Bulletguy Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 Anyone noticed the savings which can be made by shopping from the pc instead of going to the actual shop itself? I recently bought a camera from Jessops and got charged the full whack...£250. When I said to the girl it's £240, she said that's only if you order online. I told her I was tempted to go back home, place an order and save myself a tenner! Googling around for the best price on a book I wanted I found WH Smiths came up with the best price.....£8.00 instead of the rrp of £12.99. Been into Smiths today only to find that they have the book, but it's for sale at £12.99. The £8.00 price is their online store only which is where i've now ordered from. Personally I think it's blatant discrimination as not everyone either has access to a pc or even knows how to use one, but how long will it be before town centre shops become a thing of the past? I suspect it's not so far off given the massive rates and overheads they pay.
Mel B Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 Where you have you been living for the last 10 years??? There's nothing new about this at all. :-S The shops are still there as many people refuse point blank to buy stuff off the web and, once you've factored in postage and delivery costs, it doesn't always work out cheap. I buy stuff of the web but I also still frequent shops to buy stuff there too.
Klyne Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 Its a much cheaper operation to sell direct online than to open a shop and staff it with people! However that does not really explain why the same organisation would have two prices, particularly if you can order online at the reduced price and pick up in store! David
Mel B Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 But it does ... holding stock can be expensive, especially in retail outlets themselves in high streets with a limited storage facility, whereas holding it in a warehouse in a 'cheaper' area can keep the costs to a minimum. By shipping the goods to the store to be collected, they don't have to store them there until they are sold and the goods to be collected tend not to be there very long. Ordering on-line means you do the 'paperwork' in effect yourself, so saving them having to have staff to do it for you, as the charging is automated there's no need for additional card readers and equipment in the store. By having the facilty to purchase on-line at a better price, it competes with other on-line suppliers and hopefully gains that business, which it may not otherwise get.
Big Momma Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 Mel B - 2010-11-22 6:36 PM once you've factored in postage and delivery costs, it doesn't always work out cheap. I use Amazon quite a lot for different products and get free postage and delivery. Last Wednesday evening I ordered the OH's Crimbo presents, gift wrapped as well. On Thursday I received an Email saying thay they had been dispatched and on Friday they were delivered. Now had I not have had this facility I would not have liked to have had to go into town on saturday, 20-25 minute drive, find a parking space, trawl around the shops, carry the items back to the car, pay for the car park and then 20-25 minute drive back and also have to wrap them, and Oh yes, it was wet, windy and cold Brrrrrrrr :-( 10 minutes on the PC sat in the warm and all done :D Still need high street shops...............................really ???????? *-)
Big Momma Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 Big Momma - 2010-11-22 8:13 PM Mel B - 2010-11-22 6:36 PM once you've factored in postage and delivery costs, it doesn't always work out cheap. I use Amazon quite a lot for different products and get free postage and delivery. Last Wednesday evening I ordered the OH's Crimbo presents, gift wrapped as well. On Thursday I received an Email saying thay they had been dispatched and on Friday they were delivered. Now had I not have had this facility I would not have liked to have had to go into town on saturday, 20-25 minute drive, find a parking space, trawl around the shops, carry the items back to the car, pay for the car park and then 20-25 minute drive back and also have to wrap them, and Oh yes, it was wet, windy and cold Brrrrrrrr :-( 10 minutes on the PC sat in the warm and all done :D Still need high street shops...............................really ???????? *-) Oh yeah, the supermarket delivers my Groceries (Not ASDA !!), The butcher delivers my meat, Interflora deliver the flowers when I am in the S**T !!, The Video club deliver my DVD,s etc. etc. etc Wonder if I could get a petrol tanker to do a home delivery to refill my car :D
flicka Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 Big Momma - 2010-11-22 8:17 PM [Oh yeah, the supermarket delivers my Groceries (Not ASDA !!), The butcher delivers my meat, Interflora deliver the flowers when I am in the S**T !!, The Video club deliver my DVD,s etc. etc. etc Wonder if I could get a petrol tanker to do a home delivery to refill my car :D But whydo you want the Car filling-up, with all that shopping on-line, sell the Car :D :D :D
Bulletguy Posted November 22, 2010 Author Posted November 22, 2010 Mel B - 2010-11-22 6:36 PM Where you have you been living for the last 10 years??? There's nothing new about this at all. :-S The shops are still there as many people refuse point blank to buy stuff off the web and, once you've factored in postage and delivery costs, it doesn't always work out cheap. Not quite the point I was making Mel. Online 'shopping' is nothing new and is increasing now at quite a pace. But as I said in my previous post not everyone has access to the internet and there are still many people who would struggle with a computer. As for factoring in postage costs, unless you live within walking distance of a town, then you will certainly be better off shopping online after taking into account fuel and wear and tear on vehicle.
