A dude hordes a stack of discounted vinyl while a pimp takes a rest outside. For the last 3 days of the Virgin Apocalypse, the animals are on both sides of the glass.
Showing posts with label Virgin Megastore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virgin Megastore. Show all posts
June 12, 2009
Virgin Smegmastore - Part I don't remember
June 6, 2009
Walking to the Jersey Shore from Manhattan
On my way to the Union Square Virgin Smegmastore today (which is now has DVD and CD discounts set at 50%), I spotted this brand new addition to Broadway & West 12th St.:
Inside, they had brochures and Exit 63 stickers and actual sand, paid for by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism. I'm not sure if this was an effort to remind New Yorkers to include the Shore in their Summer plans, or some sort of Benny Internment Program (BIP, for short). I didn't go past the doors because I was afraid they would mistake me for a genuine NYer, tackle me, and tag me with a tracking device, so I just took a photo from the sidewalk. The RoBeastress (an actual Benny), was nearly captured.
For those of us that religiously follow The North/South Jersey Debate Blog, this is big news. The discovery of a Jersey Shore in New York City now extends "The Shore's" border far North, and gives greatly expands "South Jersey." This diagram reflects The New New Jersey Shore (its coordinates being Jersey Shore, PA; The Jersey Shore Store, NYC; and Cape May, NJ).
Mind=Blown. You'll never BIP me!
Inside, they had brochures and Exit 63 stickers and actual sand, paid for by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism. I'm not sure if this was an effort to remind New Yorkers to include the Shore in their Summer plans, or some sort of Benny Internment Program (BIP, for short). I didn't go past the doors because I was afraid they would mistake me for a genuine NYer, tackle me, and tag me with a tracking device, so I just took a photo from the sidewalk. The RoBeastress (an actual Benny), was nearly captured.For those of us that religiously follow The North/South Jersey Debate Blog, this is big news. The discovery of a Jersey Shore in New York City now extends "The Shore's" border far North, and gives greatly expands "South Jersey." This diagram reflects The New New Jersey Shore (its coordinates being Jersey Shore, PA; The Jersey Shore Store, NYC; and Cape May, NJ).
Mind=Blown. You'll never BIP me!
June 2, 2009
Virgin Smegmastore Part VI
It's June and the Virgin Megastore at Union Square store is still open. The discounts at the ever-closing store have gone up to 40%-60%. I didn't actually see anything at 60%, though I can safely assume it's just wallets, posters, and rock and roll mousetraps. Most importantly, DVDs and CDs are at 40% off, which puts their prices on a competitive level with Amazon.
This also means that it's time for me to finally buy things! Most of my wish list has already been depleted by people with less interest in getting things for a decent price, so I didn't walk out with much on my visit last night. I picked up Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job! Seasons 1 and 2 for the same exact price that they are selling for on Amazon. The TV on DVD section was hit particularly hard, and the Season 1 DVD appeared to be the last copy in stock, so I felt a sense of urgency to grab it. I didn't save any money, but I didn't lose any either. No harm, no foul.
The DVDs are quickly disappearing, so if anyone is still holding out, you'd better hope your items are still in stock. The Criterion Collection is pretty much gone except for a billion copies of The Last Emporer. The Music DVDs are slim pickin's too. I still plan on buying the Sarah Bareilles concert DVD, but every time I go back to the store, there are more and more copies. Last week I counted 31. There are even more this week. TV on DVD is mostly Aqua Teen, CSI, and a shitload of SNL retrospectives.
The rest of the DVD sections are filled with overstocked horror/action movies that no one will buy (Jaws 3, Friday the 13th Part 1, Doom) and cheapo comedy favorites that are tempting to dorks like me (Bad News Bears, Naked Gun, Police Academy 2 & 3). The RoBeastress decided that she didn't care to wait any longer and picked up a recently remastered Real Genius for $6 (technically, I picked it up for her, and she bought me a cheesesteak). I will not deny that $6 is a good price for a DVD, but there are so many of those childhood HBO favorites of mine sitting there that I would enjoy watching again but don't necessarily need in my collection. To buy them all now would be overkill. I'll wait and let natural selection weed out the ones that the DVD gods don't want me to take home.
