my tip for the drop - Poundstretcher. We've had 2 hand-printed, mis-spelt 20% off 'vouchers' handed to our shop in the last 7 days. They've pulled their ecommerce site this year and in fact, their website is a shell.
their latest pre-tax profits were £1m to March 11, compared to similar plagues of the highstreet like poundland (£32M), wilkinson (£23M) and home bargains (£84M).
their latest pre-tax profits were £1m to March 11, compared to similar plagues of the highstreet like poundland (£32M), wilkinson (£23M) and home bargains (£84M).
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cuddly toy to mhall then!
I think it is all down to price and short sightedness. People might wander around Comet and see what they want, touch, feel then research where they can get it at the cheapest price. That hasn't been Comet otherwise they would still be viable however over stretching themselves and customer service/after sales comes into the equation. Unfortunately they are a good target for consumer complaints online whereas their cheap replacement at xyzhomeelectricsherefora shortwhile.com will be off into the sunset when the oriental fridge packs up.
How has Currys survived I want to know? has its sister PC World bailed them out? They must be happy at this news I guess.
I think it is all down to price and short sightedness. People might wander around Comet and see what they want, touch, feel then research where they can get it at the cheapest price. That hasn't been Comet otherwise they would still be viable however over stretching themselves and customer service/after sales comes into the equation. Unfortunately they are a good target for consumer complaints online whereas their cheap replacement at xyzhomeelectricsherefora shortwhile.com will be off into the sunset when the oriental fridge packs up.
How has Currys survived I want to know? has its sister PC World bailed them out? They must be happy at this news I guess.
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B
businessfunding
There are still plenty of opportunities for imaginative retailers.
Richer Sounds don't seem to struggle to sell through shops..
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It's not lazy. Things change, lifestyles, technology, leisure times: they all change.
Would you have called someone lazy in the 1950s for getting a vacuum cleaner or automatic washing machine? What's wrong with a brush and a scrubbing board?
Or were they lazy in the 1920s (ish) by using cars and buses? What's wrong with walking?
Things change over time and you can change with them or not. If you don't change you will feel on the outside looking in after a while, which might be sad.
Would you have called someone lazy in the 1950s for getting a vacuum cleaner or automatic washing machine? What's wrong with a brush and a scrubbing board?
Or were they lazy in the 1920s (ish) by using cars and buses? What's wrong with walking?
Things change over time and you can change with them or not. If you don't change you will feel on the outside looking in after a while, which might be sad.
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H
HandyNick
Halfords (Halfrauds) will be (should be) one that needs to go away. I've not been a fan for many many years and yesterday i went in for a torch, and surprise, no change in staff knowledge, helpfulness or adaptability. Simple robots doing a job and glad to go home at the end of a boring day. The manager served me and I just got the feeling that I'd stepped back in time, or out of time like the Stephen King film The Langoliers where creatures consume the past until nothing is left. I paid absolutely the top price a retail chain could get away with charging, and it annoyed me that i was in a hurry for this item, that i couldn't go else where (silly me). I said to the manager on checkout 'please can i have a 10% discount' and he said no. Ok, thats no problem, so i said 'you're charging top wack for this torch, can't i have some batteries for it' and he said 'no, I'll sell you some instead', i said 'no'. So now you're thinking i'm sore for not getting any free batteries. A little yes, but when we are told to haggle and that the brits don't like to haggle and that we should just ask as retailers are open to haggling and when you do, you get shot down by robot who hasn't the authority to do more than open a cash register, and i'm talking about the general manager. Well, Halfrauds, you have reminded me not to visit your shops, which i will gladly heed to.
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J
jane p
no getting household items that can help is different. We just expect everything to be delivered now. People used the shops years ago.
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Nick, You should not be aggrieved at not getting a discount, or free batteries, as we all know, nothing is free...
You had the option of either walking away, shopping round, or paying the price.
Normally is discount (in retail ) is only given for multiple purchases, for example if you bought a washing machine and a freezer at the same time - certainly not on a low value item like a torch.
Retailers are really having it rough, high rents and rates being the major ones,
I get people in my shop stating 'oh, this is 2p cheaper in Wilkinsons' that's ok - but they NEVER say thanks when I include a 'free' - 'little extra' when they buy multiple purchases...
Most people = price whores = want something for nothing....
It works both ways mate !!
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businessfunding
Definition of fraud
noun
[mass noun]
wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain:
he was convicted of fraud
I'm not quite sure where your experience fits this definition?
You chose to buy from them, they chose not to give a discount. Whilst I wouldn't generally stick up for big multiples, I respect anyone who sticks to their values.
