The Smiley Smile Message Board

hello everyone, hope you dont mind me asking about your buying habits.
im aware that i dont post here much, and this isnt some marketing emai.
just curious after to speaking to a friend.

how do you buy your music, especially you folks who are into old stuff?

internet, shops or downloading?
how important are shops to you nowadays, now you can get anything off the internet?
if you had a good little record shop that was local to you, would you support that over the internet?

personally i dont think you can beat browsing in a shop.
i really only use the internet when i cant find anything in my local shops.
if i could get stuff in shops, i'd support them.


david.

Records: Record conventions, used stores (Ottawa seems to suck for this, though. Much better off going to Montreal or Toronto)
CDs: Local store, then Best Buy (cheap but bad selection), then chain stores. If it's too hard to find, I use Amazon.ca.

For new records and CD's, I'll go to the local record shop. For old CD's, I'll see if they have it at the record store, if not I'll check Borders, and if not, I'll order it on ebay. For old records, I'll see if they have it at the record store, and, depending on the price I'll get it either there or on ebay (usually ebay).

I go wherever the price is best.  I have absolutely NO indie shops around my area anymore.  When I was in high school, there used to be about 8.  Now there is one and it is VERY expensive.  Unless it's something new or common that is at a Best Buy, I have to do my shopping online.  Something killed off those mom & pop stores.  It's a shame because a couple of them were outstanding.

I very rarely have any luck in the music shops here.  Seems like they consider 80's music retro, and you're lucky if you see 1 or 2 Beatles titles at the most.  In some stores, they don't even have a marker for The Beach Boys.  (I know... that's just WRONG!)

So most of the time I order my music from Amazon or Ebay.   ::)

New Records: Newbury Comics
Used Records: Various used record shops
CDs & DVD-Audio: Newbury Comics, CDUniverse.com, Tower Records
Digital Music Files: Musicmatch

In all honesty, this is how I buy music:

There's something I want.  OK, is it available in surround sound on DVD-Audio?  If not, is it available on vinyl?  If not, then I'll usually just buy the tracks off Musicmatch unless it's a band that I really truly love, in which case I'll buy the CD for the artwork and the liner notes, etc.

CDs - Amazon or Borders
Vinyl - Anywhere that sells them, sometimes the internet, usually eBay
Digital - Rhapsody

That's what killed off your shops, dude.

I get most of my CDs on Amazon. I also go to FYE whenever I'm in the mall, so if a CD there catches my eye I'll buy it there. Those are really the only two places I purchase CDs from, besides CDs an artist is selling only on their website.

I get most of my used vinyl from places like the Salvation Army; for new vinyl either Hot Topic or any random website I come across.

Seeing as I live in London I do have the advantage of LOTS of record shops. Even so, buying stuff is not easy.

If its a CD that is popular and I REALLY want it then the chances are I will get it at my local Tesco's (UK supermarket chain) as they are 200 yards from where I live and sell new CD's for about £9.99.

If its an oldie then I have to work out if I am going into town soon (I live in the East End - about 10 miles from the centre of London) - If I am then I will try the independent shops in Berwick St which have a fantastic range of stuff, or if HMV or Virgin are having a sale (i.e. nearly all the time) I'll see what is going cheap this week.

If there is a pretty obscure new album coming out - lets say 29 by Ryan Adams - and I am going nowhere soon, then I'll order it from Play.com or Amazon if I'm looking at books as well.

I am currently musing about the Band box set having failed to get it at HMV when I had a voucher - its now back in but £10 dearer at £64. Amazon are doing it for £49 so I wil probably get it there unless I decide I want a DVD recorder instead (just had a birthday....)

Also use CD-WOW for CD's and DVD's (useful for region 1) - Play.Com also for Region 1 DVD's. Also Second-Spin.com for used CD's and DVD's from the US.

I also monitor the likes of Woolworths who are always flogging stuff off cheap!

Then there are always charity shops.....

I don't know, I think it's pretty nice when Ian posts mp3s for us.

Now THAT was funny.

