WH Smiths at Railway Stations

[Butts]

This is not a debate about smoking !!!

Has anyone noticed the price WH Smith charge for cigarettes at Railway Stations and Airports -over £8 for 20 Benson & Hedges - at least £1 over the top even compared to a "corner shop".

It's strange they sell Cigarettes at these venues as they do not in their normal High Street Outlets (margin obviously more favourable )

I wondered if they similarly overcharge for products other people purchase.

Newspapers are the same price as normal shops.

I think Tesco Express are starting to move into a lot of Railway Stations and Airports now which at least is offering more realistic prices.

20 or thirty years ago I don't seem to remember such profiteering at transport hubs for everyday products.

 

[Darandio]

It's strange they sell Cigarettes at these venues as they do not in their normal High Street Outlets (margin obviously more favourable )

They do in our high street outlet.

 

[Eng274]

I don't smoke, so never really cared about ciggy prices

circa £1.85 for a 500ml soft drink though - I'm amazed anyone buys them. Stop at a local shop on the way to the station get it for near half the price.

Only silver lining is that a chunk of it fills NR's coffers.

 

[Butts]

They do in our high street outlet.

Really - where is that ?

I've not seen them instore on the HS for years - perhaps it is a regional thing?

Are they normal price ?

 

[Mutant Lemming]

It's a supply and demand thing - if you want something there and then before you catch your train/plane/jetski then your situation is exploited. Even more so when you actually get ON the thing (if it has any 'catering facilities' that is).

 

[dk1]

No No No to Tesco's cheap or not. Would choose anyone else first. All stations should have M&S

 

[Butts]

It's a supply and demand thing - if you want something there and then before you catch your train/plane/jetski then your situation is exploited. Even more so when you actually get ON the thing (if it has any 'catering facilities' that is).

So why don't they charge more for Newspapers ?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

All stations should have M&S

43p for two litres of water isn't bad!

 

[newbie babs]

They do sell them in Sheffield and Meadowhall outlet

 

[Butts]

No No No to Tesco's cheap or not. Would choose anyone else first. All stations should have M&S

Why not split the difference and have Sainsburys or Waitrose
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

They do sell them in Sheffield and Meadowhall outlet

Normal price ?

 

[Mutant Lemming]

So why don't they charge more for Newspapers ?

Supply & Demand - nobody wants them. They have to even give some of the rags away.

 

[mickey]

I wondered if they similarly overcharge for products other people purchase.

Newspapers are the same price as normal shops.

I think Tesco Express are starting to move into a lot of Railway Stations and Airports now which at least is offering more realistic prices.

Yes they charge more at stations - everything from books to confectionery. It's a 'captive market' - and often don't get the same footfall (through shops I mean, not stations) as high streets so need it.

Newspapers and magazines are an exception as they're never sold above marked price anywhere.

I've never seen a Tesco Express at a railway station - can you say where you've seen one? M&S Food, yes, even Sainsbury's Central (if you count the concourse just outside LVC, for example), but not Tesco.

 

[strange6]

All of the WH Smith shops at Railway stations are franchises so the prices are completely out of the control of WH Smith in all fairness to them. However, even if I'm dying of thirst or hunger, I make it a point of principle NEVER to go into one of these rip-off shops; their prices are scandalous for almost everything.

 

[dk1]

Why not split the difference and have Sainsburys or Waitrose
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Normal price ?

Excellent. As long as not Tesco it's a result

 

[Butts]

Yes they charge more at stations - everything from books to confectionery. It's a 'captive market' - and often don't get the same footfall (through shops I mean, not stations) as high streets so need it.

Newspapers and magazines are an exception as they're never sold above marked price anywhere.

I've never seen a Tesco Express at a railway station - can you say where you've seen one? M&S Food, yes, even Sainsbury's Central (if you count the concourse just outside LVC, for example), but not Tesco.

Why are Newspapers and Magazines excluded everywhere - is it because the price is printed on the cover.

Shame more things are not the same as they used to be (price on the product) might lead to less overcharging.

Tesco Express just up stairs B New Street and actually inside BHX
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Excellent. As long as not Tesco it's a result

What have you got against the worlds 3rd biggest retailer ?

 

[route:oxford]

What have you got against the worlds 3rd biggest retailer ?

Some people just hate it when a British company is succesful...

Some WH Smith outlets are run as franchises... But there is also a difference between the stores that were formally branches of John Menzies and those that were always WH Smith.

 

[newbie babs]

Butts

I am told by a reliable source they are approx £6.50

 

[mickey]

Why are Newspapers and Magazines excluded everywhere - is it because the price is printed on the cover.

Shame more things are not the same as they used to be (price on the product) might lead to less overcharging.

...Or to higher prices, e.g. with Amazon/Waterstones charging independent bookshop prices, Tesco charging Rowntrees' RRP, and so on. No thanks.

Items with prices marked on them are never sold above that AFAIK (but can be sold at a discount). This explains newspapers and magazines, though there may also be something in their specific regulations to prevent this.

 

[WatcherZero]

WH Smiths is divided into two seperate run divisions,
'High Street'- all the shops on the high street and
'Travel'- All airports and railstations

They have different pricing/staff/product ranges, etc... though sharing branding and to a limited extent bulk buying/distribution.

Thats why for example the magazine ranges are completley different, prices are higher, etc in 'Travel' WH Smiths.

