They are switching to online purchase only
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
February 5, 2009 9:43am CST
On Tuesday, I am going with my friend to the choral music piece store to get a book of Sacred songs so I do not need to get to buy sheet music one at a time. This particular store is all across Canada, usually in the main cities. Yesterday I was talking to my friend and she told me that they will be closing the store, and from now on will just be taking online orders. This makes it hard in one way as I can no longer browse through the selection and see the pieces, and it makes it easier in another way as it is way across the city.
Anyway I have a piece already picked up for the spring concert. I have already had one practice and I did not think I sang loud enough but my other friend who is a singer said I did.
Maybe I can find another piece and have two songs to sing. So the question I am asking is with the recession now affecting us up here in Canada, will there be more stores closing up and going online and will that impact your decision to buy from that particular store?
3 people like this
12 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
5 Feb 09
There used to be an instrument store in our neighborhood but apparently they think that everyone in our area is tone deaf and sings off tune, and can only play player pianos, so most of the music stores are on the other end of the city. 
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 Feb 09
I find it downright insulting to think that the only musicians and singers live in the west end!
@Darkwing (21583)
•
7 Feb 09
It seems that's the way it's going in England my friend, and I think it might be a worldwide trend in the forseeable future. It saves the companies their overheads for the stores which are much more expensive than online. Everything can be dealt with from a central warehouse. With more and more businesses getting into financial difficulties, I think online shopping will be a thing of the future.
Brightest Blessings.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
9 Feb 09
There are ways over the "cheating" aspect, as in this country at least, any trader has to abide by the laws of fair trading, otherwise they're closed down, my friend. I don't know whether that rule applies to other countries, but if there was a general Internet law of fair trading, then that would be solved.
As for the shipping, I would imagine the prices of goods could be cut to allow the shipping charges to be swallowed up, as the overheads would be far, far, less. Perhaps they could even leave the prices the same and offer free shipment over a certain amount of orders placed. There are ways and means of succeeding with Internet trading.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
9 Feb 09
Well I was on the site and I just saw the shipping charges. In no way is any ordinary person going to afford the shipping charges? They are through the roof. Now I know one company that does have reasonable shipping charges, but it is much cheaper for someone to get in their car, drive over there, and get a box of the music needed. Unless the shipping charges are reduced considerably, the only ones who will be able to order are schools and churches. The ordinary person is out of like.
I could download music but do not know if that will be acceptable, especially with copyright in case we make a Cd of the concert. Usually we have to buy the original sheet or music book.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
7 Feb 09
It will work if it is a good and well established store, but there are those who are not that well known or could actually cheat you and you have to consider shipping and handling and if ordering from another country that does not have VAt or federal and provincial tax, that you have to consider that. And it might cost more then going to the store itself.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
5 Feb 09
I live in the United States. Here I am seeing a lot of stores close. However, I am not seeing them sell online as an alternative. When they close, that is it. They are closed. Over the years, there has been a surge here in tearing down building that are perfectly and building shopping empires even though we already have tons of stores nearby. When they did that, it was an unwise decision. Now they are going out of business around at a rapid rate.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 Feb 09
There is not that many instrument or music stores here, so we need all the ones we can get. I would hate that the only way would be to purchase online.
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
8 Feb 09
I think a lot of retail stores have closed and our only options will be to shop on line. A lot of stores have gone this direction with on line shopping, and a lot of people shop on line anyway. Though I prefer to see something before I purchase an item. If I had no other option, I would purchase it on line if I really wanted it or needed the item.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
16 Feb 09
The trouble up here is that most of the stores here delivery by Canada Post and it is expensive. Now if I ordered something from the States, they will use UPS and if I want surface mail, that is much cheaper even with the duties and taxes on top of that. I checked the store's shipping and handling and the minimum charge is $30.00 So on Friday, my friend and I went down to the store and I got six songbooks that ran a little over $150.00 Canadian and that was all I could afford. I could not afford the practice exercise book, nor the Colaratura Opera Song Book, nor the practice book for the Older singer. Usually I would get a few sheets at a time, or one song book at a time, but now I had to get them all at once.