Bulletguy Posted November 22, 2010 Author Posted November 22, 2010 Klyne - 2010-11-22 7:21 PM Its a much cheaper operation to sell direct online than to open a shop and staff it with people! However that does not really explain why the same organisation would have two prices, particularly if you can order online at the reduced price and pick up in store! David Couldn't agree more. In fact the assistant in Jessops told me they had complaints about their online pricing virtually every day of the week. Neither are they transparent about this within the stores themselves.....it's not even mentioned. Crazier still is the assistant had to go online herself to order the damn camera as the shops now keep a very low stock of equipment. The mistake I made was not reading the website 'rules' and phoning the store to ask if they could get one in for me instead of doing it online!
Guest pelmetman Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 I think the high streets days are sadly numbered, in years to come there will be a fewer still. How many people go into shops nowdays just to check out their potential purchase, before going home to order online *-)
colin Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 Just had to replace our 13y.o. dishwasher. Was looking for another Bosch but first wanted to see one to make sure it was still as good as our old one. Called in to the 'local' curry's and comet when passing and was supprised to find model we wanted was £100 dearer in store (not that they had one) then there would be delivery charge on top, we brought from John Lewis.
Dave Newell Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 When I bought my camera a couple of years ago (Sony Alpha200 DSLR) I researched extensively on the web then when I'd got the best price from a UK seller I printed out the page and took it to my local Jessops. I explained I didn't expect them to match it but how close could they get. They got within a tenner and then gave me a £30 camera bag for free so overall I was £20 up on the deal. The staff in Jessops couldn't have been more helpful. D.
Bulletguy Posted November 22, 2010 Author Posted November 22, 2010 colin - 2010-11-22 9:35 PM Just had to replace our 13y.o. dishwasher. Was looking for another Bosch but first wanted to see one to make sure it was still as good as our old one. Called in to the 'local' curry's and comet when passing and was supprised to find model we wanted was £100 dearer in store (not that they had one) then there would be delivery charge on top, we brought from John Lewis. Comet will price match Colin. I bought my television from one of their stores in January only to find a few days later Asda had the identical make and model on offer at almost £100 less. I printed the offer out and took it into Comet expecting a bit of mither over it, but they immediately refunded the difference without any quibble. The guy who fitted my satellite dish told me Asda are hard to beat on electrical item prices.
art338 Posted November 22, 2010 Posted November 22, 2010 I did the same when buying a washing machine, presented the salesman with the item number and picture and bought it, they wheeled it to the door and loaded it. art
Randonneur Posted November 23, 2010 Posted November 23, 2010 A couple of years ago we went online to Towsure, they had a deal on for some chairs which were £29.99 each but if you bought two they were £50, this was not an online only deal. So a couple of weeks after we were in the UK and went to their Sheffield Branch to get the chairs and lo and behold they knew nothing of the offer. The Manager was away and there was only one young, and I mean young, man who could operate their computer and they wouldn't let me show them on their website. Fortunately we were members of the CC at the time and got the 5% discount otherwise we would have walked away. Needless to say we have not been back.
