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 :(

Our WH Smiths is always tidy and clean, nice stock, helpful staff and heaving with people. So I don't think they're going under any time soon either.

I remember when the town I grew up in still had a John Menzies and a Smiths, and when JM got taken over they shut it and just kept the Smiths. I still haven't forgiven them!

As a kid at least Smiths wasn't too bad for pencil cases and notepads, but now the supermarkets do it all much cheaper. Smiths seem to have reacted to this by stuffing the place with 50% more stock than they have space for - and all DVDs and books you can still get much cheaper elsewhere. Bizarre.

Like someone said above - the train station stores and airports might survive due to captive audiences, but I can't see their high street branches lasting much longer.

woolies was awful around 1990

im surprised it didnt go earlier

Boots should need some epic mismanagement to go under. It is a chemist department store, basically. The backbone of the store, the pharmacy, is pretty secure. People always need medication and while they're in there, they're willing to get other stuff on their list, especially if prices are in any way reasonable. Boots do good deals on nappies and wipes, for example. They have Boots Parenting Club, which is a further incentive. They sell young children's clothes, which are sometimes to my taste. Especially during their half-price sales! They sell a lot of things for young children, and the customer service is always good, so they're cutting into Mothercare's market. Parents are a very good source of revenue, aren't we?

Then, there's the make-up and the constant deluge of vouchers for their ranges. Which I frequently pass on to friends and family, come to think of it, and they use the vouchers.

Photography is a stable thing too, and bigger Boots stores have those little digital photograph selection machines, so you can connect up your camera or mobile phone instore, and choose which ones to print. Those machines always have customers thronged around.

My local Boots did stock far too many Finger Electrical Guitars for Christmas, tough. I can't see how they'll sell them, even at half-price!

Yes I used to work on the tills at WHSmith. You'd be surprised how many people do say yes to the half price chocolate orange. Actually you'd be surprised at the amount of people who say "Really?? Half price??" like it's the best offer they have ever heard of

Still we only used to sell about 10-20 a day on a busy Saturday (in a small town). I sold 30 once in one day and my manager gave me a free CD

WHS Retail and WHS News are separate companies now though so even if the news business keeps going it doesn't mean the retail one necessarily will.

I think getting rid of the WHSmith loyalty card was a mistake. I used to choose WHSmiths to buy newspapers and magazines, so I could get points which I then used for toys, books, etc. Now I buy magazines with the rest of the shopping at whatever supermarket. All in all, I spend very little money in WHSmith's now.

I have never seen a Boots advert - what's wrong with them?

There are always loads of boots adverts on near Christmas

"here come the girls!"

WHSmiths do still do a loyalty card but you have to ask for one and you have to give it over, they won't ask for it. I used to have loads of the points card when they were still telling you about them but I don't shop there very often anymore.

As I said earlier, WHSmiths will stay around because they supply the local newsagents.

Not seen it, Coke - I hardly watch any TV. What's wrong with it?

Boots is not going anywhere judging by the massive queue I saw in there at lunchtime. I think if you can't find something for £30 in Boots you must be a bit odd.

I live in Nottingham btw, home town of Boots - employs squillions of people here including some good friends. They'll be pleased to know people on here are wishing them out of a job so gleefully.

Those stupid boots adverts are the limit. Bloody Sex and the City has got a lot to answer for.

That said, I really like Boots.

God knows how Clintons cards keep going. Who the bloody hell buys cards from there?

WORST shop on the High Street is Sports Direct. I went there over crimbo to buy DD a pair of football boots. Walked in, walked straight out. Vile place.

I hate the 1/2 price mega chocolate bar sales at the till. It a sure sign of corporate desperation and somewhat irresponsible, given obesity and all that.

Oh well zukie, I don't buy cards for anyone anyway, so I think the concept of Clintons is alien to me

Would have thought people would use Moonpig nowadays.

Getorf, I tried to buy one of those intelligent fibre running tops in my local sports shop. The material that keeps you warm but not sweaty when you're running. The staff just looked at me blankly. They might as well have said, i'm sorry we only usually sell tracksuits to fat people. Clueless they were!

at actually going into a sports shop to buy sports clothes!

Sports Direct had 2 inch wide aisles, fat unwashed shoppers and rails full of bizarre clothing such as Jean with Golddigga written on them in gold. I ask you.

Oh and Debenhams. I went to try and buy trainers but there were no staff to be seen and it looked like a jumble sale. Hideous. Not that I wish anybody to lose their jobs from there but they really, really need to sort their act out.

I think Debenhams varies depending on where it is.

The one in Cheltenham is a vile crowded nightmare, but I quite like the on in Glouecster, it's better laid out.

Mind you I never go in Debenhams, no use when there is a House of Fraser in the same town. House of Fraser is great

I get to buy perfume once a year with all the points I rack up in the year.

We bought our tumble dryer from their appliance centre and the service was IMMACULATE. They gave me a morning slot, phoned the night before with a more accurate 2 hour window, phoned in the morning with an exact time and then turned up exactly on time, despite al the hideous snow. Best customer service I've had outside of John Lewis.

I heart John Lewis....

Agree that Boots is more expensive for basic toileties. However I do like Boots as there is more choice of make up, shampoo, etc than in Tesco or Asda. I'd be sad if they did go under. I think places like WH Smith and HMV will go under first, too much internet competition.