Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[gswindale]

Looks like Jessops could shut some more stores

Camera retailer Jessops files to appoint administrators

Jessops has hired advisers to help it restructure the pandemic-hit High Street business.

www.bbc.co.uk

High Street photographic equipment chain Jessops has filed a notice to appoint administrators.
The camera retailer, which employs 120 staff and has 17 stores, is owned by Dragons' Den star Peter Jones.
Jessops said it had hired advisors FRP to help it restructure the business, severely impacted by the pandemic.
The notice of intent provides the business with protection for 10 days from existing or pending creditor claims.
The retailer said it planned to continue to trade when lockdown restrictions lift in April.
It is considering a rescue deal in the form of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), an insolvency process that allows a business to reach an agreement with its creditors to pay off all or part of its debts.

This is another strange one - specialist camera shops should still have a place for you to try new equipment out and get good advice.

Makes you wonder if the pursuit of profit led to an exodus of pro staff and their replacement with less interested people who were just happy to have a job

 

[Westcountryman]

Another loose claim is 'Broadband coverage is available in the surrounding area of the closing branch so you can bank online'. Reliable broadband? Throughout the surrounding area? What does 'surrounding' actually mean. They have jumped through the hoops, branch to close.

Broadband coverage may be available, but unfortunately many of the people who cannot access a branch may have no desire or ability or means to go online.

 

[simonw]

Looks like Jessops could shut some more stores

Camera retailer Jessops files to appoint administrators

Jessops has hired advisers to help it restructure the pandemic-hit High Street business.

www.bbc.co.uk

This is another strange one - specialist camera shops should still have a place for you to try new equipment out and get good advice.

Makes you wonder if the pursuit of profit led to an exodus of pro staff and their replacement with less interested people who were just happy to have a job

how big is the camera market these days? Whilst there is still a market for the 'serious' photographer, phone cameras seem to have destroyed the market at the lower end. In fact, I know some 'serious' photographer s who use phone cameras with really good results.

 

[37424]

how big is the camera market these days? Whilst there is still a market for the 'serious' photographer, phone cameras seem to have destroyed the market at the lower end. In fact, I know some 'serious' photographer s who use phone cameras with really good results.

Well Indeed Jessops originally grew out of offering seriously competitive prices on Photographic equipment, but not only have offered prices which aren't overly competitive for some time, a high percentage of the market has gone as the average snapper and even the not so average snapper in some cases has moved to phones.

The local photographic shop in my nearest town where I used to take films for development before the age of the digital camera is long gone, the other shop they had in another nearby town seems to manage to survive somehow, well pre-lockdown at least anyway.

Plus of course even DSLR and Camcorders are just another electronic gadget now sold by a wide range of retailers not just photographic specialists.

But you could argue what goes around comes around and Jessops who I think in the early days weren't averse to grey imports in order to get those cheap prices probably put pressure on a lot of local photographic businesses, like the supermarkets are moaning about big online businesses now despite the fact they were responsible for killing off many local shops.

 

[Typhoon]

Broadband coverage may be available, but unfortunately many of the people who cannot access a branch may have no desire or ability or means to go online.

Quite true.
The point I was trying to make, probably poorly, is that just because a person banks at a certain branch doesn't mean they live in that town, they may well live in a town or village a little distance away with unreliable broadband coverage so even though they may be OK going digital, the unreliability of the medium prevents them being able to depend on on-line banking.

 

[Westcountryman]

Quite true.
The point I was trying to make, probably poorly, is that just because a person banks at a certain branch doesn't mean they live in that town, they may well live in a town or village a little distance away with unreliable broadband coverage so even though they may be OK going digital, the unreliability of the medium prevents them being able to depend on on-line banking.

I was discussing this with my wife. in her opinion, the banks have no requirement to take account of the ability of customers to get on line. It's just tough. How the customers would see this, i don't know. Who would actually be responsible for maintaining the ability of these people to use banking services? You may be able to carry out some transactions by phone, but this is frequently difficult. These people are keeping the use of cheques going, and I don't think you can deposit a cheque by post!!!

 

[simonw]

I was discussing this with my wife. in her opinion, the banks have no requirement to take account of the ability of customers to get on line. It's just tough. How the customers would see this, i don't know. Who would actually be responsible for maintaining the ability of these people to use banking services? You may be able to carry out some transactions by phone, but this is frequently difficult. These people are keeping the use of cheques going, and I don't think you can deposit a cheque by post!!!

Yes you cwn. You just fill in a paying in slip, with the cheque and post to the branch address.

 

[Westcountryman]

Yes you cwn. You just fill in a paying in slip, with the cheque and post to the branch address.