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K
kelvin1950
You missed the second definition, which fits. "A person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities."
Halfords claim to be in and know about the motor trade, as someone who works in that trade, I can assure you that they really know little or nothing about it.
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This post is so funny
discount on a torch?? I probably wouldn't even have the nerve to bother asking on a market stall if I was buying such a small value item.
Now if you went in there and were buying a set of alloys or a mid range bike then no doubt he would have been more accommodating. Or if you offered to buy multiples of a product, but discount for a low value item in a multiple store = no chance
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H
HandyNick
Yes, it was a bit harsh, even if the torch was overpriced. I'll still always ask for a discount, depending on the item of course. I don't think asking for a discount on an item I know is grossly overpriced to be wrong, and I still bought it anyway.
It's tough for retailers, and many others too, good luck to you all, except Halfords who promise one thing and give you another. Making promises you can't deliver is in my opinion, the worst thing you can do both personally and in business.
Anyway, rant over, sorry if I've annoyed anyone, that's not my intention.
It's tough for retailers, and many others too, good luck to you all, except Halfords who promise one thing and give you another. Making promises you can't deliver is in my opinion, the worst thing you can do both personally and in business.
Anyway, rant over, sorry if I've annoyed anyone, that's not my intention.
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I'm old enough to know how Comet started and succeeded.
It was by ignoring brand and High Street and selling hi-fi from warehouses on industrial estates at lower prices than anyone else. They also knew their kit and sold what their educated market wanted. You needed to know what you wanted before you went because you couldn't see it in their wharehouse - it was all in crates behind the ounter.
It's ironic that they became the high street seller that they deplaced and died from digital operations that are the Comet equivalent back in the day.
It was by ignoring brand and High Street and selling hi-fi from warehouses on industrial estates at lower prices than anyone else. They also knew their kit and sold what their educated market wanted. You needed to know what you wanted before you went because you couldn't see it in their wharehouse - it was all in crates behind the ounter.
It's ironic that they became the high street seller that they deplaced and died from digital operations that are the Comet equivalent back in the day.
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Yep Comet went to far from there roots,unlike Tesco et al.
I remember buying a Sinclair C5 from them for 139 quid which I sold 10 years for £400.
Their mistakes:
http://press.comet.co.uk/company-history
I remember buying a Sinclair C5 from them for 139 quid which I sold 10 years for £400.
Their mistakes:
http://press.comet.co.uk/company-history
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But if Richer Sounds threw in the towel tomorrow I would not be surprised.
I find them often pokey little stores with way too much stuff on the shelves, as per Maplin, and woefully understaffed by "experts" who get off on pictures of the latest full contact speaker cable rather than the sexy bird in the hairdressers next door
As to their pricing, fine most of the time but stock control is atrocious.
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A
Alpha30
This thread almost rates up there with those nasty people who predict the downfall of their friends relationships.
Incredibly bad form, I wonder how many people actually write to the companies named here to tell them their thoughts so that they can actually help them improve? That would be incredibly more constructive than predicting their downfall in such bad taste. Think about all the families affected when a company goes down.
It's time businesses (even competitors) stuck together.
Sorry for the mini rant and hopefully it doesn't get me in trouble as I'm new around here but this doesn't sit right at all.
Incredibly bad form, I wonder how many people actually write to the companies named here to tell them their thoughts so that they can actually help them improve? That would be incredibly more constructive than predicting their downfall in such bad taste. Think about all the families affected when a company goes down.
It's time businesses (even competitors) stuck together.
Sorry for the mini rant and hopefully it doesn't get me in trouble as I'm new around here but this doesn't sit right at all.
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You mean as opposed to large chain stores that are overpriced,overmanned,run by hedge fund managers and have done a great deal to harm the british economy.
Not quite sure I can see the similarity.?:|
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Ok here's my thinking - why wouldn't tesco or another big supermarket chain buy up the Comet brand on the cheap?
Think about it, they are already trying to push home electronics in store and they'd stand much stronger with a known brand as a Specialist in house store.
Not sure if any of the Comet stores would be useful as Tesco Express - prob planning issues there?
However the other big benefit is the supermarkets established deliver to home or store set up which is perfect for home electrics.
Anyone agree?
Think about it, they are already trying to push home electronics in store and they'd stand much stronger with a known brand as a Specialist in house store.
Not sure if any of the Comet stores would be useful as Tesco Express - prob planning issues there?
However the other big benefit is the supermarkets established deliver to home or store set up which is perfect for home electrics.
Anyone agree?
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Tesco is a Plc... the shareholders were upset that the big profits weren't enough.
If they wrote off Comets debt and took the company on it would be 3-5 years before a ROI at the earliest - and its a big risk.
