HMV to Close All 102 Stores

[Erick Estrada]

I always like to step inside when I'm at the mall and typically there's quite a few people browsing but I imagine like me they aren't purchasing anything or anything in dollar amounts to keep the stores afloat. My kids like some of the goofy clothes and trinkets.

[Finger Cookin]

Amoeba in Hollywood was easily the coolest record store I've ever frequented. It'll be open for a few more years by the sounds of it, so anyone visiting the area who has even a passing interest in music should check it out. It's incredible.

[Igottago]

I wonder if they'll be having clearance sales then? Wouldn't mind grabbing some cheap blu rays and vinyl.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

It's the worst liquidation sale ever. It's Target all over again.

Up to 30% off. Lame. I think they're counting on people expecting 70% off and just buying crap anyway.

[Locke]

This is a shame.

HMV, Blockbuster and Radio Shack should have merged into a Mega-Conglomerate 15 years ago and ruled the world's markets on crappy walkie-talkies, rented videos, CDs and batteries.

They'd have shaken Capitalism and Western Democracy to its core!

[GP_Matt]

It wasn't in the posted article but the restructuring company bought them in 2012 for something like 2-3 million dollars. The guy leading the buyout at the time was quoted as saying he felt that physical media had about five years left before it was no longer a viable business model.
Looks like he called it perfectly.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

It's the worst liquidation sale ever. It's Target all over again.

Up to 30% off. Lame. I think they're counting on people expecting 70% off and just buying crap anyway.

Every liquidation sale is like that. Small discounts until the bulk of the stock is gone. By the time they get to 70% off all that will be left is Nana Mouskouri's greatest hits.

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by Drummer

Hopefully Recordland in Inglewood survives.

Have a feeling they'll be just fine. It helps when the inventory is reasonably priced too. Places like Hot Wax or Urban Sleeve may have a harder time surviving given their prices.

[N-E-B]

Call me crazy, but I always loved opening a CD booklet and reading the lyrics along as I listen to the new songs. Some really cool artwork in some of them too. Sad to see that physical media is dying.

[Flash Walken]

Oh no, will Sam the Record Man be next?

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Sooo...what's the over/under on EB games?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Sooo...what's the over/under on EB games?

I'm shocked they're still in business right now.

Their prices are borderline thievery as it is.

[keratosis]

People still buy physical games, plus they sell the hardware.
But my guess is they won't last much into the next decade.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

Every liquidation sale is like that. Small discounts until the bulk of the stock is gone. By the time they get to 70% off all that will be left is Nana Mouskouri's greatest hits.

Yep, I just gotta wait it out...

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by keratosis

People still buy physical games, plus they sell the hardware.
But my guess is they won't last much into the next decade.

Yeah I think there's a lot more demand for physical media for games, as you can't re-sell/trade digital copies. They've got amiibos or skylanders or whatever as well so it seems like more of an impulse shop too for younger kids/parents in the malls which HMV never really had. Exclusive content for pre-orders probably helps a bit too.

I think the death-knell for EB will moreso be the changing landscape of games. I'm assuming they either go to a flat-out subscription method like a lot of software is doing because it makes more money and hey, there's no good alternatives.

Or alternately, console games start selling for $10 an then force you to buy a bazillion dollars in micro-purchases to play it or make it functional.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Or alternately, console games start selling for $10 an then force you to buy a bazillion dollars in micro-purchases to play it or make it functional.

Other than the $10 part this is already happening.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by codynw

Other than the $10 part this is already happening.

Not quite at that point yet. Not that I play a ton, but I have yet to get a game that I've had to pay for DLC to make it playable. I meant it'll be a lot worse than it is.

But it wasn't a bold prediction by any means.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Locke

I'm shocked they're still in business right now.

Their prices are borderline thievery as it is.

I think they make a great amount of profit on the used market. The recycled prices are pretty much double what they'll pay you for a used item. That's their bread and butter. When console go fully digital and scrap physical media, it's over for them.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Not quite at that point yet. Not that I play a ton, but I have yet to get a game that I've had to pay for DLC to make it playable. I meant it'll be a lot worse than it is.

But it wasn't a bold prediction by any means.

Maybe not that bad (yet). But cutting content from the game and turning it into DLC happens all the time.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by codynw

Maybe not that bad (yet). But cutting content from the game and turning it into DLC happens all the time.

Oh for sure.