The "Credit Crunch" and you? - Page 23

Mark · 06-12-2008, 14:40

In the majority of Argos stores it's essentially a warehouse operation with a glorified counter and a few shelves of display stock. The result is they can stock a lot of stuff in a lot less space than it would take with a traditional store, so providing the cost of printing all those millions of catalogues isn't too high then overheads per product should be lower, and thus margin should be higher (assuming similar prices).

Of course, if you're going to have to shop from a catalogue anyway then you might as well do it online (where overheads are even lower). However, Argos does undoubtedly have its advantages (both for those who don't want to/can't shop online, and in the case where you might want to return goods).

I don't know how they're doing business-wise. Probably not so well like everyone else, so who knows.

Nutcase · 27-12-2008, 20:01

Spent £30 in woolies today. Had in the window 8 days til it shuts.

Pretty much everything is 50% off RRP now, but some stuff is even less. Got a 6 pack of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/279-394788...%20in%20Colour

with 1 of the discs missing for a fiver. The missing one just cost me under £3 off amazon. Also picked up a dire straits dvd, police dvd, 3 decent greatest hits (tom petty, deacon blue, elo) and a few other bits.

Staff are looking a lot more miserable than last time I was in there. Feel sorry for them, but not the head office management.

cheets · 27-12-2008, 20:40

Went in WH Smiths today had £20 giftcard to spend, games and dvd wise it was pot, Fallout 3 Mirrors Edge and Dead Space had a tag of £44, mum bought the card of my and she got some books, talk of WH going bust.

Mark · 04-01-2009, 19:18

I've got a £10 giftcard from there. I'd best use it pronto if that's the case. Will look this week. Wouldn't surprise me either as like Woolies they've rather lost their identity over the years.

Nutcase · 04-01-2009, 21:38

Wouldn't suprise me either. Especially as the local one now has not only a coffee shop in it (why?!), a mobile phone shop, but also the "main" post office. Very little smiths actually left!

Knipples · 04-01-2009, 22:08

I tried to buy "The Clone wars" for my Brothers birthday tomorrow in there today, it was out of stock. Its hardly an old dvd.
They didnt seem to have a whole lot of stock in there in general to be honest.

Mark · 04-01-2009, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutcase

local one now has not only a coffee shop in it (why?!)

Because it's the "done thing". Borders and Waterstones do this, so WH Smith just had to jump on the bandwagon too, didn't they. Our local Borders also has a Game store inside it.

Beansprout · 04-01-2009, 22:57

Aye...Waterstones partnering with Costa (I think) was an ingenious move....generally reasonably quiet places to sit down and work / read a book

Beansprout · 04-01-2009, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitten

I think it was ingenious when Borders, and Barnes and Noble did it, Waterstones just took a good idea and utilised it to their advantage. Jolly good idea too, might I add.

When I was younger I always fancied that one day I'd open a book/coffee shop , now it's just another idea that's not really do-able due to the big competition.

I never realised Borders existed over here until recently, for me Waterstones has always been the de-factor bookshop o.o

Beansprout · 04-01-2009, 23:20

Strange world eh, I've never seen a Borders over here until a few months ago in Bournemouth where we went to Starbucks to use the wifi while others went looking for books

04-01-2009, 22:57	#228
Beansprout Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 488	Aye...Waterstones partnering with Costa (I think) was an ingenious move....generally reasonably quiet places to sit down and work / read a book __________________ Uploader Cartoons World Wind

04-01-2009, 23:20	#230
Beansprout Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 488	Strange world eh, I've never seen a Borders over here until a few months ago in Bournemouth where we went to Starbucks to use the wifi while others went looking for books __________________ Uploader Cartoons World Wind

06-12-2008, 14:40	#221
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	In the majority of Argos stores it's essentially a warehouse operation with a glorified counter and a few shelves of display stock. The result is they can stock a lot of stuff in a lot less space than it would take with a traditional store, so providing the cost of printing all those millions of catalogues isn't too high then overheads per product should be lower, and thus margin should be higher (assuming similar prices). Of course, if you're going to have to shop from a catalogue anyway then you might as well do it online (where overheads are even lower). However, Argos does undoubtedly have its advantages (both for those who don't want to/can't shop online, and in the case where you might want to return goods). I don't know how they're doing business-wise. Probably not so well like everyone else, so who knows.

27-12-2008, 20:01	#222
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	Spent £30 in woolies today. Had in the window 8 days til it shuts. Pretty much everything is 50% off RRP now, but some stuff is even less. Got a 6 pack of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/279-394788...%20in%20Colour with 1 of the discs missing for a fiver. The missing one just cost me under £3 off amazon. Also picked up a dire straits dvd, police dvd, 3 decent greatest hits (tom petty, deacon blue, elo) and a few other bits. Staff are looking a lot more miserable than last time I was in there. Feel sorry for them, but not the head office management.

27-12-2008, 20:40	#223
cheets Long Island Iced Tea Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 442	Went in WH Smiths today had £20 giftcard to spend, games and dvd wise it was pot, Fallout 3 Mirrors Edge and Dead Space had a tag of £44, mum bought the card of my and she got some books, talk of WH going bust.

04-01-2009, 19:18	#224
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I've got a £10 giftcard from there. I'd best use it pronto if that's the case. Will look this week. Wouldn't surprise me either as like Woolies they've rather lost their identity over the years.

04-01-2009, 21:38	#225
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	Wouldn't suprise me either. Especially as the local one now has not only a coffee shop in it (why?!), a mobile phone shop, but also the "main" post office. Very little smiths actually left!

04-01-2009, 22:08	#226
Knipples nipples lol (o)(o) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Brissle!!! Posts: 4,947	I tried to buy "The Clone wars" for my Brothers birthday tomorrow in there today, it was out of stock. Its hardly an old dvd. They didnt seem to have a whole lot of stock in there in general to be honest.