AUGUSTA, GA – ‘Tis the season for buying, but this year, Augusta’s longtime record store retailer Robert “Flash” Gordon says he’s experiencing a  significant downturn in the sale of music and video products.

Along with the challenges of major retail outlets and  computer downloads, Gordon directly blames what he describes as the illegal sale of bootleg music, mixed tapes and DVDs.

As owner of Pyramid Records since 1976, one of Augusta’s last remaining small record outlets,  Gordon said he’s witnessing  diminishing sales at both his  downtown Augusta location and his Gordon Highway site. Gordon said he concerned about bootleggers “because it affects my bottom line.”

“Not only are they stealing from the artists, they’re stealing from me too. It’s a crime,” he said. “You have guys going around selling bootleg CDs or DVDs for $5 or two for $10. I can’t do that, because I’m selling the actual legitimate product.”

Bootleg products are copies of CDs or DVDs that are typically mass-produced from an ill-gotten versions of a song or motion picture source.

Gordon, a former promotions manager with Motown Records and for the late James Brown, said he witnessed bootleggers walking near his south Augusta business, openly soliciting their products from plastic bags or car trunks.

“What’s really bad is that many times those bootleg copies are sometimes blank,” he said. “Then what? It’s too late. They’ve got you.”

“Come on, this stuff is illegal,” Gorden added. “Just like selling illegal cigarettes or whiskey. They (authorities) can stop that, I don’t understand why they can’t stop this?”

Sgt. Randy Hayes of the  Richmond County Sheriff’s  Office, heads the Technical Crimes Division which oversees and  investigates activities related to counterfeit CD and DVD sales in metro Augusta and countywide.

“Sure, it’s illegal,” he said. “And if we get complaint calls about someone sitting out in a parking lot selling CDs or DVDs, we’ll investigate and seize their product.”

Typically what occurs, says Sgt. Hayes, is that deputies will seize products and ultimately provide contents to investigators from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) or the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) – Atlanta divisions.

“The RIAA and MPAA are experts when it comes to determining whether products are authentic,” said Hayes. “If counterfeit, we’ll follow up with arrest warrants. If the product is legit, we must return it to the perpetrator. Although that’s rare, it does happen sometimes.”

According to the RIAA Web site, in 2005, Atlanta authorities confiscated more than $20 million worth of illicit products during continuous police raids of suspected pirating operations.

The RIAA also cited a report by the Institute for Policy Innovation, a Lewisville, Tex. think tank which noted that in 2007, global theft of sound recordings cost the U.S. economy $12.5 billion in lost revenue, more than 71,000 jobs and $2 billion in wages for American workers.

“These guys are like drug  dealers,” Hayes said. “We pop ‘em all the time, but there’s always three or four more to replace them once they’re removed from the scene.”

Gordon said he also has a problem with one of his retail neighbors, a new business called Street Dreamz, also on Gordon Highway.

When customers enter Gordon’s shop, often they’re asking for $5 mixed tapes, he said. “I don’t sell that type of product, so they’ll go down the street looking for that store,” said

Gordon, who opened his business more than 35 years ago.

He is openly against the sale of mixed tapes, which he categorizes in the same capacity as bootleg products.

“I may buy a CD wholesale at $10 and they’ll sell the same thing for $5 or maybe two for $15,” he said.

Several calls to speak with Street Dreamz’ owner, whom an employee identified as “J.C.,” were not returned in time for publication.

Gordon’s story is one that is being shared by mom and pop record retailers nationwide.

In Pittsburgh, Neil Dorsey, owner of Dorsey’s Records, said his 63-year-old firm in Homewood has been forced to adapt with the times.

“There’s a difference between mixed tapes and bootleggers, I think. We sell mixed tapes, but we buy them from a professional company,” he said. “We pay $5 for them, but sell them for $7.99.”

Dorsey admits bootleggers have impacted his sales, too.

“In barber and beauty shops, they’ve got the latest movies and CDs selling for $5,” Dorsey said. “My average CD costs $15.88. I can’t compete with that price.”