Boyes store

olias

Anyone know whats happening to Boyes? (northern and eastern chain of small department stores for those that don't have them.)

Our local store has been refusing to accept debit and credit cards for at least a month. It's cash only, not sure whether this is chain wide. They claim its a 'problem with the machines'. This doesn't ring true, as they are a largish chain of 44 stores and I can't imagine that it would take any company over a month to sort out a simple problem with chip and pin machines, particularly leading up to christmas - it is losing them a lot of business. I have a suspicion that they have a cashflow/banking/credit problem. Their website has never been the best, but now theres next to nothing on it. No special offers, and nothing whatsoever about christmas, also no way to contact them online.

Just wondered if anyone else knows anything, or whether other stores are now cash only?

They don't exactly sell expensive items, so no real dramas if they do go under, though you obviously won't be able to take back anything faulty etc if they do go....

Olias

Starrystarrynight

I haven't heard anything, but it'd be a shame if they went out of business. I remember them all the way back to my childhood.
I do remember they were one of the last shops I knew to take debit cards. Maybe they just can't afford the fees anymore.

munchings-n-crunchings

I was shopping in my local Boyes in North Notts yesterday, and paid for my goods by debit card, so appears to be ok here :-)
I was pretty impressed with some of their winter special offers.

olias

Hope they don't go under as I live in the sticks and its the only place nearby I can get pretty much anything from! And cheap!

Olias

The_ICT_Engineer

They only just open a store here in August, And it still take cards.

Had a look at Companies House, Everything looks ok, Accounts filed on time,
Last return was only 6 months ago.

savemoney

Not sure why but I dont think they will be going under they doing quite well from what I hear and have been expanding there warehouse as the company is based in my home town. They are a family company and well respected for what they do in community. Maybe its just an issue with local store

They do sell cheap stuff but not all of it is tat you can get some real bargains well you can at my store especially when they have a sale people come from miles around

NBLondon

Blimey! I didn't know they were still going (a lot of my childhood clothes came from the one in Hull). Are they suffering competition from Primark, TK Maxx, TJ Hughes ? One possibility is that if they are a family concern, there may be internal arguments that stop them updating IT or do they have a not the best deal form their bankers.

Pegasus1976

This is my first post, but thought I should join to let you know all is good with Boyes and their cashflow! I have been happily shopping at their stores for over 30 years and know some of the staff well. I rang their head office in Scarborough and was assured that their trading position was stronger than ever and they said that in total there are just 4 cash only tills across their stores. The problems may have been down to telecoms as all cards rely on phone links.

Sorry it’s a bit long-winded but I got such a shock reading the post that I wanted everyone to know that all is good. I also did a bit of research myself but can't post the links as I'm new to this. The granthamjournal and thescarborough news have recent and very positive stories about the firm if you get the chance to look.

Long live the family business, particularly those that offer such an extensive range of goods at great prices!!

olias

I'm guessing you are actually a member of Boyes management, offering a suspiciously precise and well worded first posting praising the store and assuring that all is well. In that cas you will be aware of which store I am referring to. I can't believe when a phone line can be put in in 24 hours, that a simple telecoms fault can lead to an entire department store being unable to accept debit and credit cards and being cash only for weeks and weeks on end, particularly in this important period of run up to christmas. The store is losing customer after customer as people reach the tills only to be told they must pay cash only, leaving most no option but to abandon their shopping and leave (how many people have sizeable amounts of ready cash in their wallets or purse these days?)

I can only assume from your vociferous defensive posting, that I am correct, and the store is indeed in trouble.

Olias

Pegasus1976

I do not work for Boyes, nor do I know which store you are referring to. I only visit those in the north yorkshire area and have not come across such a fault. My reply was based on the resonse I got after contacting their head office. It does sound odd, have you tried contacting head office?

McKneff

I find it difficult to believe that they would tell a member of the public who randomly rang up the state of their finances to be honest.