Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[1D54]

I'm currently abroad and have seen C&A and Woolworths on my travels today and never got safely feeling even if it would have been nostalgic but yes i take your point. I've seen a WHS in Europe and even though i didn't go in it was still nice to see it.

 

[Ediswan]

It’s a miserable place to go shopping for anything. They’re unique in the market for one thing, magazines, and in one branch I visited recently they’ve stuffed them in the corner out of the way which makes no sense to me at all. Another company run by clowns.

In my local WHS branch, you have to all but crawl on the floor to see some of the magazine titles. The rack is two deep layers, something like this:

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[The exile]

I get the tourists who have no idea of meal deals at local places but who in their right minds would shop at a station / airport for travel pillows and phone chargers etc knowing fine well they can get such stuff at half the price elsewhere.

If you have no idea where that "elsewhere" might be and haven't got time to go searching for it.... With the demise of the general department store, I'd have no idea where to look for a travel pillow in towns in this country, let alone abroad. Imagine that lots of these sales are distress purchases by people who have forgotten or lost things / didn't realise they'd need them.

 

[iknowyeah]

The end in sight for Skype with Microsoft closing it this May:

Skype announces it will close in May

The internet chat and phone service, which is owned by Microsoft, made the announcement on X.

www.bbc.co.uk

Typical of me, I only started using these recently to do online German lessons.

However the last couple we've had to do on zoom because Skype has been too slow or the sound quality has been terrible. I wonder if this was linked, and they've stopped updating or keeping quality controls

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I get the tourists who have no idea of meal deals at local places but who in their right minds would shop at a station / airport for travel pillows and phone chargers etc knowing fine well they can get such stuff at half the price elsewhere. Still there are enough people who purchase foreign currencies at airports at scandalous exchange rates so you have probably rested your case.

The only time I've used WH Smith in the last few years, whilst working next to one on a station, is for an emergency phone charger on two occasions I've been on my way for a long day out. Whilst they've both lasted years, and the second one I bought is still my preferential charger, I never go in apart from this.

Thinking back I may have bought an emergency adapter at St Pancras, and once two books from the buy one get one half price section, I think this shows their usefulness and target audience.

Sometimes the convenience trumps the price, and at around £13 a charger it's not beyond an ordinary price, but not where you'd choose to go, it's just the last resort emergency or convenient place

 

[GatwickDepress]

The end in sight for Skype with Microsoft closing it this May:

Skype announces it will close in May

The internet chat and phone service, which is owned by Microsoft, made the announcement on X.

www.bbc.co.uk

I remember Skype was the replacement for my friends using IRC back in the day, and then Discord supplanted Skype. The circle of life, I suppose.

 

[infobleep]

Seems Eurosport's channels are ending and its sports are to go onto TNT.

Closure of Eurosport channels 28/02/25

Post created to reflect topic being discussed. Be aware that the decision to close the Eurosport channels and transfer content to the TNT sports channels was made by the channel’s parent company Warner Brothers Discovery.

helpforum.sky.com

They are only ending in the UK. I in turn cancelled my Discovery+ subscription as I only watch Eurosport for the skiing so don't wish to pay £30+ a month. I would be subsiding their payments for all the Sports I don't watch on TNT Sports.

Also, they aren't doing this in Europe so I assume the prices there are still cheaper. So I would see it as being ripped off.

They are legally entitled to do that and I in turn won't bother with the skiing no more. They won't miss me.

One will even see Eursport branding with the microphones as the programmes will still be made by Eurosport. I don't know if the English presenters will say TNT Sports, Eurosport or both, as I'm not sure if there are international markets taking the English Eurosport commentary on Eurosport.

 

[Cloud Strife]

One will even see Eursport branding with the microphones as the programmes will still be made by Eurosport. I don't know if the English presenters will say TNT Sports, Eurosport or both, as I'm not sure if there are international markets taking the English Eurosport commentary on Eurosport.

I'm wondering the same, I haven't checked yet, but I usually listen to the English/International feed on Eurosport because the Polish commentators are just terrible and very biased. Their bias is hilarious in ski jumping, but it's not so much fun in many other sports.

 

[sor]

Typical of me, I only started using these recently to do online German lessons.

However the last couple we've had to do on zoom because Skype has been too slow or the sound quality has been terrible. I wonder if this was linked, and they've stopped updating or keeping quality controls

They've been pushing a personal version of MS Teams for years now, so that would not be surprising.

