I was in Oxford St this afternoon trying to get some christmas shopping done. A lot of the presents I buy are CDs and DVDs so I buy a lot in Virgin, HMV and shops like that.
I went into HMV with rather a long list of things I wanted o buy. But about two thirds of the shop seemed to be cordened off. And the bit that wasn’t cordoned off was really crowded. At the far end of the shop I could see a spotlight shining on someone and then I noticed the posters on the walls. They had Mariah Carey there signing autographs.
So three weeks before christmas, HMV thought it was a good idea to close off most of their flagship shop so that a crap singer could sign autographs. Sure there were a lot of people there, but how much money were they spending? Does that make any kind of business sense?
I couldn’t get anywhere near anything that I wanted to buy, so I gave up. I went to the Virgin Megastore. Where I proceeded to spend close to £200. HMV could have had that money.
You should have just bought the stuff off the net, especially if you had a list written out, and you wouldn’t have spent anywhere near 200 quid! Or is it the experience that makes it worth the money? (If you count being jostled and subjected to terrible noise an experience.)
You’re right of course. But I’m not usually organised enough to start shopping this early. I’m usually doing this long after any online shop has any chance of delivering packages. So the last minute dash down Oxford St is ingrained in my psyche. It’ll take a few years for me to shift it.
A crap singer who has sold about 100 gazillion albums. So either millions of people have no taste or you are a grumpy old fart.
Actually, my money is on both of those being true :)But seriously, since when was popularity any measure of ability in the music industry? When did you last look at the charts.And my main point hasn’t really got anything to do with Ms Carey’s singing ability. My main point is that I can’t see the point of cordoning off large sections of your flagship shop on a Saturday just before Christmas. I can’t believe that the fans of one artist (however popular) will compensate for the loss of income from other shoppers being driven away because they can’t get to the items that they want to buy.
Stop complaining and get a job. I bet you didn’t spend £200.lol.Mariah Carey is a talented singer..full stop.
Dee,Firstly, what have I said that makes you think I don’t have a job? Or is that just a generic insult that you use against people who don’t agree with you?Secondly, because I _do_ have a job, I _did_ spend “close to £200” in Virgin. Want me to show you my credit card receipt?And lastly, as I said previously, it’s not really Ms Carey’s singing ability which is the point here. It’s whether or not it’s sensible for a company like HMV to close off large amounts of an important shop, three weeks before christmas.
Perhaps her singing ability isn’t the point, but you did call her “crap” which simply isn’t true. She has one of the best singing voices in the world and has sold many millions of albums.As for whether it was wise for HMV to close off a large section of their store – well clearly they felt it was worth it otherwise they wouldn’t have done it.
everyone calm down! ffs! I love mariah carey but the dude is just pointing out the business sense (lack of) on the part of HMV. He is not directing his main argument at mariah! Its quite plain to see this.So relax, mariah = diva = nothing anyone says can change that!
i was there meeting mariah carey and it was the best day ever i got her auto grapgh and was in the front of the line at 4 in the morning to meet her you should have just gone to the other hmv in oxford street.
emma,If you really think that getting a pop singer’s autograph is the “best day ever” then you really don’t lead a very exciting life :-)