Where do you purchase your music?

[Bogey]

Be specific.  Include any shops and their names with links, if possible.  Especially any local or individually owned shops.  On line?  Then where?

Mine:

Amazon US and a local shop down the street named Black and Read:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-and-read-arvada

[mc ukrneal]

Be specific.  Include any shops and their names with links, if possible.  Especially any local or individually owned shops.  On line?  Then where?

Mine:

Amazon US and a local shop down the street named Black and Read:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-and-read-arvada

Funny you should ask. Over the last couple of years (includes 'all in' prices with shipping and taxes, if any):
Amazon: 30.1% (includes all Amazon sites and market sellers)
Berkshire: 19.9%
MDT: 12.7%
Barnes and Noble: 9.8%
Abeille: 8.8%
JPC: 6.4%
Presto Classical: 3.8%
Moviemars: 2.5%
Importcds: 2.3%
Deep Discount: 2.3%
Borders 1.2%

That's in dollar terms. By number of discs:
Berkshire: 24.3%
Amazon: 25.9%
Barnes and Noble: 10.1%
MDT: 9.8%
Abeille: 9.7%
JPC: 9.5%
Presto: 5.1%
Moviemars: 2.0%
Deep Discount: 1.6%
Importcds: 1.3%
Borders: 0.7%

It's good to see Berkshire at the top. I bought two discs in shops, and those were on trips where I wanted a disc for the car.

[Bogey]

Funny you should ask. Over the last couple of years (includes 'all in' prices with shipping and taxes, if any):
Amazon: 30.1% (includes all Amazon sites and market sellers)
Berkshire: 19.9%
MDT: 12.7%
Barnes and Noble: 9.8%
Abeille: 8.8%
JPC: 6.4%
Presto Classical: 3.8%
Moviemars: 2.5%
Importcds: 2.3%
Deep Discount: 2.3%
Borders 1.2%

That's in dollar terms. By number of discs:
Berkshire: 24.3%
Amazon: 25.9%
Barnes and Noble: 10.1%
MDT: 9.8%
Abeille: 9.7%
JPC: 9.5%
Presto: 5.1%
Moviemars: 2.0%
Deep Discount: 1.6%
Importcds: 1.3%
Borders: 0.7%

It's good to see Berkshire at the top. I bought two discs in shops, and those were on trips where I wanted a disc for the car.

Man!  Now that is a serious audit!   Cool how you keep track.

[Brian]

In the last 12 months:
- Istanbul Philharmonic shop: 1 box set
- Royal Liverpool Philharmonic CD signing: 1 CD
- Amazon USA (gift card): 4-5 CDs
- ArkivMusic (gift card + $7): 3 CDs
- MDT: 6-8 CDs
- Classicsonline UK MP3 downloads of Naxos Historical recordings, before I moved back to the USA (where they're unavailable): 33 digital albums (approx. $3 each)
- Amazon USA MP3 downloads: approx. 30 individual pop/rock songs for my spring break road trip

As you can see, I haven't bought much music in the past 12 months since I'm broke! I'd guess my music expenses in the last year have been around $270, one-third at Classicsonline UK and nearly one-third at MDT.

My next planned purchases are at MDT and Amazon UK sometime this month.

[Ataraxia]

Amazon or iTunes usually.

[DavidW]

Amazon or iTunes usually.

Same here.

[listener]

I'm pleased to report that my local b&M http://www.sikorasclassical.com/ leads my list with 74 cd + 2 dvd +7 lps,
unless you count the 150 disc box as separate items from jpc, which is otherwise 7 units.
amazon.fr = 1 (50 disc box), amazon.ca 5 + 1dvd, hb = 2 cd, presto 29cd, amazon.com 2cd, amazon.de 1, amazon.uk 1.

[Bogey]

I'm pleased to report that my local b&M http://www.sikorasclassical.com/ leads my list with 74 cd + 2 dvd +7 lps,
unless you count the 150 disc box as separate items from jpc, which is otherwise 7 units.
amazon.fr = 1 (50 disc box), amazon.ca 5 + 1dvd, hb = 2 cd, presto 29cd, amazon.com 2cd, amazon.de 1, amazon.uk 1.

Now that is cool!  Used to be a classical record shop here in Denver that my father-in-law went to.  This is where he started his collection and left it to us when he passed away in '92.  Still have all his cds and we have added to them over the years.  Your shop has to be a rare breed indeed.  Enjoy it!

[Karl Henning]

Scary audit, Neal! : )

[Gurn Blanston]

In the last year, I have bought 23 disks on eBay, 4 disks at Arkiv, 16 at MDT, 28 at BRO and 145 at Amazon Marketplace. I don't have access to a brick-and-mortar store, so online is my only alternative.

[Bogey]

In the last year, I have bought 23 disks on eBay, 4 disks at Arkiv, 16 at MDT, 28 at BRO and 145 at Amazon Marketplace. I don't have access to a brick-and-mortar store, so online is my only alternative.

