Alastair Goodland: Support our local stores

Real Groovy Records

I'm a vinyl buff. I love it and have devoted a large chunk of my life to buying it, and acquiring high-end stereo equipment to listen to it on.

There are others like me, quite a lot actually. We were heartbroken when the music industry demanded we all go to CDs and you couldn't buy new vinyl anymore.

Thankfully, the DJ industry pushed back and said, no, we want to do the scratchy thing on records, so, please don't stop. Apparently, DJs wield a bit of power in the music production industry.

All that aside, thankfully, today, you can purchase almost anything you like on vinyl, and, most artists are releasing on this medium. Musicor was the last genuine music retailer in Whangarei to close and I know they tried to reintroduce vinyl to the local market.

We were heart-broken when the music industry demanded we all go to CDs.

Alastair Goodland

So, Real Groovy Records in Auckland is our destination. Our Mecca, as it were.

To my delight initially, I've found that our beloved Warehouse is offering new vinyl for sale in the big red sheds, at a price below Real Groovy's.

I say initial delight, because, after thinking it through, I have come to this conclusion: the big red sheds don't care about selling records, or, any other thing for that matter.

Selling is the company's passion, and, selling is the means to the end - market domination. Subsequently, the closure of small competing business.

Why does this bother me? Because, when the company has eliminated its competition, the last record shop, it's likely to discontinue the product line, and, vinyl buffs like me will not be able to buy what we want.

I do support local business. But, I'd rather drive to Auckland and put money in the pockets of genuine Kiwi businesses that care about what they do than give it to the alternative.

Just saying.