Personally, I love the convenience, speed, and comprehensiveness of
online shopping.

However, I count myself as lucky that I started collecting LPs back when
some of the great classical music stores were operating.  I moved a lot
so I got the chance to check out some really fine stores.  Liberty Music
in Ann Arbor, Michigan comes to mind as one of those places.  Though not
the biggest store around, they had a diverse selection, including many
difficult to find imports.  I always struggled with their policy of
selling opened LPs as new, but I found many treasures there, and having
the ability to listen before purchase was, of course, wonderful.

Chicago had a great store downtown on Wabash called Rose Records.  An
entire floor was devoted to classical, and the atmosphere was incredible.
They had a huge selection, and a very knowledgeable staff.

I've never had much luck with the staff at Tower, even the old-timers
who obviously had a lot of knowledge.  Perhaps it was the corporate
atmosphere.  But this didn't keep their stores in Washington D.C.  on
Pennsylvania (just down from the White House) and Los Angeles on Sunset
(a dedicated classical annex) from being among my favorites.  Of course
the classical annexes in Berkeley and Philly were likewise excellent.
I could easily spend hours and hours in each one, and did!

And then there were a few other independent stores that were joys to
visit.  Ah, the good ol' days.  Just a whiff of cardboard and vinyl takes
me right back.  Those days are gone forever, but for hard-core collectors,
it was a unique experience to visit one of these places.  I regret never
making it to New York or Boston to visit the legendary stores there.  I
missed my chance...

Dave
http://www.classical.net/