Page 1 of WH Smiths going down the pan ?
General Forum
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The City has a name for them. They`re the `heritage` or `legacy` retailers - Boots, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury`s and WH Smith. And they`re in trouble.
And among those that once set the mark for others to follow and dominated in a way that seems inconceivable now, one is in a more difficult predicament than the rest. The one closest to dropping out of the big league altogether is WH Smith.
There was a time when WH Smith was unassailable, following the railway barons as they colonised the country, opening stalls in stations, moving into High Streets, reaping the benefits of a public who always wanted a newspaper and fags, enjoying the seasonal peaks of back-to-school geometry sets and children`s Christmas annuals. Those days have long gone. Last month, WH Smith reported losses of £135m.
Not surprising really,i called in today and saw an offer on Ps2 games 2 for £60 :o .
They must be having a laugh you can buy these games for 30 quid each at normal prices else where.
I don`t think i will be visting Smiths again in the near future.
(A.C.C Founder)
RE: WH Smiths going down the pan ?
Maybe, but their chart dvd`s are pretty well priced compared to the other high-street stores
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I ate what?
My Collection
RE: WH Smiths going down the pan ?
It seems to to be not so much of a price issue but one of identity. What are WH Smith? Are they a book shop like Waterstones? A CD/DVD retailer like HMV? A stationers? A newsagent?
RE: WH Smiths going down the pan ?
Quote:
It seems to to be not so much of a price issue but one of identity. What are WH Smith? Are they a book shop like Waterstones? A CD/DVD retailer like HMV? A stationers? A newsagent?
The problem is that there are other shops who do each of those things better. When I was younger, WH Smith used to be one of the better places to buy records (heck, that dates me, eh?), but I wouldn`t even think about going there for CD`s now.
This item was edited on Thursday, 4th November 2004, 19:06
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It seems to to be not so much of a price issue but one of identity. What are WH Smith? Are they a book shop like Waterstones? A CD/DVD retailer like HMV? A stationers? A newsagent?
It does look like they`re trying to be all things to all people, and failing miserably. I think of WH Smiths primarily as a newsagent/stationers; they certainly wouldn`t be my first choice if I wanted to buy a DVD, for example.
For what it`s worth, when I go into WH Smiths shops they always seem very busy - especially the ones in railway stations and airports where they have (more or less) a captive market.
Mike
RE: WH Smiths going down the pan ?
One thing from Smiths that has definately gone down the pan is their Christmas Gift catalogue.
It used to take ages to go through it, but this years is a pathetic 8 pages or so.
Compare it to Sainsbury`s, Tesco`s or even Waterstones !!
Maybe they`re starting to take a hit from all the library members who spend all day reading the magazines and rumpling the pages up >:(
And getting in my way >:( >:(
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Clayts, Moderator, DVD Reviewer
UK webmaster for Area 450 the independent Sampo/Maxent DVD site
RE: WH Smiths going down the pan ?
I haven`t bought anything from WHSmith for years, and that`s no exageration. I alwaus buy my magazine from Asda, and any DVDs, CDs etc I get from the internet as I know I can get them cheaper, or before them.
Apart from the wide selection of magazines, WHSmith doesn`t offer much else really.
floyd
Have you ever seen a grown man naked?
DVD collection & WANTED list
RE: WH Smiths going down the pan ?
I must confess, I am one person who sometimes goes and reads their magazines. Usually, I`ll be waiting for someone - otherwise I`ll just go and buy the magazine if it is that good that I have to stand there reading it.
The only reason I ever go to WHSmiths is the wide selection of Magazines. Oh, and occasionally books. Although the layout is now utter rubbish in my local store.
RE: WH Smiths going down the pan ?
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Maybe they`re starting to take a hit from all the library members who spend all day reading the magazines and rumpling the pages up
Heh heh, that`s me!
I was in my local WH Smiths, and i noticed they`ve stopped selling CD singles - there are signs saying they no longer stock them. I also overheard a man ask if he could order an obscure CD from them, to which the lady replied they can`t order anything more than 2 months old anymore. 2 months? They should have 2 month old stuff on general display!
No point in them trying to concentrate on the book/magazine angle, because all the big stores and even supermarkets are besting them in that department. They need to improve all aspects of what the currently are, not cut back!
*Whuupishhh* Get moving, grunt!