Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Is John Lewis the next Department store to face problems?

180 replies

Ifailed · 13/09/2018 07:56

profits down by 99% for the past 6 months & that includes Waitrose, so presumably the Dept Store side of things made a loss.

Are we seeing the final demise of Department Stores in the UK?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45506322

OP posts:
INeedNewShoes · 15/09/2018 23:49

That’s odd. Mine arrived this week too but had a coffee and cake voucher as normal.

Well that's a relief that they haven't had a policy change at least! I wonder why I don't deserve a voucher this time!

Morethanthisprovincallife · 15/09/2018 23:50

Some people say they hate tk max and say... You have to rifle through crap to find something.

But. I want a pair of trousers. In tk max all trousers size 12 are in one place. Same with all tops, nightwear, shoes.

Now when I go into another store and want one item... I find traipsing round all different areas trying to gather up trousers are exhausting.

I only shop in tk max.
I don't like John Lewis buyers.

I would only buy for the guarantee.

In store customer care ie help buying a blender is shite and I hate the fact they convinced my dad to buy us a super duper juicer with coole function on it.
They took advantage of him. We wanted a juicer... Never used cooler thing.

Waitrose.... Food isn't as nice as m and s...

Customer service down the pan.

The only thing I'd go to waitrose for is meat.
They still have full integrity in their food chain.. For now. So I still buy chicken from the them thru ocado

BonnieF · 16/09/2018 00:11

I’m a very regular shopper at my local Waitrose, and the staff know me. I was told by one of them a few days ago that withdrawing the free coffee offer completely from the cafe and removing the disposable cups for the free coffee machine, meaning you now have to bring your own cup, had noticeably reduced footfall, and that the number of free coffees given away had reduced massively. It remains to be seen whether the cost savings from this will outweigh the reduced sales.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General shopping
legolammb · 16/09/2018 00:17

Urgh, so I posted up thread about being a big fan, but have just spent much of today waiting in for a late furniture delivery - they had contracted out the delivery and didn't bother keeping me informed about what was going on.

A few months ago I had a useless pair of washing machine installers who were supposed to take out the old one, me having paid for the privilege, and made a 30 second attempt to remove the old one before giving up and claiming it was stuck and leaving. They left me and DP to do it, which we managed with a small amount of elbow grease, but we then had to get a heavy washing machine down 3 flights of stairs.

So I may be a bit less inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt in future - they should be getting this stuff right

PickAChew · 16/09/2018 00:22

CustomEr service In Newcastle jl is great, too. I had an armful of stuff, last week, with a list of various items, and they offered to help me and keep the bulkier items behind the counter u til I was ready to pay.

There is a small waitrose next to the basement and it's rare that I don't get my bags packed. I often end up in there with severely autistic Ds2 during the school holidays, precisely for the compact, efficient, shopping experience and, after packing my bags, he often ends up with extra green tokens to post, which he considers to be quite the treat.

linkylink · 16/09/2018 05:13

I love JL, I’ve never shopped in Debenhams & always used M&S just for undies & food. I hate the whole death of the high street, I like to touch & see things particularly non clothing. I was an early adopter of online clothes & food shopping but find it has its pros & cons. Don’t find Amazon particularly cheaper this days so use them less & less.

I can’t imagine no JL, I have no idea where I would shop.

linkylink · 16/09/2018 05:24

Thinking about it always buy white goods from there, car seats, kids clothes & school shoes, furniture, tvs, kitchen equipment, christmas decs etc. I like the reviews, extended warranty & have not had bad customer service yet. I use the click & collect a lot at my local Waitrose. Always preferred m&s food to waitrose though.

linkylink · 16/09/2018 05:34

But if all shops disappear how to you buy furniture for example without trying it/seeing it?

Amazon wasn’t profitable for years, do you think it’s sustainable for prices to remain low? Prime doesn’t even seem to be next day now. I also find returns at M&S & JL so much easier.

linkylink · 16/09/2018 05:37

I will go back to sleep now!

FurryDice · 16/09/2018 06:15

How sad.