Actually I meant by phone. I haven't had to resort to by post, but I have used paying in envelopes and putting them through the letter box.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Kinder - no, more worried about a missive from Messrs Sue, Grabbit and Runne. I suspect they can justify claims because they are careful with words. For instance, I looked at one of the 'with deep regret'* leaflets for a branch Santander are closing - '38% also use an additional Santander branch': I suspect that means have used one occasionally, maybe even just once. I do that, when I've been visiting nearby towns for leisure, I sometimes pay in a cheque, pay a bill, submit a DD request because I happen to be there and saves me making a trip locally, doesn't mean I want to do it on a regular basis. They are, at least, honest in that they give the percentage of those who actually use alternative methods of banking - some others just give the percentage of customers who use the branch and are registered for Online Banking and/or Telephone Banking. Maybe they've tried it and not been able to get on with it, maybe they have just been registered because they haven't ticked a box when they signed up for something. Some list the nearest alternative branches, giving distance, but failing to give how long it would take by public transport - even then it may take most of the day because of the timetables. There are statements like 'nearby branches', I have found over 15 miles without much effort but it is a vague term so they would probably get away with it. There is selective use of time periods when showing drops in usage (they will have a field day once lockdowns finish). Some don't adequately explain what cannot be carried out at a Post Office ('everyday banking' - vague term).

I recognise that bank services are changing but feel that, by the 'clever' use of words, they get away with massaging the impact on many older or less resourceful customers.

In the spirit of the thread, I would say that the big banks are not likely to seriously feature in this thread anytime soon simple because they are willing to discard customers who are too expensive to service.

* doesn't actually say that

This prompted me to think. I wonder if one banking company will continue a high street presence in most smaller towns with all the others standing back (closing). This will happen if the banks in general perceive there being very little demand left for face to face baking. I would suggest that currently it appears that all the banks do not want there to be much demand for face to face banking. Trouble is whatever bank takes on the legacy face to face customers will have to charge a premium of some sort so as to keep their head above water. Indeed they will be able to charge a premium !. Anyway I am looking for that bank.

I wonder if the post office might continue and enhance that social service role. Either that or the post office counter service will suddenly implode anyway.

However my own observation of HSBC has been a drastic reduction in banking counters with space turned over to interview rooms for other services like insurance. They want your business but they do not want to spend time and money servicing it once they have got it.

how big is the camera market these days? Whilst there is still a market for the 'serious' photographer, phone cameras seem to have destroyed the market at the lower end. In fact, I know some 'serious' photographer s who use phone cameras with really good results.

I remember that by about the year 2000 I had a hard job finding a replacement compact camera. I wanted one that used 35mm film as I also lugged around a SLR on long trips. So wanted to keep the same film for both. It was explained to me that almost all happy snappers were now using APS cameras not 35mm. Fast forward ten years or less and APS was dead - replaced by digital compact cameras and then mobile phones.

Seemed to me that when Jessops shrank rapidly that they missed a trick. They should have started selling mobile phones. Mind you the mobile phone industry seems to have shed quite a few high street retail names.

I was discussing this with my wife. in her opinion, the banks have no requirement to take account of the ability of customers to get on line. It's just tough. How the customers would see this, i don't know. Who would actually be responsible for maintaining the ability of these people to use banking services? You may be able to carry out some transactions by phone, but this is frequently difficult. These people are keeping the use of cheques going, and I don't think you can deposit a cheque by post!!!

Despite my sisters encouragement my mother never got the hang of online banking. She was not good with things like telephone banking either. As a one time IT professional I really dreaded my mother using the internet for such critical things. The younger generation are not risk averse enough as regards fraud imo. It is no longer a worry for me now that my mother has passed away. Plus I have less cheques to pay in. It follows that the generation that do not understand computers will have all passed away in twenty years or so time. It is all part of the High Street vs Online shift sadly.

 

[krus_aragon]

Actually I meant by phone. I haven't had to resort to by post, but I have used paying in envelopes and putting them through the letter box.

That's my game too. Actually, I'm out of paying in envelopes, and I'm now working my way through a stack of plain DLs that have been sat in my stationery drawer for a while.

Incidentally, I've been told today that my nearest bank is to close its counter service desk this summer. Then it'll be staff walking the floor, helping you self-serve at the various machines. A bit like TfL, I suppose.

 

[ComUtoR]

Actually I meant by phone. I haven't had to resort to by post, but I have used paying in envelopes and putting them through the letter box.

The last couple of cheques I had; I paid them in by phone. On my banking app there is an option to scan them using the camera. I was sceptical at first but it was done smooth and cleared within a few days.

 

[Typhoon]

This prompted me to think. I wonder if one banking company will continue a high street presence in most smaller towns with all the others standing back (closing). This will happen if the banks in general perceive there being very little demand left for face to face baking. I would suggest that currently it appears that all the banks do not want there to be much demand for face to face banking. Trouble is whatever bank takes on the legacy face to face customers will have to charge a premium of some sort so as to keep their head above water. Indeed they will be able to charge a premium !. Anyway I am looking for that bank.

