quoted 5 lines Agreed, but you'd still have to deal with distributor and retail markup which>Agreed, but you'd still have to deal with distributor and retail markup which
>makes up about 50% of the cost of a CD in a store. I have to say there is a
>certain satisfaction in seeing the RIAA running around the place "earning their
>keep", as they have been incredibly complacent and lazy regarding the internet
>and digital technology in general for too many years.
I know quite a few of the records store owners around here and have discussed their situation with them numerous times over the years and have heard the same thing quite a few times--the mom & pop shop has a hard time getting the CDs and records they sell for much less than a customer can buy it for at HMV or Sam the record man, etc. A lot of this has to do with quantity--a chain can afford to purchase large amounts of a product, and therefore gets quite a discount and is in the position to add the markup they wish. But at the same time, all of these stores have at some time bent over backwards for me to get the releases I want no matter how obscure or difficult to find, whereas I was just recently told by HMV that they would not, not could not, but would not order some of the releases I wanted. Why? Good question. The local shop seemed to be happy to do so regardless. :)
cheers,
Mark
hellothisisalex
www.hellothisisalex.com / records.hellothisisalex.com
mp3s at www.raw42.com/cgi-bin/featuredartist.pl?artist=213
mark@hellothisisalex