HMV

I’ll say one thing for HMV — they’re a survivor. This is the only remaining branch in Glasgow outside of retail parks (and not counting their subsidiary Fopp), and with everything purchasable from your phone these days it’s questionable how long this one will continue to survive.
Their longevity is entirely due to their diversification into DVDs, games, books and other merch — in fact these days you have to look hard to find CDs as the ground floor is almost entirely given over to DVDs.
I’ve been buying records in here from the days when it was Virgin Megastore, and I still do buy some CDs here occasionally, as I’m pretty old-​school and like to have a tangible purchase on my shelf when it comes to music. But today I was browsing the DVD box sets to see if anything caught my eye.
There’s plenty of shelf acreage to sniff around in, and the aisles can get a bit cramped at busy periods. This was a Sunday so it was very quiet, with only one person manning the tills. Yet another two were standing right beside me chatting when they could have been serving me, which didn’t best please me.
But apart from that minor service black mark, I don’t really have any complaints about this place. It’s not outstanding, but it does the job.

Many people wouldn’t know but in my younger days I used to run my own music empire at 17, and back in those days there was quite a selection of shops where you could buy records from especially around Glasgow, HMV used to have aisles of vinyl at pretty descent prices.
Today HMV isn’t a quarter of the place it used to be, music downloads and online sales have killed most of these shops off, most of the stores I find are too expensive, like most places you can online and through these guys their online shop you can buy most items 20% cheaper with free postage.
Nowadays you don’t get the buzz that you used to get from shopping for CD’s or merchandise especially when they removed the listening stations that where once there.

I think I remember HMV the way it used to be and get a little nostalgic, I tend to only shop here for occasional gifts now (although I was in to purchase a pair of headphones as I was aware that they had a large and affordable selection).
The layout of the store feels a little cramped in places, but they have a basement area and ground floor filled with CD’s, DVD’s, games, books and a wall of vinyl. They have T-​shirts from popular TV shows, bands and comics as well as gift merchandise.
The most unusual spot for me was– pinball machines! £1 a play, in the basement (3 available. not sure why, but I like them!)

My review of HMV:
Dear HMV,
HMV, HMV, oh how I love you. Or rather, the memory of you.
You used to be a great shop and I happily spent hours looking through your shelves. Your huge selection of cds, dvds and random books, all made spending a Saturday afternoon with you worthwhile.
But then you doubled your prices and ruthlessly cut back on the music you sold. And had a PA system turned up so loud I couldn’t hear my friends speak.
So, this has nothing to do with you being poor — you outpriced yourself from my life many years ago. Even your sales are now a bit rubbish — although I have just bought a wee Xmas pressie from you. I know you have some problems, but please actually listen to your customers and get back to being the shop you used to be!
It’s not too late for us…
Rx

Poor, poor HMV. Along with Tower Records and the Virgin Megastore, Argyle Street in Glasgow used to be the place to go for all your music and movie needs.
Now? You can get all you want and more from the comfort of your sofa — even on your phone on the move — so the ‘bricks and mortar’ megastore is more of an exception these days.
HMV is a shell of it’s former self these days, but there’s still something gratifying about sifting through actual physical THINGS on a shelf rather than clicking on a picture on a website.
Sadly, you pay for that joy as HMV’s non-​sale prices are ridiculously high.
As such, it’s not somewhere I drop into often. I figure that’s the way the majority of people work these days…

Despite this store being one of many marked for closure due to hmv going into administration in January. Though small in comparison to the Buchanan st. store.
Two floors with CDs, blu-​rays & some DVDs downstairs. While ground floor chart CDs, DVD boxed sets, tech, games (pc & console), t-​shirts & key rings.