As for CDs, there are billions remaining, presumably because of the already crappy prices. They busted out a lot of good priced greatest hits packages a couple weeks ago, but for the most part, music is still more expensive than online or at other stores. After much debate, the only thing I bought was the new Kelly Clarkson CD. After discounts, the Deluxe Edition was cheaper than the Amazon version. Sure, maybe I didn't really need the Deluxe Edition, but the regular version was not a better price than on Amazon (unless you count the regular version that I found mislabelled with a cheaper, incorrect price that I didn't bring up to the counter because I'm clearly too ethical for my own good). Plus the Deluxe Edition comes with 2 extra songs. Kelly Clarkson CDs have been hit or miss with me, so the two tracks tacked on at the end could very well be amazing. Anyway, I'll be reviewing that CD soon because I feel it is my duty, so enough (of you laughing at me for buying) Kelly Clarkson for now.
Elsewhere in the store, mannequins are 2-for-$150, corny t-shirts are plentiful, Prince's Batman Soundtrack is $4.20, the Gay/Lesbian Film section has turned into the Redneck Comedy section, and the whole ground floor smells like Nutz-4-Nutz. There were also a couple mentally disturbed people milling about. I guarantee the downstairs floor is going to be completely fucking ransacked this weekend so I'm going to pop in again on Saturday afternoon and witness the carnage. I have no idea if the discounts will go any deeper, but I've got my fingers KrissKrossed.
Sports!
This also means that it's time for me to finally buy things! Most of my wish list has already been depleted by people with less interest in getting things for a decent price, so I didn't walk out with much on my visit last night. I picked up Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job! Seasons 1 and 2 for the same exact price that they are selling for on Amazon. The TV on DVD section was hit particularly hard, and the Season 1 DVD appeared to be the last copy in stock, so I felt a sense of urgency to grab it. I didn't save any money, but I didn't lose any either. No harm, no foul.
The DVDs are quickly disappearing, so if anyone is still holding out, you'd better hope your items are still in stock. The Criterion Collection is pretty much gone except for a billion copies of The Last Emporer. The Music DVDs are slim pickin's too. I still plan on buying the Sarah Bareilles concert DVD, but every time I go back to the store, there are more and more copies. Last week I counted 31. There are even more this week. TV on DVD is mostly Aqua Teen, CSI, and a shitload of SNL retrospectives.
The rest of the DVD sections are filled with overstocked horror/action movies that no one will buy (Jaws 3, Friday the 13th Part 1, Doom) and cheapo comedy favorites that are tempting to dorks like me (Bad News Bears, Naked Gun, Police Academy 2 & 3). The RoBeastress decided that she didn't care to wait any longer and picked up a recently remastered Real Genius for $6 (technically, I picked it up for her, and she bought me a cheesesteak). I will not deny that $6 is a good price for a DVD, but there are so many of those childhood HBO favorites of mine sitting there that I would enjoy watching again but don't necessarily need in my collection. To buy them all now would be overkill. I'll wait and let natural selection weed out the ones that the DVD gods don't want me to take home.
As for CDs, there are billions remaining, presumably because of the already crappy prices. They busted out a lot of good priced greatest hits packages a couple weeks ago, but for the most part, music is still more expensive than online or at other stores. After much debate, the only thing I bought was the new Kelly Clarkson CD. After discounts, the Deluxe Edition was cheaper than the Amazon version. Sure, maybe I didn't really need the Deluxe Edition, but the regular version was not a better price than on Amazon (unless you count the regular version that I found mislabelled with a cheaper, incorrect price that I didn't bring up to the counter because I'm clearly too ethical for my own good). Plus the Deluxe Edition comes with 2 extra songs. Kelly Clarkson CDs have been hit or miss with me, so the two tracks tacked on at the end could very well be amazing. Anyway, I'll be reviewing that CD soon because I feel it is my duty, so enough (of you laughing at me for buying) Kelly Clarkson for now.
