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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Jaimie Vernon" <bullseyecanada@hotmail.com> |
| Subject | Re: HMV in NYC, R.I.P.? |
| Date | Tue, 12 Oct 2004 19:57:17 -0400 |
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At Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 15:39:25 Christopher wrote:
>Maybe I'm naïve (okay, I'm definitely naïve), but I have to wonder, did it
>have to be this way? Might there not have been a way for HMV to do what
>the
>other chains can't seem to, put together a staff who are excited about the
>product they're selling, to provide customers a real service? Maybe
>partner
>with the floundering major labels to help promote new music, new artists,
>to
>make the experience of buying music as great as it can be?
In Canada, HMV declared war on the major labels -- first by boycotting all
Warner Music product three years ago or so (over pricing policies)...then
Universal decided to adjust their wholesale costs to work with giants like
HMV -- but found out that HMV wasn't passing that savings onto the consumer.
They continued to sell the CDs in their stores at the same price as they did
pre-wholesale discount. So, Universal announced a roll-forward to their
previous wholesale costs and so HMV threw a temper tantrum.
Also, HMV boycotted the Rolling Stones' DVD and then the entire Stones back
catalogue after the Stones made an exclusive deal to pre-sell the 4 DVD set
through Best Buy (or was it Futureshop). Alas, EMI/Virgin suffered because
of this because the CD back catalogue was with THEM, and not through the
same distributor as the Stones DVD. This rift and a second backlash at EMI
Canada (who called HMV out on the carpet for non-performance of pre-paid
floor space at retail outlets) recently put the availability of many EMI
titles on the endangered species list in most HMV outlets.
Finally, I'm distributed through a national independent distributor and
their salesmen were told point blank that they'd be ejected from any HMV
stores where they attempted to solicite product.
War's been declared. The consumer will lose.
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