Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[jon81uk]

Not sure I like weasel words such as "generally" and "unlikely"!

Which is why the final line is the important one "we encourage you to download all purchased Content to a device in your possession and to back it up." If you do that then you will have the file to use as long as you have software and hardware capable of reading the file. Or burn it to a CD.

 

[jon0844]

Which is why the final line is the important one "we encourage you to download all purchased Content to a device in your possession and to back it up." If you do that then you will have the file to use as long as you have software and hardware capable of reading the file. Or burn it to a CD.

Which is fine for content you can freely download and move from drive to drive, store in the cloud, burn to a disc or whatever. Sadly some encrypted files require access to the cloud to keep them unlocked, and this is where you really don't own what you purchased. Look at the likes of Sony (and to a degree Microsoft, although I think they backtracked) and even follow people like Louis Rossman on YouTube - although the situation seems far, far worse in the USA than the UK and Europe.

Not that we're perfect, but I think we have a little more consumer protection which has held some companies back - so far.

 

[Djgr]

Or burn it to a CD.

Which begs the question, why not just buy the physical CD/DVD to begin with?

 

[chris53]

TG Jones have been mentioned a few times. Their store on Fishergate in Preston is closing soon, November I think. I believe they are shutting multiple stores across the country.

The problems is that TGs have never done anything to steer their stores away from the WHSmiths days. Every time I’ve been in there it almost feels like it’s a business that doesn’t make any effort and their footfall of customers isn’t huge.

WHSmiths only seem to exist in train stations or motorway services these days. I called in Charnock Richard services a couple of weeks ago and they have a small shop that is very limited with what it sells.

CJ

There is a small WH Smith in the Royal Liverpool Hospital, that is the only non station one I am aware of

 

[skyhigh]

WHSmiths only seem to exist in train stations or motorway services these days.

There is a small WH Smith in the Royal Liverpool Hospital, that is the only non station one I am aware of

WHS retained the travel stores - airports, motorway services, stations and hospitals. The high street business was sold.

 

[Harpo]

Poundland on the brink again.

Retail chain Poundland is in talks with potential buyers as it seeks a rescue deal, it has confirmed.

Executives are working with an Irish property development group on a management buyout,

Poundland in rescue talks as owners seek buyer

The leadership team is attempting a buyout, but a union has warned the retailer could fall into administration instead.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[adc82140]

When things stopped being a pound (for the inevitable reason that is inflation), they lost their USP, and shoppers, rightly or wrongly, felt they were being hoodwinked. The company should have seen this coming. Why did they not adopt the Irish "Dealz" brand?

 

[3rd rail land]

Does anyone think Modella Capital might swoop in and buy Poundland or is it not enough of a dying company yet for them?

 

[sprunt]

Which is fine for content you can freely download and move from drive to drive, store in the cloud, burn to a disc or whatever. Sadly some encrypted files require access to the cloud to keep them unlocked, and this is where you really don't own what you purchased. Look at the likes of Sony (and to a degree Microsoft, although I think they backtracked) and even follow people like Louis Rossman on YouTube - although the situation seems far, far worse in the USA than the UK and Europe.

Not that we're perfect, but I think we have a little more consumer protection which has held some companies back - so far.

I'm pretty sure music downloads these days are invariably DRM free.

 

[Andyh82]

Is there any retail that isnt suffering at the moment if even Poundland are effected.

This thread is obsessed with Middle of the Road brands like TG Jones, and to a lesser extent Boots.

Now Poundland are effected, slightly higher end departments stores like Debenhams have already gone, are we just going to be left with supermarkets, but then we keep hearing that Asda and Morrisons aren’t doing great either.

 

[Sonic1234]

Is there any retail that isnt suffering at the moment if even Poundland are effected.

Even more surprising is charity shops. Read today that the British Heart Foundation's retail division is loss making, and Cancer Research UK's retail arm makes less than 1% profit. Amazing for a business which gets most of its stock and labour for free. Just shows the high cost of having a physical presence. Charity shops are being hit by eBay and Vinted too - donors sell their best items and dump the rubbish on the charities and any good items that get donated are sold online so there's little quality left in the shops.

 

[TheSmiths82]

Even more surprising is charity shops. Read today that the British Heart Foundation's retail division is loss making, and Cancer Research UK's retail arm makes less than 1% profit. Amazing for a business which gets most of its stock and labour for free. Just shows the high cost of having a physical presence. Charity shops are being hit by eBay and Vinted too - donors sell their best items and dump the rubbish on the charities and any good items that get donated are sold online so there's little quality left in the shops.

I think this is the main issue with charity shops, too many people are selling stuff they know has some value. It costs a lot of money to dispose of goods that nobody wants.

 

[Harpo]

Charity shops are being hit by eBay and Vinted too - donors sell their best items and dump the rubbish on the charities and any good items that get donated are sold online so there's little quality left in the shops.

Sounds like donors work the same way as the charity shops that sift off their good stuff to Ebay and put the low value tat in the shops.

 

[jon0844]

Charity shops must also pay a fortune to clear up the flytipped materials dumped outside their front door night after night (or at the back door).

 

[35B]

I think this is the main issue with charity shops, too many people are selling stuff they know has some value. It costs a lot of money to dispose of goods that nobody wants.

Not just that, but frequently charity shops don't know the value of what they have - I've picked up some real bargains because they've not known the value of what they've had

 

[jon0844]

Not just that, but frequently charity shops don't know the value of what they have - I've picked up some real bargains because they've not known the value of what they've had

I knew a lot of people who went to charity shops and car boot sales to find hidden gems, but I think there are a lot more people doing this now. Or trying to, as I think to a certain degree the ship has sailed by now.