Elsewhere in the store, mannequins are 2-for-$150, corny t-shirts are plentiful, Prince's Batman Soundtrack is $4.20, the Gay/Lesbian Film section has turned into the Redneck Comedy section, and the whole ground floor smells like Nutz-4-Nutz. There were also a couple mentally disturbed people milling about. I guarantee the downstairs floor is going to be completely fucking ransacked this weekend so I'm going to pop in again on Saturday afternoon and witness the carnage. I have no idea if the discounts will go any deeper, but I've got my fingers KrissKrossed.
Sports!
May 15, 2009
Virgin SMEGMAstore: Parts IV & V
I went to Virgin yet again last Saturday. Prices were "Up to 40% off" but really just 25% off of anything that mattered. The place was crawling with weekend spenders, and they opened up a special little area for the first time where they were selling fixtures, equipment, and random promo items such as a giant $150 Kelly Clarkson poster (had to be at least 8'x8' by my estimation). You could also make an offer on a larger than life-size armored warrior from a video game that I can't remember. Something part 3. [Fall Out 3 says the RoBeastress who is way better at soaking up Sci-Fi/Fantasy crap that I am. And this is what it looks like.]
I browsed a little and added a few more things to my list (The Cars Greatest Hits, The Shining, soundtracks from Underworld 2, Ghostbusters, & Dead Man Walking). The RoBeastress started her own list after being left alone in the TV on DVD section for too long while I stared at the Rocky Balboa CD waiting for it to magically appear like a good value. Still, I could not bring myself to the register with anything in my hands.
Instead, I went to Academy Records on W.18th and bought 3 used CDs and a used DVD for less than a new CD at Virgin (even with the 25% discount). Blur's self-titled, R.E.M.'s Out of Time, The Rentals' Return of the Rentals, and The Shining (though not the greatest version, it'll do for now).
On Tuesday, I went back to Virgin knowing full well that there would be no drop in prices (because I clearly have an addiction). I was correct. There was, however, a significant drop in inventory. There were many empty shelves in the DVD sections, particularly the TV on DVD area. DVD and CD box sets are dwindling as well. Don't say I didn't warn ya, but The Sopranos are all sold out. And my beloved Rocky Balboa CD is also gone, gone, gone!
I don't feel sad that I missed out on the Rocky disc. I gambled, but didn't really lose. I bought it on eBay the next day for less. Sure, it's coming from Argentina, but it's still cheaper! I guess I'm a little amazed that that many people made such a dent in the place considering the deals weren't even that good, but at the same time, it needs to happen, or the discounts will never go any deeper. So, thanks, suckers.
With fewer people in the store and fewer items on the shelves, it was a little easier for me to browse and add to my list. Actually, quite a few things had to be crossed off because they were snatched up during the weekend blitz. There are still lots of copies of Prince's Batman Soundtrack, and most of the Batman movies as well (though I'm really just interested in the first Michael Keaton version, and the 60's Adam West one). I also noticed that Police Academy 2 and 3 are packaged together in one set! Score! The Sarah Bareilles DVDs seem to have multiplied, so I don't think that's in danger of disappearing from my clutches.
Now I'm at a tricky stage of the game. I had expected prices to jump directly from 20% off to 30%, a point which I would consider buying things. But they went and injected a week of only 25% off, which to me was not a great deal, but forced me prematurely into the consideration stage. (Yes, premature consideration.) It also sent a lot of people in town to immediate purchase mode, so now there's the feeling that people will really go nuts at whatever the next stage is. I wish I had paid better attention to the Times Square location's going out of business schedule/strategy. Actually, I wish someone had blogged about it.
What I really need to do is buckle down and scout out prices logically and not get swept into any buying frenzy. I mean, I'm obviously able to delay gratification, but ultimately, what would make me feel worse--not buying something I want, or buying something I want and then a week later finding out that I could have gotten it for less by waiting? Do I even really need any of these things? Would I be buying these things at all if there wasn't a deal, or the illusion of a deal? Or the illusion of demand just because they're disappearing at the illusion of a deal? God damn you Virgin Cocktease for toying with my emotions! You couldn't've just went directly to 40%, couldja? You had to foil my plan.
