The "Are you an asshole test"
I love me some Shake It Records. Seriously, those boys run a damn tight ship with a crazy selection galore. I drove down to pick up the new Dandy Warhols (thank you cockneyrebel for the tide over) and the new Sigur Ros and was pleasantly surprised when I brought the CDs to the counter. Not only was I "upgraded" to a the special DVD edition of the Dandy's for no extra charge, but I also received 3 snazzy Sigur Ros pins and a Sigur Ros CD single for my efforts.
This is why mom and pop record stores are worlds better than the big box places and that the people who exclusively shop there are chumps. Now, I have bought the occasional CD at Target when they have those crazy $6.99 sales, but places like Best Buy, Circuit City and even Target just can't offer the cool stuff that places like Shake It, Everybodys and even Wizards (especially of old) can. I've broken it down into pros and cons:
Pros of Best Buy, et al
Sometimes the CDs are a buck or two cheaper.
Cons
Occasionally they'll actually have what you want.
Just try asking the drooling Mongoloid about an upcoming release date.
Yeah, I really want to hear the latest 50 Cent at ear blistering volumes.
Pros of the mom and pop joints
Selection
Listening stations with stuff you'd actually want to hear
They are music fans and know what the hell you're talking about.
USED CDs!!!
Free stuff and the occasional good customer discount.
Conversation about music which might lead to new discoveries.
Cons
Spending too much money on the aforementioned discoveries.
Ummmm, there was that time they were playing something on the PA that was annoying.
Basically, it breaks down like this: if you buy most of your music from a chain store, chances are you're an asshole. And don't use that, "Well, it's cheaper argument." If two or three dollars is going to break you, you shouldn't be buying music anyway. And that "Indie store clerks are snobs" argument is weak too. Can you tell me that Cap'n Best Buy is on the top of any game? Besides, in Cincinnati, Shake It and Everybodys have some of the friendliest and most knowledgeable staff I have ever met. Anyway, I've been in hundreds of record stores and can only think of one which featured a snob (Looney T's in Oxford, but that store was overpriced and shit anyway.)
So, are using the big box places bad? Not necessarily. Like I said, I've made some purchases at BB, Target and have probably spent more money at the Virgin/HMV Megastores than I care to admit. But, I never got the discounts, never got added schwag, never walked out with a complete impulse buy because the clerk saw what I was buying and passionately recommended a similar band.
In conclusion, go to Shake It. Go to Everybody's. Drop a steaming pile in Best Buy and tell them Musicheals sent you.
edited to add: this post was inspired by something I read today. Some guy was moaning about indie record stores, while in the same breath (fingerstroke) blasting Wal*Mart's slash and burn tactics. I know that what I wrote will offend some of you, but for what it is worth, I do respect the musical knowledge most of you possess. This is just a long standing gripe of mine.
This is why mom and pop record stores are worlds better than the big box places and that the people who exclusively shop there are chumps. Now, I have bought the occasional CD at Target when they have those crazy $6.99 sales, but places like Best Buy, Circuit City and even Target just can't offer the cool stuff that places like Shake It, Everybodys and even Wizards (especially of old) can. I've broken it down into pros and cons:
Pros of Best Buy, et al
Sometimes the CDs are a buck or two cheaper.
Cons
Occasionally they'll actually have what you want.
Just try asking the drooling Mongoloid about an upcoming release date.
Yeah, I really want to hear the latest 50 Cent at ear blistering volumes.
Pros of the mom and pop joints
Selection
Listening stations with stuff you'd actually want to hear
They are music fans and know what the hell you're talking about.
USED CDs!!!
Free stuff and the occasional good customer discount.
Conversation about music which might lead to new discoveries.
Cons
Spending too much money on the aforementioned discoveries.
Ummmm, there was that time they were playing something on the PA that was annoying.
Basically, it breaks down like this: if you buy most of your music from a chain store, chances are you're an asshole. And don't use that, "Well, it's cheaper argument." If two or three dollars is going to break you, you shouldn't be buying music anyway. And that "Indie store clerks are snobs" argument is weak too. Can you tell me that Cap'n Best Buy is on the top of any game? Besides, in Cincinnati, Shake It and Everybodys have some of the friendliest and most knowledgeable staff I have ever met. Anyway, I've been in hundreds of record stores and can only think of one which featured a snob (Looney T's in Oxford, but that store was overpriced and shit anyway.)
So, are using the big box places bad? Not necessarily. Like I said, I've made some purchases at BB, Target and have probably spent more money at the Virgin/HMV Megastores than I care to admit. But, I never got the discounts, never got added schwag, never walked out with a complete impulse buy because the clerk saw what I was buying and passionately recommended a similar band.
In conclusion, go to Shake It. Go to Everybody's. Drop a steaming pile in Best Buy and tell them Musicheals sent you.
edited to add: this post was inspired by something I read today. Some guy was moaning about indie record stores, while in the same breath (fingerstroke) blasting Wal*Mart's slash and burn tactics. I know that what I wrote will offend some of you, but for what it is worth, I do respect the musical knowledge most of you possess. This is just a long standing gripe of mine.