Clothes shops that play music

Pop Music is for stupid people that are too incapable of thinking for themselves and it seems that managers are exactly that aswell . Complete sheep

I like the idea of wearing earplugs, but then I wouldn't hear anything... not even my DD.

Well, I completely agree!
I've been put in a really bad mood lately by all the horrible cacophony imposed on me every time I go shopping. Shopping malls are the worst: Music in the common area is loud and each store you pass by or walk into has yet a different pop tune playing, also very loud.
My question is: why is silence such a scary thing? Why isn't it possible to just enjoy the diffused chitter-chatter of customers and the sounds of cash registers ticking?
Somoeone told me that reaserch says people by more when there's music playing. In that case I would hope it would be my right as a consumer to be able think when I shop and not be brian washed into buying stuff (or just buying in a hurry to get out of there and get some peace and quiet).
Also, I have a little 7 month old daughter and sometimes we need to go to the children clothes section with baby in the carriage and even there they play pop music and it's really loud. Do little babies and their tired mothers need that? Don't we get enough noise and whining at home? And if my little one finally enjoys a little nap in her carriage, shouldn't I be able to walk into a store without waking her up?
This is a very irritating phenomenon in our society, where we are incapable of giving ourselves the chance to think and to give others the freedom of choice and individuality we so much praise and cherish.
I wish there were something one could do about it...

I work for a store in the uk and we play an eclectic mix of music most music isn't chosen by the employees its chosen by background music companies. most of the music is ok but brittney is not a good selling point

I completely agree. I hate even more when they have music with lyrics playing at restaurants.
Jan-- hear, hear! I've been saying this for years. A nice instrumental CD would be perfect. I don't know anyone who could complain about instrumental music. And also, it's perfectly appropriate. I'm tired of listening to songs with awful lyrics or awkward pauses where words have obviously been bleeped out. Lame!

I totally agree! I just now emailed customer service of a chain of "dollar" stores because the one I was in had country music blaring so loud from a single set of speakers that I had to hold my hands over my ears. It had to be above safe levels. When I mentioned it at checkout I was told that "it is company policy" & this is the "only set of speakers they have" and she "can't do anything about it". It would be fine if stores still piped in non-offensive instrumental music - I think it promotes a pleasant atmosphere for shopping. In most stores I can't even hear myself think.

Pop music is much better than the stuff I have to listen to in work, bear songs..... Thats all there is to say on the matter really.

My local ASDA plays current stuff over the speakers, which are on the same circuit as the intercom. Simply walk over to one of the staff telephones and dial#96 and press the HOLD button. Result. No more Robbie or Beyonce until each phone in the store is checked to see which one is set on hold! Works in just about every ASDA or any supermarket that uses a phone to access the intercom..

It's very true, some of the garbage pumping out at you in shops is annoying. However, Rock'n'Roll aint noise pollution. Who said that??

I ask them to turn it down. They do so more often than you might expect. If they don't I leave, same in restaurants. And I might be an old fiddy duddy but I've been doing that since I was in my teens. Noise is a form of pollution and needs to be recgnised and dealt with as such.

No you aren't an old fuddy duddy! I think the same as well and I'm a teenager. They should turn it right down. Peace and quiet is not abnormal, and if I want to shop in it then I should be able to. They play mostly chart crap and they think that will attract young trendy people! What a load of sh*t.

I know this is an old gripe, but did you know that the people in the shops actually get to choose the music? That's right, most if not all of the music is chosen by the employees.
They take turns playing their favourite CDs. Although most of the proper rock music (ie good music) is not allowed as most customers would not like it, and the subject matter is ...too dark.
Oh and sorry to break it to ya- but you are an old fuddy duddy, lol. It's not that hard to ignore (though the occasional song may warrant a walk out), and who cares about volume? Wait, old fuddy duddies do! Sorry!
I would also question why you are shopping in shops aimed at young trendy people/ sheep. Everyone knows the cool shops play indie. Or even the occasional Reggae album!