HMV

Oh HMV… you really are a dying breed. With actual brick and mortar music stores closing every ten seconds even I feel bad for the chain. Now that’s not going to stop me from buying most of my music online (legally, don’t worry). But, enough that I will go in every once in while to root through their vinyl section, chat with the very knowledgeable staff or root through their sales stuff. And that’s really the key — holy savings batman! You can usually find some pretty classic DVDs or CDs on for some ridiculous prices. (You know that IKEA commercial where the frizzy-​haired woman saves so much she thinks she is stealing? That’s me, complete with frizzy hair!) Yesterday I found Super Troopers for $ 5. I may have done a little jig in the store. Other than the sales, my other favourite thing is the music they blast outside on the street. It’s great if you are waiting for the bus and it’s almost never the poppy radio stuff you hear on a regular basis. In fact I’ve often walked by, heard a song, fallen in love and had to run inside to ask someone what the song was.

I visit HMV maaaaaybe once a year since I’m completely hooked on iTunes for my instant music gratification. That said, I’m still glad it’s a Spring Garden Road staple.
The tunes pumping as you walk by, the cool and friendly staff, and now the addition of pop culture books and television boxsets (of which I am totally obsessed), it’s always a fun place to pop in for a dose of entertainment.
Plus you know you were a Haligonian university student if you at some point have danced drunk in front of HMV’s sliding doors to whatever music happened to be playing at the time.
(For me, it was Madonna’s Confessions on a Dancefloor and I’m actually kind of proud of that.)

Looking for a hard to find album? HMV carries a wide variety of CDs that doesn’t necessarily revolve around popular sales trends. I’m always finding treasures in their world music section, you just have to take the time to browse.
The customer service is excellent. I’m always asked if I need help with anything, and if it’s something in particular they’ll look in their computer to see if they have it. Once I bought a CD I already had, I brought it back and it was as simple as swapping it with anther of the same price.
Frequent sales and promos like the 2 for $ 30 deals. They also have some neat clothing (hoodies, t-​shirts, etc) and a small selection of DVDs as well.
For a large franchise, they certainly give the small indi service that I love.
Accessible by wheelchair.

Unlike my boyfriend, I typically prefer shopping for my music digitally, vinyl records aside. This is likely a result of the fact that most of the music I listen to is not all that easy to find in most stores, so I’ve become used to foregoing the experience of buying a physical CDs. It also makes moving easier!
Shopping for DVDs, however, is another story entirely. My collection borders on obscene, particularly with respect to TV on DVD boxsets. I can’t seem to get enough of them, even though I am trying to curb my impulse to buy every DVD or Blu-​Ray I want.
With that in mind, it’s hard to find a better place to shop for movies and TV in this city. Big box stores like FutureShop or Best Buy offer a similar (if slightly smaller) selection, but if you’re looking for an all-​around media store, the HMV on Spring Garden Road is the place to go.
To be honest, I find it hard to discuss too many aspects of this shop because I am almost always focused on the merchandise. That said, I’ve noticed that the staff is usually helpful and friendly and the place is always clean and well-​organized.
There are, however, a couple aspects of this store that keep me from giving it a full five-​star review. First, the security guard. I understand that it’s likely required given the central location and small size of much of the merchandise. But having a security guard hovering around the store always makes me feel uncomfortable and guilty for no reason. Whenever I leave the store, I feel like I’m going to set off the alarms and get immediately tackled.
My last complaint may just be the result of me being crazy, but the hours at the location seem sporadic. I’ve shown up at its doors many times, fully expecting them to be open, only to find that they closed an hour earlier. Again, maybe I’m crazy (most will tell you that I am), but it just seems odd to me.
Overall, however, if you’re looking for a certain CD, DVD, or video game, you could do much worse.

