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

[GillyT]

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 :(

Someone I know who works in retail said Boots is so expensive even their own staff shop elsewhere, despite having a staff discount. I quite like it though and their points system does rack up - unlike nectar.

See, I like Boots and think that they often have good offers. I got some Tony and Guy stuff for 2 for 7 pound this week (usually about 6.50 just for one). And occasionally they have brilliant mark-downs - two photo albums for 3 pounds or 4 pairs of tights for 29p.

where else do you buy makeup on the high street - Superdrug always gives me the creeps and full of teens. bodyshop too expensive.

Why anybody would actually hope that boots and m&s would go under beggars belief.

How crass. They employ loads of people and occupy large retail premises in many towns and cities. If they went, then not only would many sales staff (mostly women in m&s and boots) be out of jobs but there would be another massive blow to the health of the high streets.

Shame on you percent.

No it isn't going to go under

I think it's still a very strong brand name. Even if things are cheaper elsewhere, Superdrug is so crappy inside and there aren't very many independent pharmacy-type shops. You know that if you go into Boots you can get lots of things in one go instead of fannying around in different shops. The advantage points online thing isn't really an issue - I would imagine most people shop in-store anyway.

Boots is the only chemist in our town so I always use it. There is another chemist at the health centre but that is on the edge of the town so I never go there. I really like their rewards system.

actually that's a good point about the adverts

i have to mute the TV when that one with the two women sniffling, talking about how infantile their men are, comes on

i really cannot stand that ad at all

I agree Boots is expensive for things like deodorant, but their own brand nappies I think are competitive, and I love their lunch deals!
I also think their points & parenting club are brilliant - I remember getting loads of money off vouchers when DS was born, and I also spent about £100 in there on things like a moses basket etc. With double points and money off coupons I made £40 back iirc

I like Boots, it is expensive for some things but the range is fantastic. I like Superdrug but their toiletries range is a bit pants sometimes.

I think Smiths make all their money at airports and railway stations where people are in a hurry and don't look at price so much.

what you have £30 to spend in boots and can't find anything?

Don't forget - Protect and Perfect...

another one who thinks BHS and WH Smiths are shit,but i do go into boots when they have their 3 for 2 offers,

I quite like Boots, when I was childfree I used to while away the odd lunchbreak in there getting myself minor treats, makeup etc. Still go there pretty regularly, because if you're only getting one or two things (and you're not really broke) and you have a Boots nearby then it's not worth walking to the supermarket or Superdrug to save yourself 30p - so that 30p excess markup is pure profit for them.

WH Smith, OTOH is diabolically badly run. Seriously, how hard can it be to just keep the bloody stock on the shelves, and not have empty cardboard boxes all over the floor?

I would put my money on WHSmith going under first. Or getting rid of all their High St shops and only keeping train stations.

There are so many shops that seem to be fairly useless - Bodyshop, Whittards, Tie Rack. I do wonder if there will be more gaps in the High St soon.

Do miss woolies though

wh smith confuses me too - went to buy some nice pens for my son for christmas and some good drawing pads - couldn't find any only books and dvds

boots in trouble fora while

bhs philip green shop

i dont know how tie rack keeps going - didnt it come out at the same time as the Sock shop.
that used to be good for xmas presents.

body shop seems to be vital for xmas presents

i like body shop so ner

i think wh smiths is kept alive in towns because it has the post office in alot of its stores. I agree that it is an awful shop, they try to sell everything and you end up getting nothing - the shops are also always very untidy and understaffed.

i didn't know tie rack was still going, i haven't been to an airport in about 3 years so assumed they'd all gone now

that's interesting (post office) never knew that - they should also bring back their 'win a pony' competition imo

I think bhs will eventually disapear, in the one close to me they have moved an evans and a dorothy perkins concession in to bhs. I can see that eventually they will use the large bhs sites as multi arcadia brand stores.

YABU. Their points system is one of the best and I always manage to buy stuff I want in the shop using my points.

Yabu. I love our boots. The 3 for 2's on dental and vitamins are ace.

Some things are expensive but as I'm in there a few times a week I can sniff out the deals and reduced items.

Although our one doesn't have a customer lift but has all the kids toys and baby products upstairs .

And protect and perfect must keep them in huge profits.