I used to go to 3 shades in Birmingham, Hard To Find Records as well, Max Millwards in Wednesfield, and a place called Sundown records in Walsall. Only Hard To Find is still around.
One memory that will last forever is a dark winter's Saturday afternoon when I was 12, just before Chrismas 2000. And walking out of Sundown in Walsall with around 6 records, 2 of which were Bullet in a Gun by Planet Perfecto, and Gouryella's Gouryella. I remember listening to Judge Jules on the way back home in the car too.
I don't remember downloading my first mp3.