Jessops gone into administration...

[Newc]

Eric Mc said:

And don't forget the tax avoidance sheninigans that are possible for the on-line retailers. This gives them a huge competitive advanatge over the traditional UK based high street store chain.

Well that's not really a function of on-line / off-line. A UK domiciled Amazon competitor would have the same tax profile as a UK chain of stores. And the tax structure of Philip Green's UK high street business is more offshore than on.

[Eric Mc]

Newc said:

Eric Mc said:

And don't forget the tax avoidance sheninigans that are possible for the on-line retailers. This gives them a huge competitive advanatge over the traditional UK based high street store chain.

Well that's not really a function of on-line / off-line. A UK domiciled Amazon competitor would have the same tax profile as a UK chain of stores. And the tax structure of Philip Green's UK high street business is more offshore than on.

It certainly makes things a lot easier for the on-line businesses as they may not even need a retail presence on the UK at all to sell directly to UK customers.

[Sir Bagalot]

crankedup said:

Another internet sales victim. Why would people buy a camera from Jessops at 200 quid if they can buy the same thing fifty quid cheaper on-line. Its simply modern shopping that is continuing to kill traditional retail outlets.

Actually I found Jessops very good on pricing and I would say this was it's downfall. You can't match internet pricing and have a branch network.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The internet is here to stay and unfortunately local councils haven't woken up to this fact. Car parking charges are too much and business rates are crippling stores.

[Grenoble]

Sir Bagalot said:

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The internet is here to stay and unfortunately local councils haven't woken up to this fact. Car parking charges are too much and business rates are crippling stores.

Your forgot landlords with unrealistic expectations who are terrified of correctly valuing their portfolio.

[ALawson]

bicycleshorts said:

Cock. I had a gift voucher for them, given as a wedding present.

My brother has lost "hundreds" apparently. Glad I only got him thirty quids worth for his birthday!

[matt3001]

Newc said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

What's interesting to me is that multi-outlet retailers are getting eaten alive while the likes of John Lewis, with a well-known name but relatively few actual stores, are able to make a killing both in store and online.

Yes, very good point. Maybe JL will go down the route of my Amazon display room idea as their customer base becomes more familiar with online (because the older ones are shuffling off).

JL can be incredibly competitive though, I bought a Panny camera and Samsung LED TV from them and both times they were the same price (within a couple of quid) to richer sounds (TV) and Amazon (camera).

[FiF]

Grenoble said:

Sir Bagalot said:

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The internet is here to stay and unfortunately local councils haven't woken up to this fact. Car parking charges are too much and business rates are crippling stores.

Your forgot landlords with unrealistic expectations who are terrified of correctly valuing their portfolio.

To the list I will also add the public who know the price of everything and the value of nothing, until it's gone.

[djfaulkner]

matt3001 said:

Newc said:

Ozzie Osmond said:

What's interesting to me is that multi-outlet retailers are getting eaten alive while the likes of John Lewis, with a well-known name but relatively few actual stores, are able to make a killing both in store and online.

Yes, very good point. Maybe JL will go down the route of my Amazon display room idea as their customer base becomes more familiar with online (because the older ones are shuffling off).

JL can be incredibly competitive though, I bought a Panny camera and Samsung LED TV from them and both times they were the same price (within a couple of quid) to richer sounds (TV) and Amazon (camera).

A bloke at work recommends buying from JL, he bought a Samsung TV which was slightly more than online but it came with a 3yr warranty at no extra cost which started after the manufactors(sp?) one.

[Oakey]

And in other news, Play.com shuts down it's direct retail business;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-2095...

[Grenoble]

JL are awesome. Not always the cheapest, but excellent value and good service.

[Mermaid]

Grenoble said:

JL are awesome. Not always the cheapest, but excellent value and good service.

The day JL announce losses will be the end of retail as we know it.

[Grenoble]

Mermaid said:

The day JL announce losses will be the end of retail as we know it.

Indeed. Along with the day DFS don't have a sale on, and when WHSmiths don't offer a chocolate bar when buying a newspaper.

[jas xjr]

Ozzie Osmond said:

What's interesting to me is that multi-outlet retailers are getting eaten alive while the likes of John Lewis, with a well-known name but relatively few actual stores, are able to make a killing both in store and online.

Also interesting is argos whose business model looked as dead as a dodo. Then they got themselves organised online, including click-snd-collect, and all has worked out fine.

It's a very patchy economy out there right now.

i understand argos are struggling too

[croyde]

I bought my telly before my current one from JL. It was a while ago so a CRT. I noticed that it was £70 cheaper on line elsewhere after I had bought it so I got back in touch with them and they gave me the difference as a refund.

I suppose there are very few JLs but you could find a Jessops in every High St of every town in the UK.

[Mojocvh]

Sad news indeed. It's all very well online buying but where do you buy your chemicals etc?

[toppstuff]

jas xjr said:

i understand argos are struggling too

Noooo ! Say it is'nt so !

Life will never be the same without the Laminated Book of Dreams.

[Pothole]

I've always found Jessops a bit of a daunting experience. Staff never seemed to want to acknowledge anyone who didn't have as much photography knowledge as them and could be quite offhand and sometimes downright snotty with the amateur. (IME, YMMV)

[Mermaid]

croyde said:

I bought my telly before my current one from JL. It was a while ago so a CRT. I noticed that it was £70 cheaper on line .

As more and more content - take PH's as an example, is on line it is a wonder print magazine survives. Th Ipad was supposed to be the death knell, but I suppose blokes like their magazines.

[Brigand]

Oakey said:

And in other news, Play.com shuts down it's direct retail business;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-2095...

I noticed this some time last year, rather than just ordering the item as usual, I'd have several 'shops' with which to choose my item from, all with wildly differing prices.

PLAY was still in there to order from, way down the list, but its sad to hear that buying direct has gone. PLAY had very good deliveries - in the seven or eight years I've been using them I only had one or two issues with receiving kit. Looking at these new retailers on there many use the dreaded Yodel, which I found to my dismay a few months ago.

[paranoid airbag]

toppstuff said:

Noooo ! Say it is'nt so !

Life will never be the same without the Laminated Book of Dreams.

To catch the tears of joy!