Comet

[hedgefinder]

i wonder if this would effect the Comet vouchers given to a relative by her insuramce company to replace appliances??

[James P]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Not always but avoiding liquidation relies on a buyer being found for the business so that an alternative is possible, eg a CVA. If the business model has failed in the marketplace potential buyers at a price where money flows back to creditors are likely to be rare.

[wiggy001]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

2 points from me:

1. I don't think I've ever seen a Comet on the high street, they are always in out-of-town retail parks in my experience.

2. 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.

[afrochicken]

djstevec said:

Pints said:

Halmyre said:

So what are Comet doing wrong that Currys are doing right? Or are Currys next to go? The branch nearest me never seems to be that busy.

Perhaps I'm getting my stores mixed up bit aren't Currys part of the Homebase and Argos group, which are presumably keeping them afloat?

Comet was sold off by DSG earlier this year to a private equity firm if memory serves, Currys/PC World still part of DSG.

Comet were sold for £2 by Kesa Electricals late last year

Currys/PC World are Dixons Retail

Homebase/Argos are owned by Home Retail Group

[Digga]

wiggy001 said:

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

^True.

People are remarkably selfish and short-sighted in this respect.

Yeah, fine you can buy your bike x% cheaper online, but why then expect your LBS to welcome you to their service dept with open arms (in the way they do with a bike they sold and PDI'd properly) the first time you have a niggle.

My LBS have always been excellent on product returns, warranty and on-the-spot service for early niggles or adjustments, because I've always bought gear (not all) from them. TBH, I and most other cyclists at some point or another, would be stumped without an LBS for many service tasks.

[anonymous-user]

wiggy001 said:

2 points from me:

1. I don't think I've ever seen a Comet on the high street, they are always in out-of-town retail parks in my experience.

2. 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.

Used to buy from Richer Sounds when I was into my hifi, they were good. Local bike shop - great! The problem with internet shopping is not just the attitude of the retailer but the buyer. On the DIY forum I read that one person had received a design and quote from a kitchen showroom, only to then go to buy the 'same' cabinets from an online seller for something like a third of the price. Firstly I doubt they were the same cabinets, and that's part of the problem. What work did the internet seller do to gain that trade? They didn't design a layout, that was done for them by the showroom designer, who received nowt for their efforts. Would the buyer have bought the product without seeing what they thought was the same cabinet in a showroom? Where would both parties be without the design work of the showroom retailer? As long as buyers treat showrooms as a free library to view products and gain useful information only to buy from an online shop we will see an erosion of quality of service. What can showroom retailers do to compete when their rents are high, their marketing costs are high and the only/easiest way to keep their selling prices down is to reduce the cost and therefore quality of their workforce? I've seen web sellers advertising products they don't even have access to and offering alternative products because the desired product is 'out of stock'. There are some small indies who specialise in one field or brand only and they do seem to be able to rely on a minority of people who do value quality and service that only a highly motivated and extremely knowledgeable team can offer. Perhaps that's the way it will have to go, pot luck over the internet or pay the price for a good product and a really good service. I do think the U.K government needs to improve the RRP/price fixing laws to allow manufacturers and quality retailers to limit how far discounters (and that's pretty much the only point of web sellers in general) can carve up their prices.

[Legend83]

I thought the writing was on the wall for Comet when a last minute diversion to its Luton store before holiday required me to pay £29.99 for an 8gb SD card for my SLR.

The same item can be bought from Amazon for £7.99.

[Odie]

The challenge with all the highstreet names is that they think they need to compete with the internet, instead playing to the strength that they have a bricks and mortar presence and can offer far more customer service and quality than internet retailers ever can.

Im not saying its easy but by not understanding that internet and highstreet are 2 different animals is a big big mistake.

Clintons went under because they where trying to compete with internet, but why? Why no instore gift wrapping service for a nominal fee? why no facility to design and print your own cards (or wrapping paper for that matter) on site?

These struggling business's have a building, an on street presence with staff in it, fking use it...

[cossy400]

So has it been announced? im struggling to find anything.

And with out sounding like a vulture, does this mean they ll be a sale..........

Can think of a few things i could purchase for crimbo etc

[Odie]

cossy400 said:

So has it been announced? im struggling to find anything.