 

[Butts]

...Or to higher prices, e.g. with Amazon/Waterstones charging independent bookshop prices, Tesco charging Rowntrees' RRP, and so on. No thanks.

Items with prices marked on them are never sold above that AFAIK (but can be sold at a discount). This explains newspapers and magazines, though there may also be something in their specific regulations to prevent this.

You have answered your own query when a price is on a product be it sweets or fags people will generally undercharge in large outlets...but more importantly will NOT CHARGE MORE in smaller or travel outlets.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

WH Smiths is divided into two seperate run divisions,
'High Street'- all the shops on the high street and
'Travel'- All airports and railstations

They have different pricing/staff/product ranges, etc... though sharing branding and to a limited extent bulk buying/distribution.

Thats why for example the magazine ranges are completley different, prices are higher, etc in 'Travel' WH Smiths.

Any further information on Newspaper and Magazine prices - is it the price on the cover that stops them profiteering on these ?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

WH Smiths is divided into two seperate run divisions,
'High Street'- all the shops on the high street and
'Travel'- All airports and railstations

They have different pricing/staff/product ranges, etc... though sharing branding and to a limited extent bulk buying/distribution.

Thats why for example the magazine ranges are completley different, prices are higher, etc in 'Travel' WH Smiths.

Any further information on Newspaper and Magazine prices - is it the price on the cover that stops them profiteering on these ?

 

[WatcherZero]

RRP is a guide price from manufacturers to retailers, they can charge more but they would have to relabel the RRP price. Sometimes its just not worth it labelling over all the prices, other times you just want to be competitive and RRP sets a good guide price. If for example theres a promotional price (say can of drink only 29p for a limited time) the price the manufacturer charges the retailer will be lowered for this period so they keep their margins and/or they will be given a number free possibly when ordering a different product from the same retailer or distributor to ensure the retailer flogs them.

Newspapers are actually quite interesting, they have a different distribution model. Basically the publisher will offer a retailer x amount to sell every day (usually in batches of 10 or so), at the end of each day the publisher will collect all the unsold papers and recycle them and the retailer will only be charged by the publisher for the amount they actually sold, though they may be penalised for ordering lots of papers and not selling them.

 

[Butts]

RRP is a guide price from manufacturers to retailers, they can charge more but they would have to relabel the RRP price.

I have only ever seen this abroad with the Euro/Dollar price covered up and a higher one slapped on.

Has anyone ever seen a UK Newspaer on sale in the UK for above cover price?

 

[Darandio]

Really - where is that ?

I've not seen them instore on the HS for years - perhaps it is a regional thing?

Are they normal price ?

Redcar

They are higher than your supermarket but lower than at railway stations, for reasons already explained above I guess.

For instance, 10 Richmond KS is £3.13 in the supermarket, but £3.30 in the high street branch of WHSmith. On the railway station I have seen them as high as £3.85.

 

[theblackwatch]

All of the WH Smith shops at Railway stations are franchises so the prices are completely out of the control of WH Smith in all fairness to them. However, even if I'm dying of thirst or hunger, I make it a point of principle NEVER to go into one of these rip-off shops; their prices are scandalous for almost everything.

Are you sure they are franchises? I thought they were part of the WHSmith Travel business of WHS. It is noticeable that despite sales at the 'Travel' stores being £452 million, whereas High Street sales were much more at £860 millon, Travel made a greater profit. (Source: http://www.whsmithplc.co.uk/docs/reports/WHS_AR_2010_Final1.pdf - page 2)

 

[Butts]

Are you sure they are franchises? I thought they were part of the WHSmith Travel business of WHS. It is noticeable that despite sales at the 'Travel' stores being £452 million, whereas High Street sales were much more at £860 millon, Travel made a greater profit. (Source: http://www.whsmithplc.co.uk/docs/reports/WHS_AR_2010_Final1.pdf - page 2)

Well I think you have answered the question as to why the prices are so high

 

[Masbroughlad]

I only buy things from WHS at stations that have the price on them - books, magazines and papers. Everything else - cards, sweets etc is over-priced by a long way.

Eg. I would rather go without than pay 70p for a 40p pack of chewing gum.

 

[Butts]

I only buy things from WHS at stations that have the price on them - books, magazines and papers. Everything else - cards, sweets etc is over-priced by a long way.

Eg. I would rather go without than pay 70p for a 40p pack of chewing gum.

Good point would they sell more if they sold things at normal prices ?

 

[WatcherZero]

They might, but their paying higher rent on their premises so need to make more money with less shelf space.

 

[michael769]

Why are Newspapers and Magazines excluded everywhere - is it because the price is printed on the cover.

Newspapers and Magazines are supplied on a Sale or return agency basis (ie unsolds are sent back to the publisher and the retailer only pays them for the actual sales), where the retailer never actually owns the stock he sells and this allows the publisher to dictate the price.

It is one of the few parts of retailing where the setting of fixed prices by suppliers has not yet been banned. Interestingly and uniquely it is the same in almost all countries.

 

[strange6]

Are you sure they are franchises? I thought they were part of the WHSmith Travel business of WHS. It is noticeable that despite sales at the 'Travel' stores being £452 million, whereas High Street sales were much more at £860 millon, Travel made a greater profit. (Source: http://www.whsmithplc.co.uk/docs/reports/WHS_AR_2010_Final1.pdf - page 2)

Yes, it was in one of the Sunday papers last weekend about prices at Railway stations and WH Smith themselves stated that railway shops were franchises and out of their control