The Retail Apocalypse (Incorporating Casual Dining Closures)

Hexx wrote:

Jenuall wrote:Some truly impressive TVs in there, if you've got thousands to spend!

I have a Credit Card

A plan with no drawbacks!

But yeah, some of the massive 4K OLED/QLED stuff they have on display is fantastic to look at.

Jenuall wrote:

Hexx wrote:

Jenuall wrote:Some truly impressive TVs in there, if you've got thousands to spend!

I have a Credit Card

A plan with no drawbacks!

But yeah, some of the massive 4K OLED/QLED stuff they have on display is fantastic to look at.

Sometimes I stare at the OLEDs, the image quality is just incredible.

Shame I'll probably never buy one as they're not made in the 40"-50" range.

Jenuall wrote:

Hexx wrote:

Jenuall wrote:Some truly impressive TVs in there, if you've got thousands to spend!

I have a Credit Card

A plan with no drawbacks!

But yeah, some of the massive 4K OLED/QLED stuff they have on display is fantastic to look at.

I think I chap I know bought a 57 inch version (he was talking about buying it from JL and listing technical specs)

NickSCFC wrote:Shame I'll probably never buy one as they're not made in the 40"-50" range.

You can get the phased plasma rifle in the 40w range. John Lewis have 5 year warranties on them.

Moggy wrote:The HMV store in Bristol recently halved in size and I wouldn’t say it looked very busy whenever I walk past it. I occasionally use it, but only when I have forgotten to buy somebody a birthday present and have to pick up a DVD quickly before a family member discovers just how unorganised I am. I would imagine lots of older people going there for gifts for the grandkids, but that is a diminishing market. Streaming and downloading will eventually kill off HMV.

HMV stores do seem to vary quite wildly in how busy they are, some can be pretty quiet (Hereford & Bath are examples of this), while others seem to always be very busy (Brighton & Southampton come to mind).

No matter how much people use streaming/downloads though, i firmly believe that there will always be a market for a physical product (especially when you consider that Avengers: Infinity War sold over 300,000 physical copies alone in just three days of being released).

Moggy wrote:Currys might have a place at the moment, but I am not sure they are going to survive based on fridges and washing machines. Both of those are items that can be purchased online and delivered to your home – much more convenient than going to the shop itself.

It's not just white goods though, if i'm buying an expensive piece of electrical kit, i do like to be actually able to see/touch/try the product before i commit to purchasing it.

I did just that with the new camera earlier this year.

NickSCFC wrote:but the surrounding towns and the high street are either half empty or occupied with tat like Gregg, Primark, B&M, vape shops and betting shops.

They're lucky then, my town doesn't even have a Primark.

Gemini73 wrote:I just don't think people want to trundle around with armful of shopping bags when the convenience of online buying exists.

I do, i enjoy shopping for stuff in city centres, i'd hate to have to do it all online, especially as then i'd be stuck here all the time which would drive me (even more) insane.

Moggy wrote:Online is normally cheaper

Not always, especially as a lot of online shops charge up to £5 extra for P&P (especially clothing retailers).

Of course there'll always be a market for physical items. The issue is whether there'll be enough of a market to keep big stores open in high streets/shopping complexes/retail parks.

The current trend would suggest that the answer is no.

Preezy wrote:Of course there'll always be a market for physical items. The issue is whether there'll be enough of a market to keep big stores open in high streets/shopping complexes/retail parks.

The current trend would suggest that the answer is no.

That’s pretty much my thought.

I accept that Vermilion likes going to physical shops. My point is that he is increasingly in a minority of people that do that regularly. And eventually that will cause shops to close.

Tsunade wrote:I miss independent shops, there's none left in brum now, they're all big chains and cafe's.

This is a British consumer issue. Why we insist on going into Costa every day and drinking their piss when there's a small coffee shop nearby that serves a decent cup of coffee is mind boggling.

Everyone should try their best to not eat, drink or shop at chains. They're the number one destroyers of the highstreet. There's plenty of business if you're not having to pay fat cats and shareholders.

Sandy wrote:

Tsunade wrote:I miss independent shops, there's none left in brum now, they're all big chains and cafe's.

