Interesting thread. I mentioned it to a producer and music director fo plays and musicals, and he loved it for the selection of sheet music.

Never been there, but now I never will overpriced or whatever..

If this message appears on the list I'd appreciate a reply; it is my third attempt and I feel discriminated against! Am I reaching you?

<L>
Lou Judson
Intuitive Audio
415-883-2689

On Sep 18, 2012, at 10:39 AM, Tom Fine wrote:

> Roger, you still haven't fixed your e-mail client so the reply-to goes to ARSC List instead of you. Goren Finberg was kind enough to lay out exactly how to fix this problem about a month ago, refer to the ARSC List archives for specifics. That said ...
> 
> Your blanket statement is somewhat true but definitely not my experience in my favorite record stores. In fact, I buy almost all my used LPs and new LPs in actual stores because I find it so helpful to browse physical items, inspect the item myself and speak with helpful staff.
> 
> As for in-store music, I have been led to music purchases by what was playing in the background on three separate occasions, once each in the Rochester stores Record Archive and Bop Shop and a third time at Bleeker Street Records (not to be confused with vastly over-rated Bleeker Bob's) in the Village. The other record store I like very much is Gerosa's in CT, but I'd agree with anyone who says their prices are on the high side.
> 
> There's a total hellhole record store in NJ, forgot exactly where but I think it's near Pompton Lakes. The place is disgusting, like needing a shower ASAP if you get near the floor or the backroom area (and beware of cat urine on anything you may wish to buy). However, the one time I was in there I had one of my best days ever in a record store, excellent value on everything I bought and shockingly good condition given the general filth of the place. In that store, the help was sub-friendly and sub-helpful (more interested in smelly lunches and chain-smoking and watching TV), but like I said the stacks were magical.
> 
> -- Tom Fine
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roger Kulp" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 9:47 AM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Photos of The Colony NYC
> 
> 
> Rude staff? Poor selection? Prices way above eBay? Sounds like every record store I've been in in the last ten to twelve years or so.I would also add,playing the local classic rock station,rather than introducing customers to new,or different music.
> 
> It's one thing to sit and wax nostalgic about what record stores used to be like in 19xx,talk about what a great thing they are,and how they should be saved.But it's quite another,when every store in your town is like this.People in their teens and twenties must wonder why us old farts think they were so great..I have spent a lot of time at various audio,and record collecting discussion groups in recent years,and this seems to be a common problem all over the US and Canada.So much so,that people in other parts of the world,especially South America,and the Pacific Rim,are shocked at how bad it's gotten.Yes there are a few exceptions.I've heard the list before.
> 
> Record stores are responsible for their own decline and demise.
> 
> Roger
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Michael Biel <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 6:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Photos of The Colony NYC
> 
> From: Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>
>> Yes, one can see how they go out of business. Now that
>> I see the photos, I was there once and walked out
>> laughing at the ridicu-prices.
> 
> LAUGHING!! Yes, that has always been our reaction. The first time we
> took Leah to NYC in her junior year in high school, I took here there
> and we laughed and laughed and laughed. They still had some of the LPs
> upstairs, and even then she knew prices and recognized things in my
> collection. And now that she lives there she went in every once in a
> while when she needed a good pick-me-up and a giggle. Looking at all of
> the fading memorabilia was sad that they were destroying it in their
> ignorance, but listening to the abusive staff made it all worthwhile --
> they DESERVED it!
> 
> She'll go back in a day or two to photograph closed signs and laugh over
> the carcass. When Footlights closed a few years ago we all mourned them
> -- as well as getting GREAT bargains. They went on-line. I wonder what
> the Colony will do with its stock.
> 
> From: "Jim Sam" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> The reviews are interesting.
>>> http://www.yelp.com/biz/colony-records-new-york
> 
> That they are!!! Such as: "The thing I HATE WITH ALL OF MY SOUL about
> this store is that the guys who are hired to help you find music
> obviously sign agreements in blood stating that they will be as
> unhelpful, rude, and curt to you as possible."   When Leah wanted a
> price on Saturday, she waited to find the friendliest looking guy but he
> sent her to another guy who when asking a third guy she overheard "Who
> is asking?" You NEVER are supposed to be so BLATANT that you are basing
> your prices on who the customer is.
> 
> I also love the long one with the dialog between the customer in the
> basement and the weirdo -- which turned out to be the owner. These
> comments fit this place to a T.
> 
> Mike Biel [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
>> They didn't even have any must-have-at-any-price items, at least
> not for me. There are still several excellent used vinyl stores in the
> Village, and why would anyone
> buy a new (or used) CD at any retail outlet when there is Amazon "new
> and used" and almost anything
> can be had for $5 or less, usually shrink-wrapped? As for used vinyl, I
> usually look but don't buy
> in Manhattan. In its favor, culturally, NYC is a place where people tend
> to love their music. So
> what ends up in these stores is mostly too-well-loved for me to crack
> open the wallet. That said,
> what I have found in superb condition in NYC are more-obscure
> spoken-word records, and "status"
> stuff like the Reader's Digest/RCA/Decca sets and the Time-Life jazz
> sets. What also pops up from
> time to time are still-wrapped records from the 70's and early 80's that
> have tricked down from the
> bankruptcies of larger stores and chains. Usually these records are
> stamped with dollar price tags
> (which is NOT the current price) and have a hole punched or a corner cut
> off, literally cut-outs.
> The best score I ever had in that regard was a bunch of still-wrapped
> Mercury Golden Imports and
> Decca Jubilees for $1 each. The guy said he had them for several years,
> got them as part of a larger
> buy of bankruptcy detritis, and was happy to see the floor space cleared
> up. For a buck a sealed
> record, I'll buy anything that's within my taste parameters, that's as
> cheap as a single song
> download.
> 
> -- Tom Fine