LordThornber Posted November 23, 2010 Posted November 23, 2010 Price an item on the net, which of course is non negotiable, it's unable to haggle or chuck any deals in. Then if it's feasible, try your hand in the high street at a bit of good old fashioned haggling. The High Street always has the chance of a sweetener, (like Dave's camera bag), as opposed to the web which has zero bargaining power. Hoildays are an easy one. Booking online for my Mother usually fires up the best price, until you go into town and they'll, (at worst) price match but then waive a credit card fee. Or flog you some Euros at a preferred rate. Ok not much of a saving, but a saving nontheless. Haggling doesn't come easy to everyone of course, I'd be quite happy to haggle for folk, commision based of course :D Martyn
Bulletguy Posted November 23, 2010 Author Posted November 23, 2010 Randonneur - 2010-11-23 10:27 AM A couple of years ago we went online to Towsure, they had a deal on for some chairs which were £29.99 each but if you bought two they were £50, this was not an online only deal. So a couple of weeks after we were in the UK and went to their Sheffield Branch to get the chairs and lo and behold they knew nothing of the offer. The Manager was away and there was only one young, and I mean young, man who could operate their computer and they wouldn't let me show them on their website. Fortunately we were members of the CC at the time and got the 5% discount otherwise we would have walked away. Needless to say we have not been back. I know its easy to say with benefit of hindsight etc but when you spot a deal online always print it out!!! That is the positive proof you will need. Towsure is an excellent company and I wouldn't write them off quite so quickly, though quite why they would not access their own website seems rather obscure and strange to say the least.
Mel B Posted November 23, 2010 Posted November 23, 2010 Big Momma - 2010-11-22 8:13 PM Mel B - 2010-11-22 6:36 PM once you've factored in postage and delivery costs, it doesn't always work out cheap. I use Amazon quite a lot for different products and get free postage and delivery. Last Wednesday evening I ordered the OH's Crimbo presents, gift wrapped as well. On Thursday I received an Email saying thay they had been dispatched and on Friday they were delivered. Now had I not have had this facility I would not have liked to have had to go into town on saturday, 20-25 minute drive, find a parking space, trawl around the shops, carry the items back to the car, pay for the car park and then 20-25 minute drive back and also have to wrap them, and Oh yes, it was wet, windy and cold Brrrrrrrr :-( 10 minutes on the PC sat in the warm and all done :D Still need high street shops...............................really ???????? *-) Have you seen the film 'Wall-E'??? Sounds like you're heading the way of the population of Earth in that film!!!!! 8-) (lol)
Big Momma Posted November 23, 2010 Posted November 23, 2010 What !!! Sell the car, how the hell would I pick up my Job Seekers Allowance and Disability Benefits :D :D
Big Momma Posted November 23, 2010 Posted November 23, 2010 Mel B - 2010-11-23 4:49 PM Have you seen the film 'Wall-E'??? Sounds like you're heading the way of the population of Earth in that film!!!!! 8-) (lol) It's not real Mel, it is only a film........ *-) :D
Mel B Posted November 24, 2010 Posted November 24, 2010 ... but the more you sit around playing on your computer and not going out and getting exercise, even just going to the shops, the nearer you are to being one of the fictional characters in there ... so it's not all a joke ... :-S
Big Momma Posted November 27, 2010 Posted November 27, 2010 Mel B - 2010-11-24 8:01 PM ... but the more you sit around playing on your computer and not going out and getting exercise, even just going to the shops, the nearer you are to being one of the fictional characters in there ... so it's not all a joke ... :-S But I don't sit around very much on my computer and certainly don't play on it, I probably only average 1 hour in the evenings to check Emails and this forum. The rest of the time I am out at work getting plenty of Physical Exercise or walking or cycling. You said it yourself, these are 'fictional' characters which means 'It's not real'............... :D
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