This Is Why Shops On The Hight Street Disappear

[KP the nut]

Today, I went to a large chain store (Halfords) to buy a dog guard for my car.

They had the one I wanted but it was £89.99. I knew I could search online and buy it for less. What I didn't expect and I was disgusted by was that it was cheaper online and the store I have bought it from is Halfords.

The guard was in an online sale and I can buy it for £39.99 a saving of £50.

The totally crazy thing is, I have to go back to the same store I went to today and buy the same one I saw but at the online price :facepalm:

No wonder shops are disappearing from the High Street.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

It is a good thing you are smart enough to shop online. I find pet stores outragously expensive. Good for you. Hugs.

 

[DharmaGirl]

I know. I have brought up the online prices to stores but they don't care. I love to shop online.

 

[KP the nut]

I find pet stores outragously expensive

This a motoring accessories store, a huge chain in the UK. I still am outraged that online prices for items to be collected in store are £50 cheaper than if you just went to the store.

 

[CraftyCath]

I did the same thing with Curries KP.

I saw a freezer that I wanted in store but they said they were sold out (the display one was sold and reserved for someone). I asked if they could check their other stores and she said they were all sold out and sold out on-line too. I would have to wait a couple of months but I wanted it for Christmas.

I went home disappointed but thought to check on-line anyway. The freezer WAS in stock with free delivery and I got it in 2 days at no extra charge!

I just don't get why they can't get stock in as they are a massive store.

I have seen so many small shops come and go in my town. People can't afford the rental on the buildings and they just shut down.

We have a lovely. old store called Hancock and Wood's in a prime location in my town. All the other shops have come and gone, big companies have tried to take over with no success. They own that old building and they refuse to move! Where else can all the old ladies shop? Good on them I say! :tup:

 

[myvetswife]

I used to buy a lot online. BUT.. I like to have a look and maybe hold it in my hand aswell to get an idea.

My husband went self employed 2 years ago and we get confronted with prices online. If you do have a shop and maybe staff you just can not get near the online prices. The rent insurances etc.

 

[Whitneys story]

JMHO, The evolution of merchandising is controlled by tax structures. Retail space and maximizing the footage with the more desired items.

Companies pay inventory tax on items sitting in storage. The space a freezer takes up could equate to $10,000. of smaller seasonal items.

It is very sad that small specialty shops can not compete. I dislike big box stores. Most have commissioned sales people as well. There is very little old fashioned customer service.

Capturing extra sales via the Internet allows the paid help to deal with consumers on site. Online sales requires us to do their job and they sit back and get the money.

Stores require security to curtail shoplifters! I believe on average 25% of the cost of merchandise is an added factor to cover shoplifting. Also sad but true the highest rate of shoplifting in the US is done by employee.

It is very sad that one can not build a dream business without having to worry about so many variables.

 

[Britt.f7]

We had a wonderful little book store here that closed because they knew they couldn't compete with a larger store moving in across the street. Thing is the mainstream store closed because they went out of business. Now we have no local bookstores. Of course online bookstores also played a part in their closing.

I hate seeing empty buildings and new structures being built near them. I also hate seeing small businesses either go out of business or move to another location because they can no longer afford the space.

We have advertising here, around Christmas mainly, asking you to support local retail. I would prefer to do that, but I can't afford their prices and tend to go online. It really stinks.

I definitely agree with Whitney on the reasons why. Especially since I worked in retail for quite a number of years.

 

[KP the nut]

I also hate seeing small businesses either go out of business or move to another location because they can no longer afford the space.

I saw a wonderful news item. Someone rented a large shop space and then sublet small areas of the space to very small businesses/crafts people, so that they could sell as well. The idea was to encourage people to start up and then once established to help them move into their own shop.

Another scheme had empty shop landlords, allowing people to display their work in empty shop windows. Much nicer than seeing boarded up shops.

 

[Britt.f7]

KP, I like those ideas. I wish they would think of doing something like that around here.

 

[CraftyCath]

a wonderful little book store

There are no small bookshops in my town now. Waterstones had a massive shop but have moved into a smaller unit, I don't know how they keep going. WHSmiths moved into a smaller shop too and then we had a very big Borders but that whole business went bust.

Now we have lost HMV too (who are the same company as Waterstones). We still have a massive Curries/PC World and that has put all the smaller electrical suppliers out of business including Comet.

I like the idea of renting small units out to crafts people etc. One of our local garden centres does this and it seems to work as the units are cheaper to rent.

We have very few furniture shops left in town with DFS being our biggest (where I have just bought a new sofa from).

Pound shops and discount stores a plenty though.

 

[KP the nut]

I rarely go to shops anymore. I do a lot online so I'm probably a cuplrit.

I do visit small independent shops and in the small town where I live, we are lucky enough to have all small family run businesses so I buy all of my fresh stuff from them.