening now.

Is that a quote from Terminator 2?

I need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.