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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it me or is 'Boots' going to be the next 'Woolworths'?

195 replies

GillyT · 02/01/2011 19:58

Just wondering if I'm the only person who wouldn't be surprised to see Boots 'go under' this year if they continue their policy of not spending Points & Gift Cards online.

I've got a total of £30 to spend at Boots (and have had for 3 months!) and simply haven't found a way to spend it. I looked at perfumes - cheaper to buy at The Perfume Shop though; I looked at hairdryers to no avail; I created a Photobook online - only to discover that I can't use my Points & Giftcards online to pay for it!

I've a feeling they have finally lost me as a customer altogether - 20 years ago, a week wouldn't have passed by without me buying something from Boots...not any more, I'm sad to say :(

OP posts:
slartybartfast · 02/01/2011 19:59
Sad

nooooo

and i still miss woolworths

nancy75 · 02/01/2011 20:00

i doubt if the points thing will send them under - its not real money, its something they are giving away as a reward to loyal customers. You not being able to spend it online makes them better not worse off.

BelligerentGhoul · 02/01/2011 20:01

I think yabu.

I think Boots will outlast BHS or WHSmith by years.

HuwEdwards · 02/01/2011 20:03

I think the Boots point system is fantastic - I save up all my points all year to 'buy' Xmas pressies.

compo · 02/01/2011 20:03

No I thnk they're fine
they've got opticians too don't forget
and the advantage card is a bonus, woolies should have had one
whsmith only keep going cos they've got post offices in them IMO

saffy85 · 02/01/2011 20:04

Know what you mean about the points- I was soooo pissed off at not being able to spend £40 worth of points on DD's christmas presents! They had tonnes of great stuff for her online but most the toys seemed to be online only Angry

Also virtually everything I get in Boots I can buy in Asda alot cheaper and with better deals when I do my weekly shop.

4andnotout · 02/01/2011 20:04

I love Boots, the reward scheme is the best one around IMO, they also do a lot of discounts through their parenting club. Not being able to redeem online hasn't ever been an issue for me.

hatesponge · 02/01/2011 20:05

I don't see Boots going anywhere - am amazed WH Smith is still going though, I haven't bought anything from there in years, nor has anyone I know.

And I'm another one who still misses Woolies :(

saffy85 · 02/01/2011 20:06

BHS and Smiths are shit. God knows how either are still around.

hatesponge · 02/01/2011 20:07

I also have a bit of a soft spot for Boots - many years ago when DS1 was a baby and still BF, they had the only baby changing/feeding room in our local shopping centre, we spent a lot of time in there...it was always v clean and with nice comfy chairs :)

slartybartfast · 02/01/2011 20:08

gawd - bhs have been shit for a long time.

HaveAHappyNewJung · 02/01/2011 20:08

DH works for boots (pharmacy manager) so I hope it lasts.

I'm more amazed that WHSmith is still going.

busymummy3 · 02/01/2011 20:08

is your £30 a gift card or £30 of points? either way dont understand why it bothers you that the perfume is cheaper elsewhere? ie it is not your money you are saving?
also I think they have an excellent guarantee on electrical products twice I have benefitted once with a hairdryer than an electric toothbrush where I was given a new one no questions asked when product was faulty. believe in both cases the guarantee lasted 2 years not many places give you that!

slartybartfast · 02/01/2011 20:08

i think they must be kept afloat by my dh buying my xmas presents there - every year...

and i have to keep my mouth shut about hating bhs on opening my present from him Blush

Quattrocento · 02/01/2011 20:09

Alliance Boots was taken private in Europe's largest ever PE deal

Revenue £22.5 billion
Trading profit £1,074 million

Unlikely to go bust, I'd say. Dunno how much debt KKR have loaded it up with, but the underlying business is too sound to go under.

Points and giftcards notwithstanding

BertieBottlesOfMulledWine · 02/01/2011 20:09

But you can't use gift cards or loyalty card points in most online versions of shops.

Boots is expensive, but I shop there quite a lot. They have a big following on MSE apparently as they have lots of obscure deals - their pricing is weird, sometimes things are really expensive but if you're lucky (or clever!) you can find things on offer really cheap.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 02/01/2011 20:09

I love Boots. I dont care if it's cheaper elsewhere, I rack up shit loads of points throughout the year and then get to spend them on myself buy peoples christmas presents with them.

They're safe anyway I would of heard if they werent. (famous last words! Grin)

bibbitybobbitysantahat · 02/01/2011 20:09

I haven't bought anything in Boots for more than 10 years. They are incredibly pricey.

1percentawake · 02/01/2011 20:10

Boots is shit YANBU

Always overpriced, never enough shop assistants.

Hope they do go under and M&S too!

On the other hand, I miss Woolies - they shouldn't have gone under...

frgr · 02/01/2011 20:11

I have no idea why anyone thinks the "reward" system they have is good

They're always the most expensive shop to buy from, whenever I've been in (it's the closest pharmacy/toiletry shop across the road from my office)... in the past year alone i've popped in to get deodorant, cheap conditioner for the swimming pool on the way home, Dove soap, and a few other things - ALWAYS far more expensive than shopping elsewhere when I go into Boots

Maybe it's just because I'm the sort of shopper that notices if I'm spending £1.89 on something rather than £1.69 like in Asda, since we're on a very tight budget. But my point about their loyalty card scheme being a bit shit still stands - it might be good, but you're paying through the nose for everything anywway

As opposed to some store points systems where items are priced competatively anyway...

coastgirl · 02/01/2011 20:12

I love the reduced shelf - they reduce in the most extraordinary way. Sometimes stuff will have about 20p knocked off, other times they're marked down to about 10% of the original price. Bizarre but great when you get a bargain.

BreakOutTheTinselSantasAComing · 02/01/2011 20:12

If you can only see things you want online, you can order them instore and still use points/vouchers. Can also mix and match ordering and buying instore for the 3 for 2s.

notremotelyintofootie · 02/01/2011 20:12

Dh was given a whsmiths voucher for Xmas and couldn't find anything he wanted at all in there so gave it to me in lieu of money 'owed' as I apparently 'like stationery'! Lol...

I went in and it took me ages to find anything to get with the £15.... They are bloody awful

As for bhs.... I only go in to use their rubbish cafe as it's the only place I can fit my pram when everywhere else is packed but th food is pants and the tea like dishwater with uht milk!

smartiebubbles · 02/01/2011 20:12

YABU - best points system on the high street IMO

Also, they have the added security of the pharmacy business. Woolworths had nothing like that.

BertieBottlesOfMulledWine · 02/01/2011 20:13

Also you don't have to use that £30 in one go, so why don't you just use it to buy your shampoo/sanitary towels/bath stuff/toothpaste/etc for the next few months and at the end of it give yourself the money back to spend wherever you want to?

Or in fact, have you got a mooncup? Boots sell those!

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