I had the same problem with VisionHire when I was looking to rent a TV....

madness...

 

And those buggers at C & A seem to have scaled right down too.

My stay-pressed action slacks have to be sourced elsewhere now

 

Hard to guewss really, we don't know enough about each of the stores' financial situations.

I think there will be some more to go yet though. This situation we are in as a country is dreadful to say the least and many are going to suffer for some time to come.

Les

 

PC World?

If not then WHY not?

They are total merde.

 

Moonpig are OK with me. Used them a few times all good.

Funnily enough I've only ever made one purchase from PC World. Bought a few things for work. Needed there and then so couldn't get online. The router was U/S and I was not looking forward to taking it back but they were great and didn't question me.

Unless needed there and then I never buy from out of town style shopping centres. I go in, test out what they have, make a decision then buy it cheaper online.

 

It makes me laugh when people complain about the lack of independant shops on the high street. Its the customers who chose to shop in the large chain stores and ignore the independants.

 

It depends what you want. I disagree with that as I am impatient and want things NOW. So I can browse online (where the prices arn't too bad), order it and then pick it up 30 minutes later in the store.

Steve

 

PC world have PC world business; a handy subsidiary. Its also international (PC City). DSGi won't go bump for a long time to come.

I will expect them to downsize and minimise keeping surplus stock though. Seeing the nature of the industry means stuff goes out of date in a matter of months.

 

True, but for people who don't understand computers they are the only game in town (Currys and Dixons are owned by the same company). Most people who are not computer savvy (which is about 95% of the population) are going to buy there. Their big problem is not competition but saturating the market. More interestingly, I notice that our local PC Pants now competes directly with Currys/Dixons on things like TVs, so I'm wondering if the owners are going to get rid of one of the brands.


W H Smith have been on the verge for years, I'm surprised they are still in business. The companies in most trouble will be those near the lower end of the market, but not actually there. That was Woolworths' problem: too chavvy to compete against normal shops, but too expensive to compete against Pound Shops and the like.


M

 

I have tried to buy from PC World several times - armed with cash ready to go.
Each time (bar one) I've simply given up.

I've been ignored, patronised, tutted at, etc. I know a little bit about IT kit - that little bit is a LOT more than anyone I have ever spoken to in PC World.

Tech Guys is a near saving grace (they appear to own them) but that's all.

I have also sold to PC World (many many years ago) and they knew SO little it was embarrassing.

 

I drive past his house everyday. You should see the place it's huge with 24 hr on site security too. I doubt he's fussed if it goes belly up. He'll just start another under anew name.

 

Hmm, interesting viewpoint.

Why on earth would he want to start again, with a new name, fighting to regain market leadership and reputation when he could just ride out the storm and keep the brand?

You see, because it's privately owned, He has no shareholders to pay divvi's to, so as long as they're able to pay their suppliers and the rent, it'll never go under.

It WAS shareheld at one point, and Kirkham made a killing selling up as he owned it back then, built it up from a small company in Doncaster (DFS is Doncaster Furniture Stores IIRC?) A few years later, He bought it all back for a knockdown price, I believe he made in the region of £160million pounds at the time with what He was paid and how much He paid to buy it back!

 

I've had bad experience with PC World too, bought my current laptop from there but the service was terrible, i'm no I.T expert at all but the guy who served me was useless, and that was when I could actually find someone to sell me the damn thing, it was a joke. Problem is they have no competition really.
I Went to Comet and their selection was terrible.

Can't see TKMaxx going bust or peacocks, Primark etc, as they are all low cost places which is what people want now.

I agree with others WH Smith next

 

Iceland should be ok because i suspect 99% of there money through the tills is benefit money ( hence having a fat, rough old slapper like kerry whatsherface in there adverts).
M&S have there usual crap xmas ad- this year take that being all gay and that bloody Myleen Klass ( what a f..king stupid name!) again.Id throw the biggest bloody snowball right in her annoying chops!
How are Dixons doing??

 

superdrug, or have they already gone ?.

Whsmith has a massive magazine and Newspaper distirbution business, cant see them going under, newspaper sales go up in a reccesion.

 

Her middle name is "Absolutely-no"

 

Yes that's right his house is in Old Cantley in Doncaster and it's probably the finest private residence in Doncaster.

Other than the fact his company made me a rather nice sofa he has had no impact on my life so I've not felt the need to read up on this fella and his fortunes.

 

I thought it was "pretty but a bit thi"

 

OOO yes I cant wait to snap up some party platters for a fiver from Iceland!

Have what you want from there....as long as its coated in breadcrumbs

As I work though I have no way of getting food vouchers off the social

 

Had a wander round the 'shops' to have a nose at what I could buy the wife.

If she wanted a mobile phone the choice was enormous.Like me she would prefer to see them all melted down though so I wouldn't care if it was a phone shop.

High street is rubbish nowadays with pants shops that last about a week selling games or cd's then just disappear

 

Is that not like being the most trustworthy member of the cabinet...?

 

I smell shandy.....

 

Trouble is they were all bought up by private equity, stripped out and sold for vast profits - to the partners of each PE firm. Not good.

 

I used to be the manager of a furniture store, and DFS were our main rivals so I know a lot about 'em.

 

How about 'Zavvi', the old Virgin record store chain bought out by the management (iirc). Went in one this morning - truly surprised at how bad a record store could be - dirty, seemingly no order to how the cd's and dvd's were displayed and appeared to offer no better a selection than the motorway services. Can't be long for this world....

 

Zavvi are currently unable to get any new stock due to their supplier being "Entertainment UK" which went under because it was owned by Woolies. I suspect you maybe right in that they will go, but that will leave just one big player really and thats HMV on the high street.

 

Private companies have shareholders too, its just that their shares cannot be traded. Unless DFS is sole trader business or a partnership - both of which are highly unlikely.

Cashflow is king right now, as lenders are not funding the gaps. Dividends to shareholders are a bit of a red herring, to be honest.

BTW - Its quite common for companies to be placed into administration when they are insolvent and immediately sold on via a pre-packaged sale to the exitisting directors/owners/management team or a third party. This preserves the business but relieves the debt burden.

 

Hovis and then Dr Martens............

...............so dip yer bread and fill ya boots!

 

Jessops - would be top on my list

 

There was a rumour a couple of months ago that Jessops had folded.


M