I was 14 when I entered my first Virgin (Virgin)

Member Name: Jonny Crossdresser

Product:	Virgin
Date:	18/09/01 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wide range of music

Disadvantages: Not a great range of DVDs etc

And I just keep going back for more!

In my view, Virgin Megastores are about the best there is on offer. There is no HMV or the like in my area, so Virgin is all I've really experienced, and that’s not a bad thing.

The store in Crewe is quite small compared to those that I have been in located in cities. In only has one level, but is very deep and accommodates all of the merchandise you would expect in any Virgin store.

Navigation around the place is easy enough; new releases ahead of you as you enter, singles down the right aisle of the shop with the chart against the wall and the albums chart next to it. The far left aisle contains the poster rack and other such miscellaneous items, including a small selection of vinyl. The space in between is filled with aisles of older CDs, both albums and singles, helpfully titled and sorted according to genre and the artist's name.

The selection is more than adequate. I personally only browse through the latest music i.e. the charts and new releases, but they do have an extensive range of past CDs should you want them. They stock a very small selection of music on cassette format, though this is obviously because it is no longer as popular.

Towards the back of the shop, videos, DVDs and computer games/consoles can be found. The range here is not as good as in specialist shops, but it's good enough to suit the needs of most customers.

The shop itself is very modern and clean and the staff are extremely knowledgeable and willing to help, unlike in many music stores. There are many tills considering the size of the shop, and so queues are kept to a minimum, leading to happy customers. There are many listening posts dotted around the music section, equipped with about half a dozen albums to listen to, so you can try before you buy. They also play some quality music over their sound system at a decent volume, which everyone appreciates.

>My one and only big gripe with this chain is the price. The CD singles are generally the same price wherever you go, but Virgin charge up to £15.99 for a CD album, which is far too much. The same product can be bought online for almost half the price. The DVDs and console games can also be purchased elsewhere for a less hefty sum. I guess the same applies to other leading high street music chains, which is why there is good business for online retailers.

All things considered, Virgin Megastores are near enough the best chain out there. Their prices are competitive with other high street shops, though not with specialist stores or online dealers

Summary: