Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[jon0844]

Jaguar. Brave or bonkers? Could it be the beginning of the end? Or did the end start a long time ago and this rebrand has just accelerated it?

I cringed watching that ad which didn’t even include a car, but then why should it as it’s going to be a couple of years before the new all electric cars are available.

Personally, I thought it was sad to see an iconic British brand reduced to whatever that yellow and pink monstrosity of an ad was supposed to be, but the gen Z wealthy influencer types might like it I suppose!

What a mess, and where’s their income for the next year coming from now they’ve said they’re discontinuing the current lineup but have nothing to replace it with?

I'd say brave. I don't like the logo much and the teaser as was weird, but it was just that - a teaser and introduction to the new brand. The car launch and follow on ad will be this month.

It was to get people talking and boy did it. Now everyone knows the new logo even if they hate it.

Jaguar hasn't been selling cars for ages and its target market has been older people, often retired, and not new generations of people. I don't work with barely anyone that has any great regard for the company or even knew they still existed so Jaguar needed to do something.

Whether this campaign works I do not know, especially as I thought Jaguar intended to move towards the higher end premium market which is the opposite of what I'd consider wise - smaller more affordable models.

Jaguar was going to fail so this is pretty much its last chance.

 

[Russel]

What Jag has done is very clever, the brand was irrelevant to most people until a week or two ago, now eveyone is talking about them!

 

[Harpo]

What Jag has done is very clever, the brand was irrelevant to most people until a week or two ago, now eveyone is talking about them!

But not necessarily talking about them positively, as Gerald Ratner found out.

 

[DoubleLemon]

But not necessarily talking about them positively, as Gerald Ratner found out.

but it does mean people will be curious about the new cars they launch and that may supprise them. I wasn't keen on the new liar logo but it's grown on me.

 

[GoneSouth]

But not necessarily talking about them positively, as Gerald Ratner found out.

Oh yes I forgot about him. There can be such a thing as bad publicity after all! I don’t disagree that it’s a bit of an old man’s brand though, and we all know how the world wants rid of them at the moment.

We shall see, everybody is indeed talking about them, they’re all saying the ad was ****, but they are definitely talking about it!

 

[jon0844]

Oh yes I forgot about him. There can be such a thing as bad publicity after all! I don’t disagree that it’s a bit of an old man’s brand though, and we all know how the world wants rid of them at the moment.

We shall see, everybody is indeed talking about them, they’re all saying the ad was ****, but they are definitely talking about it!

At least Jaguar didn't say their cars were crap!

Of course that's more a Range Rover thing, yet ironically they are still very popular with sports personalities, celebrities, stock traders and drug dealers so don't seem to have the same problems for the group.

 

[Iskra]

My last experience of Pizza Hut was some time ago. Arriving, we could clearly see that, at the most, a quarter of the tables were occupied but the waiter came to the door and told us 'too busy to serve you at the moment' without a clear idea of when we might be seated.
To be clear; we neither waited nor ever went back, but presumably the waiter's motive was the belief that discouraging prospective customers would make his job easier with no possible downside. Seen that elsewhere with, for example, 'Little Chef'.

I went this year for a buffet for the first time in years. We had to wait for a table, which wasn’t a massive problem and we negotiated being able to get a couple of self-serve drinks while we waited. What surprised me was that when we were inside, people kept being told there was a wait or turned away, despite there being consistently 4 or 5 tables unoccupied. We weren’t sure what the waiter was up to, but it seemed deliberate. Perhaps keeping them spare for any non-buffet walk-up customers who are presumably more profitable? I enjoyed the buffet food we did have, and it was good value.

 

[Merle Haggard]

I went this year for a buffet for the first time in years. We had to wait for a table, which wasn’t a massive problem and we negotiated being able to get a couple of self-serve drinks while we waited. What surprised me was that when we were inside, people kept being told there was a wait or turned away, despite there being consistently 4 or 5 tables unoccupied. We weren’t sure what the waiter was up to, but it seemed deliberate. Perhaps keeping them spare for any non-buffet walk-up customers who are presumably more profitable? I enjoyed the buffet food we did have, and it was good value.

That's triggered a memory. At another (chain) restaurant more recently I did raise that question and the answer seemed to be that each waiter works a specific group of tables. If they're a waiter short then the policy there was that the tables that they would have worked are not used, rather than each waiter work an extra table or two.

 

[Iskra]

That's triggered a memory. At another (chain) restaurant more recently I did raise that question and the answer seemed to be that each waiter works a specific group of tables. If they're a waiter short then the policy there was that the tables that they would have worked are not used, rather than each waiter work an extra table or two.

That’s an interesting theory, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense when it’s mainly a self-service buffet offering…

 

[Merle Haggard]

That’s an interesting theory, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense when it’s mainly a self-service buffet offering…

Yes, sorry I can see that now.
The only self service I use now is Toby - self service there is just the veg - but they still have waiters for each set of tables. Toby may have been where I asked about the unserved tables.