It does kind of show the kind of corporate indecision Microsoft has though. When they first took over Skype, they rebranded MS Lync to "Skype for Business" and created a means for Skype and SfB users to talk to each other. Now it's full circle with Teams taking over both groups.

 

[styles]

They've been pushing a personal version of MS Teams for years now, so that would not be surprising.

It does kind of show the kind of corporate indecision Microsoft has though. When they first took over Skype, they rebranded MS Lync to "Skype for Business" and created a means for Skype and SfB users to talk to each other. Now it's full circle with Teams taking over both groups.

Indeed they have also merged MS Teams (personal) with MS Teams (work or school) into a single app, and finally added decent support for logging into multiple accounts.

 

[Peter Sarf]

......................

The only time I've used WH Smith in the last few years, whilst working next to one on a station, is for an emergency phone charger on two occasions I've been on my way for a long day out. Whilst they've both lasted years, and the second one I bought is still my preferential charger, I never go in apart from this.

Thinking back I may have bought an emergency adapter at St Pancras, and once two books from the buy one get one half price section, I think this shows their usefulness and target audience.

Sometimes the convenience trumps the price, and at around £13 a charger it's not beyond an ordinary price, but not where you'd choose to go, it's just the last resort emergency or convenient place

This sums up the quality vs cheap issue.

It might be that the W.H.Smith chargers are of a better quality - but I have no proof and no way of proving it.
Sometimes in a shop I see something rather expensive that is the exact same make + model as one sold for a lot less elsewhere. Then I know.

But for most people that need something for NOW the quality is not going to be considered as there is no time or opportunity to even wonder about it.
This does lead to the disposable world we live in. We do not normally expect to repair things and also many people do not look after what they have as it is just accepted as normal to go out and get another one.

In the case of needing something quickly like a charger because one has forgotten to pack one. There is no incentive or time to ponder on quality or price. We really do not need to bother about it as its "affordable" - sadly for the ecology argument.

Incidentally it does occur to me that when travelling we have a lot more things to try to remember to pack.
Go back thirty years and it would be no electronic devices or chargers/adaptors.
Heck - ironically we would just pop into Smiths and buy a book to read on the journey !.

So I see the future for some companies being limited by how many people are prepared to pay for the quality they offer.
I prefer quality (to a price) but it is often not possible to judge.
What I do know is family around me always pull a plug out by the wire for instance - so if I happen to buy something that is quality I have no way of ensuring it is looked after. Luckily I have accidentally ended up using Samsung mobiles and my wires do not fit their iPhones - currently.

Currently have stepson trying to talk the missus into buying a new fridge. Why - because the fridge is sitting in a pool of water. Now I eventually noticed that the door was not shut properly and after removing the bottle wedged into the bottom shelf of the door the door now shuts properly. It is the second time it has happened and funilly enough it last happened last time he was here. So he thinks it is dying. To be fair it is old and of course it is probably getting knackered due to the door being ajar anyway. But if someone cannot see that the auto defrost is drying out the whole house and so too much water is going into the tray above the compressor where it gets evaporated - the obvious conclusion is that something is broken.
He is keen on a new fridge that has a big reduction on price - it is not a make renowned for reliability. But he argues "its only £200" delivered, convenience/cost trumps everything. So a W.H.Smith at a transport mode is sitting pretty there unlike those on the high street.


He argues "its only £200".

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Manchester United PLC

A company that you expect to disappear soon? Really?!

 

[jon0844]

The annoying thing I've seen at WH Smith and other travel location shops is that you might accept paying a convenience fee to get a phone charger but they're usually very low quality (not suggesting unsafe as per a Temu imported one) but likely a very low output.

Perhaps if they sold respectable ones you may not feel so hard done by, as chances are in many cases the distress purchase adapter will be thrown in a drawer the second it can. At least it you got, say, an Anker fast charger for £30 instead of a slow charger, you'd not mind so much.

But obviously one has a far lower profit margin than the other. WH Smith travel locations are almost all about distress purchases, just like a local grocery store in a village.

 

[Peter Sarf]

The annoying thing I've seen at WH Smith and other travel location shops is that you might accept paying a convenience fee to get a phone charger but they're usually very low quality (not suggesting unsafe as per a Temu imported one) but likely a very low output.

Perhaps if they sold respectable ones you may not feel so hard done by, as chances are in many cases the distress purchase adapter will be thrown in a drawer the second it can. At least it you got, say, an Anker fast charger for £30 instead of a slow charger, you'd not mind so much.

But obviously one has a far lower profit margin than the other. WH Smith travel locations are almost all about distress purchases, just like a local grocery store in a village.

