Yeah...that customer was a bit extreme
I'd probably also expect a staff member to know George Benson, but not in the classical section.
That's why I used my Tragically Hip example. I don't expect the kid in the mall store to know George Benson or even, say, Wilco (though it would be nice).
But when that kid responds to your, "Is the new Tragically Hip in?" with, "Um, is that rock?" you have a fundamental problem. It's probably more of a symptom of the death of music stores than a cause but it's still sad.
I don't think this is old farts bemoaning the changing winds. I think these stores were great forums for lovers of music and somehow they just blew this whole transition. The record labels I could care less for - they did it to themselves. But Sam's, HMV, Tower etc really brought something to the table.
Even at a corporate level, I recall a couple of years ago the president of HMV Canada offering a "money back guarantee" on Springteen's MAGIC album. That's not a business decision; that's a MUSIC decision, but I don't think there are many of those left in the tank.
And to Coruscanti; the atmosphere was part of the charm. Kinda like Honest Eds. Record shopping isn't supposed to be like furniture shopping. It's because of the beat-up signs and uneven floors that people loved Sam's.