 

[DM352]

Nissan, which am hearing recent rumblings in North America (NA) could be in trouble. Expect Honda or similar to step up should it happen in a year or so.

I would only consider a rare NA manual transmission to avoid their CVT as they are one of the cheapest brands for sedans. Manuals here are getting less like they dropped it on the Qashqai in 21.

 

[Peter Sarf]

My last experience of Pizza Hut was some time ago. Arriving, we could clearly see that, at the most, a quarter of the tables were occupied but the waiter came to the door and told us 'too busy to serve you at the moment' without a clear idea of when we might be seated.
To be clear; we neither waited nor ever went back, but presumably the waiter's motive was the belief that discouraging prospective customers would make his job easier with no possible downside. Seen that elsewhere with, for example, 'Little Chef'.

Could be that the kitchen is overrun with delivery/take-away orders.

But not necessarily talking about them positively, as Gerald Ratner found out.

Gosh I forgot Ratners - Gerald Ratner however was not sticking to a carefully worked out sales script. The Jaguar teaser was in no way negative.

I went this year for a buffet for the first time in years. We had to wait for a table, which wasn’t a massive problem and we negotiated being able to get a couple of self-serve drinks while we waited. What surprised me was that when we were inside, people kept being told there was a wait or turned away, despite there being consistently 4 or 5 tables unoccupied. We weren’t sure what the waiter was up to, but it seemed deliberate. Perhaps keeping them spare for any non-buffet walk-up customers who are presumably more profitable? I enjoyed the buffet food we did have, and it was good value.

That could be the plan !.
Or even - Hmm these customers do not look like they will tip.

 

[brad465]

Could be that the kitchen is overrun with delivery/take-away orders.

I don't know about Pizza Hut, but this is very common at fast food chains now including McDonalds and KFC, which has gone a long way to putting me off going to them (which considering what they serve is no bad thing).

 

[jon81uk]

That’s an interesting theory, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense when it’s mainly a self-service buffet offering…

You still have a waiter assigned to look after you at the table and bring the bill etc. They might allow each waiter to look after more tables during lunch than dinner due to the buffet but there will still be a limit where they think they can't properly watch the tables and ensure people pay and receive what they paid for.

 

[Harpo]

I don't know about Pizza Hut, but this is very common at fast food chains now including McDonalds and KFC, which has gone a long way to putting me off going to them (which considering what they serve is no bad thing).

Fast food is definitely getting slower. Many McDonalds branches with drive-throughs and delivery couriers seem to give traditional customers the lowest priority.

 

[jon0844]

Fast food is definitely getting slower. Many McDonalds branches with drive-throughs and delivery couriers seem to give traditional customers the lowest priority.

Most branches now cook to order to save waste and if staff levels are low, or staff aren't on the ball then it can very very quickly slow down to a crawl - especially if staff also have to deal with some very arrogant delivery drivers.

 

[jon81uk]

Most branches now cook to order to save waste and if staff levels are low, or staff aren't on the ball then it can very very quickly slow down to a crawl - especially if staff also have to deal with some very arrogant delivery drivers.

McDonalds don't cook to order, just build the sandwich to order. So instead of a pile of hamburgers waiting and a pile of cheeseburgers and double cheese and Big Mac, they have the patties ready in a warmer and can make any one of those burgers from that beef patty, cutting down on waste.

 

[jon0844]

McDonalds don't cook to order, just build the sandwich to order. So instead of a pile of hamburgers waiting and a pile of cheeseburgers and double cheese and Big Mac, they have the patties ready in a warmer and can make any one of those burgers from that beef patty, cutting down on waste.

Fair enough - still sees a lot less wastage (or as was more common; cold burgers because staff didn't check the clock to see when 20 minutes had expired, or just chose to sell cold food).

 

[RuddA]

Fast food is definitely getting slower. Many McDonalds branches with drive-throughs and delivery couriers seem to give traditional customers the lowest priority.

My daughters have asked to go to Taco Bell twice recently. Both times our order has taken 20-25 mins to prepare. One person asked for his money back as he couldn't wait any longer.

 

[Russel]

My daughters have asked to go to Taco Bell twice recently. Both times our order has taken 20-25 mins to prepare. One person asked for his money back as he couldn't wait any longer.

Was it worth the wait?

Never been but from photos I've seen, it looks disappointing.

 

[jon0844]

Was it worth the wait?

Never been but from photos I've seen, it looks disappointing.

25 minutes for food and 25 seconds to go straight through you. Guess it averages out in the end...!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Typhoo has had a few ownership changes over the years, was owned by Cadbury Schweppes, then Premier Brands, which became Premier Foods, it's now owned by a private equity firm

This afternoon's press
Typhoo Tea has been rescued by vape maker Supreme in a £10m deal which it said would keep the brand "in British hands".

