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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be worried about House of Fraser

366 replies

Viviennemary · 06/01/2018 23:20

Seems this is the next chain to be in trouble. And Debenhams hasn't been doing to well either lately according to the news tonight. I don't buy a great deal in either of these but would be really sad to see them go. Woolworths gone and then BHS. Sad at the thought they might disappear

OP posts:
daisychain01 · 08/01/2018 12:17

Unfortunately that's the attitude in life these days Rebecca, I'm alright Jack, as long as I have a job, I don't care. Unfortunately people don't always have a choice where they work and have to take what they can get even if it's a flakey high street name destined for Administration Sad

I'm very sad about Multiyork because they truly had a high quality hand designed product, but couldn't compete with the likes of DFS and SCS.

Rebeccaslicker · 08/01/2018 12:23

Me too, Daisy - they had lovely high quality stuff in there. We got a big squashy comfy corner sofa from there last year and everyone admires it :(

LightastheBreeze · 08/01/2018 12:31

I only buy from HoF in the sales. I have recently bought a Dyson fan which was the cheapest I could find and a new reduced Christmas tree before Christmas, both click and collect. Never buy the clothes. It’s been years since I have been in a Debenhams

Andrewofgg · 08/01/2018 12:53

Rebecca I am not one of those who "don't care" about the employees and the pension funds, but nor do I think I am under any obligation not to make my pound go as far as it can in providing the goods and services I want. If HoF can't do that they won't get my pound and if bricks-and-mortar can't do better than online I will buy online.

There are some things which can't be provided online (a cup of coffee and a haircut come to mind) and businesses which provide them have only to compete with others in the same line - otherwise they cannot expect any favours from the people who earn the money they spend.

Tapandgo · 08/01/2018 13:34

Shatners - I agree, shoe selection is good in HofF Cheltenham. Top floor household regularly deserted.
I hope the store survives - but looking unlikely unless they compete.

FloControl · 08/01/2018 13:34

FlyingFlipFlop. I think it's a Lamson Tube. Airport control towers used to be fitted with them for sending documents from room to room. Probably a similar vintage to the old Paternoster lifts; I think Schofields in Leeds had one.

ShatnersWig · 08/01/2018 14:03

Tap I've probably bought more things - either for me or as presents - in the household section (and/or kitchen which was moved up there from the basement) over the years there than anywhere else in town and I've never ever seen it deserted or been one of only two or three people there. Maybe I just hit it at the right times. Actually, I bought a heck of a lot of my kitchen stuff from there when I split up with my ex. All of which still got and use all the time and that's over 7 years.

It can't possibly survive the arrival of JL. I shall be sorry to see it go (unlike Hoopers which was opposite and was stupidly expensive) when you think how long it's been there. My worry is what on earth will happen to that building - it's huge, I can't think of anyone likely to want to move into it and how on earth would you divide it up into smaller premises?

mirime · 08/01/2018 14:39

House of Fraser seems to be all concessions these days. Plus, they try and make you have their store card or whatever it is every time you buy anything. I think they have to sign up so many customers every day because they are relentless at every till!

If it's anything like Debenhams used to be the department managers will get a bonus for hitting account opening targets.

mirime · 08/01/2018 14:44

And Debenhams got asset stripped a while back after being bought out by a private equity group, I think they've been teetering since then.

Laniakea · 08/01/2018 14:48

Flyingflipflop was it Jacksons? (On Jackson's corner?) Gone now sadly!

Whitney168 · 08/01/2018 15:26

I live in the same regenerated town as SweetSummerchild and it has made me realise that actually going out to shop for the sake of a mooch is quite a nice thing to do occasionally.

I still mostly shop online though, as I find it frustrating not to be able to get what I want when I go to a physical shop. I guess it works out that if I want/need something remotely specific, I'm far more likely to order it online. If I just want to go out for a look about, I will go in to town.

Like others, I cannot understand how WH Smith is still going - everyone always says their airport shops keep them afloat, but on that basis why don't they shut the high street ones down and just focus on the profitable ones? There is no way their big high street stores can be profitable, surely, they are dire.

Flyingflipflop · 08/01/2018 15:41

Flyingflipflop was it Jacksons? (On Jackson's corner?) Gone now sadly!

That’s it!!! Thank you! For some reason I had Johnson’s in my mind!

brizzledrizzle · 08/01/2018 15:47

Does anybody remember Jackson's in Reading? I bought my DCs christening gowns there.

LaGattaNera · 08/01/2018 16:03

ooh I remember Jacksons yes!

Big new Fenwicks now in Bracknell to replace the old Bentalls and the Windsor Fenwicks closed. The Bracknell Fenwicks is always busy but a bit too upmarket for me lol.

popcorntime1 · 08/01/2018 16:33

What annoys me about online shopping are deliveries not arriving or been delayed, stock selling out in the process of you buying, them packing it, etc. I’ve just spent 20 mins in a shop waiting for the collect+ man to find my parcel, he couldn’t. I’ve been on hold for 30 mins trying to talk to someone. Shouldn’t of gone to the store!

AppyForts · 08/01/2018 16:41

I like HoF because they always have a huge sale section online (ladies clothes). But perhaps that’s a bad sign...

Debenhams is crap. Their website is rubbish and they struggle badly with online orders.

Jassmells · 08/01/2018 17:16

I really hope they don't go. Reading further down about if they do and job losses and people not giving a shit etc... I was in the Hull BHS the day before it closed (not from hull and didn't know it was closing the next day) got talking to cashier at the till who was
practically in tears, had been there 25 years and said there were no other jobs for her or her colleagues in the city (all 40+ women) I hadn't really thought about the impact until then but it really brought it home to me, it's not the individuals fault if a store fails for any reason, except Philip Green of course.

Tanaqui · 08/01/2018 17:19

I think thstores that own their premises are the ones that will survive- I am thinking of a genuine independent dept store near me (B in PW) if you know it, don’t out me!), that owns the building so doesn’t need to make rent.

Also I was in Canterbury recently - nice Fenwick (which I think is HofF owned), terrible Debenhams (honestly think they must own that building!), although I did get a bargain sale bra there, and sadly no longer a Liberty. A surprisingly okay m and a too- so how many dept stores can one town hold?

Motherplucker · 08/01/2018 17:33

I heard new look was having problems...I will be naked if they close

cafenoirbiscuit · 08/01/2018 17:35

Fenwicks is still owned by the Fenwick family.

GreenShadow · 08/01/2018 17:36

I'm a fellow Cheltenham HofF occasional visitor who is predicting its demise once John Lewis opens. Such a pity as the location couldn't be better. If they can't make the brand work there, then where can they?

I also used to live near Reading and had occasional trips to Jacksons - now that was an interesting shop!

Snowdrop18 · 08/01/2018 17:38

@Motherplucker

"I heard new look was having problems...I will be naked if they close"

I think you just came up with a new advertising campaign there Grin

woodhill · 08/01/2018 17:38

lakie I think are you being served was based on Clements in Watford

Personwithhorse · 08/01/2018 17:40

I bought some make up in the large Debenhams in Winchester. Sadly it is a very tired and uninspiring shop. It will make a huge gap on the high street if the y go out of business

woodhill · 08/01/2018 17:43

Then things will be expensive as JL won't price match.

I would rather buy less of better quality middle of road stuff but it's getting hard. Hate Primark