Tesco realises no one wants to go to a store to shop any more other than for groceries. The supermarkets do well as people can look for non-food stuff when they go shopping. A rebrand of Comet could cost £500k per store and it would require serious TV ads.
Bottom line there is no loyalty in customers. No one willingly remains on a sinking ship... (not even the captain these days) and no one in their right mind will go back to it. Even if everything bad about Comet changed, the bad reputation will keep people away. People rather purchase from success than failure... regardless if the failing company has more advantages than the successful one.
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I still think people want the tangibility of seeing what their £750 fridge freezer is going to look like or whether their £500 tv is slim enough in real life and even whether the washing machine opening is large enough to take a duvet etc.
The problem is that they then want to go and buy it online or with a John Lewis price match to get the extended guarantee.
Thus, either the retail shops can offer the same prices as the internet, or better, or it is going to need a whole new business model because the ones they have already simply do not work any more.
The problem is that they then want to go and buy it online or with a John Lewis price match to get the extended guarantee.
Thus, either the retail shops can offer the same prices as the internet, or better, or it is going to need a whole new business model because the ones they have already simply do not work any more.
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Quite they pop in the high street stores
have a good look at the goods then buy online for 50% less.
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Richer Sounds are dead in the water unless they get their act together quickly. Look at their web site - they're selling on price "hottest deals ever", "lowest price guaranteed", "Biggest Brands, Best Prices" and so on.
Well that's Ok, so long as you are the best price and so long as you sell what people want to buy.
I found neither when I wanted to upgrade my hifi and home cinema gear. The first bit of kit I asked for they didn't sell (it was a What-hifi Best Buy annual award speaker system) The second was a Panasonic TV which they did sell but when I went to buy it, it came out at about 15% more than the on-line price from a respected company. Their "guaranteed price match" turned out to be a price match only when you bought their 5 year guarantee too - which I regard as a dirty trick and told them so.
I'll never bother with Richer Sounds again - which is a shame because, like Comet, they were a good company once.
Well that's Ok, so long as you are the best price and so long as you sell what people want to buy.
I found neither when I wanted to upgrade my hifi and home cinema gear. The first bit of kit I asked for they didn't sell (it was a What-hifi Best Buy annual award speaker system) The second was a Panasonic TV which they did sell but when I went to buy it, it came out at about 15% more than the on-line price from a respected company. Their "guaranteed price match" turned out to be a price match only when you bought their 5 year guarantee too - which I regard as a dirty trick and told them so.
I'll never bother with Richer Sounds again - which is a shame because, like Comet, they were a good company once.
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An underhand trick I agree and particularly so when John Lewis actually give the 5 year guarantee away for free. Thus, they will price match Richer Sounds regular, pre 5 years guarantee price, which then trumps the RS with 5 years guarantee price by 10% (the cost of the RS guarantee).
I'll never buy from them because I ordered a TV, had it set up to be collected, only for one of their in store people to go and sell it and then lie again and again about why it hadn't been sold to me in the first place. Email evidence available.
They did offer compensation but as the TV was then off promotion, it hardly mattered and John Lewis hoovered up my business.
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Crikey that doesn't sound good, I used to shop there all the time for my AV stuff (not at the moment as I've got all I want now), their prices were always OK and were quick to honour any better prices I'd seen, even on the internet.
It would be a really shame if they did go, one of the few high street shops I would be genuinely sorry to see go.
Looking on their website (which looks a bit of a mess it has to be said), they are selling tablets now and are answering the phones from 9AM in all their stores even those that don't open that early...that does sound a little desperate.
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B
businessfunding
A few instances of poor customer service might be bad PR, but is never a reliable indicator of a business in trouble. More reliable indicators (though still far from 100%) would be de-stocking, insufficient staff and reduction in marketing.
The only correlation between Comet and RS is that they sell electrical goods. Comet lurched from crisis to crisis with no USP, poor image and saddled with big debt and rent.
RS is closely managed, profitable, has reasonable debt and a good history of getting the right premises as the right price. I'm sure they make a few mistakes but they would be very low down my risk list.
The only correlation between Comet and RS is that they sell electrical goods. Comet lurched from crisis to crisis with no USP, poor image and saddled with big debt and rent.
RS is closely managed, profitable, has reasonable debt and a good history of getting the right premises as the right price. I'm sure they make a few mistakes but they would be very low down my risk list.
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I think the only problems RS will have will be a cash flow one. They seem to have moved into much higher rental premises than they used to and expanded into quite a few of them in a short space of time. If the banks will support the growth they will be fine. They mnay have funded the expansion themselves, in which case they will have a good few years left yet.
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