Question:
Craig Smith: Your comment about how it is nice when a salesman takes the extra effort to research his product for the customer so he can tell him about new releases and deletions and give him advice. This is SPOT ON! I agree. Unfortunately it is getting very hard to find salespeople who are like that. But, I agree with you, it goes a hell of a long way..and guess what…the customer is more willing to come back to that salesman, ask for him personally, and buy more from him because he likes and trusts him..This goes real far in my books! It ups the sales for everyone and makes the customer ENJOY purchasing records.. I love my record collection but I hate purchasing records from the big retail mall stores because I don’t get the proper service. >You must be joking!! A record company withdraw its products..they
wouldn’t make the sales quota! Sure they would..sell it direct! Many other industries are doing that and you are starting to see it emerge in the record industry as well. Besides, they don’t pull their product from all stores..one at a time. If that record company is a good one and has several hot artists (most have a least a couple) those record stores will soon pull the line especially if the big boys like EMI, Warner, etc.. do it. >The stores are controlled by the top 40 and the record industry hype..
Yes, I’ll agree that the industry hypes their record and artists alot. But a store manager should sit down and say "you know that just isn’t hot in this town..I live here and I can’t push that product, I’m gonna display something more appropriate" or "not today thank you, I’m gonna give the Sinatra fans (to use your example) a break and make them feel welcomed in my store by displaying some of Franks music because these people feel alienated or just don’t enjoy by some artists you want me to display. I’ll display their work next week". This is not just the fault of the store manager though..the industry itself should get a life (its dying so it needs one 
) and stop ramming the latest trend down the consumers throat because, as you rightfuilly said, we’re not buying it and this is why the sales are going down. — <<< THRASH >>> Has left the stage! | I don’t do WINDOWS!
WWW: HTTP://www.interlog.com/~thrash | Up the Irons!!!
Founder of the RRCA (Rock Record Collectors Association)!
Response:
> The reason I like the HMV salesman so much was he was professional, knew > the value of a customer and was also knowledgeable..
Another thing is the effort that the salesperson goes to find out information about a release. It might be new or deleted but if I’m looking for some strange stuff in it wasn’t in the Phonolog (or Computers that they use these days) it would always win extra points with me and indeed when I worked in retail we would try to find out something (anything) about the record > I wonder if the record companies could enforce better service, afterall > the store is selling their products.You must be Joking!!!!!! Can you imagine a major record company compleatly
withdrawing thier products — they would even have less of a chance to make thier sales figures . I have heard of stores boycotting companies because of price increases but they do cave in eventually. > The point here is now moot for we are off topic too far. To get closer > in line I’d like to ask the following – never mind the staff, boss and > customer what about what is being sold at the stores.. Mostly crap. NOT > totally the stores fault..if it’s all their given. But why is it that you > never see other generes of music on special or featured at the front door > other than the top 40 or pop music. I know, with all the labels and > names, it is impossible for a store to stock everything but at least > rotate the stock or make an effort.Yeah wouldn’t it be wierd to see Sinatra or an oldies collection on the front
racks? > I’m sick of Alanis Morrisette, for > example – she may be a fine performer but I’m tired of hearing it.. Why > can’t we now feature someone else. Why do we have to feature pop all the > time (at least around here) > And don’t tell me that the top 40 is what sells, > because I know first hand it doesn’t always. My point is, I’d like to see > more variety in my local record store and I’d like to feel that I and my > money is also important in the shop, not just the fans of pop or that > crap they play on the radio.
Unforutuanly I think that most stores (the Major chains anyway) are almost conroled by the top 40 charts and by record company hype. I’m sure if you go into a store in North America it would be impossible not to see No Doubt CD not on thier racks. In Toronto when Marilyn Manson’s Cd came out the front racks were full of the product. Given the fact the band was in T.O. promoting and doing a concert I still got the feeling there was more product than customers for the CD. I think I all goes back to the Record companies trying to create a market (hype) for an act and over estimating a a bands popularity as far as sales go We as consumers are just not buying into the hype and we are buying what we want if we want it. Cheers Craig – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Oh well, just food for thinking with. > — > <<< THRASH >>> Has left the stage! | I don’t do WINDOWS! > WWW: HTTP://www.interlog.com/~thrash | Up the Irons!!! > Founder of the RRCA (Rock Record Collectors Association)!
Response:
Ok, just a clearification..No my messages were not meant to be person so please save the personal attacjs for someone who gives a crap (to that E-Mail spammer)..My messaages are no pro-mamnagement..infact, if anything, they are pro customer. The reason I like the HMV salesman so much was he was professional, knew the value of a customer and was also knowledgeable. When I call him he sits and talks with me about all the latest Heavy Metal news and what’s new in stock..and oh my go – he actually says "how are you today?" Do you know how far that one line takes you and how quick it could disarm a customer who is wanting to cause you trouble. I bet it would work fine. I wonder if the record companies could enforce better service, afterall the store is selling their products. Better yet the record co.s could simply produce better music, like the report suggested. The point here is now moot for we are off topic too far. To get closer in line I’d like to ask the following – never mind the staff, boss and customer what about what is being sold at the stores.. Mostly crap. NOT totally the stores fault..if it’s all their given. But why is it that you never see other generes of music on special or featured at the front door other than the top 40 or pop music. I know, with all the labels and names, it is impossible for a store to stock everything but at least rotate the stock or make an effort. I’m sick of Alanis Morrisette, for example – she may be a fine performer but I’m tired of hearing it.. Why can’t we now feature someone else. Why do we have to feature pop all the time (at least around here), why can’t a Heavy Metal or Dance or even a Rap band (I hate rap – but let’s be fair here) be featured. I know, maybe the market isn’t so big for these items but, they might be if you featured them more. And don’t tell me that the top 40 is what sells, because I know first hand it doesn’t always. My point is, I’d like to see more variety in my local record store and I’d like to feel that I and my money is also important in the shop, not just the fans of pop or that crap they play on the radio. Oh well, just food for thinking with. — <<< THRASH >>> Has left the stage! | I don’t do WINDOWS!
WWW: HTTP://www.interlog.com/~thrash | Up the Irons!!!
Founder of the RRCA (Rock Record Collectors Association)!
Response:
Sorry for the repeat – not sure if it worked the first time: Look, all I mean is is that a sales person represents him, his boss, his company and the product he is selling, if he is not a proper salesman he can try to sell "a better mousetrap" but he’ll never make a dollar doing it. Record stores CAN afford to pay their staff better. So can the record companies. Where did all those profits from the ’80s go!? No, the stores are making some money, certainly less though. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t be in business. Certainly not so many. There is no excuse for poor wages for an employee. And so what if a guy doesn’t like his job at the shop..fair enough – but he’s being paid, and in my book that means he at least pretends he does…certainly when infront of a customer. I’m still a fairly young guy..my 20 somethings..I started my company while I was in my teens and worked on it pqart time in the background until recently I could go full time. I paid my dues. I’ve had my share of prejudice and pushing around in life (nothing I wish to tell the whole world here in pubolic about), believe me but I don’t use excuses and I don’t allow others to..Pick yourself up by your bootstraps and improve your own life. No, the RRCA is not my company..just my hobby. The RRCA is non profit. There, that settles the backlog of E-Mail all at once. Thank you, I hope my point is clear..I don’t want to sound abrasive, just I want to write harshly to make the points stick – someone had to say them. — <<< THRASH >>> Has left the stage! | I don’t do WINDOWS!
WWW: HTTP://www.interlog.com/~thrash | Up the Irons!!!
Founder of the RRCA (Rock Record Collectors Association)!