Redgreencoverplant · 16/09/2018 07:16

Argh I hope not. We buy white goods and electronics from there as they are so good with regards their guarantee. They have repaired our tumble dryer promptly and efficiently in the past and they replaced DH's broken headphones within seconds without a quibble.

DGRossetti · 16/09/2018 10:17

I went to 7 big shops today, just looking for 4 items (3 really as 1 was specific to just 1 of the shops) and still had to resort to Amazon for 1 item.

Sounds like you've not yet reached our stage of "google first" - even for bricks'n'mortar stores to see (a) what they stock/range and (b) is it in stock ?

DGRossetti · 16/09/2018 10:25

But if all shops disappear how to you buy furniture for example without trying it/seeing it?

Can't say for sure, but it'll be interesting to see how it does happen. One thing I can say for sure is that whatever develops, it will be light-years ahead of the way things are currently designed for (note about rents, rates, and the way firms are taxed) and that includes transport, and location. I guess there's the concept of store-as-showroom (and car sales have been like this since the year dot), vs. store-as-warehouse where people are just shelf-picking. This latter is already how some places operate. If it's not there, there's no "out back" to check.

A lot of furniture is already store-as-showroom ....

Dishtap · 16/09/2018 10:48

I used to use John Lewis (online as there isn’t a shop near me) a lot but after a serious of absolutely awful customer service and broken items arriving, I no longer use them. John Lewis always used to have awesome customer service, but my last couple of experiences with them were just so painful!

Gaspodethetalkingdog · 16/09/2018 10:52

Probably JL works in affluent areas not others. There is a large JL home and Waitrose in Basingstoke, the area around is very affluent.

Peter Jones in Sloane Square is a JL shop with many very well off people in Chelsea and surrounding areas.

Probably will shut some in less affluent areas

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 16/09/2018 11:02

Gaspodethetalkingdog

Surely JL and Waitrose only exist in affluent areas already. I've certainly never seen either in any areas that would be considered more Working class. I may be wrong though.

woodhill · 16/09/2018 11:15

If Debenhams go there will be no need to price match and HOF was another contender.

Don't think they competed with online stores?

7toGo · 16/09/2018 11:15

Please @DisgraceToTheYChromosome come back and tell us why Debenhams underwear is "pre licked" - I am so confused!

7toGo · 16/09/2018 11:18

@INeedNewShoes
"I received my My John Lewis vouchers today and was most dismayed to discover that the usual voucher for free coffee & cake wasn't there, which basically meant that the vouchers weren't worth the paper they were printed on as I only ever use the coffee & cake voucher.

This is obviously not viable for them anymore. It's a shame though as it's a good tactic. There have been a couple of occasions that knowing that my cake voucher was due to expire that I have shoehorned a JL trip into my week and made other purchases while I was there."

YES to this. We would go "just for the cake and coffee" and end up spending £50-100 on things we had no intention of getting, always the way. Couldn't believe it when we didn't get the vouchers this month.

Also last month there was an offer, "Spend £50 and get a £5 voucher" - DH and I both did it but we are yet to receive the £5 vouchers... Hmm

ARiverInEgypt · 16/09/2018 11:22

IKEA has a showroom only store in Westfield

linkylink · 16/09/2018 11:30

I also like the mix of brands the fact you can buy a John Lewis freezer, a miele washing machine & a Tom Dixon light for example.

DGRossetti · 16/09/2018 11:31

Surely JL and Waitrose only exist in affluent areas already.

We're in an officially deprived area (saved paying stamp duty as a result) and our nearest Waitrose is less than 3 miles away. I've taken to walking there (and back).

Really, our area is too nice for us (or that's what our local councillor thinks) ...

OllyBJolly · 16/09/2018 11:48

I love John Lewis and Waitrose. Don't think I've ever had a bad experience with either.

I also love that there are no external shareholders screwing the staff and customers for every penny of dividend. Instead, any profit is distributed out to all staff. It's a fairer business model. (although doesn't look like any bonus will be paid for this year)

Sparklingbrook · 16/09/2018 11:51

I got my John Lewis vouchers this week for the coffee and cake.

AveEldon · 16/09/2018 12:06

@7toGo - they are now emailing the gift vouchers