W H Smith v Wilkinsons

98jdougl

Poppy9 wrote: »

I'm in Wales and all bags are now 5p, no such thing as a free bag anymore. I refuse to pay 5p to advertise a store.

According to the news the 5p charge on bags since 1st October has been 100% successful. Not sure how they measure success but I've walked out of Debenhams with a coat and handbag in my arms and I've seen people walking out of M&S with their undies in their arms!

So that means less bags being used so less plastic to landfills so it is a success, that's the whole point of the charge per bag, it's an environmental policy to prevent people using bags when not needed.

Off topic I know, sorry

Poppy9

98jdougl wrote: »

So that means less bags being used so less plastic to landfills so it is a success, that's the whole point of the charge per bag, it's an environmental policy to prevent people using bags when not needed.

Off topic I know, sorry

It's fine for supermarket shopping as most people have been taking their own bags for years as the shop ones are carp but when it comes to impulse buys, like my coat and bag, the shopping bag I keep in my handbag is not big enough so if it hadn't been for the fact I had my car nearby I would probably not have bought the coat and bag if I had been walking back to work.

You would be surprised how resentful everyone is about paying for bags that advertise the store. We were whinging about it in work today. It's not as if we are not green as we've kept a stack of carrier bags in work for years which people help themselves to if they are nipping to supermarket in their lunch hour.

Also I now have to buy bin liners whereas before I used carrier bags:D:D

Drive through McDonalds is fun. When you order a meal they ask if you want a bag. You say no, else it's an extra 5p. Then when you get to the window, the chips are in a brown paper bag, the burger is handed to you separately but the bag is free because chips are classed as loose food.

Kite2010

Alex-Riley. wrote: »

my friend used to work in Smiths she was fired for not offering people the half price tat

I would stop using there if other shops stocked WWE Magazine Smiths is the only place I know that stocks it

Tried getting a subscription?

Would save you money over the year

Alex-Riley.

Kite2010 wrote: »

Tried getting a subscription?

Would save you money over the year

I never thought of that :eek:

System

dreamypuma wrote: »

I'm surprised WHSmiths still exist in this day and age with their tired outdated overpriced shops.

They make most of their cash from train stations and airports where people are desperate and competition is limited. I don't think the actual high street stores do that well

fozmcfc

Our local one has a Post Office inside at the back.When you think about it, it must generate revenue for them.

The other day I went in to get a magazine and generally waste a bit of time walking around.The queue for the Post Office was about 20 - 25 deep and this was a Monday mid afternoon, so not exactly peak time.

Most of course were looking around to relieve the boredom of queuing.

I wonder just how many a day walk out with an item they didn't intend to buy before going in.

j9mcl

Went past WHS yesterday and remembered that I needed some sellotape. I was absolutely shocked that a small roll of sellotape was £2.99!! I thought no way am I paying that and went off to Wilkinsons where they had the exact same roll for 80p.

How they survive I do not know.

jess1974

I have'nt bought anything in WH Smiths for years, i also can't understand how it stays in business, i buy all my childrens stationary in Wilkinsons, another chain that is still in business is Clintons, our local one is always empty since a Card Factory opened across the street from it....

GotToChange

.....stationery.....

I know, pedantic - but seeing it in two separate posts made me twitchy.

I agree re. wondering how WHS stays in business, it must be magazines as there are far cheaper means of acquiring books and Rymans is better value for most stationery and Wilkinsons even better value, unless the stationery is specialist.

Note: I needed a computer headset recently and paid £12.00 in Rymans and then looked in Wilkinsons where similar with equivalent spec was (I think) £9.00. I did get 10% student discount at Rymans though. Even if I had wanted to return it, there was that awful problem of having to destroy the packaging to extract the item.

I also bought a Kodak printer - from Rymans - the other day (although Argos feature them in their catalogue, they never EVER have the best value ones in stock within 40 mile radius - go figure.), good value I think at £59.99 with 10% s/discount off that, Cartridges waaaay cheaper.

DCFC79

OneYorkshireLass wrote: »

I've found Smiths to be inefficient for years.

There's never enough staff at the tills, staff are generally rude, I hate how they ask if you want chocolate/stamps/phone cards when you purchase something, but never ask if you want a bag.

re the chocolate, stamps etc the staff are told to ask that to push sales and i bet they get a mystery shopper and get a good mark if they ask "do you want stamps", yes its annoying but for me its bearable