And with out sounding like a vulture, does this mean they ll be a sale..........

Can think of a few things i could purchase for crimbo etc

They may have a sale, but they hardly hold any stock so I doubt they will have anything of value.

[The Black Flash]

This is an impossible situation isn't it? Everyone wants to see things before they buy, but no-one wants to pay the extra that having a showroom entails (i.e. they will buy over the internet). So we're eventually going to end up with no-where to see things before we buy, which doesn't really feel like progress.

[TTmonkey]

Odie said:

cossy400 said:

So has it been announced? im struggling to find anything.

And with out sounding like a vulture, does this mean they ll be a sale..........

Can think of a few things i could purchase for crimbo etc

They may have a sale, but they hardly hold any stock so I doubt they will have anything of value.

This is one of theior problems - their suppliers dont think they are good for the money, so they are having terrible problems getting stock.

Or so it said on the tele this morning,.

[Pints]

cossy400 said:

So has it been announced? im struggling to find anything.

And with out sounding like a vulture, does this mean they ll be a sale..........

Can think of a few things i could purchase for crimbo etc

"Close to administration" is the way it's currently being reported.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20164228

[The Don of Croy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

No. We do not need retail price maintenance - been there, done that.

Either we embrace free markets, and all the benefits they can bring, or we turn the clock back and stifle trade.

Not so very long ago we had the Net Book Agreement - a system for regulating book prices. Everyone happy - authors get a good share, retailers a guaranteed price to sell at, publishers likewise. Except that it meant you could not buy a book for under £10 or £20 - certainly not 3 for a tenner or discounted back to £1.99 like they are now.

Perhaps in a few years time high street retailers will charge admission to shops (refunded upon purchase)..?

[RealSquirrels]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I don't agree with that at all.

firstly, buying online saves you the hassle of having to find and get to a shop, gives you greater choice, products delivered to your door, etc.

secondly, often i prefer to do my own research and inform myself rather than rely on information from a salesperson whose authority i have no real idea about.

[Adrian W]

afrochicken said:

djstevec said:

Pints said:

Halmyre said:

So what are Comet doing wrong that Currys are doing right? Or are Currys next to go? The branch nearest me never seems to be that busy.

Perhaps I'm getting my stores mixed up bit aren't Currys part of the Homebase and Argos group, which are presumably keeping them afloat?

Comet was sold off by DSG earlier this year to a private equity firm if memory serves, Currys/PC World still part of DSG.

Comet were sold for £2 by Kesa Electricals late last year

Currys/PC World are Dixons Retail

Homebase/Argos are owned by Home Retail Group

And all three are in the st

[anonymous-user]

RealSquirrels said:

I don't agree with that at all.

firstly, buying online saves you the hassle of having to find and get to a shop, gives you greater choice, products delivered to your door, etc.

secondly, often i prefer to do my own research and inform myself rather than rely on information from a salesperson whose authority i have no real idea about.

How do you find out how sturdy a product feels, what finishes and so on?

[miniman]

Friend of mine's brother runs a small bookshop in Cornwall somewhere. How can he possibly compete with Amazon?

Well, by holding book signings, talks from writers, by staffing the shop with knowledgeable enthusiasts...

Comet and their big shed competitors have totally failed to adapt to the new world of retail and sadly the loss of jobs for their staff is a direct result of that.

[Justin Cyder]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

You're right, but the market votes with it's feet & it's telling Comet, DSG & all the others that their model has had it's day. Sad but QED.

[goforbroke]

miniman said:

Friend of mine's brother runs a small bookshop in Cornwall somewhere. How can he possibly compete with Amazon?

Well, by holding book signings, talks from writers, by staffing the shop with knowledgeable enthusiasts...

Comet and their big shed competitors have totally failed to adapt to the new world of retail and sadly the loss of jobs for their staff is a direct result of that.

Yesterday I bought a new pair of running trainers. I had recently changed brands and bought some online because they were cheaper but they have turned out to not be right for me.

I went down to the new local running/sports shop in Gosport. I took my old trainers with me, and spoke to the young guy working in there. The whole experience was excellent, He found me a pair of trainers that seem to suit me well and I left a happy customer.

I actually googled the trainers when I got home and found that the price I'd paid was also very competitive compared to the online prices. I will definitely be using them again.