Long gone high street retailers that would have sold Blu-rays

[CinemaScope]

I thought W.H.Smith had stopped selling DVD ect altogether a while ago. The ones I go into, even the big stores, don't sell anything like that now. It's all online these days.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by The Driver

If you guys can't find what you want on the Internet you either have severe learning difficulties or you're buying the wrong stuff.

Classy. Having fought with dyspraxia for most of my life it fills me with joy to see nasty and idiotic comments like this alive and well in 2011. Keep up the great work.

[Bobby Betamax]

Originally Posted by DaveSimonH

I used to love Music Zone, had some great DVD prices.
I feel sorry for people unable or unwilling to shop online, if HMV is basically the only place they can buy from. Its hard to defend them when a blu-rays are often £6 or £7 on their own website, then £15 instore.

I was told by a member of staff in HMV (last year) that the HMV site isn't owned by the same people who own the shops. Is that right?

I do buy stuff online, but I think the high street and shopping centres are duller places to visit now that these entertainment retailers have disappeared from the scene.

[Racetrack]

Yeah it's a shame what's happened to the High Street but they just can't compete with the internet. Too many overheads for a brick and mortar shop. When you can buy the same item for half the price delivered to your door from the internet there really is no way these shops can survive.

HMV are the only real nationwide specialist in movies and music left and i hear their not doing to well. They probably wouldn't even still be here after the recession had they not been the last ones left.

Still in a way i'm glad those shops are gone as they were a ripoff. In the late 80's and early 90's new VHS releases would cost £14.99! That's over 20 years ago when £14.99 was a lot back then, even more for a kid. Now the latest Blu's cost less then that.

[No1Mugster]

I used to love MVC because it had more DVD/VHS than music, whereas HMV and Virgin only had a small section compared to their music section. Although HMV these days is more 50-50 with music/DVDs. I remember their 'members price' as well.

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by Racetrack

Still in a way i'm glad those shops are gone as they were a ripoff. In the late 80's and early 90's new VHS releases would cost £14.99! That's over 20 years ago when £14.99 was a lot back then, even more for a kid. Now the latest Blu's cost less then that.

Yep, the high street is a bit boring these days, but I remember paying those prices for VHS, & way back in 1984 when CD's first appeared, they were about £15 each, & £15-£20 for DVD's, we can't go back to those days.

[Brightstar]

Dvd' was a fantastic format back in those days

[Stu123]

I'd rather buy on the high street it's a better experience going into a shop, going to get what you want and bringing it home rather than just pressing a button and having to wait 3 to 5 days.I nearly always end up buying over the internet though because of the price.

[Boomstick_316]

Originally Posted by Bobby Betamax

I was told by a member of staff in HMV (last year) that the HMV site isn't owned by the same people who own the shops. Is that right?

I think it's more likely that it's owned by HMV but is run by another company. It's also based in Guernsey, so they've got that tax loophole working in their favour, so they can offer cheaper prices.

[The Driver]

Originally Posted by Bobby Betamax

I was told by a member of staff in HMV (last year) that the HMV site isn't owned by the same people who own the shops. Is that right?

Yes and no. They are entirely separate entities but are owned by the same PLC.

I'm sure -as we speak- HMV's management will be thinking of every way possible of splitting them and leaving all the bad debts dumped on the UK's doorstep while riding off into the sunset with their pockets full of cash.

[tigertron]

Whilst I like browsing shops for films I must admit that the internet obliterates the high street stores. Usually the internet is much cheaper and theres less hassle too, so I definatly see the likes of HMV becoming an online only retailer like Woolworths.

[McCrutchy]

I used to like coming over and seeing all the creepily uniform VPRC packaging requirements on VHS and DVDs in the shops. I would see relics of the Ferman-era BBFC with things like Batman or U.S. Marshals being '15' on VHS, and those lame multicolored content descriptor boxes on them. Nothing like communist-style home video packaging...