GRcade

Lor64 wrote:I would take a trip into town now and again, but I usually don't pick up that much when I'm there. I do most of my shopping online.

Same.

OrangeRakoon wrote:The best way to browse CEX is from the outside window. No smell or bad music and the most interesting retro stuff is normally on display.

I never set foot in CEX, i don't want to risk getting fleas.

I try and do everything online as I can’t be arsed with the shops. Clothes would be an exception but I rarely bother buying them anymore. For things like milk or a loaf of bread then I will go to the shop but otherwise I tend to even do my food shopping online now. Things like birthday cards I will go to a shop for, or if I desperately need something urgently, but that’s very rare.

I'm not a huge high street shopper. Mostly if I need clothes as it seems a waste of time for me shopping for something online and then sending it back if it doesn't fit, or the material is horrible.

I can't really say what they are like in Europe in smaller towns as I've only really seen nice city high streets, but it is depressing thinking of UK ones where every other shop is a bookies, or a fast food place. Back in the day it would be Bedford high street I went, which was a gooseberry fool hole that looked like it was stuck in the 70's. The usual BHS, Woolworths etc.
When I was at uni I'd sometimes head down the Portsmouth high street, which was probably slightly less depressing but still a gooseberry fool hole. It was doing ok though if I remember, mainly due to students I imagine as I don't recall seeing many boarded up shops.

SandyCoin wrote:I can't really say what they are like in Europe in smaller towns as I've only really seen nice city high streets

It often varies, a lot of the smaller ones i've been to are touristy places anyways so there's always an abundance of little shops and businesses which spend a lot of time catering to the visitors (Monschau being one example, Stresa another).

As far as UK centres go, there are still a whole bunch of pretty decent (clean, tidy, and with an abundance of stores) shopping areas (outside London) still around, you just need to know where to look.

SandyCoin wrote:When I was at uni I'd sometimes head down the Portsmouth high street, which was probably slightly less depressing but still a gooseberry fool hole. It was doing ok though if I remember, mainly due to students I imagine as I don't recall seeing many boarded up shops.

Most shopping in Portsmouth now takes place at Gunwharf Quays, it's miles better than the city centre.

Yeah Gunwharf is way nicer than the high street. It's an annoying split though - the only HMV is in Gunwharf, the only Game is on the high street, and they're about a mile apart. My first world problems

Also, the M&S at Gunwharf has no food hall, why even have an M&S if there's no food hall?

Vermilion wrote:Also, the M&S at Gunwharf has no food hall, why even have an M&S if there's no food hall?

Just old ladies clothes then

Southsea high street was always a lot nicer than Commercial Road, but it didn't have any shops that were actually good/useful, so that was a slight drawback.

Wait, Southsea has shops?

In the south London suburbs most high streets are suffering. You'll still find betting shops, takeaways, nail bars, coffee shops, hairdressers and charity shops but things like clothing, shoes and entertainment (books / music / film / games) have generally disappeared. Supermarkets are pretty accessible.

Generally, I only buy music, film and books online. Food is from a supermarket in the high street and clothing / footwear from a big shopping centre about 30 minutes (car) or an hour (bus) away.

I wandered into a CEX yesterday and I really wasn't keen. The games cases generally appeared to be in poor condition and it doesn't help when there are huge price stickers on them. The second-hand equipment seemed quite pricey, too. I wouldn't rush back.

I do prefer the retail parks rather than going into the actual town, the nearest town for me is Mansfield or Newark, I tend to go to Mansfield because the two retail parks are next to each other, I used to really like going to Meadowhall

I live in a very small town and work in the neighbouring very small town, shopping opportunites are limited. I do however buy my jeans in a place near work and I will use the hardware shops when I need things. Ill poke around the book shop or toy shop sometimes but I generally dont buy anything, just go in out of curiosity mostly. Ill also check out a charity shop every now and again but Ive never found anything decent in any of them.

Vermilion wrote:

SandyCoin wrote:I can't really say what they are like in Europe in smaller towns as I've only really seen nice city high streets

It often varies, a lot of the smaller ones i've been to are touristy places anyways so there's always an abundance of little shops and businesses which spend a lot of time catering to the visitors (Monschau being one example, Stresa another).

As far as UK centres go, there are still a whole bunch of pretty decent (clean, tidy, and with an abundance of stores) shopping areas (outside London) still around, you just need to know where to look.

SandyCoin wrote:When I was at uni I'd sometimes head down the Portsmouth high street, which was probably slightly less depressing but still a gooseberry fool hole. It was doing ok though if I remember, mainly due to students I imagine as I don't recall seeing many boarded up shops.

Most shopping in Portsmouth now takes place at Gunwharf Quays, it's miles better than the city centre.

I'd honestly completely forgotten about Gunwharf. Shows how long its been since I was in Portsmouth. However, to me the high street shopping experience is just that, a long high street. Gunwharf is mostly designer outlets if I remember correctly.

Vermilion wrote:I mainly pop into Waterstones just to use their wifi.

I’m with BT and there seems to be WiFi hotspots everywhere, in fact I’m in my car using one now

I shop in the centre of Oxford on my lunch for clothes etc, and walk to the local retail park for the supermarket. The town centre where I live is abysmal though; Savers is okay for toiletries, Co-op for food, and then everything else is a waste of time.

Having said that I don't really shop online either. I don't buy much to be honest.

SandyCoin wrote:Gunwharf is mostly designer outlets if I remember correctly.

It is an outlet centre, but i wouldn't say it was particularly 'designer' by nature, not compared with the likes of Bicester anyways.

Gunwharf is home to an HMV for a start.

Red wrote:I shop in the centre of Oxford on my lunch for clothes etc

Oxford's nice, though i've not yet had the chance to explore their new mall yet, which is annoying since they now have one of the only Uniqlo stores outside of London.

At Christmas I got over £200 in various vouchers.

They'll be sat in my draw for months before I don't do high street. (I think I have some left from last year)

Thanks guys!!!

Hexx wrote:At Christmas I got over £200 in various vouchers.

They'll be sat in my draw for months before I don't do high street. (I think I have some left from last year)

Thanks guys!!!

If you really can't face using them, i'm sure i could give them a good home.

Vermilion wrote:

Hexx wrote:At Christmas I got over £200 in various vouchers.

They'll be sat in my draw for months before I don't do high street. (I think I have some left from last year)

Thanks guys!!!

If you really can't face using them, i'm sure i could give them a good home.

If serious make me an offer. I might not even accept £1:£1 ratio. GOD DAMN HIGH STREET. WHY WONT YOU DIE!

John Lewis, Debhams and a few others I think