In article , Brian Gaff
wrote:
The problem is, first find yourself a shop that can spare the time to
talk to a customer, then find one which can bother to take the time to
look at catalogues and order things it does not have in stock, which is
usually the play it safe current stuff and a large heap of oldies
compilations of dubious quality.

Which should raise other questions and not simply be taken as a "show
stopper" that is universally unavoidable.

I *have* found one or two dealers who *will* discuss what is available and
compile/supply lists, etc. You can find some others listed in the back of
some of the classical music mags, for example.

What I find curious is why so few people seem to have an interest in this.
I can appreciate that 'current pop' fans will simply use radio (streams)
and downloads and have a network of 'mates' to tell them what is good. But
that doesn't happen so much for classical, jazz, etc.


The reason why you find these discs on web sites is its a niche market,
or perceived as such by the cash strapped high street stores.

That explains the unimaginative thinking of "cash strapped high street
stores" on the basis that their managers have no clue or flair. The
surprise to me is as above - that almost none seem to have any thought of
creating alternatives that would attract by being a useful service. If you
want to stay in biz you need a 'selling point' that will draw customers to
you rather than the competition. Yet the almost universal reaction is that
this just means "in stock, quick delivery, cheap". What economists call the
"Race to the bottom" approach where the shoddy drives out the good.

It also conflates having a website with losing any ability to engage in
personal interactions with 'customers' and provide any service beyond "This
is what we have and we charge this much. Take it or sod off."[1] It is
quite possible to have a 'website' and also respond helpfully to *people*
and deal with them in they way they individually choose.

So maybe this is another example of the dumb 'management' that inflcts
itself on so much 'business' in the UK and elsewhere? No imagination or
thought about how to carve out a niche on the basis of providing what some
might prefer other than "the norm".

Can't easily requote any of my original message as you put it into your
sig.

[1] Mind you, that has a pedigree in audio. PJW more than once told a
prospective customer to "go forth" when they objected to some aspect of the
Quad kit like the colour scheme. :-)

Slainte,

Jim

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