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Original poster

What’s going on with Paperchase?

59 replies

Lalallama · 14/01/2022 18:01

I’d not been in for years, but went in recently to look for presents and they seem to be really going for the hard sell. I’d picked up a notebook which had bees on it and an assistant came up and noticed it and said ‘ooh are you buying for someone who likes bees? We have lots of others in this theme. If they like bees they might also like this one with flowers on, is it for a birthday, have you got a card? Why not buy them this one with bees on, etc, etc’.

Then when I got to the till they really pushed the loyalty card, which I ended up agreeing to because it got me £5 off my shop, but then ended up with a really long and convoluted talk about the fact that I really should go and get another notebook as that would bring me to the price total that will get me another discount, and I can get a free bag, and I should come back on my birthday because I will get another discount if I sign up to something or other.

I was so close to dropping all my purchases on the counter and walking out, it was making me so stressed.

Their shelves all seem a bit sparse as a well, are they struggling and making a last ditch attempt to cling on? I doubt it will work - I can’t face ever going back in again!

OP posts:
StandardLampski · 14/01/2022 18:07

Thanks - I'll avoid Grin

36degrees · 14/01/2022 18:09

It's gone shit. I used to love my local one with all the high quality art supplies, international magazines and books etc but they closed it down and turned it into a glorified card shop.

I blame Hobbycraft.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 14/01/2022 18:11

I've not experienced that with paperchase. Only the loyalty card thing.

Larryyourwaiter · 14/01/2022 18:12

Sadly they’ve closed mine. I wonder if they work out the number of people they up sell to makes up for the number of people who stop buying because of it. I don’t know anyone who likes it.

Metabigot · 14/01/2022 18:13

I fell for the hard sales talk before Christmas and ended up buying more tat thats barely got used.

Lovely 'free' bag though!

TellySavalashairbrush · 14/01/2022 18:18

Always a bit bemused this place is still operating to be honest. Very nice, but very expensive especially their greeting cards. Card factory is so much cheaper.

CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory · 14/01/2022 18:20

I used to love Paperchase but the last few years it's really gone downhill. Don't bother with it now.

FloatyBoaty · 14/01/2022 18:27

I find it very stressful. Very pushy staff, particularly at the till, particularly with that blasted loyalty card.

Paperchase- “Do you have a loyalty card”
Me- “I’m okay thanks”
PC- “Oh we can sign you up now. £5 off!”
Me- “In truth I have one but I’ve left it at home”
PC- “Oh that’s no problem- so what’s your email address”
Me- “No no really, it’s fine”
PC- “Oh it’ll just take a sec...”
Me- “Okay fine. It’s spells email address laboriously, including the bit which references my slightly Unusual profession”
PC- “Oh you’re an ASTRONAUT are you?!! What’s that like?!”
Me- “ummm it’s great. Actually I’m just on my way to launch a rocket now so...”
PC- “yep that’s fine.... sorry was it .com? No found you! So you don’t have any money off today...”
Me- bursts into flames of rage and regret, which are quickly extinguished by a Paperchase employee, dropping a charmingly patterned oversized plastic coated gift bag over my head

*I am not an astronaut

Original poster
Lalallama · 14/01/2022 18:41

@FloatyBoaty Grin

That made me laugh, that’s so spot on. I have a teacher discount as well which somehow added complication into the discount system mix. I presume the staff are told they have to do the hard sell, they must go home and despair.

OP posts:
user1471462428 · 14/01/2022 20:17

I avoid the York branch as most of the staff don’t wear masks or socially distance.

SlyAvocado · 14/01/2022 20:22

@user1471462428 😂 ok.

They closed a lot of them. I went in the Victoria branch before Christmas as they used to have fun quirky Christmas decorations but they wrote all horrible vulgar plastic garish things and vastly overpriced.

twilightcafe · 14/01/2022 20:23

I haven't forgiven them for discontinuing the Spectrascope range.

SunshineCake1 · 14/01/2022 20:25

@twilightcafe

I haven't forgiven them for discontinuing the Spectrascope range.
I got some last month..
mnahmnah · 14/01/2022 20:26

I went in recently for the first time since pre-covid. I was looking for my trusty patterned pens with a lid that hook onto my spiral bound planner at work. They used to have lots of different ones. Couldn’t find any. I realised that although the shop was technically full of stock, there were less stands and spread further apart. They had more gift stuff than stationery. I wondered what on earth had gone on too!

spotcheck · 14/01/2022 20:27

And where has all their lovely paper gone?

ClafoutisSurprise · 14/01/2022 20:29

I used to buy a lot of cards at Paperchase, but I find the range at independent gift shops much better now. Same goes for stationery. I couldn’t be bothered with this sort of nonsense either.

RoseRedRoseBlue · 14/01/2022 20:31

The stationery is lovely quality, but SO expensive.

CatrinVennastin · 14/01/2022 20:35

I avoid them completely these days. They have treated their suppliers, particularly the smaller ones really badly. Paperchase effectively went bust owing suppliers money then reopened and continued to sell a bunch of stock they have never paid for.

My friend is owed 10 grand for her stock and she doubts she will ever get this money now. Paperchase had the cheek to get in touch asking for more stock!

CarlatheJackal · 14/01/2022 20:36

I always found them overpriced tbh, but the pushiness is definitely a new thing. Browsing stationery is SUCH a calming activity. I definitely don't want anyone with their nose in my basket insisting I need to see X and Y as well.

The only other time I remember such a hard sell was Dorothy Perkins insisting I couldn't pay normally and would have to sign up to their credit card which would reap such and such benefits. Such horseshit. I left my purchases and I never went back.

Coffeeonmytoffee · 14/01/2022 20:56

Last time I went I was having a hot flush and just wanted to pay and get out of the shop but I had to have the loyalty card hard sell and the two assistants going on about the pens I was trying to buy. I’m amazed I didn’t just melt on the spot.

elbea · 14/01/2022 20:57

They went into administration and got bought out last year I think. I’d assume it is the new owners that have made the changes.

RedRec · 14/01/2022 21:11

Yes, I was hounded into getting the loyalty card the last time I was in there. Sales assistants all very lovely though.
Ended up buying something I didn't want just to get some deal and it is actually now one of my favourite things! (a beautiful pencil case which has solved the problem of having a thousand pens rattling around in the bottom of my handbag)

FloatyBoaty · 14/01/2022 21:12

Very genuinely (and this isn’t a joke) there was a paper supply chain issue last year so very possibly that’s why less card product lines are available.

FloatyBoaty · 14/01/2022 21:12

But I still find it all stressful

Bananalanacake · 15/01/2022 19:43

Do they still have their massive shop in London on Tottenham Court Road, love paperchase but can't go as I live in Germany.

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