Anyone that knows me knows how much I spend on music. Specifically CDs. I buy digitally occasionally but I’ve yet to permanently move beyond that and fas long as HMV is around, I likely won’t.
HMV has managed to do what Sam’s, Music World, CD Plus, Virgin and others haven’t been able to and that’s to simply stay open. Disappointing in the grand scale because I used to enjoy the variety of browsing around all the CD shops as each one were slightly different in their selection. HMV has been able to stay afloat by expanding their product line to include more than music and movies. They have since added games, books, iPods, headphones, clothes and now sweets. Unfortunately, being an every-​store means having to sacrifice space for these new additions although if it means staying in the game, I’ll take this over nothing.
The Spring Garden Road location does still have a relatively large CD collection in comparison to pretty much any other store in HRM that sells new and current music. The only possible rival being the MicMac Mall HMV location. Prices have always been, on average, cheaper than the competition, even when there was competition, and I often take advantage of their 2/​$ 25 or 2/​$ 20 CD/​DVD offers. They also have 4/​$ 20 DVDs and other price combos that allows you to mix whatever they store carries that has the appropriate sticker tag.
HMV is a great place to find new and current music and movies, as well as the essential classics. You won’t find rare or long-​lost gems in here but if there is something you can’t find, you can order it in and have it delivered to the store for pick-​up.
Staff is helpful too, often offering their assistance but never being too intrusive if you’re simply browsing. I also like that they appear to be non-​judgmental, which is something I appreciate in any sort of a music store. I have found in that past with music stores that staff can be pretentious when it comes to music. One of my biggest pet peeves are with people that think they can look down on anything mainstream and the people that like that kind of music. I have over 700 CDs, some of which are pop titles. I like pop music and often buy pop music along with pretty much any other genre so I shouldn’t feel inferior because I’m buying the latest trend-​following release by the latest chart-​topper.
I’ll be with HMV until it dies… I hope that day never comes.

To be honest, I don’t really come here to buy CDs anymore, though if I ever needed to, I’m sure I could find just what I’m looking for at HMV. They have a large seslction of tunes, ranging from classical to hip-​hop beats, and there prices are very reasonable (likely to compete with Itunes).
I like to pop by here for their selection of BluRay vids– they are always stocked with the newest titles, and if you stop by while a sale is going on, you can score some really sweet deals.

This is a quick update to let people know that HMV now stocks Vinyl records!
This is the good news, I’ve picked up some Arcade Fire, a bit of the Black Keys, some Grinderman and other good things since the vinyl arrived.
The bad news is that these finds are like diamonds found in a very tiny rough. I like that HMV has brought in the Vinyl, but it’s time to take it to the next level! Come on HMV, earn that extra star!

I love HMV. I love brick and mortar stores that know what they’re doing. And I still value great sound and video quality over the MP3 garbage that the kids seem to love (hey, I loved AM radio when I was a kid, so I understand that kids aren’t supposed to have taste).
There’s nothing like browsing the music section at HMV and finding something new. The prices are good, many times cheaper than what you find on iTunes. I’m happy a lot of artists are using digipaks these days, because the CD jewel case is the most godawful ugly bit of bulk ever created.
Great selection of blu-​ray, too, because I can’t stand watching great films with compression artifacts.
The staff is great. Sure you get some silly, coolier-​than-​thou Hipsters, but they’re the minority.
Long-​live HMV!

This is DVD slash box set heaven. The music selection ain’t the tops by any means, but when it comes to 90s TV shows, this place has got it covered.
You want Buffy? Man, they have got Buffy. Andrew and I, over the course of the last ten months, have purchased almost all of the seasons of Buffy from this HMV for only $ 20 a pop — the same cost as a Video Difference 2 week Slayer rental.
And if Buffy isn’t your cup of tea, then why not indulge in some Hasselhoff circa Baywatch. We managed to score some of the earlier Baywatch seasons at this HMV, which are surprisingly entertaining and lighthearted. The employees have always been helpful whenever I’ve been in and have even ordered seasons of Baywatch in for us when their stock has been depleted.
I don’t go here for my music purchases but the Spring Garden HMV rocks my box set socks. I advise you to get Pamela Anderson and Jeremy Jackson on your side pronto via some sweet arse Baywatch DVDs.

