The death of the high street.

[snuffy]

gizlaroc said:

I would rather people ask me than look and just order elsewhere.

I had it the other day, someone looking at a jacket we had in, it was £450, but we knew it would be in the sale after xmas.
I could see him looking on his phone, which means trying to find it at the best price, I said to him "Let me know if you see it cheaper?"
He came back and said "Yeah OK."

Saw him again yesterday and he had the jacket on.
I said "You should have said, I would have done you a deal on it."
"Yeah but I got £150 off it, so didn't like to ask."

I was going to offer him it for £250, it was my last one, and an XL so just wanted it gone.

I had this type of thing not long ago when I bought a new suit. I liked the look of one in the shop window so I trotted in. But they did not have my size (or rather the cut was not to my figure). "How about this one sir ?" said the chap "hmm, well..." I replied "Is it more than you were looking to pay?" he said "well, yes it is.". "Let me see what I can do then". Off he taps on his screen, fiddles around with various "manager discounts" and comes up with a new figure "How does that sound ?" he said. "Sounds fine, I will take it".

[HOGEPH]

I intend to spend 2019 doing as little shopping away from my sofa as possible.

[saaby93]

gizlaroc said:

I would rather people ask me than look and just order elsewhere.

I had it the other day, someone looking at a jacket we had in, it was £450, but we knew it would be in the sale after xmas.
I could see him looking on his phone, which means trying to find it at the best price, I said to him "Let me know if you see it cheaper?"
He came back and said "Yeah OK."

Saw him again yesterday and he had the jacket on.
I said "You should have said, I would have done you a deal on it."
"Yeah but I got £150 off it, so didn't like to ask."

I was going to offer him it for £250, it was my last one, and an XL so just wanted it gone.

well why didnt you tell him that

[Clockwork Cupcake]

snuffy said:

I had this type of thing not long ago when I bought a new suit. I liked the look of one in the shop window so I trotted in. But they did not have my size (or rather the cut was not to my figure). "How about this one sir ?" said the chap "hmm, well..." I replied "Is it more than you were looking to pay?" he said "well, yes it is.". "Let me see what I can do then". Off he taps on his screen, fiddles around with various "manager discounts" and comes up with a new figure "How does that sound ?" he said. "Sounds fine, I will take it".

Ooh! Suits YOU, sir! Radiant! Radiant, sir.

[oyster]

Carrot said:

My little first-world tale of woe here.

I really dislike the public in general, and hate "going shopping". As a result, I rarely set foot in a town or city centre or supermarket without a very specific and targeted reason.

This year, Mrs Carrot wanted a christmas present that is only available from a well known catalogue shop. Normally, this catalogue shop delivers to my door for around £4. Bargain. However for some reason, they would not deliver this item at this time, but it is available in store.

As a result, I had to go to a very large supermarket which was 10 miles away, faff around trying to park, walk in through the hoards of people that don't appear to have a fking clue where they are going and randomly change direction like a flock of panicking birds. I then had to queue for 15 minutes whilst some fat tracksuited chav at the front of the queue argued with the only member of staff on the checkout about her apparently broken laptop, even though it was obvious there was nothing wrong with it and she just didn't like Windows 10 (which I can partly understand )

I got to the front of the queue, paid then had to wait another 10 minutes for my order to be ready. Back in the car, fight my way out the blithering idiots that can't understand the one way system in the car park, back home.

Whole thing took an hour out of my life. Again, yes yes I know first world problems and all that. However if this store had been delivery only, I could have avoided all this for £4, and had a pleasant hour at home doing whatever I wanted to do, and avoiding fat chavs.

Bring on the death of all walk in retail - I will fully embrace it.

What about the millions employed in it?

Is it ok to have their lives decimated because you are too much of a recluse who can't even handle human contact (other than through a website)?

[untakenname]

Feel sorry for anyone working in retail this time of year, having to listen to the same dozen Christmas songs on repeat.

I've only been shopping on the high street twice this year, once in Bromley where it seemed to be full of slovenly slow walking people that should have been working (went on a weekday afternoon as had day off). There's now a market running through the main high street selling food that smells and making crossing from one side of the street to the other a chore.

Other time was in Croydon where I decided I'd get off the train and try and buy a RCA cable for my car, the whole place just felt unsafe, there was police tape around a bench.

[snuffy]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Ooh! Suits YOU, sir! Radiant! Radiant, sir.

Resplendent !

[gizlaroc]

saaby93 said:

Well why didnt you tell him that

He actually said at the time "I'm not buying at moment, I was just seeing if that was like to one I had seen on their website. Nice jacket."

That was when I said, well if you want it let me know and I will do you a proper deal.

I think a lot of the time people are just browsing, some of the price points are not prices that many can just grab as they like it. I reckon more often than not with prices over £200 odd, people come in and say "I say that xxxx the other day and think I need to try it on again as I really liked it."

