Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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

Shops you are surprised are still going

782 replies

fajitaaaa · 03/01/2023 21:59

WHSMITHS - who is buying from them? Anything other than a emergency magazine for the train and maybe a bottle of water? But some of their stores are HUGE!

FAT FACE - always a massive sale on!

OP posts:
LeccyBillShill · 03/01/2023 23:52

OooScotland · 03/01/2023 23:37

I agree, but there’s an Upper Crust in my local shopping centre that’s always heaving. As is Greggs. Next to them is an Itsu and a Five Guys that are always empty. Cheap places are more popular, minging or not.

Come to think of it, I know they’re still fairly new but how does Five Guys keep going with their prices?

Show quote history

Totally agree. Five Guys is a rip off. Anytime I have it it’s always a let down.
I haven’t had Upper Crust in years but I don’t remember it being that cheap!

PurpleWisteria1 · 03/01/2023 23:53

penguims · 03/01/2023 22:22

It has to be WHSmith. All my time I've only ever bought a newspaper,

Homebase - I don't know how it's still going with all these alternatives, when was the last time anyone went to a homebase 😂 don't make me look stupid.

Homebase is my go to DIY store and for plants/ outdoor things.
where else do you go for diy related stuff?

ByTheGrace · 03/01/2023 23:53

We use WHSmith all the time, it's the only stationery shop we have locally and they have a decent magazine section. The decor is dated, but I don't mind that as at least they aren't wasting resources having refits every five seconds.
Bodyshop makes me wonder, overpriced and they no longer have the eco ethical vibe.
M&Co, never set foot in there.

earsup · 03/01/2023 23:55

Next is dire....nothing inspires me, same as Bodyshop...over priced and range hasnt changed for years
Also a small giftshop near me has very expensive items...soaps for £20, candles for £33, socks at £70, gloves at £65....no idea how it stays open , never see many customers in there, i do know that they pay very low rent for the shop.

ByTheGrace · 03/01/2023 23:57

Just seen Five Guys mentioned. Yep, can't understand this one, it is so, so expensive and so crap (and I love a bit of junk food). Last time we were in (not my choice) the toilets were revolting, it made me wonder how filthy everything else was.

HarvestThyme · 03/01/2023 23:59

Lush. Just... why?

BradfordGirl · 03/01/2023 23:59

Homebase is often the cheapest for heavy supplies like bark. And they do smaller quantities than the local building merchants.

ancientgran · 03/01/2023 23:59

DeePlume · 03/01/2023 22:49

I love Argos. Same day delivery for £3.95 is just magic.

I like it because I can collect stuff when I'm doing my shopping in Sainsbury's. The staff in our local one are always really helpful to this old lady when I'm not sure what accessory to buy to go with things like GSs iphone, I mean which charger/cover or whatever fits his phone. They are always helpful with stuff like that.

HarvestThyme · 04/01/2023 00:01

Also Wagamama. Bland, dull food and long since overtaken by better and more authentic places.

PurpleButterflyWings · 04/01/2023 00:03

Definitely WH Smiths. Really depressing dark, miserable, overpriced shithole. Conversely, it was in my top 10 favourite shops right up to the late 1990s. Now it's shite. Everything's overpriced, they don't sell records, CD's, DVD's, or stuff like that anymore like they used to, and I can't fathom why they're still going.

I don't think I've spent more than 10 pounds in there this century - and that's just on stamps, a couple of newspapers, and an advent calendar in 2019. (Only shop I could find that did one without chocolates.)

PurpleButterflyWings · 04/01/2023 00:04

Oh yeah, and LUSH. So pointless. Don't know anyone who has ever bought anything there!

motherhubbard12 · 04/01/2023 00:04

OrangePomander · 03/01/2023 22:14

Boots. Expensive, always running out of stock and online delivery is really hit and miss in my experience.

Was going to say exact same thing. Why would you buy anything from boots?

ByTheGrace · 04/01/2023 00:04

HarvestThyme · 04/01/2023 00:01

Also Wagamama. Bland, dull food and long since overtaken by better and more authentic places.

Love Wagamama, but we live in the sticks, aren't very sophisticated and it's a treat when we go to the big city 😆 We have nothing that even comes close locally. Wouldn't say it was bland or dull.

pinkpotatoez · 04/01/2023 00:05

BabyFour2023 · 03/01/2023 22:24

@pinkpotatoez select is still going?!? What?

There's one near me, always dead and has a permanent sale sign!

BradfordGirl · 04/01/2023 00:05

Boots is expensive for some things and cheap for others. I have bought various things in there that are cheaper than I could find online.

OngoingCrisis · 04/01/2023 00:06

Bonmarché. It's always empty when I walk past

Duckingella · 04/01/2023 00:06

DuncanBiscuits · 03/01/2023 22:05

HMV.

Same

PurpleButterflyWings · 04/01/2023 00:07

Cuppasoupmonster · 03/01/2023 23:11

Genuine question but where else do you buy calpol, toiletries and piles cream all in one fell swoop?!

Show quote history

Wilkos
Savers
B & M
Morrisons
Tesco
Asda.......
Sainsburys
Home Bargains
Poundstretcher

........... any pharmacy.

PurpleButterflyWings · 04/01/2023 00:08

Oh @Cuppasoupmonster in at least half of the above - you can buy much cheaper than Boots

BradfordGirl · 04/01/2023 00:08

OngoingCrisis · 04/01/2023 00:06

Bonmarché. It's always empty when I walk past

Bonmarche store is always busy here and full of older women.

LearnerCook · 04/01/2023 00:09

I'd be gutted if WH Smith went out of business. I'm an avid magazine reader and they're the only place I've found Aussie and US magazines.

I don't know if they're in administration but still trading or what, but M & Co is another I wonder about. I found it very pricy for the quality on offer.

Velda · 04/01/2023 00:11

Waterstones. Literally everything they sell is cheaper at Amazon. I often go in to look at the books in person then order them from Amazon for a cheaper price.

nettie434 · 04/01/2023 00:13

I think WH Smiths are a wholesaler and distribute newspapers and magazines to other shops. The other shops have to pay Smiths so they are not simply a retail business. They also have a lot of stores in stations and hospitals. I know that makes them expensive in terms of rent but there are a lot of captive customers. There are a lot of towns where there are no branches of Waterstones or independent bookshops so it's the only shop where you can browse - assuming you want a bigger range of books than are carried in supermarkets.

Now I've written this, I expect we will hear news of a collapse tomorrow. I still mourn the closure of East. It feels like there are so few shops I like left on the high street.

BradfordGirl · 04/01/2023 00:14

I love waterstones and buy books there.

Meseekslookatme · 04/01/2023 00:18

fajitaaaa · 03/01/2023 21:59

WHSMITHS - who is buying from them? Anything other than a emergency magazine for the train and maybe a bottle of water? But some of their stores are HUGE!

FAT FACE - always a massive sale on!

Came here to say exactly that when I saw the thread title!
I only use WH Smiths in train stations and airports, purely for water and maybe a bar of chocolate.
They've lost their way, our local one is dirty, untidy, full of overpriced crap.
I used to love it in there, now you have to dodge the cashiers forced to push chocolate orange and shitty vouchers on you.