Things are a little different nowadays for this music mogul. HMV has submerged itself in the conglomerate lifestyle with one cookie cutter paradigm and a regimented music flow. Not exactly the breadwinner of new and exciting music, HMV tends to favor buzzworthy bands and dolla-​dolla bills.
When we face the fact that its just never going to be our own Virgin Records cult classic, we can relax and take it all for what its worth. HMV is a mega-​house for music through the decades, DVDs, video games, and a small selection of books.
I’ve purchased a few of «The L Word» seasons here, browsed the worthy music selection, and picked up Anthony Burgess’ «Clockwork Orange», which was a book I’d wanted to read for a while. They’ve got archives of tv, film, and music, and customers can be confident in its offerings.
HMV is a fine dose of cultural endeavors, despite the fact that it isn’t exactly pushing boundaries. No, its not a revolutionary music movement or a place of discovery… but its got history down pat, and the spectrum of contemporary pop culture in the palm of its hand.

HMV is about the only man standing. With CD plus closing its doors, this place is even busier, if that is possible!
I have to say I do not frequent these shops alot. But it is great to go and see what is new out, a lot of time can be spent in here. When we go in, we usually head for separate sections and peruse.
The staff here is very knowledgeable and it is apparent they love their jobs.
The crowds are here I think because, it is everything under one roof. I do not like having to spend the time or extra gas to drive to various location to gather all my goods. I would rather pay the extra dollar at one spot and then go listen to my music or watch the movie with my time.
Cheers!

I’m new school about my media — most of it comes from the internet these days. So it’s not often that I find myself in a music and dvd store. Christmas, though, had me shopping for others, and there was one CD I wanted for my parents. HMV had this local artist (in a convenient «Local Voices» section) and I picked it up. I was offered help by staff while here twice, but they were friendly and didn’t make me uncomfortable. An easy transaction, overall.

I hate to be in the position of propagating stereotypes, but I am one of those girls that never ventured past Super Nintendo… So when I am in the position of purchasing some sort of game for one of the seemingly infinite gaming systems that reside under our TV, I am grateful for the help of the knowledgeable staff at HMV.
When I popped in yesterday afternoon the HMV dude helping me was exceedingly helpful. I knew I wanted NHL10 but what I didn’t realize was that it appears to come in several variants for wii as well as xbox. He was able to discern what I was looking for based on the very limited information I had, all while avoiding making me feel inept for basically standing in the middle of the store hoping that the game I wanted would magically appear before me.
HMV on Spring Garden has a pretty wide selection of cds, box set shows, dvds as well as a few books and music merch.
These guys are great! I will definitely head into HMV for my future gaming needs.

If you aren’t used to HMV but are used to Virgin, think Virgin. HMV is a chain, but this particular store on one of the busiest streets in Halifax knows how to go beyond being thought of as just a chain. The staff that work here seem to love movies and music and are more than ready to talk you up about it. Whenever I walk in, I am never bombarded by staff asking if I need any help. Which is good because I’m more in favor of browsing around but also having the option to ask an employee about a product if I do, in fact have any questions. HMV has a nice balance that way. The staff are never too far away from you if you need anything.
As for the selection, its not bad. You will see roughly fifty percent movies and television shows and fifty percent music. With the amount of illegal and legal downloading that is going on these days, i am a little shocked to even see a music section. But apparently business is still alright in that particular area.
Most of the time they also have a two for one deal on movies. The most common deal I find is two movies for twenty-​five dollars. But before you run out the door let me tell you about the catch. The two movies are already pre-​picked for you. So if you like one movie, but don’t like the other… well tough luck. Although I will say for the record, sometimes I found a pretty sweet find with two movies I actually wanted to watch in the same two for one package.
The reason why HMV gets four stars is due to great selection, not so bad deals but more importantly great, fun and friendly staff. The hiring process is done well here and it shows. I never see staff in bad moods or in a mood where they don’t want to help you. Of course I bet there are times when this does happen. I’m just never there to see it.