The issue is, most people probably don't browse record stores that much. On what do you base this? I don't have anything other than my own anecdotal data, so

The issue is, most people probably don't browse record stores that much. On what do you base this? I don't have anything other than my own anecdotal data, so I offered up my own personal preference. Thing is, as I recall, whenever I went into record stores there seemed to be a fair number of people in there. Gut feeling tells me people were browsing in the stores but buying online. No, you can't take a stack of CDs to listen too, though some places will play something for you if you ask (but that's hardly as frictionless as grabbing books on your own). There still are some opportunities for listening previews, though. This is all not to mention the fact that the era of buying music on physical media is pretty much over. Define "pretty much over." http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/consumer/cue-the-music-driven-by-digital-music-sales-up-in-2011/ http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/consumer/cue-the-music-d... Vinyl is certainly a much smaller market than CDs, but custom packaging still has its appeal.