DaleCooper
Established Member
My local branch smells too, I didn't know it was a common feature of their shops. What is the smell, stale DVDs?
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Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon
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My local branch smells too, I didn't know it was a common feature of their shops. What is the smell, stale DVDs?
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D365
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In the nicest way possible, the smell is a bit too human to be DVDs.
C J Snarzell
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CEX are very reputable in how they trade. They will sell a CD for 10p but it'll be in adequate condition - and may not necessarily play properly but CEX firstly rate whether it's sellable then price it on it's condition. Like I said they trade on a what you see is what you get basis.
On the subject of computer games there is another company based in my town called 'Game' who have other outlets elsewhere. They too are apparently struggling and may be making store closures. They started out in the mid 1990s when people were still tuning into Sega Megadrives and the Ninento SNES consoles. Again, like DVDs & CDs, people are able to download home entertainment from their own homes these days so tangible games cartridges are not as viable as they once were.
CJ
On the subject of computer games there is another company based in my town called 'Game' who have other outlets elsewhere. They too are apparently struggling and may be making store closures. They started out in the mid 1990s when people were still tuning into Sega Megadrives and the Ninento SNES consoles. Again, like DVDs & CDs, people are able to download home entertainment from their own homes these days so tangible games cartridges are not as viable as they once were.
CJ
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
CEX are well trusted by old-school gamers in part because they grew out of a business called "Tottenham Court Road Computer Exchange" who used to advertise in magazines such as Mean Machines and even Amstrad Action. The business has obviously grown and changed massively since then, but have managed to maintain their reputation as a "no BS" establishment.
I know what you mean about the smell though. "Foisty" is the best word for it.
I know what you mean about the smell though. "Foisty" is the best word for it.
LOL The Irony
On Moderation
I'm massively surprised that HMV has gone under twice. If they had a massively better online store, they could do much better.
That's sad. I wonder if they will be saved.
Well they did have that unofficial cover issue back in 2018.
DaleCooper
Established Member
I went in there again today and it wasn't "foisty" this time, they must have sacked the smelly bloke.
Peoples houses? Some Poundlands smell the same way.
C J Snarzell
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The Poundland near where I live always smells like poultry that's gone past it's sell by date. The only 'fresh' produce they actually sell is the pre-pack sandwiches which are worst than the ones you get out of a factory vending machine. Awful!!!
DaleCooper
Established Member
The Poundlands I use are quite pleasant, both shop and staff.
Busaholic
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I've only ever been into two branches of Subway, and they both stank of decaying lettuce (I know the smell from when I clean my fridge's hydrator!) and still do, because you can smell them as you pass by outside: I have nasal problems and often can't smell things, so if I smell them, they must pong!
Subways pump out smells dont they. Never been impressed by Subway but i dont expect them to disappear.
tbtc
Veteran Member
Good to hear positive stuff about CEX on here - I mean them no harm - I go into the one in central Sheffield a few times each month - I'd miss it if it went - I have no complaints about how the company is run - it's just that I wonder how much longer other people will keep buying physical media (and therefore trading physical media/ buying second hand). I'm old-school, I still have CD players/ DVD players etc in the house - even a record turntable, a VHS player and a cassette player - but I wonder how many under thirties have *nothing* to play physical media on though (and, even then, just a record player, to be retro)? Maybe that's a conversation for another thread though!
The High Street will be a worse place if/when Waterstones/ HMV/ CEX go
Ah, you've reminded me of the family friend who used to have a Matalan card, when this was quite something - it seems strange now to think that Matalan was once quite exclusive/upmarket!
Hmm, how long can Poundland keep going, as the purchasing power of a quid gets less and less each year (not helped by the relative devaluation over the last few years)?
They certainly seem to be selling more and more £2/ £5 stuff (my lunch today was a £1.75 sandwich from Poundland) - it must be harder for them to compete in a world full of B&M/ Home Bargains/ The Range/ Wilko etc, given the inflexibility of the pricing structure
I can't deal with Subway - far too much choice - much prefer the impersonal touch-screens in a McDonalds - no faffing about trying to reach a decision with a crowd of hungry people behind me - I know Subway is better quality grub but I get far too anxious trying to quickly reach a decision with all that choice!
The High Street will be a worse place if/when Waterstones/ HMV/ CEX go
Ah, you've reminded me of the family friend who used to have a Matalan card, when this was quite something - it seems strange now to think that Matalan was once quite exclusive/upmarket!
Hmm, how long can Poundland keep going, as the purchasing power of a quid gets less and less each year (not helped by the relative devaluation over the last few years)?
They certainly seem to be selling more and more £2/ £5 stuff (my lunch today was a £1.75 sandwich from Poundland) - it must be harder for them to compete in a world full of B&M/ Home Bargains/ The Range/ Wilko etc, given the inflexibility of the pricing structure
I can't deal with Subway - far too much choice - much prefer the impersonal touch-screens in a McDonalds - no faffing about trying to reach a decision with a crowd of hungry people behind me - I know Subway is better quality grub but I get far too anxious trying to quickly reach a decision with all that choice!
