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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Or are WHSmith ridiculously overpriced?

48 replies

ImCatbug · 07/12/2016 14:15

Needed to buy some postage boxes and bubblewrap to post some Christmas presents today, and since I couldn't get to my usual shopping centre to buy some gift boxes I popped into the WHSmiths down the road from me.
£4.29 for 3m of bubblewrap??? £4.49 for a smallish medium postage box with a whole page of instructions just to assemble it?? I usually buy £2 gift boxes and bubblewrap from the pound shop. I actually found a 5m roll of bubblewrap in Sainsburys right afterwards and returned the expensive stuff to WHSmith.
I also had a look at the wrapping paper while I was in there and it's £4.49 a roll? Even the non-'luxury' stuff is £3.50 or so. And £8.99 for a pack of Christmas cards? Again, I found cheaper (and nicer) stuff in Sainsburys literally down the road.
I was going to buy a can of energy drink in there too don't judge me but it was about £2.40 a can, or 2 for £2.50. RRP for those drinks is £1.19 so even on offer they're more expensive in WHS than anywhere else.
The only time I see people in there is in the integrated Post Office upstairs. There is nothing in there that you can't get for the same price or much cheaper elsewhere.
I know IABU because I don't have to shop there but I just don't understand why they keep their prices so high.

OP posts:
NavyandWhite · 07/12/2016 14:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ConcreteUnderpants · 07/12/2016 14:19

most definitely NU.
I have long wondered how WHSmiths are still in business. Their prices are shocking.

Sparlklesilverglitter · 07/12/2016 14:20

They are overpriced I always fine.

Even on simple things like chocolate/pens etc

ACatastrophicMisintepretation · 07/12/2016 14:21

I've been saying this for years, I keep thinking they'll be the next high street store to go but they keep plodding on. I truly believe it's their train station/airport stores that keep them afloat; It's ridiculous to pay £1.20 for a pack of polos but they've got a captive market haven't they?

MargaretCavendish · 07/12/2016 14:22

Same. I think a huge proportion of their sales must come from the fact that they have a lot of shops in locations where you might not have a lot of choice, eg airports, train stations - but that doesn't explain how they still have a sizeable shop in pretty much every town centre!

sprinklesofweirdness · 07/12/2016 14:22

Went in there today for 10 dividers and 5 plastic wallets, guess what! The dividers were £1.50 roughly and the dividers £6!!! That's mental

Tissunnyupnorth · 07/12/2016 14:22

Agree, in fact was thinking this yesterday when I popped in (and left empty handed). Stationary, envelopes & small toys, half the price at Tesco. Wrapping paper, cards etc all cheaper at Clintons/Borders.

I'm surprised it has actually lasted this long, needs a huge shake up to survive.

MargaretCavendish · 07/12/2016 14:22

Sorry for cross post with catastrophic making the same point!

MadisonAvenue · 07/12/2016 14:23

They're very overpriced. The one in my town incorporated the post office a couple of years ago and now everything's cramped together and it's difficult to find anything in there (not that I go in very often).
Not a pleasant shopping experience at all.

I suppose they make their money through their shops in airports and railways stations plus they have their newspaper/magazine distribution service.

BreconBeBuggered · 07/12/2016 14:23

The only reason they can possibly stay in business is the range of hobby magazines they sell, and their presence in railway stations. I live in a very small town with a ridiculously limited range of shops, but I wouldn't buy anything in WHSmith.

myusernamewastaken · 07/12/2016 14:24

Ive not bought anything in WH Smiths for years....everything they sell is cheaper in Wilkinsons...Poundland etc....Im shocked as to how they are still trading.

Tissunnyupnorth · 07/12/2016 14:24

To add....I was actually looking for a pencil case for DD. Cheapest was £6.99. I got one in Tesco for £1.50!

mickeyjohn · 07/12/2016 14:24

It's their airport & train & service station shops that keeps them going as they have massive captive markets there. They're always packed on the motorway & airport ones whenever I've been in!

bumsexatthebingo · 07/12/2016 14:25

They do pretty good discounts though. 75% off some decent stuff but their full price stock is extortionate.

littlesallyracket · 07/12/2016 14:25

Yes, their prices are absolutely ridiculous. Also their shops are getting scruffier and more cluttered by the day. My local branch is a huge one over two floors and it's a complete tip, as is the one at the station nearby.

I'm actually convinced they're going to go bust soon.

Mishegoss · 07/12/2016 14:25

Yanbu they're so overpriced and our local one is just a bit crap. It's like a jumble sale, the range of books is crap and if I want a cheap bit of stationery I'll go to wilko or somewhere. I don't know how they're still going.

Sammysquiz · 07/12/2016 14:39

I feel sad about whsmiths. I used to love it when I was a teenager (20 years ago!) and now it's just awful.

WholeL0ttaRosie · 07/12/2016 14:39

Ours closed last year. It was a dump and I rarely bought anything but now it's gone I do actually miss it! I was just thinking today I needed to buy a new Filofax insert and started walking towards where they used to be before I remembered.

DearMrDilkington · 07/12/2016 14:43

I agree with a pp, surely the only way whs are in business is due to the airport stores.

It's so so overpriced.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 07/12/2016 14:44

Yes, it's my shop of last resort after trying the newsagents, corner shop and post office. Not helped by their insistence on self service checkouts.
I don't honestly know why they don't shut the high street stores and focus on the station and airport ones, though I would be sad if they did as nobody else in my town sells their range of books.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 07/12/2016 14:46

I have no idea how they are still open,our local one looks like a crap market and the stuff is 3x the price of anywhere else. They deserve to go under imo as they have been over charging for far too long.

liberatethebuns · 07/12/2016 14:52

I haven't been in one for ages- are they still trying to push chocolate at the tills? I hate it when shops do that, it's shit for the employees who get in trouble if they don't ask every single time.

seasidesally · 07/12/2016 14:58

i dont get why they dont shut the non money making shops and just concentrate on the stations/airports

iklboo · 07/12/2016 15:01

There's one under our office that sells biscuits, painkillers etc. Pack of neurofen £3.99, chocolate digestives £2.50 etc. A small packet of those Ritz Thins was 89p!

Original poster
ImCatbug · 07/12/2016 15:04

liberatethebuns yep, still pushing the chocolate/bottles of water at the till. I always feel bad for the staff because I know how awful it is when you're forced to push add ons, I work in a store that does similar, but even the chocolate is not cheap!

I agree about the airport/train station stores though, the only time I find myself going in there is when I'm travelling and need to grab a drink/snack but lately I've been trying to go to Boots stores at airports instead because it's cheaper, better range and I can use my points card. So even then they've got competition.

I used to buy a lot of art supplies there but have found lately I can get the same/better quality stuff cheaper elsewhere and only go in there as a last resort now.

OP posts: