Bye bye High St
Discussion
Earlier in the year I was talking to a friend who bought pretty much everything online, he even bought clothes online that were sent to him and if he wasn't happy he just sent it back in the prepaid box and his money is refunded (matchesfashion), I said I was happy sticking to going into shops and buying things that way. Until now. Yesteday I bought a bag from a high street store, not a chain but they have about 10 stores, and when I got it home Mrs Petrus wasn't happy - so I conceded and went to return it not thinking it would be much of an issue. "We don't do returns" - after a bit they allowed me to atleast have a credit note (not overly helpful as there's nothing else I really want in there). Bottom line, if I'd bought the same product at the same price/less online I'd be able to easily return it and get my money back.
Thing is, the shop have done nothing wrong, you bought an item & thats the end of it.
Problem is with Distance selling regs & big chains allowing returns has changed peoples perspective. No I'm not in retail & I'm not saying it's all bad but give the smaller retailers a break, they don't have the same agreements with vendors etc to return goods that can no longer be sold as new.
Problem is with Distance selling regs & big chains allowing returns has changed peoples perspective. No I'm not in retail & I'm not saying it's all bad but give the smaller retailers a break, they don't have the same agreements with vendors etc to return goods that can no longer be sold as new.
It's a tricky one for sure.
My last Amazon order was for three items, total of £30, ordered Thursday, delivered Sunday and that was with regular Amazon free delivery.
The high street would have cost more, taken longer and I would have had to use three separate stores so probably make three journeys as they weren't items you'd be able to get anywhere in the town where I live.
I'd love to support my local high street but short of burning pound notes it's impossible other than for things where the price is always the price (Apple leap to mind), fruit and veg, and other perishable goods.
My last Amazon order was for three items, total of £30, ordered Thursday, delivered Sunday and that was with regular Amazon free delivery.
The high street would have cost more, taken longer and I would have had to use three separate stores so probably make three journeys as they weren't items you'd be able to get anywhere in the town where I live.
I'd love to support my local high street but short of burning pound notes it's impossible other than for things where the price is always the price (Apple leap to mind), fruit and veg, and other perishable goods.
LordHaveMurci said:
Thing is, the shop have done nothing wrong, you bought an item & thats the end of it.
I'm not saying they've broken any rules, but these days we all have many options, for me it was to certainly support the high street shops so far as possible. My opinion on this one is that their lack of flexibility will stop me from buying from them in the future (I spend circa £500 a year there). I'll still use greengrocers and butchers etc as much as possible where returning something is never an option.Petrus1983 said:
... Until now. Yesteday I bought a bag from a high street store...
..."We don't do returns" - after a bit they allowed me to atleast have a credit note (not overly helpful as there's nothing else I really want in there)...
..."We don't do returns" - after a bit they allowed me to atleast have a credit note (not overly helpful as there's nothing else I really want in there)...
Petrus1983 said:
... My opinion on this one is that their lack of flexibility will stop me from buying from them in the future (I spend circa £500 a year there)...
Expensive bags!
this bag was £475 so is perfectly priced to be converted into a suit in the sales with my new store credit 
Not giving refunds is very common in smaller retailers, partly because it stops people taking the pi$$ (customers buying stuff then using it/wearing it then trying to get a refund the next day) and it keeps the money in the business. Rest assured, small retail companies need to keep hold of their cash
Even bigger retailers are changing their rules; Superdry, Office, Size?, Lacoste - none of these stores offer refunds. Store credit/exchange, no problem.
Even bigger retailers are changing their rules; Superdry, Office, Size?, Lacoste - none of these stores offer refunds. Store credit/exchange, no problem.
Our local city council have made it very clear over the last 10 years they don't want my business. They've closed car parks, increased parking costs, modified traffic flow for maximum queues and done nothing to improve public transport from surrounding villages.
I accept they've won. I don't go there anymore even though it's only 5 miles away. I buy as much as possible online and occasionally go to another town 20 miles away.
I accept they've won. I don't go there anymore even though it's only 5 miles away. I buy as much as possible online and occasionally go to another town 20 miles away.
alock said:
Our local city council have made it very clear over the last 10 years they don't want my business. They've closed car parks, increased parking costs, modified traffic flow for maximum queues and done nothing to improve public transport from surrounding villages.
I accept they've won. I don't go there anymore even though it's only 5 miles away. I buy as much as possible online and occasionally go to another town 20 miles away.
You might consider laying some blame at the door of the local 'retail development group' or whatever title they may use!I accept they've won. I don't go there anymore even though it's only 5 miles away. I buy as much as possible online and occasionally go to another town 20 miles away.
Hard to imagine a City Council being allowed to do so much damage unaided tbh. Which City are you referring to?
The real issue I have with internet shopping is the delivery itself. It might be here today, maybe tomorrow. At some time between 8am and 6pm. Sure, you can occasionally pay for a two hour window, but not many retailers offer that.
The solution seems to be having the item delivered to the nearest participating Argos store and collecting it from there - which seems to have a whiff of irony about it.
The solution seems to be having the item delivered to the nearest participating Argos store and collecting it from there - which seems to have a whiff of irony about it.
I generally buy stuff with free same day delivery using Amazon prime, if I'm not in then they always just chuck it in the front porch or try again the next day.
I avoid the high street like a plague these days, have only been once this year and that was due to needing a piece of electronics equipment urgently so went to maplin, I didnt mind the truely astonomical (20x the price of online) markup as it was still only a few quid.
I'm probably quite insulated from the general public in life as I commute in during peak rush hour from Kent into Zone 2 on either thr train or by bike and so the quality of the people I see is higher usual but its always an eye opener walking down the high street midweek in the day, so much obesity on display and just general Minter's.
I went to to the Maplin in Croydon and felt very unsafe, packs of delinquents just roaming around and no police in sight
I avoid the high street like a plague these days, have only been once this year and that was due to needing a piece of electronics equipment urgently so went to maplin, I didnt mind the truely astonomical (20x the price of online) markup as it was still only a few quid.
I'm probably quite insulated from the general public in life as I commute in during peak rush hour from Kent into Zone 2 on either thr train or by bike and so the quality of the people I see is higher usual but its always an eye opener walking down the high street midweek in the day, so much obesity on display and just general Minter's.
I went to to the Maplin in Croydon and felt very unsafe, packs of delinquents just roaming around and no police in sight
alock said:
Our local city council have made it very clear over the last 10 years they don't want my business. They've closed car parks, increased parking costs, modified traffic flow for maximum queues and done nothing to improve public transport from surrounding villages.
I accept they've won. I don't go there anymore even though it's only 5 miles away. I buy as much as possible online and occasionally go to another town 20 miles away.
Is Cambridge your nearest city, by any chance?I accept they've won. I don't go there anymore even though it's only 5 miles away. I buy as much as possible online and occasionally go to another town 20 miles away.
Europa1 said:
alock said:
Our local city council have made it very clear over the last 10 years they don't want my business. They've closed car parks, increased parking costs, modified traffic flow for maximum queues and done nothing to improve public transport from surrounding villages.
I accept they've won. I don't go there anymore even though it's only 5 miles away. I buy as much as possible online and occasionally go to another town 20 miles away.
Is Cambridge your nearest city, by any chance?I accept they've won. I don't go there anymore even though it's only 5 miles away. I buy as much as possible online and occasionally go to another town 20 miles away.
I offer vintage car occasion hire but refuse any work that involves Cambridge City owing to the roads access.
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