Comet

[rpguk]

I was chatting to a bloke to do with Zavvi (or Virgin Megastores as Dicky Branson would hope we forget).

Anyway, apparently the security company employed by the company walked out as they hadn't been paid. With no security and staff about to be let go it was a total free for all with shop lifters just picking stuff off the shelves and walking out.

[Oakey]

Has anyone tried offering the staff cash?

"How much for this TV?"

"It's £500 sir"

"no, that's Comets price, how much do I give YOU to take it?"

[martin84]

Adrian W said:

The thing the that should be made public is exactly how much the administrators will be getting, I was involved in a multi million pound company administration a few years ago, the administrators received more than any of the employees, creditors or shareholders.

fking vultures.

[rpguk]

Adrian W said:

The thing the that should be made public is exactly how much the administrators will be getting, I was involved in a multi million pound company administration a few years ago, the administrators received more than any of the employees, creditors or shareholders.

Oh yeah. You're not the only one feeling the frustration. I posted a thread 5 years ago on the same subject - http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t...

When it comes to the administrators I think there are parallels with the Judgement of Solomon. The process of being 'fair' in dividing the assets of the company generally swallows up said assets.

[condor]

When Threshers went bust 3 years ago the branch managers were given a £1000 bonus after the closing down sale - as long as there were no large stock losses. I'd be surprised if the Comet managers aren't under a similar scheme.

[matt3001]

rpguk said:

I was chatting to a bloke to do with Zavvi (or Virgin Megastores as Dicky Branson would hope we forget).

Anyway, apparently the security company employed by the company walked out as they hadn't been paid. With no security and staff about to be let go it was a total free for all with shop lifters just picking stuff off the shelves and walking out.

I think someone has fed you some bullsh*t there.

Adrian W said:

The thing the that should be made public is exactly how much the administrators will be getting, I was involved in a multi million pound company administration a few years ago, the administrators received more than any of the employees, creditors or shareholders.

It is made public, in the Administrators proposals available on Companies House. The fees are then approved by the body of creditors.

[wiggy001]

wiggy001 said:

What do you suggest shops do you avoid the internet shoppers? There is absolutely nothing that can be done to stop this behaviour. What shops need to do is move with the times and change their business model to embrace the internet age. The "service" in these places is non-existent with no real product knowledge and just a real desire to sell you something, anything, as long as it comes with a warranty.

There is a reason I purchase AV equipment from Richer Sounds and bike stuff from my local bike shop.

So last week we decided that we would like to update our kitchen a little and needed the following:

- New gas hob
- New extractor
- New sink and taps
- New cupboard handles

On the way home from work one night we popped into Homebase to see what they had. It was 20 minutes before a sales assistant spoke to us (and there were 2 within the kitchen section not dealing with any customers the whole time). And she didn't have much interest when we said we only wanted a few components rather than a fully fitted kitchen.

However, having decided on the bits we wanted, my wife asked me if we were now going to go and speak to someone about getting them ordered? Er... no!

The stuff above was (IIRC) just shy of £1000 in Homebase, mostly with a 28 day lead time on delivery. Went online and ordered the lot for nearly £300 less, all big items turned up within a pre-arranged hour timeslot this morning and I expect the taps and handles to arrive sometime in the next couple of days.

So I got just as much expert help (ie none), the same products, quicker and for much less.

When will these retailers learn?

[Adrian W]

matt3001 said:

.

Adrian W said:

The thing the that should be made public is exactly how much the administrators will be getting, I was involved in a multi million pound company administration a few years ago, the administrators received more than any of the employees, creditors or shareholders.

It is made public, in the Administrators proposals available on Companies House. The fees are then approved by the body of creditors.

That’s not exactly true, the rates are published at the front end,not the costs, then you have huge disbursements and extras, of course they do publish the charges in the creditors reports, but by then it’s to late for anyone to do anything about it, as they have full control.

[worsy]

Massive queue outside Comet in Wrexham today. Been announced it is one of the stores to close.

