Dear Spurtle
Whilst it is very sad for employees of Jessops, Blockbuster and HMV to lose their jobs at this time of year, the loss of these retail outlets really needs to be put into perspective.
If Internet traders can supply goods more cheaply and more conveniently than town centre shops (with all their parking problems deliberately engineered by local councils), then these dinosaur enterprises will inevitably become extinct.
Perhaps if HMV had not alienated customers like myself by stopping stocking their traditional 78's, I might have been persuaded to continue shopping there. As it is, my needs are now more than adequately catered for online!
John Eoin Douglas
(Spey Terrace)