Some years ago I switched to Nationwide from a big four bank, whose priority seemed to be to sell me services I didn't need (pet insurance ' in case you get one', I kid you not, mind you he was getting desperate). My nearest three branches are pretty busy with queues outside.

I wonder if the post office might continue and enhance that social service role. Either that or the post office counter service will suddenly implode anyway.

I was thinking of opening an account as a back-up but you cannot get clarification on the finer points of an account in the post office.

Incidentally, I've been told today that my nearest bank is to close its counter service desk this summer. Then it'll be staff walking the floor, helping you self-serve at the various machines.

So they are not going to provide the services that make them money. Interesting!

 

[Westcountryman]

The last couple of cheques I had; I paid them in by phone. On my banking app there is an option to scan them using the camera. I was sceptical at first but it was done smooth and cleared within a few days.

I have just checked online and you cannot at present pay cheques into my bank either online or via app. One of the big 4.

 

[Bald Rick]

I have just checked online and you cannot at present pay cheques into my bank either online or via app. One of the big 4.

If I were you I would switch from Nat West to one of the other three, all of which can accept cheques via their apps.

 

[Gloster]

If I were you I would switch from Nat West to one of the other three, all of which can accept cheques via their apps.

Changing banks is a pain in the rear end. When my mother changed from Barclays to Lloyd’s for some reason, I ended up spending hours sorting out the mess: missed debits, payments not made, wrong reference numbers, etc. Frankly, I think they are all as bad as each other. And what is the betting that the moment you move your current bank will introduce the service you are missing or the new one will withdraw it, or both.

 

[Bald Rick]

Changing banks is a pain in the rear end. When my mother changed from Barclays to Lloyd’s for some reason, I ended up spending hours sorting out the mess: missed debits, payments not made, wrong reference numbers, etc. Frankly, I think they are all as bad as each other. And what is the betting that the moment you move your current bank will introduce the service you are missing or the new one will withdraw it, or both.

Sounds unfortunate. I’ve never experienced any of that myself when switching - all entirely painless.

 

[gswindale]

Changing banks is a pain in the rear end. When my mother changed from Barclays to Lloyd’s for some reason, I ended up spending hours sorting out the mess: missed debits, payments not made, wrong reference numbers, etc. Frankly, I think they are all as bad as each other. And what is the betting that the moment you move your current bank will introduce the service you are missing or the new one will withdraw it, or both.

Was that recently or a while back? The current account switching service was introduced to avoid those issues.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Mar 2021 ==

So whilst Jessops looks to be in trouble, it appears that the London Camera Exchange is expanding

London Camera Exchange stores set to re-open – with shift to employee ownership

26 stores set to re-open, with a new store opening in Bristol, as family ownership moves to 140-strong workforce trust

www.digitalcameraworld.com

 

[Gloster]

Was that recently or a while back? The current account switching service was introduced to avoid those issues.

It was some years back, but I have heard of problems quite recently (within the last eighteen months), although not to the same extent.

 

[SuspectUsual]

Sounds unfortunate. I’ve never experienced any of that myself when switching - all entirely painless.

Same here. Moved banks because my previous one changed their policy and refused to accept a cheque in dollars, which made me have a look at what else was out there. HSBC had an offer of £150 to switch, and it went perfectly and I’ve been really happy with them ever since. Their app is dead easy to use and has everything I need

 

[jon0844]

Changing banks is a pain in the rear end. When my mother changed from Barclays to Lloyd’s for some reason, I ended up spending hours sorting out the mess: missed debits, payments not made, wrong reference numbers, etc. Frankly, I think they are all as bad as each other. And what is the betting that the moment you move your current bank will introduce the service you are missing or the new one will withdraw it, or both.

I feared that when I switched from Lloyds to Starling but the switching process went like clockwork, and they have a series of guarantees to cover you for anything that might go wrong.

I was very surprised, but don't know when the Switch Guarantee started. When I went from Barclays to Lloyds years ago, it wasn't fun - although I had a lot fewer standing orders and debits then.