And now YouTube's not working, so I can't play you off, Keyboard Bobcat. SORRY AYHAYAHAYA YHYHYEAH*$&*&AHYRHYHDH UAFHAHFKUNV (Bobcat impression) AYYYRYAYYR *&@*$*_%**&*&$*&@&$*&^*&$... hmmm... Batman vs Bobcat... hmm....
I browsed a little and added a few more things to my list (The Cars Greatest Hits, The Shining, soundtracks from Underworld 2, Ghostbusters, & Dead Man Walking). The RoBeastress started her own list after being left alone in the TV on DVD section for too long while I stared at the Rocky Balboa CD waiting for it to magically appear like a good value. Still, I could not bring myself to the register with anything in my hands.
Instead, I went to Academy Records on W.18th and bought 3 used CDs and a used DVD for less than a new CD at Virgin (even with the 25% discount). Blur's self-titled, R.E.M.'s Out of Time, The Rentals' Return of the Rentals, and The Shining (though not the greatest version, it'll do for now).
On Tuesday, I went back to Virgin knowing full well that there would be no drop in prices (because I clearly have an addiction). I was correct. There was, however, a significant drop in inventory. There were many empty shelves in the DVD sections, particularly the TV on DVD area. DVD and CD box sets are dwindling as well. Don't say I didn't warn ya, but The Sopranos are all sold out. And my beloved Rocky Balboa CD is also gone, gone, gone!
I don't feel sad that I missed out on the Rocky disc. I gambled, but didn't really lose. I bought it on eBay the next day for less. Sure, it's coming from Argentina, but it's still cheaper! I guess I'm a little amazed that that many people made such a dent in the place considering the deals weren't even that good, but at the same time, it needs to happen, or the discounts will never go any deeper. So, thanks, suckers.
With fewer people in the store and fewer items on the shelves, it was a little easier for me to browse and add to my list. Actually, quite a few things had to be crossed off because they were snatched up during the weekend blitz. There are still lots of copies of Prince's Batman Soundtrack, and most of the Batman movies as well (though I'm really just interested in the first Michael Keaton version, and the 60's Adam West one). I also noticed that Police Academy 2 and 3 are packaged together in one set! Score! The Sarah Bareilles DVDs seem to have multiplied, so I don't think that's in danger of disappearing from my clutches.
Now I'm at a tricky stage of the game. I had expected prices to jump directly from 20% off to 30%, a point which I would consider buying things. But they went and injected a week of only 25% off, which to me was not a great deal, but forced me prematurely into the consideration stage. (Yes, premature consideration.) It also sent a lot of people in town to immediate purchase mode, so now there's the feeling that people will really go nuts at whatever the next stage is. I wish I had paid better attention to the Times Square location's going out of business schedule/strategy. Actually, I wish someone had blogged about it.
What I really need to do is buckle down and scout out prices logically and not get swept into any buying frenzy. I mean, I'm obviously able to delay gratification, but ultimately, what would make me feel worse--not buying something I want, or buying something I want and then a week later finding out that I could have gotten it for less by waiting? Do I even really need any of these things? Would I be buying these things at all if there wasn't a deal, or the illusion of a deal? Or the illusion of demand just because they're disappearing at the illusion of a deal? God damn you Virgin Cocktease for toying with my emotions! You couldn't've just went directly to 40%, couldja? You had to foil my plan.And now YouTube's not working, so I can't play you off, Keyboard Bobcat. SORRY AYHAYAHAYA YHYHYEAH*$&*&AHYRHYHDH UAFHAHFKUNV (Bobcat impression) AYYYRYAYYR *&@*$*_%**&*&$*&@&$*&^*&$... hmmm... Batman vs Bobcat... hmm....
May 6, 2009
Virgin Smegmastore III
I really thought today would be the day Virgin would move their CD and DVD discounts to 30% off. 3 has just been the magic number. This is my third trip, and third post. I heard "Poker Face" three times. I saw three homeless guys on the way to Union Square. But no, still at only 20% off.
I did notice one item to add to the 30% off list though that may change everything for you. I don't know if it was there before, or if the price just dropped in the past few days, but STATIONARY is now being sold for 30% off at Virgin. Yes, you heard it here first... Stationary.