That is true. I would feel confident in buying an Anker make as it seems to have a good reputation.

 

[GoneSouth]

A company that you expect to disappear soon? Really?!

They certainly disappeared from the FA Cup draw earlier.

They are a company who have been used to leverage debt for 15+ years. It’s a mess and they are now making difficult decisions to save a few quid in running costs. Too little too late? who knows, but this year is a car crash!

 

[Peter Sarf]

Maybe not imminent disappearance but Boots getting US owners is a bad sign in my book.

MSN

That is a news article saying Boots has agreed a £7.8bn ($10bn US) takeover by US firm Sycamore Partners.

 

[gswindale]

Maybe not imminent disappearance but Boots getting US owners is a bad sign in my book.

MSN

That is a news article saying Boots has agreed a £7.8bn ($10bn US) takeover by US firm Sycamore Partners.

I thought Boots were already US owned? Aren't they a subsidiary of the Walgreen Boots Alliance which is headquartered in Illinois?

 

[JamesT]

I thought Boots were already US owned? Aren't they a subsidiary of the Walgreen Boots Alliance which is headquartered in Illinois?

Correct. This is the parent company being bought by a private equity firm.

 

[Thirteen]

Too much competition - even without all the bells and whistles of Teams; there's Zoom, Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, Hangouts, FaceTime, etc. Microsoft dedicated their resources towards Teams, and Skype fell by the way side and now seems to lack any USP. Not to mention that things like Messenger, WhatsApp, FaceTime, etc are apps most people already have installed for another purpose. Even on desktop they support voice/video calling.

WhatsApp for Mac is my go to video calling software although I do use Zoom and Teams.

Skype is a legacy acquisition from the Steve Ballmer days and the fact it's only shutting down now is kind of impressive.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I thought Boots were already US owned? Aren't they a subsidiary of the Walgreen Boots Alliance which is headquartered in Illinois?

A bit more reading and your correct Walgreen is indeed the current owner.

Correct. This is the parent company being bought by a private equity firm.

It will be the private equity firm bit that is a worry
Obviously not an immediate demise but I worry another slow lingering efficiency driven decline.

 

[sor]

Obviously not an immediate demise but I worry another slow lingering efficiency driven decline.

Not sure you'd see any change, based on the state of some of the Boots stores I've used. Already understaffed and with furnishings that looked outdated in the 90s.

 

[duffield]

A bit more reading and your correct Walgreen is indeed the current owner.

It will be the private equity firm bit that is a worry
Obviously not an immediate demise but I worry another slow lingering efficiency driven decline.

Reports I've seen say the private equity firm is not interested in the Boots part of Walgreen and will probably just sell it on as is - maybe for someone else to close a load of stores, maybe not but it could buy some more time for the staff at least.

FWIW The big Boots in Nottingham Victoria centre always seems very busy, but some of the littler branches I've been to in smaller towns have often been pretty deserted.

 

[Welly]

My WH Smith now has almost everything marked down 30% (not the magazines, drinks or confectionary) and is back to having no staff near the tills/exit (encouraging people to just walk out without paying). I can only assume the end is near.

No surprise, the stationary in WHS are still too expensive even with that discount, by comparison to Works

 

[Peter Sarf]

Reports I've seen say the private equity firm is not interested in the Boots part of Walgreen and will probably just sell it on as is - maybe for someone else to close a load of stores, maybe not but it could buy some more time for the staff at least.

FWIW The big Boots in Nottingham Victoria centre always seems very busy, but some of the littler branches I've been to in smaller towns have often been pretty deserted.

Croydon Boots is not what it was BUT then Croydon is not what it was.

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Not sure you'd see any change, based on the state of some of the Boots stores I've used. Already understaffed and with furnishings that looked outdated in the 90s.

The main thing I have seen in Croydon is the withdrawal from certain product ranges. I ventured down stairs for the first time in years. The stock levels of consumables like batteries was dire - large gaps. There used to be a lot of film processing but of course that is almost no longer required - so all photography associated things like films and picture frames has gone. Did "Boots Cookshop" used to be a thing ? - I am pretty sure I did not see that !.

No surprise, the stationary in WHS are still too expensive even with that discount, by comparison to Works

Our local WH Smith does not attract me like it used to.

For both Boots and WH Smith I do find myself wondering why I have gone in.
Thirty years ago I would be in them as often as I visited the town centre.
For Boots its prescription (which they have mucked up often so I tend to use an independent instead) and cheapest for sandwiches when I am travelling.
For WH Smith it slightly cuts a corner into the Whitgift Shopping Centre but I find myself wanting to avoid it.