This is a British consumer issue. Why we insist on going into Costa every day and drinking their piss when there's a small coffee shop nearby that serves a decent cup of coffee is mind boggling.

Everyone should try their best to not eat, drink or shop at chains. They're the number one destroyers of the highstreet. There's plenty of business if you're not having to pay fat cats and shareholders.

I think the problem is that quite often there isn't an independent shop/cafe nearby. Often your choices are simply a case of "which chain do we go to today?"

We try and go to as many small and independent shops, cafes and restaurants as possible but it's becoming an increasingly difficult challenge!

Moggy wrote:I accept that Vermilion likes going to physical shops. My point is that he is increasingly in a minority of people that do that regularly. And eventually that will cause shops to close.

I think i'm just a bit old school to be honest, i still use mainly cash for transactions, i don't bank online, i prefer physical media to digital, and i buy most of my goods in real life stores.

Most days i only use my smartphone for calls, texting, and candy crush.

Vermilion wrote:

Moggy wrote:I accept that Vermilion likes going to physical shops. My point is that he is increasingly in a minority of people that do that regularly. And eventually that will cause shops to close.

I think i'm just a bit old school to be honest, i still use mainly cash for transactions, i don't bank online, i prefer physical media to digital, and i buy most of my goods in real life stores.

Most days i only use my smartphone for calls, texting, and candy crush.

That’s fine, but I think you are going to find your retail options significantly lowered over the next decade. You’re going to end up like one of those pensioners who can’t buy a VHS player and can’t understand why.

I hardly carry any cash at all now. I got caught out the other day by an Indian take away only taking cash as payment and had to drive to a cash machine and back.

I'm pretty sure it's so they can dodge tax

Winckle wrote:I hardly carry any cash at all now. I got caught out the other day by an Indian take away only taking cards as payment and had to drive to a cash machine and back.

I'm pretty sure it's so they can dodge tax

They only took cards...so you went to get Cash?

Hexx wrote:

Winckle wrote:I hardly carry any cash at all now. I got caught out the other day by an Indian take away only taking cards as payment and had to drive to a cash machine and back.

I'm pretty sure it's so they can dodge tax

They only took cards...so you went to get Cash?

Hexx wrote:

Winckle wrote:I hardly carry any cash at all now. I got caught out the other day by an Indian take away only taking cards as payment and had to drive to a cash machine and back.

I'm pretty sure it's so they can dodge tax

They only took cards...so you went to get Cash?

Ah my bad, I've corrected it, I meant to say only took cash.

I find myself using Android pay for the vast majority of payments now.

Winckle wrote:

Hexx wrote:

Winckle wrote:I hardly carry any cash at all now. I got caught out the other day by an Indian take away only taking cards as payment and had to drive to a cash machine and back.

I'm pretty sure it's so they can dodge tax

They only took cards...so you went to get Cash?

Ah my bad, I've corrected it, I meant to say only took cash.

I find myself using Android pay for the vast majority of payments now.

I should have realised that's what you meant

I use contactless and really should set up ApplePay.

I only use JustEat/Deliveroo for delivery now. Never get a takeway because you say they always want cash.

Winckle wrote:

Hexx wrote:

Winckle wrote:I hardly carry any cash at all now. I got caught out the other day by an Indian take away only taking cards as payment and had to drive to a cash machine and back.

I'm pretty sure it's so they can dodge tax

They only took cards...so you went to get Cash?

Ah my bad, I've corrected it, I meant to say only took cash.

I find myself using Android pay for the vast majority of payments now.

Just don't use it for your posts.

Photek wrote:

Winckle wrote:

Hexx wrote:

Winckle wrote:I hardly carry any cash at all now. I got caught out the other day by an Indian take away only taking cards as payment and had to drive to a cash machine and back.

I'm pretty sure it's so they can dodge tax

They only took cards...so you went to get Cash?

Ah my bad, I've corrected it, I meant to say only took cash.

I find myself using Android pay for the vast majority of payments now.

Just don't use it for your posts.

Is that actually Photok? Assumed it was some sports guy

Hexx wrote:Is that actually Photok? Assumed it was some sports guy

Yes that’s Photek, he’s Irish but looks like a German sports guy.