The copy of the Richard Branson autobiography Losing My Virginity that I had planned to take a smart-ass picture with has been bought, moved, or stolen. Sorry folks, I gambled and lost. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.
There is only one copy of the Rocky Balboa CD left, one copy of The Rocky Story, and four or five copies of Rocky IV. I have decided officially that Rocky Balboa is at the top of my list here, but still not at that price. $15.20 after the discount at Virgin, or $15 at Amazon. I really can't lose here.
I either erroneously reported the price of The Sopranos Box Set the other day or they changed the sticker price. It is currently $400, with 20% off., which actually puts it LESS than the Amazon price of $329 (and then puts it back over after NYC sales tax, but who's counting?). There are quite a few copies of this left that I'm sure will be decimated the minute the discount goes to 30%.
To everyone out there bitching about my scrutinizing of minuscule price breaks that I keep passing over, but continue to pay tunnel tolls just to get to New York City to access those potential deals, blow me. I was coming here anyway. And besides, you complainers don't actually exist. No one is really reading this blog or sending me comments anymore, so I have to play fucking devil's advocate to myself! I'm unbelievable.
Vision Street Wear, indeed.
I did notice one item to add to the 30% off list though that may change everything for you. I don't know if it was there before, or if the price just dropped in the past few days, but STATIONARY is now being sold for 30% off at Virgin. Yes, you heard it here first... Stationary.
The copy of the Richard Branson autobiography Losing My Virginity that I had planned to take a smart-ass picture with has been bought, moved, or stolen. Sorry folks, I gambled and lost. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.There is only one copy of the Rocky Balboa CD left, one copy of The Rocky Story, and four or five copies of Rocky IV. I have decided officially that Rocky Balboa is at the top of my list here, but still not at that price. $15.20 after the discount at Virgin, or $15 at Amazon. I really can't lose here.
I either erroneously reported the price of The Sopranos Box Set the other day or they changed the sticker price. It is currently $400, with 20% off., which actually puts it LESS than the Amazon price of $329 (and then puts it back over after NYC sales tax, but who's counting?). There are quite a few copies of this left that I'm sure will be decimated the minute the discount goes to 30%.
To everyone out there bitching about my scrutinizing of minuscule price breaks that I keep passing over, but continue to pay tunnel tolls just to get to New York City to access those potential deals, blow me. I was coming here anyway. And besides, you complainers don't actually exist. No one is really reading this blog or sending me comments anymore, so I have to play fucking devil's advocate to myself! I'm unbelievable.
Vision Street Wear, indeed.
May 3, 2009
Virgin Smegmastore Part 2
Update on the Virgin Store Closing Sale--the windows are now plastered with signs suggesting "UP TO 30% OFF." Upon closer inspection of the inventory, very little has changed since I was there 4 days ago. All CDs and DVDs are still only 20% off. Clothing and electronics are 10% off. I will now list the "amazing" items you can purchase for 30% less than the original prices:
I did come really close to purchasing a Best of Rocky Soundtrack that I hadn't seen before called The Rocky Story: The Original Soundtrack Songs From The Rocky Movies. It was $4 cheaper than the newer Best of Rocky Soundtrack called Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky and had several fewer songs, but still all the ones I'm looking for. Basically, it's the best corny/inspirational songs from Rocky IV and the best of I-III, without the crap from V or Rocky Balboa.
[update - I dig some digging on Amazon and discovered that the "Gonna Fly Now" versions on The Rocky Story are not the original film versions and are instead inferior reproductions by The Rocky Orchestra and not Bill Conti. I wonder if a knowledgeable Virgin employee would have pointed that out to me.]
Both of these CDs are still much cheaper on Amazon, even with the 20% off discount. For that reason, I will not be buying them from Virgin until these discounts genuinely go deeper. I actually considered hiding the discs I wanted in strange places at the store so my Virgin wishlist wouldn't end up getting snatched up by someone less anal than me about pricing. I do believe in fairness though, and decided against the scheme despite the store being packed and the inventory being noticeably chipped away at. From what I've read, the discounts will make a jump to 40%-60% off soon. At that point I'm positive that almost everything will disappear, leaving only the shelves themselves up for grabs. Most of the things I've got on my watch list were still high in supply. There's obviously no accounting for my taste.