For retail generally shopping habits have changed - gone online. But my habits have not changed that much.

 

[STINT47]

Boots stores may not disappear but the futuer of the head office in Nottingham is very much open to debate. They're has been talk of it moving overseas for some time now.

Head office is now a shadow of it's former self and like Boots overall seems to be in a downwards spiral with a lack of investment and building bring mothballed.

 

[duffield]

Boots stores may not disappear but the futuer of the head office in Nottingham is very much open to debate. They're has been talk of it moving overseas for some time now.

Head office is now a shadow of it's former self and like Boots overall seems to be in a downwards spiral with a lack of investment and building bring mothballed.

Even as a "shadow" it appears to employ around 4000 people so would be a big blow for the Nottingham area if it closed.

 

[infobleep]

Croydon Boots is not what it was BUT then Croydon is not what it was.

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The main thing I have seen in Croydon is the withdrawal from certain product ranges. I ventured down stairs for the first time in years. The stock levels of consumables like batteries was dire - large gaps. There used to be a lot of film processing but of course that is almost no longer required - so all photography associated things like films and picture frames has gone. Did "Boots Cookshop" used to be a thing ? - I am pretty sure I did not see that !.

I have no idea if Boots did Boots Cookshop but if you go back far enough they use to have a lending library and they sold records.

They have done either for years.

 

[johntea]

Boots has always struck me as a sort of 'jack of all trades master of none' job

My female friends also reliably inform me they can order knock off perfume brands online which are apparently just as good as the real thing at a fraction of the price which probably doesn't help that aspect of the operation either!

 

[stadler]

Three or Vodafone or maybe even both will surely dissappear soon. The merger of Three and Vodafone has been approved and is meant to happen this year. It is not clear which one will dissappear and which one will be kept. Or whether both will dissappear and be replaced by a new company.

I remember that when Orange (French Telecom) and T Mobile (German Telecom) were bought by BT they merged them together and replaced them with the brand new EE company. So perhaps something similar will happen with Three and Vodafone soon.

Whatever happens there will surely be lots of store closures and lots of job losses. Most of our high streets have a Three shop and a Vodafone shop very close together and i highly doubt they will keep both shops open.

 

[jon0844]

Three or Vodafone or maybe even both will surely dissappear soon. The merger of Three and Vodafone has been approved and is meant to happen this year. It is not clear which one will dissappear and which one will be kept. Or whether both will dissappear and be replaced by a new company.

I remember that when Orange (French Telecom) and T Mobile (German Telecom) were bought by BT they merged them together and replaced them with the brand new EE company. So perhaps something similar will happen with Three and Vodafone soon.

Whatever happens there will surely be lots of store closures and lots of job losses. Most of our high streets have a Three shop and a Vodafone shop very close together and i highly doubt they will keep both shops open.

I believe Three will be going (I'd say 99% certainty based on people I've spoken to in the industry). Users will be migrated over at some stage, and Vodafone/Three has promised no price rises for a specified period (to appease regulators) which means the prices will likely rise one day after that date passes.

As with Orange and T-Mobile, stores did indeed close and the same will obviously happen with Vodafone and Three stores because many high streets have both very close together. It may be that Vodafone closes one of 'their' stores and keeps the Three store and rebrands it, simply because of footfall, leases etc.

I am not sure if they'll co-brand stores or just ditch Three as soon as possible. I am not sure that decision has been made, and if it has I don't know.

The merger is absolutely not going to benefit the consumer, and indeed the consumer has suffered for a long time as both Vodafone and Three paused a lot of their network rollout until they knew the outcome. Three in particular has been in a frozen state in a lot of places, and it's not clear if they'll resume their rollout now - so until the merger actually takes place, users will not see the improvements that might be happening elsewhere (e.g. EE and O2).

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Boots has always struck me as a sort of 'jack of all trades master of none' job

I am certainly using Boots less than before as their prices seem to be far higher than in the past, and when I wanted to redeem points on a purchase of aftershave to gift someone, I was told I couldn't use it as you now need enough points for the whole item cost.

 

[Ken X]

Our local Boots has two floors. The upper floor was film developing, Christmas shop and sundry non-core promotions. The area is really under utilised.
Round the corner, in a separate property, is Boots Opticians and, I think, audiology as well.

We often wonder why they don't close the opticians and move it to the upper floor of the main store so people visiting the opticians and audiology departments are drawn through the main store. Been like it for years and it just seems odd.