Mostly new cd's that are not too obscure I get from play.com simply because £8.99 and free delivery you can't beat.
I use Amazon for more obscure stuff and on their Amazon marketplace you can get some real bargains.
I never buy downloads because in the UK they are too overpriced. Why pay almost as much as a CD for a 128kps rip with no artwork?
The only time I'd buy a download is if it's a b-side to a single not on an album or an exclusive track.

I would prefer to buy from a nice indie shop but there are no GOOD ones in my neighborhood.  When I travel I seek them out for vinyl and good used CDs, usually spending TOO much money.  Sometimes I purchase at Estate Sales (good for finding nice Sinatra albums) or at yard sales or flea markets.

Otherwise, I rely on friends and family to provide me with some of their recommended music.

Sometimes I'll buy a few CDs from BMG.  And fairly often I buy at the mall....Borders, or at Circuit City or Best Buy.

I've yet to purchase from an individual over the internet.  Although I am considering this to complete my BeachBoys Vinyl collection.

I've got more choices for music stores in the Bay Area than I had in New England, but I still miss Newbury Comics!

These days I generally wait until I've acquired a decent stack of freebies I don't care to own anymore, then I trade 'em in for credit.

 Gotta say  I support  easy street records.. Seattle Washington

Insound....

Virgin Megstore

Ever go to Olympia?  Not many great stores, really.

i usually shop newbury comics for used , because their used stuff is spotless....in Cambridge MA. i shop at Cheapo records ..AWESOME Funk, Soul and jazz selection Best in Boston area!!!!!. also Planet records in haravrd Sq. except most of their used are promo's /cut out's.
Online ....DUSTYGROOVE.Com ..........the best !!!

oh yeah  been to Oylimpia many times... Never looked at the record stores there tho.......


xoxo
suga

Alan, ever been to Fopp? Excellent prices, loads and loads of classics for a fiver (used to work there).

Heh heh...there's a British music store called Fopp.

Alan, if you're ever over here (US), Fagg has some great deals, too.

Yeah but does it sell records?

HAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tons of Faggy bargains!

No, but I've broken a few.

I try buying it with charm but they only accept money for some reason.

I supported my local hipster music shack since my early teens, and one day they turned into a coffee shop and proud home of the "Robert Fripp-uccino."

I miss the dollar bin LPs.

Yes Indeedy, was in the Camden one over Xmas and was gob-smacked. Ended up buying all sorts of stuff - No Depression (£5), Weld (double! for a fiver!) and a few films - Rumblefish for £3, Vertigo for £5. So good I went back just after xmas and bought some more. HARD shop to walk out of empty handed. (cue more sniggering yank jokes about the name.....)

Snigger, no.  But I would like to jigger and yank a fobb.

Besides, I can't help it if you people flaunt this stuff, what with your Absolutely Fobbulous, dahling.

FOPP. (not fobb). Tis a very silly name I agree, but can't fault the prices! It's also nice to have a shop that prices things at £5 rather than £4.99. What the hell am I going to do with that penny anyway.

And just to show we aren't making all this up....

http://www.fopp.co.uk/fopp.asp

go check 'em out!

In Toronto you cant beat Vortex Records (Eglinton & Yonge) or Harmony Records (Eglinton & Mt Pleasant)...great selection of used CD's, vinyl and DVD's etc.....

otherwise I use Amazon.ca

Busted.

I know, I cannot walk past it. There's one in my town, I can spend hours in there. Am gradually building my Woody Allen DVD collection thanks to the £5 deals.  :)

(I'm in west London)
New populist stuff I get in Fopp or Selectadisc/Sister Ray. Or wait til the megastore sales.
New obscurist stuff I get in Rough Trade Portobello.
Reissues I get in Minus Zero/Stand Out. What a fantastic shop, probably the best of its kind in London.
Rare vinyl I get on ebay/gemm/at record fairs/charity shops/Record & Tape exchange.

Harvey - what is Minus Zero/Stand Out? Not heard of that - I keep forgetting about the excellent Rough Trade shop (yes, cue more sniggering yanks... we also have shops called Virgin of course, and HMV actually means...no...won't go there) in Neals Yard and forgetting to go there unless my wife is searching for health stuff around there.

FOPP is a song from the album HONEY by the Ohio Player's.