- Posters
- Wallets
- Cards
I did come really close to purchasing a Best of Rocky Soundtrack that I hadn't seen before called The Rocky Story: The Original Soundtrack Songs From The Rocky Movies. It was $4 cheaper than the newer Best of Rocky Soundtrack called Rocky Balboa: The Best of Rocky and had several fewer songs, but still all the ones I'm looking for. Basically, it's the best corny/inspirational songs from Rocky IV and the best of I-III, without the crap from V or Rocky Balboa.[update - I dig some digging on Amazon and discovered that the "Gonna Fly Now" versions on The Rocky Story are not the original film versions and are instead inferior reproductions by The Rocky Orchestra and not Bill Conti. I wonder if a knowledgeable Virgin employee would have pointed that out to me.]
Both of these CDs are still much cheaper on Amazon, even with the 20% off discount. For that reason, I will not be buying them from Virgin until these discounts genuinely go deeper. I actually considered hiding the discs I wanted in strange places at the store so my Virgin wishlist wouldn't end up getting snatched up by someone less anal than me about pricing. I do believe in fairness though, and decided against the scheme despite the store being packed and the inventory being noticeably chipped away at. From what I've read, the discounts will make a jump to 40%-60% off soon. At that point I'm positive that almost everything will disappear, leaving only the shelves themselves up for grabs. Most of the things I've got on my watch list were still high in supply. There's obviously no accounting for my taste.
April 29, 2009
Virgin Smegmastore
As everyone has known since 2007 (except me who didn't realize until a couple weeks ago), the US locations of Virgin Megastore were set to close by this year. The Times Square location in NYC met its demise earlier this month. The Union Square location (the one that I most often visit) is said to be shutting its doors in May or June. I stopped in last night to find some Mega Rad Awesome deals!!!!
The only thing I walked out with was a free Village Voice, the free East Coast Rocker, and a list of things I'll consider buying when the discounts are way better than 20% off.
The problem with Virgin to me has always been their shitty prices. As one of the last people on Earth that still actually buys CDs, I am constantly discouraged when scouring their racks. Typically, their discs are priced at $18.99, which is absolute bullshit. Oh, you want the Melvins' noise album? Fuck you, pay me. You're missing Let It Be from your Beatles' collection? Fuck you, pay me. I started shopping exclusively from their cheapo bins that popped up in the past couple years. Cheapo at $10 isn't really cheapo though when most of the stuff in the bins are discs that everyone in the world already had or didn't want. And 20% off of their regular stock is still way too much.
Occasionally, I'll find a deal on a greatest hits package and pick it up from Virgin, but for the most part, the only CDs I buy are used (Ebay or Generation Records) or older catalog items from Amazon. If something brand new is coming out I'll buy it from the artists' websites directly. Maybe I'll end up paying 18.99 anyway after shipping, but chances are, I'm getting a free t-shirts or bonus DVD along with it. Because of the price of CDs, I rarely take a chance on discovering something new. Unless it's in the $1 rack at Tunes in Hoboken, I'm no longer willing to dig. No matter how clever the name of the band is, or how cool the artwork is, or if a friend recommended them, I just can't take part in the romanticized view of the cool record store anymore.
At $18.99, I said Fuck You back and signed up for Emusic instead. $15 a month and I could take chances again. Even if I'm now saddled with some bum mp3s (bump3s?) that I'll rarely listen to, I still have discovered a million awesome bands that I never would have found at Virgin Smegmastore. I certainly never felt ripped off because of prices. I'm at a point now where I've actually put a hold on my Emusic account because I've found too much music and need to take a breather. This isn't an Emusic commercial though. The service isn't perfect. The catalog is nearly 100% independent so whenever I have a taste for something major, I go back to physical CDs. And I'll keep buying CDs as long as I'm getting value for my money. I don't care if I have to take an extra step to rip a disc before jamming it onto my mp3 player. I try to be efficient, but sometimes my cheapness defeats it.