There is a fine line between being laid back and being pushy and making yourself seem like all you care about is the sale here and now.

[gizlaroc]

gizlaroc said:

saaby93 said:

Well why didnt you tell him that

He actually said at the time "I'm not buying at moment, I was just seeing if that was like to one I had seen on their website. Nice jacket."

That was when I said, well if you want it let me know and I will do you a proper deal.

I think a lot of the time people are just browsing, some of the price points are not prices that many can just grab as they like it. I reckon more often than not with prices over £200 odd, people come in and say "I saw that xxxx the other day and think I need to try it on again as I really liked it."

There is a fine line between being laid back and being pushy and making yourself seem like all you care about is the sale here and now.

[gizlaroc]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Ooh! Suits YOU, sir! Radiant! Radiant, sir.

[saaby93]

gizlaroc said:

saaby93 said:

Well why didnt you tell him that

He actually said at the time "I'm not buying at moment, I was just seeing if that was like to one I had seen on their website. Nice jacket."

That was when I said, well if you want it let me know and I will do you a proper deal.

I think a lot of the time people are just browsing, some of the price points are not prices that many can just grab as they like it. I reckon more often than not with prices over £200 odd, people come in and say "I say that xxxx the other day and think I need to try it on again as I really liked it."

There is a fine line between being laid back and being pushy and making yourself seem like all you care about is the sale here and now.

I know

It's interesting selling to a price point

[Burwood]

Biker 1 said:

Burwood said:

I hate shopping. If we go away for a weekend she must do her afternoon shopping/looking around the shops. I really hate it. It's torture. Maybe HOF will install a movie theatre

Exactly this. Couldn't the bloody women's clothes/shoe shops install 'quiet spaces' with a subsidised bar & Chesterfield sofa?

The problem is, she’ll take 10 things into the changing rooms and expect me to stand outside and score each outfit. I’m full of praise on the first 2. Honestly, I try not to try clothes on. Last 4 or 5 cars I’ve purchased, I didn’t test drive them either . Only 1 was used but it was only 18 months old and from a main dealer.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Burwood said:

The problem is, she’ll take 10 things into the changing rooms and expect me to stand outside and score each outfit. I’m full of praise on the first 2. Honestly, I try not to try clothes on. Last 4 or 5 cars I’ve purchased, I didn’t test drive them either . Only 1 was used but it was only 18 months old and from a main dealer.

I don't really see the point of asking the opinion of a person who doesn't care and doesn't want to be there, personally. It's one of the reasons I prefer to either shop on my own or shop with girl friends.

Mind you, the latter can get expensive as we tend to tell each other "ooh that is so you! Buy it!" whereas when on my own I'd probably um & ah for ages and then leave it.

Edit: For the avoidance of doubt, I was sympathising with you, not criticising you.

Edited by Clockwork Cupcake on Tuesday 18th December 14:02

[Carrot]

oyster said:

Carrot said:

My little first-world tale of woe here.

I really dislike the public in general, and hate "going shopping". As a result, I rarely set foot in a town or city centre or supermarket without a very specific and targeted reason.

This year, Mrs Carrot wanted a christmas present that is only available from a well known catalogue shop. Normally, this catalogue shop delivers to my door for around £4. Bargain. However for some reason, they would not deliver this item at this time, but it is available in store.

As a result, I had to go to a very large supermarket which was 10 miles away, faff around trying to park, walk in through the hoards of people that don't appear to have a fking clue where they are going and randomly change direction like a flock of panicking birds. I then had to queue for 15 minutes whilst some fat tracksuited chav at the front of the queue argued with the only member of staff on the checkout about her apparently broken laptop, even though it was obvious there was nothing wrong with it and she just didn't like Windows 10 (which I can partly understand )

I got to the front of the queue, paid then had to wait another 10 minutes for my order to be ready. Back in the car, fight my way out the blithering idiots that can't understand the one way system in the car park, back home.

Whole thing took an hour out of my life. Again, yes yes I know first world problems and all that. However if this store had been delivery only, I could have avoided all this for £4, and had a pleasant hour at home doing whatever I wanted to do, and avoiding fat chavs.

Bring on the death of all walk in retail - I will fully embrace it.

What about the millions employed in it?

Is it ok to have their lives decimated because you are too much of a recluse who can't even handle human contact (other than through a website)?

Hardly a recluse, I have many hobbies, interests and group meets. I just don't see the point in "going shopping" and milling about with retards.

If people are taking up jobs without much forward thinking, that is their problem. I certainly wouldn't have much interest in finding a job as a general retail bod / truck driver / train driver / estate agent as a forward thinking long term employment measure...

Are you a VCR repairman by chance?

