HMV Finally closing down for good?

dowie said:
It think that is the issue, Amazon is so much more than just a marketplace for goods.
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But we're talking about the retail consumer here, they aren't really going to notice AWS or care what it does for majority% of the world it's just a marketplace. Though Prime could use some work, it quite literally annoy's me having to click a through to the streaming site when it should be much easier.

If Amazon GO launches soon and isn't priced stupidly, i'll probably never walk into anything else again.
 
StriderX said:
But we're talking about the retail consumer here, they aren't really going to notice AWS or care what it does for majority% of the world it's just a marketplace. Though Prime could use some work, it quite literally annoy's me having to click a through to the streaming site when it should be much easier.
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Sorry, just edited my post. The other parts of their business are important here - Amazon often makes a loss in its e-commerce business, partly through rapid expansion and reinvestment. But this is also helped along nicely by having other areas where it can generate cash too.

Some of their business areas do obviously overlap too - you need to look at the bigger picture for example they sell e-readers and tablets in the form of their kindle range, they also have an established book store (I mean that was their original business after all), the tablets compliment that and allow for people to simply buy the kindle version of a book with one click. That is perhaps an area where say Apple, with iTunes/iBooks and the iPad is more of a future competitor to their books business than say a book store like Waterstones. Apple might not sell physical books and CDs but they're still a competitor to companies that do.
 
Fusion said:
I'm surprised they've lasted as long as they have. I assumed there would be room for one last high street player, to mop up the non-online sales (in the same way PC World/Currys still trade).

Looks like their time has now come.
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They only lasted that long because they were the last man standing. When they went under last time, there was mass panic in the music industry as that left only the supermarkets (who only want the top 20 with big chain discounts) and Amazon (big discounts too). HMV was nursed through to leave something like a traditional music shop with a range of titles on the high street.

What's finally done them in is the march of technology. More convenient streaming/downloads, at a cheaper price, more conveniently purchased from your sofa. Combined with rents, people who don't want to go through he hassle of high street shopping, and general softness in the retail market and lack of confidence in the economy in general, it all adds up to a perfect storm. Even if you want physical media, it's probably cheaper and less hassle to buy a Blu-ray online and have it plop through your letterbox next day.

In the end it comes down to the same problem as last time ie HMV sticking to an outdated business model while being unable or unwilling to compete with new more convenient and cheaper technologies offering the same products in a different/better way.
 
Tbh I thought they'd already gone under.

I download my music, games and software (software not available on ocuk) where possible and if a physical disc is needed then amazon or eBay are my go to places.
 
quick blame brexit and the internets!!!

honesty amazes me how badly the majority of large high street brands are run, HMV for example has 100 stores!? and was expanding again this year. seems having a HUGE rent bill and posting idiotic profit targets is still thing. watched this first hand when i worked at currys for 7 years in the early 2000's you'd have thought some 20 years later companies would have learned but i guess greed is still very much the idea even if it means running the brand in to the ground. oh well.
 
Free parking isn't the holy grail, seen plenty of free parking offered in my area, the result the shops still close, unfortunately its down to what they sell, how GAME survive is beyond me, overpriced when you look at the same items online. The high street now consists of coffee shops, women's clothing, boots, superdrug and a poundland.
 
So Debenhems next, maybe some more clothes shops, betting shops will collapse when the rules come in later this year and Game might still collapse at some point. Is there anything else on the chopping block?

Edit: oh Curry's PC world, that too.

I guess the biggest issue is how are retail based Pensions going to do, cause that's a doooooooosey.
 
HMV in Nottingham got rid of all there video games a while ago, other than CD's DVD and Blu-ray all they seem to sell is headphones and Vinyl. Prices aren't amazing either.

Though I don't know how any highstreet retailer expects to stay around.

I just bought a Levi denim jacket that in the sales in the Levi store is £62, I paid £42 from Amazon for the exact same thing, why would I buy it on the highstreet?
 
Unless things change radically, retail town centres will be converted into badly needed extra residential zones, with just the odd "corner shop" and supermarkets remaining.

The day of retail stores is going the way of the Dodo, rapidly.

Retail review of 2018 on BBC News 24 at the mo.
 
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Steampunk said:
What's finally done them in is the march of technology. More convenient streaming/downloads, at a cheaper price, more conveniently purchased from your sofa. Combined with rents, people who don't want to go through he hassle of high street shopping, and general softness in the retail market and lack of confidence in the economy in general, it all adds up to a perfect storm. Even if you want physical media, it's probably cheaper and less hassle to buy a Blu-ray online and have it plop through your letterbox next day.

In the end it comes down to the same problem as last time ie HMV sticking to an outdated business model while being unable or unwilling to compete with new more convenient and cheaper technologies offering the same products in a different/better way.
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Another thing am guessing didn't help them is 4K TV's is starting to take off big time now but the 4K blu-rays are well over priced so very few very people are willing to pay £20 to £30 per movie (and £15 each for old movies)
Plus with everything going to 4k now it stops people wanting to buy the outdated normal Blu-ray discs

The movie & music company's really should have knocked there prices down of hard copies to help shops like hmv that support them :mad:
 
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Was going to order a load of 4k movies 2 for £30 from them today online, what's the chances they will dispatch or just lose my money.
 
Hope not Debenhams, I like the clothes they sell.

Have not found anything that fits as comfortably, offers reasonable quality, and still looks good.
 
Would this closing straight after Christmas of been planned ?

As they knew very well that loads of people would be buying there gift vouchers for Christmas presents
 
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