In the recent sad news of yet another business going into administration, it has alas came to visit the little dog and his master’s voice.
With more and more online sales either via Amazon, Play .com, itunes or equivalent, it really has hit the store hard. I think as a 80/​90s child I still prefer a CD or DVD over a downloaded file. I like to see the hard evidence of where I have spent my money and know that I can never lose it unless it becomes a victim of the sock monster syndrome.
I went in before Christmas to get my Dad the Daniel Craig’s Bond Casino Royale DVD. I’m not at the Blu-​ray stage so a good ol’ DVD is still fine by me. I had a good nosey round the store, they still have a really good selection in this store, from games, DVDs, Blu-​rays, CDs, t-​shirts, posters and mp3 players including assessories.
I found a display of all the Bond DVDs but alas no Craig’s Casino Royale. I asked a member of staff who was very helpful. He checked on the computer and explained that they were completely sold out as this had been the most popular Bond film. He said they were getting a delivery the following week and to try again then. I did however make a cheeky wee purchase of the 1967 Casino Royale with David Niven and Peter Sellers for myself.
I went in the following week as suggested but I still couldn’t find Casino Royale. Oh no!!! What to do?! Well I spoke to a member of staff who checked the computer and said it was in but hadn’t been put on display yet. I was making an early visit, so fair enough. He was very pleasant and we made good Bond chat and he went through to the back and got me my Casino Royale DVD. I was very pleased with the service and it made it encouraging to go back.
Online is convenient but you just don’t get the personal touch and the banter. I hope an administer can be found and the famous HMV brand will continue to trade on our High Streets.

Probably offers the best selection of DVDs and Blu-​Rays.

While the HMV on Buchanan Street is very big, it actually has a rather disappointing CD selection, surprisingly not as good as this one on Argyle Street. This one is much more claustrophobic but at least it makes good use of its floor space, with a great selection of CDs, DVDs and video games, plus the odd t-​shirt and book thrown in.
There are two floors, with tills on both of them, so the queues don’t get too horrendous. For the most part, CDs are upstairs and DVDs downstairs. There’s always excellent value deals on both, all through the year and not just the January sales. The 2 for £10 CD offer is especially good.
The shop has recently been gripped by ‘Twilight-​mania’, just like practically everywhere else in the universe these days. Everywhere you look in the shop it’s Twilight this and Twilight that, from posters to books to keyrings, mugs, stickers, dog collars, nail clippers, you name it. I only mention it because I’m constantly getting told by people how much I look like Robert Pattinson. As nice a compliment as this is, it feels a bit strange when I walk in and see this stuff all over the place!

A much bigger store than the Sauchiehall Street branch, but a dwarf in comparison to the Buchanan Street branch.
It’s got a good selection of CD’s that are well laid out and easy to locate, with a great selection of DVD’s.
I only really make purchases for CD’s and DVD’s in the sale, otherwise they can be quite expensive. CD’s in particular.
They have a decent range of accessories and other gear like I-​Pod docks.
I cannot imagine Argyle Street without HMV.

Despite the decline in music sales completely changing the feel of their stores, I always find HMV to still be a worthwhile place for a browse, even if the rows of vinyl are now gone.
With a more concentrated focus on DVDs, games, and electronic gadgets HMV still has it’s fair share of stuff to find. £3 for No Country For Old Men and £4 for There Will be Blood is a bargain in anyone’s book. Prices aren’t quite so good in the gaming section but still no worse than most of the big stores.

The largest HMV store in Glasgow and its great! Aisles and aisles of DVD’s, CD’s, games and a smaller vinyl section up the back of the shop.
Always has a great selection of reduced products and the latest releases. Staff are also happy to assist in checking for anything you can’t find yourself.

I can be in this store for ages just browsing it is easy to access and the aisles are an okay size. They sell a wide variety of music including rock, pop, easy listening etc. They also stock a range of computer games for the various consoles wii, nintendo ds, xbox etc. There is a wide number of dvd’s and there are usually some on special offers. The store is split onto two levels. The staff are friendly if you need help which is why you probably pay more in store than you do for some products online from HMV.