Typhoo Tea to be rescued by vape maker for £10m

The firm behind e-cigarette brand 88Vape will buy the tea business after it fell into administration.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[RuddA]

Was it worth the wait?

Never been but from photos I've seen, it looks disappointing.

A yes from the teenage daughter, and a no from me.
Not helped by the tables and floor being a bit of a mess. One thing that McDonalds usually gets right.

 

[eyebrook1961]

I do wonder sometimes how franchisees manage to hang on to their restaurants when they are so poorly run. Was in one on saturday with one poor soul at the counter trying to deal with 20+ people waiting who had ordered through the terminals, the odd customer wanting to use the tills and the uber/deliveroo riders fetching their orders. Customers were coming down from the upstairs section complaining about non-appearance of their orders and people who had ordered at the terminals were complaining about a perceived preference being given to Uber/Deliveroo drivers.

There are three McDs in town and the franchisees control two of the three restaurants (but want the third) - the only thing that keeps stopping this happening is the way the one I was in is run - they cannot pass the relevant inspections needed for McDs to consider the owners for the third franchise (which might not be a bad thing - at least there's then a choice of owners!)

 

[GoneSouth]

In

25 minutes for food and 25 seconds to go straight through you. Guess it averages out in the end...!

From pan to pan in 25 minutes and 25 seconds is pretty efficient I’d say

 

[Merle Haggard]

I rarely use MacDonalds but I have had the experience there of ordering X and then told 'there's none available at the moment - we'll bring one over when it's ready' and then watching where, almost immediately, another customer arrives, orders X and is given one immediately, while I have to wait.
The most obtuse occasion was when I tried to order a 'mea'l and was told that only 'breakfasts' were available. Reluctantly, I accepted that offer, to be told 'not available at moment, we'll bring it over'. My order had been placed a couple of minutes before the end of the breakfast period. After about twenty minutes I enquired what had happened to my breakfast, and I was told 'you're too late for breakfast - it finished a quarter of an hour ago'. And that was that...

 

[GoneSouth]

I rarely use MacDonalds but I have had the experience there of ordering X and then told 'there's none available at the moment - we'll bring one over when it's ready' and then watching where, almost immediately, another customer arrives, orders X and is given one immediately, while I have to wait.
The most obtuse occasion was when I tried to order a 'mea'l and was told that only 'breakfasts' were available. Reluctantly, I accepted that offer, to be told 'not available at moment, we'll bring it over'. My order had been placed a couple of minutes before the end of the breakfast period. After about twenty minutes I enquired what had happened to my breakfast, and I was told 'you're too late for breakfast - it finished a quarter of an hour ago'. And that was that...

I bet you don’t use them as rarely as I do, I’m up to 27 years since my last burger there. I did order a Big Mac with no gherkin 26 years ago but I’m still waiting for that order to arrive.

I don’t miss the slop they serve and the terrible service one bit!

 

[Sun Chariot]

I bet you don’t use them as rarely as I do, I’m up to 27 years since my last burger there. I did order a Big Mac with no gherkin 26 years ago but I’m still waiting for that order to arrive.

I am proud to be mid-50s and ne'er a McD has passed my lips.

 

[JD2168]

One motorbike manufacturer that is struggling at the moment with large debts around £3billion is KTM. The manufacturer apparently filed for insolvency last week.

Rumours abound that no bikes will be built for a couple of months. There has been multiple restructuring with the company being split under different company names.

The MotoGP part has got no development happening, riders have been assured that they will race next season but Dorna are not sure.

 

[Lewisham2221]

I rarely use MacDonalds but I have had the experience there of ordering X and then told 'there's none available at the moment - we'll bring one over when it's ready' and then watching where, almost immediately, another customer arrives, orders X and is given one immediately, while I have to wait.
The most obtuse occasion was when I tried to order a 'mea'l and was told that only 'breakfasts' were available. Reluctantly, I accepted that offer, to be told 'not available at moment, we'll bring it over'. My order had been placed a couple of minutes before the end of the breakfast period. After about twenty minutes I enquired what had happened to my breakfast, and I was told 'you're too late for breakfast - it finished a quarter of an hour ago'. And that was that...

I bet you don’t use them as rarely as I do, I’m up to 27 years since my last burger there. I did order a Big Mac with no gherkin 26 years ago but I’m still waiting for that order to arrive.

I don’t miss the slop they serve and the terrible service one bit!

I am proud to be mid-50s and ne'er a McD has passed my lips.

Never ceases to amaze me, the number of people (on this forum, social media etc) who feel the need to proudly declare that they don't eat at McDonald's, as if it's some sort of social badge of honour. Meanwhile, McDonald's is not - to my knowledge - in danger of "disappearing" anytime soon.