 

[Statto]

From memory it's something like £2,50 for a 600ml bottle of Pepsi Max in my local Tesco Express.

Yeah, i had a look in my local Tesco Express & the price is £2.10 for 500ml bottle of Diet Coke, £1.85 is the Tesco Extra/online price, i only buy the 500ml bottles as part of the meal deal anyway.

 

[Broucek]

Sounds like donors work the same way as the charity shops that sift off their good stuff to Ebay and put the low value tat in the shops.

The Guardian had an article about this the other. People giving un-saleable stuff to the charity shops that then have to dispose of them - often at a cost to the charity

‘People sell their best stuff on Vinted’ – how charity shops became a dumping ground for unsellable clothes

Swamped with ‘daily avalanches’ of soiled items and poor-quality fast fashion, secondhand stores are in crisis. What went wrong with people’s good intentions? And is it possible to donate more effectively?

www.theguardian.com

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Today at 12:55 ==

Not just that, but frequently charity shops don't know the value of what they have - I've picked up some real bargains because they've not known the value of what they've had

I was asked about pricing the other day in an Oxfarm shop that had lots of classical CDs. My advice was not to go crazy with pricing - the merchandise was free and it's better for it to be sold for £2 and someone to enjoy the music than to price at £10 and for it to go unsold for months

 

[3rd rail land]

The Guardian had an article about this the other. People giving un-saleable stuff to the charity shops that then have to dispose of them - often at a cost to the charity

Are staff not trained to review the items for saleability before accepting them? Seems like an obvious thing to do. Just accepting everything seems like a terrible business model, even if the items are free.

 

[Broucek]

Are staff not trained to review the items for saleability before accepting them? Seems like an obvious thing to do. Just accepting everything seems like a terrible business model, even if the items are free.

They don't necessarily have time to do it in real time...

 

[The exile]

Are staff not trained to review the items for saleability before accepting them? Seems like an obvious thing to do. Just accepting everything seems like a terrible business model, even if the items are free.

In a busy shop it’s not easy (nor necessarily desirable) to go through a bag of donations “out front”, and the donor can’t be made to hang around.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Today at 13:06 ==

I was asked about pricing the other day in an Oxfarm shop that had lots of classical CDs. My advice was not to go crazy with pricing - the merchandise was free and it's better for it to be sold for £2 and someone to enjoy the music than to price at £10 and for it to go unsold for months

Having a reputation for being “good for a bargain” is also likely to increase footfall and thus (potentially) overall sales.

 

[jon0844]

In a busy shop it’s not easy (nor necessarily desirable) to go through a bag of donations “out front”, and the donor can’t be made to hang around.

Our chosen charity will look through what we (and others) bring and apologise for it, but I get that they have to say no to certain things. We're never offended as even items I think they could sell aren't always what they want to sell.

I bet they get angry people though who wanted them to take everything and save them going to the dump - or hiring a skip. No doubt some people even get aggressive and say things like 'and you expect me to take this back home?'.

 

[Bishops]

Are staff not trained to review the items for saleability before accepting them? Seems like an obvious thing to do. Just accepting everything seems like a terrible business model, even if the items are free.

Theres probably a lot that comes in via those big bin type things that are in various supermarket car parks

 

[Ediswan]

Are staff not trained to review the items for saleability before accepting them? Seems like an obvious thing to do. Just accepting everything seems like a terrible business model, even if the items are free.

I took an unopened pack of two premium brand car headlight bulbs to the local charity shop. They do have a small display of oddities. First member of staff did not know what they were. Second member of staff took one look and said yes.

 

[sprunt]

Our chosen charity will look through what we (and others) bring and apologise for it, but I get that they have to say no to certain things. We're never offended as even items I think they could sell aren't always what they want to sell.

I bet they get angry people though who wanted them to take everything and save them going to the dump - or hiring a skip. No doubt some people even get aggressive and say things like 'and you expect me to take this back home?'.

There's obviously no excuse for being agressive, but given that the signs the shops stick outside saying "Donations wanted! Bring us your unused stuff!" rarely have a bit saying "Subject to acceptance" you can understand why people might feel that they've had their time wasted.

 

[jon81uk]

There's obviously no excuse for being agressive, but given that the signs the shops stick outside saying "Donations wanted! Bring us your unused stuff!" rarely have a bit saying "Subject to acceptance" you can understand why people might feel that they've had their time wasted.

Your text states "unused stuff", which going by the news articles most people don't even consider, with used sanitary towels turning up in donation bags.

 

[Harpo]

given that the signs the shops stick outside saying "Donations wanted! Bring us your unused stuff!" rarely have a bit saying "Subject to acceptance"

Disagree. I used to donate to my local Cancer Research shop using a Gift Aid card but gave up due to repeated signs saying ‘no donations today’, ‘only donations of xx accepted today’, or being chastised for donating in bulk and generally being made to feel they were doing me a favour.

Beggars are most definitely being choosers.

 

[Ashley Hill]

I was asked about pricing the other day in an Oxfarm shop that had lots of classical CDs. My advice was not to go crazy with pricing - the merchandise was free and it's better for it to be sold for £2 and someone to enjoy the music than to price at £10 and for it to go unsold for months

I was told by a friend whos mother worked in a charity shop (and ive no proof its true) that any decent books or CDs get sold in bulk to online bookshops. Many shops in my area no longer stock non-fiction books and if they do its things like Jamie Oliver cook books or generic books rather than anything specialist.

 

[Broucek]

I was told by a friend whos mother worked in a charity shop (and ive no proof its true) that any decent books or CDs get sold in bulk to online bookshops. Many shops in my area no longer stock non-fiction books and if they do its things like Jamie Oliver cook books or generic books rather than anything specialist.

Not the worst idea....