[Sixpackpert]

worsy said:

Massive queue outside Comet in Wrexham today. Been announced it is one of the stores to close.

Same yesterday at the Gloucester one, shuts its doors on Monday evening.

[aka_kerrly]

Sixpackpert said:

worsy said:

Massive queue outside Comet in Wrexham today. Been announced it is one of the stores to close.

Same yesterday at the Gloucester one, shuts its doors on Monday evening.

I was in the Comet at the Gloucester cattle market today and the shelves with bare. Apart from a couple of dozen washing machines, cookers and fridges. The pc/camera/audio sections were empty apart from a few remaining stands.

The other Comet in Gloucester had far more stock but most items were reduced by ten or fifteen percent.

[daveydave7]

December 12th I think for blackpool
Very little of any interest left though

[10 Pence Short]

martin84 said:

Adrian W said:

The thing the that should be made public is exactly how much the administrators will be getting, I was involved in a multi million pound company administration a few years ago, the administrators received more than any of the employees, creditors or shareholders.

fking vultures.

Do you expect them to work for free? They are heavily regulated and highly skilled.

Without the administrators, the employees and creditors would get 10% of fk all.

[Negative Creep]

Went into my local yesterday, which is closing but didn't say when. Lots of microwaves and ipod docks but not much else. I was after a computer monitor but even with the reductions they were barely any cheaper than the ones in Currys next door. Which still wasn't as cheap as ebuyer.

[samuelellis]

Nipped into a comet yesterday to pick up a new microwave as mine was on its last legs.

Only stock they had was the display models so i got a good deal on a stupidly over enginnered Panasonic that i would not have been able to justify otherwise.

I did feel like a vulture going in to pick the bones but even this far on i did hear customers being rude and trying to get even more off products and generally just being arses, i honestly dont know how they have coped with some of the stuff the customers have tried too do

[James P]

Adrian W said:

matt3001 said:

.

Adrian W said:

The thing the that should be made public is exactly how much the administrators will be getting, I was involved in a multi million pound company administration a few years ago, the administrators received more than any of the employees, creditors or shareholders.

It is made public, in the Administrators proposals available on Companies House. The fees are then approved by the body of creditors.

That’s not exactly true, the rates are published at the front end,not the costs, then you have huge disbursements and extras, of course they do publish the charges in the creditors reports, but by then it’s to late for anyone to do anything about it, as they have full control.

How do you expect the Administrators to publicise the costs before they are incurred?

[DSLiverpool]

Since last week our calls for Panasonic spares trebled so we started asking questions and it seems people are buying part complete kit cheap and buying the missing bit.

[Deva Link]

samuelellis said:

Nipped into a comet yesterday to pick up a new microwave as mine was on its last legs.

Only stock they had was the display models so i got a good deal on a stupidly over enginnered Panasonic that i would not have been able to justify otherwise.

Keep the old one as a back-up if you've got space to keep it somewhere. They really don't make 'em like they used to. When ours failed at 16mths Panasonic couldn't have given a toss and referred me to a shop doing repairs that had closed some years ago. Using the old one again now.

[98elise]

Deva Link said:

samuelellis said:

Nipped into a comet yesterday to pick up a new microwave as mine was on its last legs.

Only stock they had was the display models so i got a good deal on a stupidly over enginnered Panasonic that i would not have been able to justify otherwise.

Keep the old one as a back-up if you've got space to keep it somewhere. They really don't make 'em like they used to. When ours failed at 16mths Panasonic couldn't have given a toss and referred me to a shop doing repairs that had closed some years ago. Using the old one again now.

You're not wrong there. We bought our first microwave 20+ years ago. Its a Matsui (Dixons own brand I think?). Its still going strong today, and doesn't even look old.

I suspect it will out live me

[Odie]

98elise said:

You're not wrong there. We bought our first microwave 20+ years ago. Its a Matsui (Dixons own brand I think?). Its still going strong today, and doesn't even look old.

I suspect it will out live me

My fridge freezer is 30 years old... Its nearly as old as me. Its still going strong.