I cancelled an order I’d made for white goods today, because they attempted to dictate to me when the delivery would be, and as it turned out, I am always out at that time of the morning. So that’s one less job for a delivery driver to do tomorrow, because their stupid firm think it’s funny to have a narrow window in morning rush hour to deliver stuff… Perhaps they expect me to take a day off, or otherwise alter my daily routines, but bugger that!
The big question I’ve got though is WHY are shops running out of stuff, so much more is apparently “on the road” according to the pain-in-the-arse hotlines you are expected to speak to?
Traffic has been very quiet so far in the new year, work has dried up already, and yet shop shelves are empty, and they are not laying on extra staff to get the shelves filled again!
I’ve heard of “just in time” business model, but this is taking the ■■■■ now!
It’s like Thomas Cook reducing the availability of holidays thinking that “that way we can continue to charge full price, and maintain our margins”.
f… that. I’ll just go without the holiday, until I get what I want 75% off as one should expect in a recession where everyone I know is short of money, even the toffs.
Well - I bought a cooker (black goods?) just before Christmas. I had an e-mail giving me an eta with a one hour window a couple of days before the delivery. I had another the evening prior, and a phone call for Fred, the driver, on the morning it was due. He arrived about two minutes early.
Shops are “running out of stuff” as you put it because inventory costs money; and if you own a business it is in your interest to keep the inventory down to the minimum. At this time of year trade is slack so there is no need for stock. There is no point in selling at a 75% discount if that makes no profit.
The photo of empty shelves in a Welsh supermarket proves nothing.
I’m not making a case for a DM article here, but reflecting what seems to be happening all over in my neck of the woods - which isn’t wales.
Shops won’t cut prices, so they’ve cut inventory - an argument you’re supporting fair enough.
Doesn’t bode well though does it?
If people get let down by firms that are no longer willing to sell them the stuff on the customer’s own terms, then money is tight enough, that more and more people will just scrap the entire purchase, rather than be buggered about by corner-cutting firms.
“Just In Time” inventories means “just in time” shifts. How can anyone financially plan for any length into the future, if you don’t even know where your next job is coming from? This recession isn’t like any other in my lifetime, especially as we have not even bounced back from the so-called “last” one before entering this “triple dip” affair, which has got to be a depression by any other name.
I guess I’m just wanting to see landlords and greedy paid-off shop owners dangling from lamposts.
I blame Landlords upholding rents for driving renting shops to the wall, and shopowners from shedding too many jobs, because they feel no sense of community in what they do. Too easy to replace staff with any inexperienced idiot that will just drive away more customers, and cost more jobs - except the shopowners of course, who’ll just default, and run when he knows the cupboard is bare at long last.
The problem with shops and them being inflexible has already caused the downfall of Comet and the like. Currys is on my list of never enter again shops too from a bad experience. The future of 75% deals are on the internet, the warehouse holds the stock and delivers it directly to the consumer.
Currys lost my custom about 3 years ago when I bought a managers special from Derby, it had a bent panel on the blind side, it still had a full warranty and they tried to sell me another which I declined. However they did offer me free delivery and disposal of my old washer dryer. That makes sense because I would have needed to borrow a bigger vehicle to take it home and then take the old unit to the tip. The washing machine didn’t arrive as promised, it didn’t arrive at all that week. When I spoke to the store they told me, “it was on the van.”
During the second week I got a call from DHL saying they had tried to deliver an item from Newark and couldn’t gain entry. Well they wouldn’t if they didn’t ring my bell or call me. I had to ask why the washer was in Newark as I bought it in Derby and live in Derby. They told me it was damaged and had been for repair.
I know it was damaged, I bought it damaged with a promise of next day delivery I explained. They then told me that the stores are not allowed to deliver goods because of health and safety They asked if they could redeliver it the next day and I agreed. It arrived 5 hours later and they left it outside, they would not put it in the house because my old machine was there albeit disconnected. They cannot remove the old machine because of… “health and safety.”
The machine they left at the door is still working and the cosmetics don’t bother me, but why did it end up back in Newark. How many times was it handled from the shop to me. I shall never know because I avoid Currys like the pox clinic canteen
I did get free delivery but it cost me 20 quid for the council to shift my old unit along with a sofa that was in the yard so I wasnt the happiest of little shoppers.
The customer is king unless you go to an electrical store in Derby
i went to our corner shop yesterday, I wanted some frozen chips as we were in a rush.
No chips due to the snow. What [zb]ing snow? What we’ve had is the snow equivenlent of teenage bum fluff.
Wheel Nut:
The problem with shops and them being inflexible has already caused the downfall of Comet and the like. Currys is on my list of never enter again shops too from a bad experience. The future of 75% deals are on the internet, the warehouse holds the stock and delivers it directly to the consumer.
Currys lost my custom about 3 years ago when I bought a managers special from Derby, it had a bent panel on the blind side, it still had a full warranty and they tried to sell me another which I declined. However they did offer me free delivery and disposal of my old washer dryer. That makes sense because I would have needed to borrow a bigger vehicle to take it home and then take the old unit to the tip. The washing machine didn’t arrive as promised, it didn’t arrive at all that week. When I spoke to the store they told me, “it was on the van.”
During the second week I got a call from DHL saying they had tried to deliver an item from Newark and couldn’t gain entry. Well they wouldn’t if they didn’t ring my bell or call me. I had to ask why the washer was in Newark as I bought it in Derby and live in Derby. They told me it was damaged and had been for repair.
