2020 Retailers in trouble thread

[JxJ Jr.]

iwantagta said:

jakesmith said:

And that chocolate bar at the till is quite a margin driver I can assure you.

Chocolate is no longer offered at the till following the Hugh Fernley documentary thing.

At the store I'm familiar with chocolate isn't offered at the till, it merely forms the queue barriers for the tills.

[Thankyou4calling]

bigpriest said:

Thankyou4calling said:

You’re not going to buy a bar of chocolate, newspaper or biro on line though.

Smiths thrives

I needed a new pen, checked on Amazon and had a new set of uniball eyes the next day. I'd do the same for chocolate / sweets to be honest.

One day someone will post a comment on PH and no one will disagree with it.

One day.

[HTP99]

Roman Rhodes said:

jakesmith said:

Robertj21a said:

kev1974 said:

Got to be time for Five Guys' magic money tree to run out surely? They had something when they were just a handful of branches but now they've opened all over the place and there's hardly anybody in them!

Possibly because there's nothing worth going in for ?

Never understood the hate for this place the food is light years ahead of McDonalds / BK and a million times less s in there and it's not that much more expensive

5 Guys is much more expensive.

Yep, much more, sure it does taste better but it is way, way more expensive and for fast food it just isn't worth the extra, over McDonald's or BK.

I often wonder what place it is supposed to occupy in the market place as in effect it is a fast food joint but it is fast food at near restaurant prices, if I want fast food which is very rare; maybe been caught in town for longer than I wanted or usually after a long flight, I just want cheap and quick, McDonald's or BK is where I head for.

Edited by HTP99 on Friday 3rd January 22:15

[jakesmith]

HTP99 said:

Yep, much more, sure it does taste better but it is way, way more expensive and for fast food it just isn't worth the extra, over McDonald's or BK.

I often wonder what place it is supposed to occupy in the market place as in effect it is a fast food joint but it is fast food at near restaurant prices, if I want fast food which is very rare; maybe been caught in town for longer than I wanted or usually after a long flight, I just want cheap and quick, McDonald's or BK is where I head for.

Edited by HTP99 on Friday 3rd January 22:15

It’s more in % terms but not expensive in pound notes. McDonalds is full of the most appalling chavs on the whole. For a fiver more you get a meal that’s much nicer without prisoners out on day release next to you and serving you. All the ones I’ve been in in Major cities have been full. It’s out in smaller places they aren’t full. I like it.

[bigpriest]

Thankyou4calling said:

bigpriest said:

Thankyou4calling said:

You’re not going to buy a bar of chocolate, newspaper or biro on line though.

Smiths thrives

I needed a new pen, checked on Amazon and had a new set of uniball eyes the next day. I'd do the same for chocolate / sweets to be honest.

One day someone will post a comment on PH and no one will disagree with it.

One day.

I agree, but It would be a very st forum.

[HTP99]

jakesmith said:

HTP99 said:

Yep, much more, sure it does taste better but it is way, way more expensive and for fast food it just isn't worth the extra, over McDonald's or BK.

I often wonder what place it is supposed to occupy in the market place as in effect it is a fast food joint but it is fast food at near restaurant prices, if I want fast food which is very rare; maybe been caught in town for longer than I wanted or usually after a long flight, I just want cheap and quick, McDonald's or BK is where I head for.

Edited by HTP99 on Friday 3rd January 22:15

It’s more in % terms but not expensive in pound notes. McDonalds is full of the most appalling chavs on the whole. For a fiver more you get a meal that’s much nicer without prisoners out on day release next to you and serving you. All the ones I’ve been in in Major cities have been full. It’s out in smaller places they aren’t full. I like it.

McDonald's quarter pounder with cheese meal is less than a fiver, 5 Guys little cheese burger (assuming its a similar size to a quarter pounder), fries and a Coke is £13.75, BK is a bit more than McDonald's but still half the price of 5 Guys.

That is a big difference, irrespective of what type of person frequents each restaurant, that is a big enough difference for me to choose McDonald's over 5 Guys when I just want quick, no nonsense food.

I'm not in the least bit shy when it comes to spending on eating out, however 5 Guys to me is just an expensive fast food place.

[jakesmith]

HTP99 said:

5 Guys to me is just an expensive fast food place.

Think we’re in agreement mate, that’s what I like about it though

[LaurasOtherHalf]

jakesmith said:

HTP99 said:

5 Guys to me is just an expensive fast food place.

Think we’re in agreement mate, that’s what I like about it though

100% that’s what makes it great (plus it is nicer than McDonald’s). In fact I was astounded just how expensive McDonald’s can be for what it is if you’re not just getting a quick 99p whatever.

It may be 100% more expensive but that’s still only a tenner and as long as you can put up with hipsters it’s a way nicer place to be.

[menousername]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

100% that’s what makes it great (plus it is nicer than McDonald’s). In fact I was astounded just how expensive McDonald’s can be for what it is if you’re not just getting a quick 99p whatever.

It may be 100% more expensive but that’s still only a tenner and as long as you can put up with hipsters it’s a way nicer place to be.

Problem with those places is that its actually more like 40 / 50 quid as you usually go in there with a partner or family and it quickly becomes £15/20 per head. MacDonalds is heaving due to people needing a quick fix and families needing cheap “fairly decent” hot food for the kids.

These burger joints should be compared instead to restaurants - they cost similar money to better food in better surroundings. Few times I have eaten in there the food has been average-to-poor

[jakesmith]

menousername said:

Problem with those places is that its actually more like 40 / 50 quid as you usually go in there with a partner or family and it quickly becomes £15/20 per head. MacDonalds is heaving due to people needing a quick fix and families needing cheap “fairly decent” hot food for the kids.

