When you can't find any cds to buy-frustration

[yashin]

Ahhhhhhhh walked my usual path today into some cd shops....nothing new to buy....and a small selection at that.
Leaves me envious of those living in places where you can buy decent cds and dvds and you know that when you go in there on a monday all the new stuff will be out.  Don't have to dream of it.

The guy who works in the shop blames the record companies-they are not interested it seems in sending orders out to Asia. Then you have the dodgy customs officials who take what they can and by the time it gets here there is nothing left.

The odd treasure comes through but thats about all.  Oh but the Bocelli's, the other cr*p gets here ok-the shop is full of "bond", "bocelli" and "watson".  Can i get any wagner?  Can i buggery.

[Valentino]

I've almost stopped going to shops. I live in the country, and there are webshops enough in this world. I think I've forgotten how to browse properly in shops. I try when in Oslo from time to time, but it's not fun like it used to be, even when the shop is well stocked.

[Mark]

I've almost stopped going to shops. I live in the country, and there are webshops enough in this world.

My sentiments precisely. And online, you can sample music, too - no record shop anywhere near me (and that's 20 miles away) would take Timberlake off the PA system so I could hear a bit of Telemann.

[The Mad Hatter]

I still feel a great swell of comfort walking through Tower in Dublin, arriving in and hearing the music change from the rap/rock/folk to the classical section at the back is like coming in from the rain (which is usually something else I've done moments before).

Still, for selection, the interweb is the only place to go.

[Daverz]

I still feel a great swell of comfort walking through Tower in Dublin

Did Tower in Dublin somehow survive?

For me at least, there are really no places worth driving to shop for classical CDs here in the San Diego area.  Even the last bastion, Lou's Records and Tapes in Encinitas, has been in decline over the last year.  I've made a couple of pilgrimages up to L.A. to visit Amoeba and Record Surplus, but that's an all day round trip and $30 in gas.

[Valentino]

Proper shops, like a couple of the big ones in London, are nice. Listening stations with club chairs, was it at HMV? Wonderful.

[sunnyside_up]

We have ONE shop specialising in classical music in Perth and it recently moved to a smaller, more out-of-the-way premises with what seems to be less stock. I fear it will soon go out of business. It's a nice shop and I do like to browse around there, but I do just about all my CD and DVD shopping on the web these days -- CDs usually cost significantly less.

The only thing I miss is the instant gratification of being able to play my purchases as soon as I have bought them

[The Mad Hatter]

Did Tower in Dublin somehow survive?

Well, the classical section used to be most of the top floor, but now it's just a small room. Still, they play classical in there, and it's well laid-out.

[Mark]

The only thing I miss is the instant gratification of being able to play my purchases as soon as I have bought them

Downloads, anyone?

[Grazioso]

Back in the day, nearly every store around here had big classical selections. Best Buy even had a whole room set aside, if you can believe it. Now, no stores have a decent selection of classical music--if any. Not the chains, not the independents. So, online it is.

[Valentino]

Downloads, anyone?

You modern, you!

[Mark]

You modern, you!

Oh, but I'm not. I still love CD/SACD, but storage space is becoming an issue. And when I can get reasonable high-quality downloads quickly and hear them straightaway, it's sometimes better for me to do this rather than wait for some Amazon seller to finally get around to posting the CD to me.

[sunnyside_up]

Downloads, anyone?

Yeah, I know.....I don't know why, but I like having the physical CD, getting it out of its case, putting it on a decent system and sitting down with the liner notes in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. I guess I'm just an old fashioned girl.

[yashin]

you know i do lots of net stuff, banking, flights, hotels but i have never bought a book, cd or dvd on the net.  Yes, i am a virgin!

Can some of you more experienced guys help me out.  I live in Kuala lumpur, so it might be different for you:

1.  I am told not to buy more than 2 items at a time - the customs office here might take a shine to it.
2.  People tell me to send it to my work as otherwise the guards at my apartment might nick-it.

I am always worried by the high price for p&p-does it really work out more expensive? 

[Mark]

Yeah, I know.....I don't know why, but I like having the physical CD, getting it out of its case, putting it on a decent system and sitting down with the liner notes in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. I guess I'm just an old fashioned girl.

Secretly, so do I. Without the vino - I'm tee-total.

[Novi]

The only thing I miss is the instant gratification of being able to play my purchases as soon as I have bought them

Yeah, but don't you get a kick out of getting packages from the postie?

you know i do lots of net stuff, banking, flights, hotels but i have never bought a book, cd or dvd on the net.  Yes, i am a virgin!

Can some of you more experienced guys help me out.  I live in Kuala lumpur, so it might be different for you:

1.  I am told not to buy more than 2 items at a time - the customs office here might take a shine to it.
2.  People tell me to send it to my work as otherwise the guards at my apartment might nick-it.

I am always worried by the high price for p&p-does it really work out more expensive? 

Yashin, it depends on what the tax-free threshold is for Malaysia.

Postage depends on where you buy from.

www.jpc.de (a German website) has a flat rate (14 euros to Asia). I think that's a very reasonable price, especially if you're buying a few sets (which is probably what they're hoping for ). This is good especially if you fancy some brilliant boxsets as they have really really good prices. Also cpo. Some of the more mainstream stuff might be found more cheaply elsewhere.

Also, if you're buying from the EU, you don't have to pay VAT, although Malaysian import taxes may well cancel that out.

Your second question ... hmmm, depends on your guards. Maybe you can ask the vendor to write on your packages, 'Arcane atonal stuff ... you won't like it, Guards.'

[sunnyside_up]

Yeah, but don't you get a kick out of getting packages from the postie?

Sure do! I get them sent to my work, which breaks up the day nicely!

[yashin]

Oh i misunderstood the JPC website-i thought it was much more expensive for p&p!

That site is great, and i prefer the euro sites compared to the UK which i find more expensive.  I used to live in Holland and quite often  the cds/dvd were cheaper (not always) there.

Thanks, will check it out again

[Hector]

I received an email last night from Tower.com telling me, as a valued customer, that I can, in the near future, shop at the new Tower.com.

Which was nice.

The downside is, but I need to check, it is an American site which means orders have to run the gauntlet of British Customs

Bah!

[Mark]

I received an email last night from Tower.com telling me, as a valued customer, that I can, in the near future, shop at the new Tower.com.

Which was nice.

The downside is, but I need to check, it is an American site which means orders have to run the gauntlet of British Customs

Bah!

And the chances of a major operation like Tower writing the word 'Gift' on your packaged order (thus avoiding customs duty on arrival here in the UK) are zero.