CEX business model...
Buy in thousands of copies at £30-40 on launch of Fifa 2020
Sell hardly any for £50-£60 because everybody has already bought it on Day 1 from somewhere else
Chuck a 50p price sticker on it a year later and still struggle to sell them as everybody is now on Fifa 2021
Buy in thousands of copies at £30-40 on launch of Fifa 2020
Sell hardly any for £50-£60 because everybody has already bought it on Day 1 from somewhere else
Chuck a 50p price sticker on it a year later and still struggle to sell them as everybody is now on Fifa 2021
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
I get the impression that they make far more on hardware refurbishment and resale than they do on media. I also wasn't aware of them ever selling "new" stock, to be fair.
underbank
Established Member
No, they were separated about a decade ago and the wholesale arm was sold off, so now two completely separate companies.
C J Snarzell
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Does anyone know if John Menzies still exists?
WHS took over the one in my town that had been a JM for years.
CJ
WHS took over the one in my town that had been a JM for years.
CJ
Dai Corner
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WH Smith bought John Menzies in 1998.
They also owned Waterstones for a while.
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/W._H._Smith_and_Son
DavidGrain
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Saw a Menzies van in Birmingham last week. Menzies sold their retail shops many years ago to concentrate on wholesale newspapers and magazines. Menzies used to be the 'censors' of the top shelf mags. Do I need to explain the 'Mull of Kintyre' rule that they imposed long before Paul McCartney started singing about the area in Scotland.
Just discovered an old closed thread on this forum https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/w-h-smith-and-john-menzies-stores.32155/
On a side issue dealing with news agencies, I saw on old photo on a Facebook page last week of Birmingham Snow Hill station in the 1960s with a Wyman's store which brought back memories
krus_aragon
Established Member
Yes, I think the only new stock they sell is some USB charge leads (as the buy lots of trade-in hardware, not all of which is traded in with a lead).
The window displays are almost exclusively hardware (which is what I typically browse for there, anyway).
Thats strange, the Sheffield branch has a staircase that while not giving me vertigo, does make want to hold onto the handrail.
DavidGrain
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I had not known that they sold 2nd hand CDs and DVDs until I read recent posts. I could be interested in that.
C J Snarzell
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Apparently an article in today's news says that IKEA are looking at closing their Coventry store.
Very unlikely they will disappear - the IKEA Warrington still brings parts of the M62 to a stand still at weekends.
CJ
Very unlikely they will disappear - the IKEA Warrington still brings parts of the M62 to a stand still at weekends.
CJ
Tom B
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The article I saw has a comment from a representative - apparently, this was an unusual format of shop, being in the centre of a city, and split over multiple different levels. Trading had been quieter than anticipated, and staffing costs were significantly higher owing to the multi-floor layout.
The IKEAs I have been in are all hellishly busy - a couple of years ago I wanted a small item or two and decided to go at opening time on a Tuesday, thinking it'd be dead quiet in the middle of the week. I have almost recovered from the melee.
SteveP29
Member
They did, before they went under the first time, I used to have a monthly online blowout at HMV, easily spending £100 a time
C J Snarzell
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Any music lovers on here will known that vinyl has come back and HMV are definately making alot of revenue from selling new repackaged vinyl albums.
CJ
CJ
Probably not a company who will disappear at any time but IKEA will be closing their Coventry store.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51369413
I never knew they had so few stores. Both the IKEAs near me are in rather large retail parks and drawn in huge numbers.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51369413
I never knew they had so few stores. Both the IKEAs near me are in rather large retail parks and drawn in huge numbers.
DavidGrain
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The Coventry IKEA store was not their normal pattern which is a large store on one level with a circuitous path that you have to follow to force you to visit every department.
DavidGrain
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I was in a part of Birmingham City Centre that I do not normally visit three weeks ago. I was actually checking out a new book and model shop opened by a former employee of the closed down Ian Allan shop. Walking back I saw a large establishment called Vault in the ground floor of a multi story car park. It turned out to be a brand new HMV store which opened October last year. Massive amount of stock on display.
Strangely the single story Ikea's always seem alien to me as the one I frequent, Southampton, is over 3 floors, with the displays on the top floor with the restaurant, the middle floor being the market and the bottom floor being where you pick stuff up, pay, access customer services and buy food to take home.
Though I doubt, despite the different layout, that Southampton Ikea will be closing any time soon unless they got a very good deal from developer to turn it into flats, it's never that quiet, esp. the restaurant.
The IKEA near Reading was originally going to have three floors but planning permission limited them to two. The store has become notorious for occasionally grid locking the local roads. It seems to happen mostly on bank holidays, when customers can get stuck in the car park for several hours. In contrast the couple of times I've been there, midweek during term time, it was very quiet with no problems getting in or out.