These burger joints should be compared instead to restaurants - they cost similar money to better food in better surroundings. Few times I have eaten in there the food has been average-to-poor

You’re not wrong to be honest, but I have always found the food delicious tbh

[hyphen]

jakesmith said:

menousername said:

Problem with those places is that its actually more like 40 / 50 quid as you usually go in there with a partner or family and it quickly becomes £15/20 per head. MacDonalds is heaving due to people needing a quick fix and families needing cheap “fairly decent” hot food for the kids.

These burger joints should be compared instead to restaurants - they cost similar money to better food in better surroundings. Few times I have eaten in there the food has been average-to-poor

You’re not wrong to be honest, but I have always found the food delicious tbh

How do you find it compares to other high street burger places? Gbk, Byron, shake shack and so on

[jakesmith]

hyphen said:

How do you find it compares to other high street burger places? Gbk, Byron, shake shack and so on

Shake shack is my number 1 by some margin, it’s just the full proposition, crinkle cut fries with cheese and black truffle! And the concretes. I’d go shake shack over 5G 10 times out of 10. Burgers are just delicious. It’s £15 all in. More working lunch, or hungover in Vegas type thing than evening destination and happy to pay more for the lively atmosphere and better food and service.

If I had more time and wanted a sit down meal I’d go to Byron not GBK. Stopped going to gbk when they stopped satay sauce in 2011. These are places I go when I’m out With the lads or family for an informal bite and a few beers perhaps

McD and BK I have 2-3 times a year either when I’m drunk, or at services with the kids. I enjoy it but it’s not in the same class food wise.

So to answer your question my preference is roughly

Shake Shack
Byron
5 Guys
GBK
BK
McD

[Salmonofdoubt]

bigpriest said:

I needed a new pen, checked on Amazon and had a new set of uniball eyes the next day. I'd do the same for chocolate / sweets to be honest.

I think this is massively missing the point.

If I need a new pen it’s usually that I need to write in the very near future, possibly immediately. Unless it’s to be used in a recipe or as a gift any chocolate I feel like buying, especially single bars, will be an impulse purchase.

At WH Smith’s if I pop in to purchase the pen I need now, I may grab a Mars bar as a snack. This is the point of chocolate at the checkout.

The amazon offering may be better value but having a pen and a mars bar delivered tomorrow doesn’t really work as a solution to now needs and wants.

Bricks and mortar doesn’t seem dead just yet. Venture capital seems to be the key factor in most failures not the death of the high street.

[vikingaero]

I find it strange when Vikingette1's friends rave about Five Guys. An overpriced soggy burger and drink aren't good. The only positive is the sharing skin-on fries. i've noticed a couple of Five Guys closed down recently.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

hyphen said:

jakesmith said:

menousername said:

Problem with those places is that its actually more like 40 / 50 quid as you usually go in there with a partner or family and it quickly becomes £15/20 per head. MacDonalds is heaving due to people needing a quick fix and families needing cheap “fairly decent” hot food for the kids.

These burger joints should be compared instead to restaurants - they cost similar money to better food in better surroundings. Few times I have eaten in there the food has been average-to-poor

You’re not wrong to be honest, but I have always found the food delicious tbh

How do you find it compares to other high street burger places? Gbk, Byron, shake shack and so on

£40 or £50? I’d agree at that price but it seems up north I can feed the family for £30-35 at 5G. Not sure what else you’d get for a quick lunch? Happy hour Italian maybe?

We like Chiquitos with the kids too, sit down service more akin to the posh burger joints but that’s around £50 so more expensive again.

We all like 5G food, it has way more taste than McDonald’s or BK and is vastly more substantial so I guess that’s why I’ll defend it-but, I do think it’s price point means it has something to offer.

£ McDonald’s
££ 5G
£££ sit down meal

[Honestherbert]

I love a 5 guys but it is very expensive for what it is. I see it as more as a treat than a maccy d's which is cheap and easy to grab and go. Unfortunately we don't have a shake shack near me, presume it is just london only? But by the time you have got a burger, fries and a drink/shake in 5G you are looking at £15-20 and I can get a decent pub/restaurant meal with a pint for that. I see Gbk as similar to 5G but a little cheaper and Byrons is around the same price but actually feels more like a resaurant than a fast food outlet, I think part of the problem with 5G is it has positioned itself as an alternative to mcd's/BK with a fast food feel/look but without the service/actual restaurant feel for the money as Byrons. Every time I have been to the local 5G there have never been more than 10 people in there, and there are 5-6 staff! I can't see it continuing without lowering its prices to compete with mcd's or BK who are always rammed.

[Robertj21a]

vikingaero said:

I find it strange when Vikingette1's friends rave about Five Guys. An overpriced soggy burger and drink aren't good. The only positive is the sharing skin-on fries. i've noticed a couple of Five Guys closed down recently.

People often believe something is wonderful just because their mates say the same. The fact that it's still overpriced junk food doesn't seem to matter.

[lampchair]

Not looking too bright for your local highstreet vultures BrightHouse.

Shame.

BrightHouse falls to £16m loss in latest quarter

[SydneyBridge]

lampchair said:

Not looking too bright for your local highstreet vultures BrightHouse.

Shame.

BrightHouse falls to £16m loss in latest quarter

Good. The high street does not need companies like that

[Paddymcc]

Calender club

Visited my local shopping centre last night for the first time in months to see that a calender club shop had opened.

Who buys calenders year round? Who even buys enough novelty calenders anyway?