Maybe I'm just being my usual anti-corporate self, but I tend to think that corporate greed is what's killing CDs and Record Stores, not consumers. I don't think I'm demanding much. Why would anyone pay 20% off of a $430 Sopranos Complete Series Box Set at Virgin when it's already only $329 on Amazon? I had no intention of buying that, but it's indicative of most of the "deals" in the store. I'll admit I did find a couple things that I considered purchasing right then and there--Prince's Batman Soundtrack at $7.99 and The Naked Gun at $9.99 (-20% on both)--but ultimately, I don't need either that badly and I'm positive I can find them both cheaper. Here's a sorry looking list I made on my phone of items that I sort of want (feel free to mock my taste), but they won't get crossed off until I see better prices:
The only thing I walked out with was a free Village Voice, the free East Coast Rocker, and a list of things I'll consider buying when the discounts are way better than 20% off.
The problem with Virgin to me has always been their shitty prices. As one of the last people on Earth that still actually buys CDs, I am constantly discouraged when scouring their racks. Typically, their discs are priced at $18.99, which is absolute bullshit. Oh, you want the Melvins' noise album? Fuck you, pay me. You're missing Let It Be from your Beatles' collection? Fuck you, pay me. I started shopping exclusively from their cheapo bins that popped up in the past couple years. Cheapo at $10 isn't really cheapo though when most of the stuff in the bins are discs that everyone in the world already had or didn't want. And 20% off of their regular stock is still way too much.
Occasionally, I'll find a deal on a greatest hits package and pick it up from Virgin, but for the most part, the only CDs I buy are used (Ebay or Generation Records) or older catalog items from Amazon. If something brand new is coming out I'll buy it from the artists' websites directly. Maybe I'll end up paying 18.99 anyway after shipping, but chances are, I'm getting a free t-shirts or bonus DVD along with it. Because of the price of CDs, I rarely take a chance on discovering something new. Unless it's in the $1 rack at Tunes in Hoboken, I'm no longer willing to dig. No matter how clever the name of the band is, or how cool the artwork is, or if a friend recommended them, I just can't take part in the romanticized view of the cool record store anymore.
At $18.99, I said Fuck You back and signed up for Emusic instead. $15 a month and I could take chances again. Even if I'm now saddled with some bum mp3s (bump3s?) that I'll rarely listen to, I still have discovered a million awesome bands that I never would have found at Virgin Smegmastore. I certainly never felt ripped off because of prices. I'm at a point now where I've actually put a hold on my Emusic account because I've found too much music and need to take a breather. This isn't an Emusic commercial though. The service isn't perfect. The catalog is nearly 100% independent so whenever I have a taste for something major, I go back to physical CDs. And I'll keep buying CDs as long as I'm getting value for my money. I don't care if I have to take an extra step to rip a disc before jamming it onto my mp3 player. I try to be efficient, but sometimes my cheapness defeats it.
Maybe I'm just being my usual anti-corporate self, but I tend to think that corporate greed is what's killing CDs and Record Stores, not consumers. I don't think I'm demanding much. Why would anyone pay 20% off of a $430 Sopranos Complete Series Box Set at Virgin when it's already only $329 on Amazon? I had no intention of buying that, but it's indicative of most of the "deals" in the store. I'll admit I did find a couple things that I considered purchasing right then and there--Prince's Batman Soundtrack at $7.99 and The Naked Gun at $9.99 (-20% on both)--but ultimately, I don't need either that badly and I'm positive I can find them both cheaper. Here's a sorry looking list I made on my phone of items that I sort of want (feel free to mock my taste), but they won't get crossed off until I see better prices:
Twin peaks viva bam jackass tim eric batman sound who greatest sarabarellis li e pearl jamnirvana unplug serj pee wee ameribeauty rocky ShiningThe majority of things there are DVDs because it didn't occur to me to start making a list until I got downstairs. There isn't a ton of music I'm looking for right now, and I didn't have the patience to pore through the CD section knowing that the prices sucked. Nothing on my list is a necessity, so there's no urgency for me to spend my money. It's all there for the taking though, Virgin, if the price is right.
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