At least now I can say, I have enough choices for the next concert. 
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
7 Feb 09
I do like shopping online for some things. However, certain things I really almost insist that I shop for in person at the store, like clothing & shoes, especially. I can understand why you'd much rather shop for sheet music in store. If you know exactly what you want then shopping online is easy. But, if you want to browse, sometimes it is more difficult to do it online. You are right though, a lot of stores may decide to take this route to save money. It is a real shame. The economy right now is in the dumpster and I think it will only get much worse before it will get better, unfortunately.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
9 Feb 09
My friend is going to pick me up and we will go to the store, but it is very slippery, so I am thinking that the online alternative would be better. I do not think I want to fall on the ice or have her fall on the ice as well. It is also that I want to also see the sheet music there. It is going to be a hard choice.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
7 Feb 09
Many companies have either become internet based or at least considered it. The issue is the high cost of maintaining high street stores and the time consumed by dealing with people who end up not buying anything. It is a loss to shopper because as you say it is great to be able to browse the stock and even try items before buying, but the added financial benefits for a business often take precedence.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
7 Feb 09
It is just that I do not want to return things so sometimes I prefer to browse around and besides I like getting out of the house once in a while.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
5 Feb 09
They sell really good music, but it is mostly church, wedding, sacred pieces and not that much opera. I really love opera.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 Feb 09
It all depends on whether I was successful when I could get to the store and their service was quite good. I remember when there was a lot of mail order, and I figure that instead of sending you a catalog, they put the catalog online. I am very fussy at what I want to buy so unless it is a well established company, I will not buy online.
@SydneyHazelton (4586)
• Singapore
5 Feb 09
There are some supermarkets which has embarked on online selling. All goods will be delivered to one's doorstep. Although I love the concept, one thing that is preventing me from making online purchases from grocery stores such as these is that they charge a delivery fee. I'm sure that these stores have to think about delivery costs, whether to absorb them or not. So far, the cost of me getting to the store is less than the delivery cost they charge, so I'm still going there myself.
For other items, it depends. Sometimes I'd like to see what I'm getting. I have purchased some stuff online, but not many. Delivery charges are still high in some instances. I may be wrong.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
5 Feb 09
I used to remember when they used to deliver milk and in some cases, you could order a side of beef and you would get that delivered. Our Safeway store used to do deliveries, but then stopped because some of the clerks were substituting lower quality items and the customers did not like it.
I find that with food, it is better to go there, but with ordering online, I do trust Amazon, but it is the delivery charges that are high. Possibly with the chorale store, you might have to order a certain quality before delivery is free. It would be fine with church choirs because they order two hundred of more pieces at a time and they get a discount, but for someone who is doing a solo, I doubt it. I will have to look into it.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
5 Feb 09
sorry, my response has to be brief as I am going home. I live on an Island that is 120 miles long and I think about 40 miles wide in the third world and we are being battered each day with the economic crisis. Canada will not so as badly as the rest of the world and is slated to recover more quickly than the rest of the world. But oh yes, it will hit you very gradually over the next six months. Jobs are being lost, tourism is down, bauxite companies closing, lay offs everywhere and today the dollar has slipped yet again. In 6 weeks our dollar has gone from $70 to buy US$1 and today it takes 86.50 to buy one US dollar. Result? All medicines and imported food will go sky high. It is so scary and now the hoarding has started of US dollars so that people will speculate on the market.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 Feb 09
I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba and here the economy is quite good as it varies. We have had people who moved to British Columbia and to Ontario, moving right back here because they can get jobs here. It is too cold here for tourists, and as for the Us Dollar, the last time I checked it was about .805 and yesterday it was better. I have a US dollar account, and I put money in it, so if I go to the States for a trip, I can use it rather than converting and being surcharged over there, but it seems that I should have had it when our money was at par.
Oh the gradual thing is already hitting us.
@prasanna1990 (816)
• India
5 Feb 09
ya recession effecting every wher i am too an online shopper i love it as such due to financial problem i have stopped it little bit now happy mylotting
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 Feb 09
It saves me from going out if it is cold, but the trouble is that sometimes I have to see what they have.
