AIBU to never shop at WHSmiths again?

[Rollermum]

I get they are trying to broaden their product base in the face of online competition but I feel they have gone way too far with crowding stores out to the point where getting around them is a headache, even without a pushchair or wheelchair.

I went to my local one which has narrow aisles, and for Christmas they have put little semi circle stands of gift wrap and sweets at every corner. I did have a pushchair but even without would have found trying especially I didn't happen to be the only one in there.

Their policy of a self service checkout in the ways of the normal till (seen in several branches, not just this one), piles of sugary crap teetering around the till and endless not very useful vouchers just gives me the rage.

AIBU to want to never shop there again even though I try to support the high street? And I feel sorry for their staff (peering out from piles of sweets, proffering vouchers).

I wonder if that's my local store, sodabreadjam, although it could probably describe all their central Scottish stores.

I also meant to say that while my local one is OK for layout, another one I go to quite regularly (only place in that particular street to buy a paper) is horrendous. It's actually set up so that you can't get to the back till if there's anyone already being served at the front till (think one behind the other, with the back one by the doors).

I hate it - our local one is just a depository for piles of stuff they want to sell off - random things in no particular sequence. It's dated and the layout is messy.

I don't know why anyone shops here as I'm sure most of the stuff can be obtained cheaper elsewhere and in more pleasant surroundings.

They also sting you by displaying 2 different 3 for 2 offers right next to each other, but ever so subtly different. So, when you think you've picked up 3 from the same offer, you actually haven't and by the time you've got to the till struggling through the overcrowded aisles, you've lost the will to live, you end up paying the rip-off bill and walk away quietly seething.

(haven't read the full thread yet, sorry if this is a repeat! ).

It's the only place I can buy Hanjie puzzles - otherwise I'd never go there.

AgentProvocateur - it's Falkirk I am talking about. Grangemouth is gone or going too.

Yanbu

I have never set foot in one since I tried to go to the post office in December once, which was upstairs (lift at back of store) in a WH Smith. At the time my DTs were in a narrow double pushchair, which I bought because it was the same width as a wheelchair, so I assumed would be accessible throughout the town. It was impossible to get the pushchair through, past endless displays of crap blocking the aisles. A snotty shop assistant even came over and berated me for coming into the store in December.

I will never shop there again, even if they sold anything I wanted.

Yes they're shit now. Crowded, grubby, overpriced, full of nothing. The lighting in ours is so appalling that whenever we need to go in, DD announces they are shut. Then we take a second look and realise that they are open, just limping along under a dim, miserable light.

Always rude staff. Always selling off cheap chocolate.

It's sad. They used to be a treasure trove of stationery, craft, records (shows age) and pocket money brilliance. And when I was growing up our local WH Smith had a sister shop next door called CraftSmith - literally sparkly shit heaven.

They need a makeover. The stores don't seem to have changed for decades.

I refuse to enter this shop since the manager asked if i was ok (i was struggling with the self service tills which didnt like me) and i sighed and said i wish the shop was as i was a teenager with pretty pencils, pens etc. i had a 30 min lecture from him telling me that was the time they lost money and handing out the vouchers ever time now was good business sense. I think i ended up apologising for saying the old days were better to just get out. Never will i darken the doors again.... (Heads to the wine..)

Wilkinson's sells pretty much exactly the same stationery for a fraction of the price.

I have very fond memories of WHS from my early teenage years…every Saturday my Dgm would treat me to a book…I used to love the smell of the place, the smell of the books, the excitement & anticipation of choosing one. Worked my way through the famous five, then goosebumps, then all the Jacqueline Wilson ones, then point horror, good memories I also remember the back to school run for new stationary, new every year. The pencil tins, pretty pens & notebooks…a very exciting outing indeed! Good times

Sadly I agree with most that they have really gone downhill in recent years. I realise there has to be some sort of premium on the airport stores but was fucking fuming when the £19.99 autobiography I bought for a cheap holiday read was in Tesco the same week for £9. Won't be making that mistake again!

Every single packet of chocolate on those shit value 3 for 2 deals you can buy cheaper elsewhere. Grumpy, unhelpful, unknowledgeable staff.

Definitely lost their USP & need a new one, fast.

Hanjies! Yes, that's the main reason I go there too. And Super Hanjies...

I used to work in WHSmith back in the late 90s and it was much better then, it only sold books, stationery, music and newspapers/magazines. It did a good job of what it sold, had a good range and wasn't crammed to the hilt with tat. In our book department we had loads of room, it was beautifully tidy and we had good sales.

I don't set foot in them at all now, they're just awful. Loads of tat around the tills, and they don't do one thing well. They need to focus on what they're good at (and what the high street is missing), like a good stationery store and then widen the aisles. It's a horrible experience to shop there especially with a buggy (and we have a tiny Quinny Zapp).

Absolutely hate it in there. I've never been in a whsmith and enjoyed the experience. Our local branch is full of miserable 18-yr olds who stand around chatting when you're waiting, its dingy and dark and oh my goodness, the prices!! So over priced its ridiculous. Why anyone would pay £4 for a card or £8 for a small diary I don't know.

I hate WH Smiths for all the reasons stated above. I only go in under duress (to go to the Post Office). They are far more deserving of going bust than Woolies were.

I like the mahoosive £1 chocolate bars

I do feel that WHSmiths is a let down though, they don't even have a good fountain pen/ink selection for true stationery lovers like myself...

It's always been overpriced hasn't it... Pencil cases that you could get from Poundland costing something like £6.99 in WHSmiths!

I remember CraftSmith Jaded

It was gorgeous!

Agree with the consensus that WHSmith is shit now.

I used to love WHSmiths - It was the only place you could buy cool stationary. Does anyone remember those solid plastic rulers, about a cm in width? in all colours? Then there were the bendy rulers. Rubbers. Pens....drools. But yeah, now its a bit shit. Its like a stationary store, but not really a stationary store, bookshop but not really a bookshop, toys shop but not really................sigh

Awful shop. Purchased cigs there recently....(I know, but that's a whole other thread), they were about £2 more per packet than Tesco Express next door. They literally charge what they want. Their book choice is poor, their cards overpriced and generally it's a shop I avoid.

Ours is the same but also very dark you have to go ampnd try the doir to check if they are actually open! Also I reckon it's anither that must treat their staff abysmally as the staff have always been busy doing anything but serving and never know if they will restock particular items. Haven't bothered with them in nearly a year now.

I've been in once in the last year. I wanted to get a copy of aa hardback book that has just come out, got good reviews, and has now been nominated for the Samuel Johnson prize (so nothing obscure). Was prepared to pay full RRP to get it. Not only did they not have it, when I finally managed to track down a member of staff (by going to the checkout and queuing ) not only did they confirm they didn't have it, but when she tried to look it up on the system, she couldn't find it and couldn't even order it in for me. She didn't give a fuck.

Me too. I go in about once a month, to pick up a magazine which is a special order. Other than that I steer clear these days. Overcrowded by displays, clearly designed by a committee of people who had no thought of actually letting people with any kind of mobility issues, get round the store. Most of the aisles in my local shop are single file only. Heaps of chocolate rubbish round the till. Overpriced on anything they can possibly get away with. Stupidly limited range of stock in some areas, ridiculous range of tat filling the shelves instead. I remember (quite a few years ago) when they actually used to be good.