Funny.  I used to enjoy browsing the used bins here in Denver.  However, either the discs are priced higher than on-line, or the selection is so-so.  I have been doing more of my shopping on the net of late as I want specific recordings and find I am getting more for my money that way.  Kind of a bummer though, as I used to enjoy the hunt.  Just ain't many foxes in the woods anymore.  Now, with vinyl, well that is big game in my parts.

[Gurn Blanston]

Funny.  I used to enjoy browsing the used bins here in Denver.  However, either the discs are priced higher than on-line, or the selection is so-so.  I have been doing more of my shopping on the net of late as I want specific recordings and find I am getting more for my money that way.  Kind of a bummer though, as I used to enjoy the hunt.  Just ain't many foxes in the woods anymore.  Now, with vinyl, well that big game in my parts.

I used to go to Austin on business 2 or 3 times a year, and there were a few big stores that had 'used' bins. I always made it a point to get there for a few hours. What I like was never knowing what you were going to find. That was back in the days when I was really building my collection, and I didn't have anyone to advise me, so I bought anything that looked interesting. You get to hear a lot of music that way. Far less likely to just buy randomly online, which is a pity in a way...

[Ataraxia]

"Psst. I got some nice Mahler down here!"

[Gurn Blanston]

"Psst. I got some nice Mahler down here!"

  Yep, there were some of those there too...

[Bogey]

I used to go to Austin on business 2 or 3 times a year, and there were a few big stores that had 'used' bins. I always made it a point to get there for a few hours. What I like was never knowing what you were going to find. That was back in the days when I was really building my collection, and I didn't have anyone to advise me, so I bought anything that looked interesting. You get to hear a lot of music that way. Far less likely to just buy randomly online, which is a pity in a way...

Great point.  I have all sorts of stuff that I would have never sought out.  More hits than misses, I might add.  However, there are so many cds posted here that I want to give a try that my money has been going in that direction.  We should just all get togther, agree on a neighborhood, buy up the plots, and share our music.  Plus, we could just chat instead of type.   The Alexandria GMG Library.   

[Gurn Blanston]

Great point.  I have all sorts of stuff that I would have never sought out.  More hits than misses, I might add.  However, there are so many cds posted here that I want to give a try that my money has been going in that direction.  We should just all get togther, agree on a neighborhood, buy up the plots, and share our music.  Plus, we could just chat instead of type.   The Alexandria GMG Library.   

I have enough space to easily accommodate 50 or so houses.... AND a library!

[classicalgeek]

I'm pleased to report that my local b&M http://www.sikorasclassical.com/ leads my list with 74 cd + 2 dvd +7 lps,
unless you count the 150 disc box as separate items from jpc, which is otherwise 7 units.
amazon.fr = 1 (50 disc box), amazon.ca 5 + 1dvd, hb = 2 cd, presto 29cd, amazon.com 2cd, amazon.de 1, amazon.uk 1.

Excellent - thank you for helping keep Sikora's in business!  Next time we're in Vancouver (we go about once a year), I'll have to convince my wife to let me make a stop!

In the Seattle area, we have a nice local B&M chain called Silver Platters.  There are three locations, all with decent new and used classical CD sections.  When I last visited the Queen Anne location (July 2010), they had just acquired a large estate.  I happily bought up Buchbinder's first Beethoven sonata cycle (this one: http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Sonatas-1-32-Beethoven/dp/B000000SDX) for about $30, and his Beethoven variations, also on Teldec, for about $20!

Sadly, such stores are a dying breed, as we all know...

[KeithW]

My main sources:

a) Discs - around 70% of total
Amazon - all sites and including MP - probably around 50%
Presto - 30%
JPC - 5%
Abeille - 5%
Individual labels - eg Wigmore Hall - 5%
Academy Records NYC - 2%
Ebay 3%

b) Digital - very rough guess - all are FLAC/ALAC
Pristine - 30%
Hyperion - 30%
eClassical - 20%
The Classical Shop - 20%

[Szykneij]

I used to go to Austin on business 2 or 3 times a year, and there were a few big stores that had 'used' bins. I always made it a point to get there for a few hours. What I like was never knowing what you were going to find. That was back in the days when I was really building my collection, and I didn't have anyone to advise me, so I bought anything that looked interesting. You get to hear a lot of music that way. Far less likely to just buy randomly online, which is a pity in a way...

I use the "anything that looks interesting" technique quite a bit and find ebay is a good place to do it. I peruse the auction listings, and if I see an item that appears intriguing, I'll research it at Amazon or someplace else and decide if it's something I want. If I do, then I'll put in a bid, or if the price is right at the other site, just buy it there.

[Todd]

I buy most CDs from Amazon US, usually from smaller sellers in the marketplace.  For specific purchases, I buy from a variety of foreign sellers, too - HMV Japan, CD Japan, Amazons .ca .de .fr & .co.uk, Presto, JPC, Buywell, Stradivarius, CBC, and some I've forgotten.