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 :(

I used to buy a lot in Boots. Five years ago I'd have said I can't live without it.

Today, I never go there. And I am now a mother and there's a Boots literally at the top of my road.

The reasons I don't shop there?

• The over-zealous threatening looking security guards
• The poor range of goods (no high end or natural/organic skincare products)
• The huge, slow queues at the till (seriously, what is that about?)

I buy my make up in Selfridges, everyday toiletries and baby products from Ocado or the local herbalist, and use an independent pharmacy for drugs/prescriptions.

There is no need for Boots in my life.

I add to my list their vile and irritating TV advertising campaign. It's almost as bad as M&S. God don't get me started on M&S... The British High Street is due a serious overhaul.

WHSmith has to be the next to go, they are fucking awful.

I love Boots!
But it does depend on the store itself, I find.

The local one to me is small & fairly rubbish - run out of stuff quickly and have a v limited range.

The big one in town is BRILLIANT. And I can always find something to spend points on - and they do sell high end cosmetics, so I can properly treat myself rather than buying baby wipes with them.

They also have a UR Beautiful salon, where you can collect and spend points, so I have no complaints at all.

Their online presence is pretty poor though, compared to others. Slow delivery dates and rubbish 6 hour time slots (last time I tried). In fairness to them, I did complain via their feedback bit on the website, and they came back asking for more details...but I got a bit bored and didn't bother replying

One place that really cheesed me off was Sainsburys. Last time we used Nectar points, it paid for somthing in full (flights or Eurostar IIRC)

This time, we wanted to buy a washing machine from them - you can only use £50 in one transaction! Unless you are buying in store. And we had £350 to spend. (It sounds a lot, but we've been collecting for about 5 years and God knows how many £££££ we've spent on the way)

So, Plan B was to buy the big Christmas shop and a few presents, to use them all up.

3 hours later and having put it all through the till, DH hands over his card. Error message: Points not redeemable. I hand over my card - 'sorry, we can only scan one card per visit, you'll have to call Nectar to sort it out.'

I went into meltdown.
DH calmly states we'll just unload everything and put it all back through the till.

Funnily enough, the manager went off to find someone who knew what to do. Reader, we spent all our points. And a bit more

Despite all this, I still wouldn't stop shopping there. Muppet.

Crazycatlady - spend 6 months in Canada, you will never have craved the British High Street more!!

I know what you mean Holly, I used to live in Canada!

Having said that though, I never shop in Boots, M&S, WHSmith anymore or any of the shops named and shamed in this thread. I have never even stepped inside a BHS, Wallis or Superdrug.

I am lucky enough to live close to enough good independent shops not to need to, but there are vast swathes of the country that are not so lucky and dependent on these middle-of-the-road retailers for everything.

Went in smiths yesterday after reading comments here. It was indeed a jumble sale as it was so untidy

Dd works on the Benefit counter in our local boots and the staff discount is FAB! She gets a card for her and one for another member of the family (me!), its 12.5% off non-boots stuff and 22.5 % off boots own things.

At Christmas there is a double discount day -Woo Hoo!! 45% off all Boots stuff including Protect and Perfect which is normally on 3 for 2 anyway, I lurve boots!!

Don't think there's much chance of them going under because of the diversity of the business - I seem to recall that they also owe lots of property too due to all the acquisitions many years ago - Timothy Whites as an example. (showing my age!)

Crazycatlady that is so spooky, what a coincidence!!

I really miss places like John Lewis, the White Company and definitely M&S for underwear.

There are some good places in CA - loving Crate and Barrel, have spent a small fortune in there.

Boots sold a huge amount of property a few years ago on a sell and lease back deal, so don't own that much anymore.

Still don't think they're gonna go under though, Stefano Pessina and KKR paid just over £11 billion for Boots so think they'd do everything under the sun not to lose that.

Crate and Barrel is good. So easy to spend a fortune in there...

White Company I love. Maybe they'll start shipping abroad soon!

I thought of this thread today. Went in Boots and got:
Johnsons Baby Wipes £1
Radox shower gel £1
L'Oreal foundation at £2 off
Baby jars on good multibuy offer
Half price pair of child's cords

If that's not good value for money, I don't know what is! Boots is staying (I hope).

don't forget they are also a pharmacy- a lot of income will come from prescriptions.

I guess if you want discount store style products then Boots can be good value. I just don't like much of what they sell. The brands they stock are all pretty poor quality.

Pharmacy will be lucrative I agree. Although they must have lost a lot of income from their photography desks now everything is digital and printable at home.

I dont consider Radox and L'Oreal to be poor quality brands. It is the high street, not Harrods.

Oh I think Boots will survive.

I used to work as a web developer/editor for Boots.com 4-5 years ago and they certainly have their heads screwed on marketing wise. I used to moderate the Parenting Club forums: now that was fun (not).

Crap pay and long hours way outside contract, though, so I now work for someone else.

Are Sussex Stationers in trouble ? 2 branches near us are "Closing Down" but it can't just be lease renewals.

Answered my own question in Administration - how sad :( .