On-line Stores & Sellers

[Wanderer]

This side of the Atlantic, Melomania in Paris announced that they close both their physical shop on the Blvd. Saint-Germain and there on-line store (although they hint at a reopening of the latter after the summer — let's see).

Melomania specialised in used CDs, but usually in near- mint condition (except, often, the hinges that hold the discs — whoever came up with that design when CDs first appeared should be summarily court-martialed!). Some really rare stuff could sometimes be found on their site.

Seems like the end of an era...

Melomania closing was very sad news. I always counted on browsing their physical shelves at their impeccable location at Boulevard Saint-Germain when in Paris (usually after casually se baladant from Caféothèque across the river) and always had nice finds and discoveries to bring home. 

I only found out about their closing shop a few days before my latest Paris trip in July; I was browsing their website for potential finds to ask for when there - and when in store, I inquired the owner about their plans: that was to be their last opening week, there were no plans to relocate (I was hoping a move perhaps to a less prestigious (=cheaper for them) address), and still unsure what to do with the webshop. There were customers not just browsing but literally raiding the shelves - there was a 50% reduction on the already usually ridiculously tempting prices. I had a few things I wanted to get (depleting their Medtner stock in the process), and then I browsed and got some more; you know how that goes. It was the last day of the Parisian early July heatwave - easily manageable by Greek standards, but with no air-conditioning and just a few fans to make the stuffy interior barely bearable. 

I revisited a couple of days later after visiting the nearby (and superbly restored) Musée de Cluny (medieval art and beautiful premises - their courtyard housing one of my favourite cafés in Paris). What I found impressive (and very practical) is that the moment a CD was purchased and there was no stock left the website was immediately showing the fact - no false hopes in Melomania. There was no more stifling heat, but some customers had pages-long printed lists of what to search for. I thought the sight of such a place of casually browsing and listening to music (there was always something great playing on) plundered in such a manner before imminent closure forlorn and sad. I really hope they will eventually find a way to re-open physical shop somewhere else. There is a website announcement leaving things open for the webstore re-emerging.

As far as I'm concerned, the end of a Parisian era.

[Que]

Melomania closing was very sad news. I always counted on browsing their physical shelves at their impeccable location at Boulevard Saint-Germain when in Paris (usually after casually se baladant from Caféothèque across the river) and always had nice finds and discoveries to bring home.

[...]I really hope they will eventually find a way to re-open physical shop somewhere else. There is a website announcement leaving things open for the webstore re-emerging.

As far as I'm concerned, the end of a Parisian era.

WOW, that is a shocker!   I do hope the webshop re-emerges...