Waterstones - Avoid

[johncraig]

but why is Watertones are not trustful service? Are you experiencing some thing wrong from them?

 

[cjd]

but why is Watertones are not trustful service? Are you experiencing some thing wrong from them?

There's nothing wrong with Waterstones except that its business model has been blown out of the water by Amazon. Borders went into liquidation, Waterstones are very close.

I like both Waterstones and Borders and still use Waterstones occasionally, if I'm passing. But they're selling something I can get more conveniently and cheaper elsewhere so they're not going to survive unless they do something radical. I can't think what that might be and it'll be a sad loss but so what - it's a business not a charity.

 

[DuckingandDiving]

We won't drown because we care about our customers and have ethics and morals when it comes to suppliers.

I do not understand what was either ethical or moral to contract a man to fit your shop out, and on the morning he turns up with his tools and material, fire him because his wife did not buy something from your shop. This man probably turned down or delayed another job to do yours. You are also blaming the man, a person in his own right, who you made a contract with, for the actions and words of his wife. They are not the same people. Your actions do not seem either ethical or moral. It is a pity you were not sued by this man for breech of contract and loss of earnings as he did not do a thing wrong and you paint him with the same brush you used on his wife! If your logic is used, this man must not fit out a Rolls Royce factory as he would be required to buy one of the cars first!

 

[Montaigne]

These myths are fantastic. We get all the new internet retailers telling High Street retailers they "should be on the internet as well, you will die otherwise". Who do you think were the first independent retailers on the internet? It wasn't Frank Spencer in his bedroom (although now often it is), it was the B&M retailers already selling and using the internet to sell back in the late 90's when it was all new and sparkly.

However, very many High Street retailers have seen a massive decline in internet sales over the past three to five years due to massive competition from the big boys and have ditched it (or not expand it further) to concentrate on where the real and sustainable money is for the independent retailer - the High Street.

Once again High Street leading the way, internet following.

Now don't go quoting Amazon, Play, Pixmania etc. I'm talking independent internet and independent High Street.

So to summarise I would guess Bricks and Mortar have at least a five year head start out of this recession compared to internet retailers.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it is easy to do what I suggested but if you're selling a product in a high street I don't see why selling a product online will not potentially increase your turnover, given the relatively low cost of running a e-commerce site compared to the rent on a high street store.

Of course there are various factors involved, as there are in anything, but if you find you cannot compete with the big boys from your store then it is unlikely that you will compete from your internet presence. On the other hand if your store does well then your internet sales should also do well as you are clearly selling a product that appeals to people enough that they will buy from you rather than elsewhere (or may not be able to get elsewhere).

 

[Banned]

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it is easy to do what I suggested but if you're selling a product in a high street I don't see why selling a product online will not potentially increase your turnover, given the relatively low cost of running a e-commerce site compared to the rent on a high street store.

Of course there are various factors involved, as there are in anything, but if you find you cannot compete with the big boys from your store then it is unlikely that you will compete from your internet presence. On the other hand if your store does well then your internet sales should also do well as you are clearly selling a product that appeals to people enough that they will buy from you rather than elsewhere (or may not be able to get elsewhere).

Sorry Sir, you've totally missed my point. Want to make that sound friendly not hostile so have a

 

[Consistency]

..................

 

[Consistency]

No, quite the opposite. If my suppliers or their agents of any service, shop fitting, telephones, tills etc, buy any of the products I sell without at least giving me the chance to serve them, I don't do business with them again. If you don't support the customers you are selling to why should they buy from you?

We recently gave a shopfitter £7,000 worth of work. On the day he was due to start the work, his wife came in to the shop and liked a product we were selling for £65 but said she would buy from Boundary Mills as it was £8 cheaper. My Hubby sacked the shopfitter on the spot who was amazed that we were insulted. He really couldn't understand "all the fuss". All attempts by hubby to explain that he was insulted that we were fine to take £7k off but not good enough to buy from washed over him completely.

Most annoying of all was that I was about to give her staff discount which meant she would have saved anyway !

I know that almost all of our suppliers will be coming to me for their Christmas presents, especially the men. They know I will look after them and it helps the whole relationship.

I would pay more willingly to someone else if it meant that I did not have to buy from someone who would pull a contract on a man due to a petty womanly price disagreement.

So the shop was open on the day you was having the shopfitter in? Boundary Mills - here I come too

 

[Consistency]

Not crazy at all, we found another shopfitter in three days who has now had five seperate jobs from us and yes, he buys from us. Ironically he had bought from us before we hired him as well.

The original shopfitter got a job with someone else about 12 months later and closed his business, moaning that people didn't support him and that business was crap. I don't feel the slightest tinge of guilt - he was acting very much like the butcher in your example.

What goes around comes around.

So if you are so loyal, why overlook him in the first place?

 

[asiawonders]

If you would like to order a book DO NOT use WATERSTONES.

I ordered a book from Waterstone a few months ago. They didn't process my order until I called them, that was two weeks after I placed my order. Their excuse was the book wasn't in stock, but they never informed me until I called them.

 

[Montaigne]

Sorry Sir, you've totally missed my point. Want to make that sound friendly not hostile so have a

Sorry, I don't get the point. I said that I thought independent shops would do well also selling on the internet and you appear to be agreeing with me?