I know it was damaged, I bought it damaged with a promise of next day delivery I explained. They then told me that the stores are not allowed to deliver goods because of health and safety They asked if they could redeliver it the next day and I agreed. It arrived 5 hours later and they left it outside, they would not put it in the house because my old machine was there albeit disconnected. They cannot remove the old machine because of… “health and safety.”
The machine they left at the door is still working and the cosmetics don’t bother me, but why did it end up back in Newark. How many times was it handled from the shop to me. I shall never know because I avoid Currys like the pox clinic canteen
I did get free delivery but it cost me 20 quid for the council to shift my old unit along with a sofa that was in the yard so I wasnt the happiest of little shoppers.
The customer is king unless you go to an electrical store in Derby
Strange that, Wheelnut,cos I bought a cooker from Currys in Cwmbran and had super service from them. Full instalation, including drilling the wall to fit safety chains, and electricity check, and removed the old unit.Oh, and delivered on time. Couldn’t fault them at all. Obviously it depends on store staff.
Santa:
Well - I bought a cooker (black goods?) just before Christmas. I had an e-mail giving me an eta with a one hour window a couple of days before the delivery. I had another the evening prior, and a phone call for Fred, the driver, on the morning it was due. He arrived about two minutes early.
DPD by any chance ?
I’ve had a parcel delivered by DPD and had the same experience except that I had text messages instead of emails and no phone call, the item was delivered bang on time within the 1 hour delivery slot I was given to
I’ve taken great pleasure in talking about it on the odd occasions I’ve worked out of YODEL who have an abysmal reputation for deliveries
We’ve had more than a few items delivered by YODEL and never had a problem. Intact and on time. The one occasion he turned up and Mrs.D was out he left it in the shed and popped a note through the door saying so.
On another note, Saturday a fortnight ago I ordered and item from one of the shopping channels’ website, and on the website it said please allow 28 days for delivery. Well the following Monday I had an email saying it would be delivered Wednesday. Bloody hell that was quick. On weds I had another email and Mrs.D had a text with an eta of 11-12, and sure enough 11.30 he was pulling up outside the house. Faultless service.
I’ve found the internet companies make more of an effort whereas the high street are getting complacent in hiring muppets who don’t give a toss about customer service. I’m with Malc in never setting foot in Currys again.
Winseer:
I blame Landlords upholding rents for driving renting shops to the wall,
I am aware of 3 shops closed in my town due to this very reason.
I suppose the landlord has to live too
He won’t last long with a portfolio of empty properties?
The landlord marks his rents to what the market will stand, on the other hand Councils seem to think they can charge what they like for rates, as much as if not more than the rent and supply bugger all in return apart from charging the shops customers for local parking and a load of hassle in the form of traffic wardens …
Winseer:
I blame Landlords upholding rents for driving renting shops to the wall,
I am aware of 3 shops closed in my town due to this very reason.
I suppose the landlord has to live too
No they don’t. They’re parasites. BTL mortgages have got to be the higest risk for lenders, yet they let the Tom Champagnes of this world get them for lower percentages than you can get a pristine personal loan for. Should be 20% like car loans IMO!
People’s savings are being loaned out to sub-prime borrowers and BTL mortgages. Everyone else wanting a cheap mortgage for an actual HOME for their family gets told to ■■■■ off by the banks. “Not enough income stream” they’ll say. Shame they count pyramided rent incomes that allow BTL mortgages to be doubled up like futures positions FFS!
As for “deposits”, if it were not for landlords preventing a serious correction in the property market, people would be able to BUY a house with the deposits demanded by banks these days.
Santa:
Well - I bought a cooker (black goods?) just before Christmas. I had an e-mail giving me an eta with a one hour window a couple of days before the delivery. I had another the evening prior, and a phone call for Fred, the driver, on the morning it was due. He arrived about two minutes early.
DPD by any chance ?
I’ve had a parcel delivered by DPD and had the same experience except that I had text messages instead of emails and no phone call, the item was delivered bang on time within the 1 hour delivery slot I was given to
I’ve taken great pleasure in talking about it on the odd occasions I’ve worked out of YODEL who have an abysmal reputation for deliveries
The last DPD delivery I had saw the van driver stack my car trying to do a 3 point turn in my street, instead of turning around using the actual turnaround space 100 yards further on…
I agree with the muppet thing though. A deliverty is only as good as the staff doing it. SE fly-by-night piece rate bods who know your town as well as you know Budapest are NOT the answer here I reckon!
Winseer:
I blame Landlords upholding rents for driving renting shops to the wall,
I am aware of 3 shops closed in my town due to this very reason.
I suppose the landlord has to live too
He won’t last long with a portfolio of empty properties?
The landlord marks his rents to what the market will stand, on the other hand Councils seem to think they can charge what they like for rates, as much as if not more than the rent and supply bugger all in return apart from charging the shops customers for local parking and a load of hassle in the form of traffic wardens …
^^ This.
My local 2 towns (Stalybridge and Ashton Under Lyne) are both on their arse due to crappy parking restrictions, expensive car parks and too many traffic wardens. They even installed Sunday parking restrictions.
Then there’s Manchester City Centre who changed the standard policy of 8-6 mon - fri parking with it free outside those hours, to 8-8 mon - sat, meaning I go to restaurants and shows in the city centre FAR less than I used to, which is surely costing them money. We used to go down Manchester at least twice per month for a meal, the Imax, a show or a concert, since the change I’ve been down 4 times, that’s in a year, and 1 of those was by train which is bloody expensive when there’s 4 or more of you going.
They asked if they could redeliver it the next day and I agreed. It arrived 5 hours later and they left it outside, they would not put it in the house because my old machine was there albeit disconnected. They cannot remove the old machine because of… “health and safety.”
