Vent - HMV sale

BlueAngelCV

dreamypuma wrote: »

I'll be sad if WHSmiths doesn't go before HMV

I'd say WHS was one to stay because there aren't really any similar shops out there.

I use it a lot for their variety of magazines and stationery.

trumpton

It is hard for HMV to compete with the likes of Amazon and the supermarkets, but they haven't done themselves any favours recently with endless fake sales and loads of price manipulation - the same dvd can be 3 different prices in the same shop. As an earlier poster said, they should be making sure they keep up with Asda and Tesco on prices and looking to be the No 1 retailer for cds and dvs now that Zavvi have gone.

It would be a shame if they went under as it just leaves us with less choice, but I wouldn't be surprised.

petecarter

BlueAngelCV wrote: »

I'd say WHS was one to stay because there aren't really any similar shops out there.

I use it a lot for their variety of magazines and stationery.

I used to work at WHSmith, and believe me, they deserve to go under (their internal processes and systems are way behind). There arent similar shops because theyre not really necessary. Woolies was similar to Smiths and it didnt save them.

trumpton

I can only think that WHS own many of the sites they have, because otherwise surely they would have gone under by now. You can get the occasional bargain but mostly they are massively uncompetitive on prices on everything, dvds, cd, video games especially. You would think that with their buying power they could sell a new dvd for £10 on the initial release like Tesco or Asda do, but no, it will be £18.

petecarter

They do have a lot of property, but I think theyre selling it off slowly but surely to keep things ticking over. Oh well!

reehsetin

petecarter wrote: »

I used to work at WHSmith, and believe me, they deserve to go under (their internal processes and systems are way behind). There arent similar shops because theyre not really necessary. Woolies was similar to Smiths and it didnt save them.

definitely agree! they are way overpriced, there's nothing there you can't get at wilkinsons/ pound shops/ supermarkets for half the price!

only thing that they're relatively unique and needed for is school books!

penrhyn

I don't know anyone under 30 that buys physical media these days, perhaps the odd DVD box set.

Most download, legally or otherwise.

bap98189

BlueAngelCV wrote: »

I'd say WHS was one to stay because there aren't really any similar shops out there.

I doubt WHS will go bust, but they may well start to disappear from the high-street and end up only having smaller shops in stations, airports etc.

chris024

I hardly ever by anything from HMV. I find it well overpriced.

I do expect to pay a bit more than internet shopping sites for the luxury of getting a DVD or CD there and then. But when they add like two thirds of the price on top of what Amazon/Play charges it is way too much of a rip off.

It is a shame that they don't do a reserve online and pick up in store the same day at HMV online prices. Like some other retailers do.

petecarter

bap98189 wrote: »

I doubt WHS will go bust, but they may well start to disappear from the high-street and end up only having smaller shops in stations, airports etc.

A lot of the travel stores are franchised. So yes, I think this may the way forward. If you want to open a newsagents, you approach WHSmith for a franchise license to give you a bit of brand recognition.