Retail Music Stores Gone

I agree with Itsalldark that Barnes & Noble has the correct model for the brick & mortar music store in times of declining CD sales. They carry less inventory than the CD retail palaces of yore, but their corporate buyers have carefully targeted the 35-60 year old demographic that sustains hard-copy CD purchases. (Their jazz & classical sections are far better than my local indie record store.) The 10% membership discount, taken together with frequently emailed 15% off coupons, makes fair value for repeat buyers. Unfortunately of late the DVD department has displaced part of the CD department, so I don't know how long this will last. But in any case I'll probably die out along with other the audio dinosaurs who are not embarassed to admit they've never downloaded a single song...

Nonsense uhurit,

A few recent scores as Barnes & Noble, including some off-beat labels:

Ali Farka Toure "Savane"
Kenny Werner "Lawn Chair Society"
Daniel Levin Quartet "Some Trees"
Lee Hazelwood "Cake or Death"
Sonny Rollings "Please"
Various Chesky SACDs

Many at 25% discount after membership card & emailed coupons.

uhurit, let's see:

Barnes & Noble cardmembers receive about twelve 15% off discount coupons by email each year + 10% off card discount = 25% total discount or $4 savings per typical $17 CD x 12 months = $48 savings

$48 savings - $25 gift card cost = $23 savings = 11% off first 12 CD's purchased.

Assuming at least 12 CDs purchased per year, the gift card effectly costs nothing and the average discount on all CDs purchased during the year is 10-11% off. Not too bad, when added to the fact that listening prior to purchase eliminates wasteful buying & there are also discounts on books for those who still read....

I also use their headphones to kill time while my wife is cruising the mall, & to qualify CDs for purchase later on from cheaper sources. It's only fair to factor these benefits into the cost of goods at B&N.

Net net, while I don't care much for chain store operations, I'd like to help keep this record department viable.

Sdatch, I'll bite on this one: I knew a fellow with $100K+ in Krell FPB monos, Wadia separates, Dunlavy SCV speakers, and 100" Stewart screen in a custom-built concrete bunker, who listened only to Roger Water's "Amused to Death" and Yes's "Fragile."