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Carrot said:

Hardly a recluse, I have many hobbies, interests and group meets. I just don't see the point in "going shopping" and milling about with retards.

I get that you don't like "going shopping", and that's fine. But I think it is rather out of order to call those who do "retards".

[Brave Fart]

Carrot sounds to me like a gentleman with good judgement and taste. Perhaps "retards" is a little strong, unless he's referring to Asda in Southampton, in which case it is actually being polite.
People wondering why high street shopping is dying a death; here's my thoughts:

• impossible traffic to get to any town centre, and laughable parking charges when you eventually get there
• drunks, druggies, beggars and chavs everywhere (spice zombies perhaps)
• it's either cold, raining or sweltering unless you go to an indoor mall, in which case you get.............
• the same fking Xmas songs on the p.a. system EVERY fkING YEAR
• the shops never have the stock you want - 38" waist? Sorry Sir. Size 11 shoes? No chance.
• useless sales staff that don't know their products and don't care anyway (Gizlaroc an honourable exception)
• prices that don't match the online price..."but your own website has it for £50 less"....."we can't offer that in store Sir."
• depressing surroundings consisting of charity shops, Cash Converters and games arcades (I'm looking at you Fareham)
• filthy streets awash with litter and fag butts (Southampton)
• stupid pretend German markets - the real thing is great, ours are pathetic (Winchester)
• more traffic when you give up and decide to battle your way home

Once home you settle into a comfy chair, and order online like you should have done to begin with. The High Street will be forced to change, hopefully for the better but there'll be pain before gain.
And yes, I am no fun at all at parties. Humbug!

[Red 4]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Carrot said:

Hardly a recluse, I have many hobbies, interests and group meets. I just don't see the point in "going shopping" and milling about with retards.

I get that you don't like "going shopping", and that's fine. But I think it is rather out of order to call those who do "retards".

I don't.

I ran the gauntlet yesterday for some Xmas shopping.

Shop 1 - Busy. Long queue at the tills. All stood there in their own little world.
Come time to pay they can't find their purse/ debit/ credit card.
Yeah, you've only been stood there for 10 minutes fking daydreaming you fking morons.
Did you think payment was optional ?

Shop 2 - Card shop. Necessary to spend time in the narrow aisles with other shoppers.
Some smell. Some stand next to you constantly sniffing. Some are rude and try to push past/ stand in front of you. One attacked me with her mobility scooter.

Bank - Some fking gimp wanting to discuss football with the teller. Queue was out the door. Nobody gives a st - if you want to talk football then go down the pub with your mates.
wker.

Car park - Carnage. Elderly drivers and people who still think they are in the shops and have zero awareness of anything happening around them don't mix.

Yup. Retards. And lots of them.

[eldar]

Yes. Mobility scooters. They are getting much bigger, much like their cargoes.

Looking more like an obese sperm whale on a low loader filling entire aisles and crushing those too slow to a paste.

[So]

gizlaroc said:

saaby93 said:

Well why didnt you tell him that

He actually said at the time "I'm not buying at moment, I was just seeing if that was like to one I had seen on their website. Nice jacket."

That was when I said, well if you want it let me know and I will do you a proper deal.

I think a lot of the time people are just browsing, some of the price points are not prices that many can just grab as they like it. I reckon more often than not with prices over £200 odd, people come in and say "I say that xxxx the other day and think I need to try it on again as I really liked it."

There is a fine line between being laid back and being pushy and making yourself seem like all you care about is the sale here and now.

In that particular circumstance could you have said, "go away and think about it. But I'll put it to one side for you until tomorrow and you can have it for £250 if you come back"? He's have thought you a bloody nice chap, would probably have bought the coat and would likely have come back next time he wanted something.

[gizlaroc]

Brave Fart said:

• the shops never have the stock you want - 38" waist? Sorry Sir. Size 11 shoes? No chance.

I'm amazed how many shops don't stock the right sizes.

Our best selling sizes are in order....

36", 34", 38", 32" then we sell more 40 and 42" than we do 30 or 28".

Best selling leg length is now short, which many shops don't even bother with, considering short is now around a 30-30.5" inside leg it seems crazy not to stock these. Most people up to 5'11" will find a short fits far better than a reg at 32-32.5" inside leg.
We still stock long 34-35" inside leg in 32, 34, 36 and 38 waist as well.

Best selling mens shoe sizes for us in order are....
43, 44, 42, 45, 46, 41, and a size 40 and 47 occasionally.

I would guess 75% of sales are on 42, 43 and 44, then then 20% on 45 and 41's with a very few on 46, 47 and 40s.
But you have to stock those sizes, if you get known for stocking them those guys are loyal.

Same with Shirts, M and L, so 15.5 and 16.5", are 70 of our business, with 17.5 or XL taking the next 20% or more with XXL taking probably 9% of the XXL, XXXL and S business.