 

[Typhoon]

So whilst Jessops looks to be in trouble, it appears that the London Camera Exchange is expanding

London Camera Exchange stores set to re-open – with shift to employee ownership

26 stores set to re-open, with a new store opening in Bristol, as family ownership moves to 140-strong workforce trust

www.digitalcameraworld.com

I've only found out about London Camera Exchange (LCE) in the last few years so don't know the history but, to me, they have done what a lot of failing national chains (such as Jessop's) have failed to do. Realise that retail is changing and look for a gap in the market. LCE are definitely upmarket, offering me discounts of more than I paid for my camera, against products - particularly accessories such as lenses. They have identified that the serious hobbyist and pro have largely been unserved by chains like Jessop's who have gone for selling basic cameras sold by sales staff. I rather get the impression that at least some, perhaps most, LCE staff are actually interested in the product they are selling, which is what first attracted me to Jessop's many, many moons ago, before they overreached themselves. Added to that, they sell second hand cameras, which, again, would appeal to the hobbyist, and services such as repairs, printing from different devices and photo restoration, most of which appear to be carried out on site.
In an e-mail to customers the CEO writes

In 2021 after 65 years the founding family owners of London Camera Exchange passed over the reins to a “new family” - the long-serving management team and employees.

The people working in the business have not changed and they are totally committed to retaining those traditional family business values while building on the sturdy foundations that such long experience delivers. The transition occurred without the burden of excessive debt, so the shops continue to carry the breadth and depth of stock that has been key in forging such a successful business.

LCE always has a great range of new and used cameras, lenses and optical equipment like binoculars and telescopes and this has not changed. Part-exchange is always welcome, and LCE will buy unwanted equipment outright at the best possible prices.

Each branch has always had a large degree of autonomy, enabling them to respond to local demand, but now the whole LCE team have an even greater commitment and level of engagement with customers, knowing their actions impact upon their Company’s success and their own future prosperity.

(My emphasis) Hopefully this management style will help them maintain their place in the market. I also note that there is a list of staff at each shop which, to me, indicates that staff turnover is low (or the list is frequently out of date - a dangerous strategy).

 

[ainsworth74]

Looks like Jessops could shut some more stores

Camera retailer Jessops files to appoint administrators

Jessops has hired advisers to help it restructure the pandemic-hit High Street business.

www.bbc.co.uk

This is another strange one - specialist camera shops should still have a place for you to try new equipment out and get good advice.

Makes you wonder if the pursuit of profit led to an exodus of pro staff and their replacement with less interested people who were just happy to have a job

I think that's basically exactly what happened. They've ended up in the place where they're not especially price competitive compared to buying the same sort of equipment online either from third parties or even direct from manufacturers aaaand they don't have experienced staff who could offer tailored advice/guidance. So at that point you're just a brick and mortar store selling stuff which is more expensive than you can get online and offer no reason to actually go and visit them. Which is usually a terminal combination these days...

Shame though. I well remember my dad spending ages in the local branch of Jessops looking over kit to buy (he was a very keen amateur photographer to the point of having his own dark room) whilst I usually just looked at all the shiny gizmos in the glass counters

 

[Harold Hill]

Actually going to a bank is to be avoided. Apart from the diminishing number of small businesses depositing cash, they're used mainly by technophobes, the elderly and those with poor English resulting in long queues

 

[simonw]

I have just checked online and you cannot at present pay cheques into my bank either online or via app. One of the big 4.

I would suggest opening a second account with a bank that does do paying in by app and then use internet banking to transfer the money across. A bit of a hassle, maybe but gets round the issue and it's always better to have more than one bank account in case of issues.

 

[C J Snarzell]

I actually paid some money into my Natwest account at my local post office the other day which was easy and straight forward to do.

It saved me the trip into the town centre which is where the only banks & building societies are located these days.

Post offices themselves seem to be massively under threat at present so overall there has to be some balance to at least allow customers to pay in cash somewhere at their convenience.

CJ

 

[Westcountryman]

I would suggest opening a second account with a bank that does do paying in by app and then use internet banking to transfer the money across. A bit of a hassle, maybe but gets round the issue and it's always better to have more than one bank account in case of issues.

I actually have 2 other accounts, although another is with the same bank. I hadn't actually thought of that. I don't think I set up internet banking for the other account so I may have to look into that. In the meantime, i don't have a personal issue with tanking cheques to the bank.

 

[Busaholic]

Actually going to a bank is to be avoided. Apart from the diminishing number of small businesses depositing cash, they're used mainly by technophobes, the elderly and those with poor English resulting in long queues

I fail to see why being elderly or a technophobe 'results in long queues'. I do, however, agree that not all bank staff have a proper command of English, but I blame the parlous state of our education 'system.'

 

[Steddenm]

I can't see the National Rail Enquiry Line (03457 484950) lasting much longer as most people now look up train times online and book tickets.

 

[LOL The Irony]

I can't see the National Rail Enquiry Line (03457 484950) lasting much longer as most people now look up train times online and book tickets.

What about blind people?

 

[philjo]

Gap is closing all 81 UK and Ireland stores. Sales to be online only.

Gap to close all 81 stores in UK and Ireland

The fashion chain says it will be online-only from the end of September.

www.bbc.co.uk