Jessops in administration.

It is disgusting that they carry £800k of Christmas gift vouchers that are not being honoured
It is disgusting that the staff were told at noon today that as from 15:00 they were unemployed
Jessops is yet another High Street failure one of many that is to come soon to every other trader possibly even the supermarkets

Jessops like Comet had to pay big rates, employ knowlegable staff, only for people to go to internet box providers for 20% less (they have a good internet shopping system and employ a couple of gorillas to go round posting the boxes)

Initially Julie and I used on line supermarket shopping, due to disability, only it is good quick and convenient
If they do not have exactly what you ordered they send the next higher priced item at the same cost, When you receive the goods you can reject anything you are not happy with Lettuce a bit limp, return, get twice the price refunded
Why go to the shop, spend time, fuel. and lug it all home

It is a big downward spiral, for all shops
Again Julie is an avid knitter, and yes, our wool shop has gone, due to us and others going on line, better selection cheaper price (no High St rent and rates) Next day delivery, if you do not like it quick and free return

Therefore I am as guilty as anyone for shops demise, I can not see where it will end, as online is always cheaper, and sometimes quicker,
Jessops you wanted an item they ordered it for you for collection in 7-10 days
Internet 20% less next day delivery

We used to have seven Butchers here, now there is just the one shop, though all seven are working there, the only difference is, all the prices are available, from rough take it or leave it steaks, to best quality Angus Beef, you take your choice
Though again there are more online butchers available

Where will it end No shops at all ?

Jack McHammocklashing

 

I remember a few years ago getting ready to go on holiday. I'd found a good holiday deal on Thomas Cook's website. I can't remember the exact price but lets say it was £250 per person.

I didn't like the idea of booking through their site because at the time it was going through a phase where it kept crashing, so I noted the details, and went into town to their shop. I told them I wanted this particular holiday. No problem, I was told, its £280 per person. I told them it was £250 on the web, and they said they were authorised to honour the web price in store, so I booked it.

I have a slight beef with Thomas Cook's about an unrelated thing, but that's an example of a company that is best placed to survive. If I'd been told it was the higher price and that was that, I simply wouldn't have booked with them at all and they'd have lost a grand's worth of transaction (there were four of us wanting to go).

Its a brutal world in business. Companies that survive are the ones that pay close attention to what's happening. Its like a game of chess. There's no point planning your next move, that's not enough, you have to plan your next 3 moves and pre-empt your opponents response to every possible move. If you don't, then before you know it, its check mate, game over.

 

This is bad, I often visited Jessops for my camera needs, I actually brought a lens from their online store.. it's a good job I did it before this came about.

Jessops actually started as photo printing firm (like the old fuji-film), and they still provide a printing service.

Will all stores be closing or just a few?

But at the end of the day, and as people have said, the crux of it is, I can go on Amazon and get cheaper camera gear. For example jessops sell UV filters for £32, but I could get all manner of filters for £10 on Amazon. In fact recently I got a 10x Optical Close up lens (a professional one) for £15 including postage from New York... so yes if your business plan isn't water tight, then you're bust.

But Jessops could potentially start an internet franchise once they go into liquidation.. like Woolworths did.

 

"Will all stores be closing or just a few?"

The whole lot shut down at 15:00 today
Stock is being returned to the manufactures IF they will take it back
on a no sale basis
So no chance of a big sales bonanza like Comet
Though Comet was a con anyway as only opened boxes goods on display
were on the offer

Jack McH

 

They will, under the form of Peter Jones which has just purchased the company to run it as online venture. Things evolves and go in circles, customers habits/taste change, in time. To run a business exactly the same for more than 50 years is bound to fail.

 

That's good news that they will be starting an online venture, perhaps stuff will be a little cheaper too, as it tends to be online. I'll have to keep an eye out for this one.