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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For wanting to play 'administration' bingo?

357 replies

TheSeriousSanta · 29/12/2008 21:15

I am.. I know I am.. It's mean..

But I have compiled a list of high street stores that will go bust before 31st January and now feel compelled to see if I can shout HOUSE before anyone else...

OP posts:
apuppydaviesisforlife · 30/12/2008 15:02

i've already lost my job thanks to the downturn, does that mean i'm allowed to play?

UnquietDad · 30/12/2008 15:04

The cold wind will start to sweep through here in two months or so, when the first "DH's firm has gone into administration, he's lost his job, oh heavens, I've got to give up the cleaner and gym subscription and the DCs may need to go to the rough school, AIBU? WWYD, blah-blah" threads start to appear.

SoupDragon · 30/12/2008 15:06

UD, I don't think anyone is actually playing bingo. I was walking through the shopping centre yesterday and thought that Tie Rack must be on the at risk list though.

goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh · 30/12/2008 15:06

UD - not sure where you've been - but we've already had several of those threads

SoupDragon · 30/12/2008 15:07
Hmm
SoupDragon · 30/12/2008 15:07

Yes, given that the first to go were banking/finance firms you're a little behind the times.

ThornyRose · 30/12/2008 15:09

Harsh UD, will you look so disparingly at the threads that say DH's firm has gone into administration, he's lost his job, oh heavens, we are going to lose our house and the DC may have to change school when we are allocated a council house?

muggglewump · 30/12/2008 15:09

I was on the bus yesterday and overheard a woman I vaguely know who works for Woolies saying that some of the profitable shops (ours is one of them) may stay open under something or other (I didn't quite catch what that was) but that's a rumour in the shop and they know very little. Ours will be open till the 6th definitely though.

Just thought I'd pass it on if anyone's interested.

UnquietDad · 30/12/2008 15:11

Well...people thought "fat-cat" bankers were "fair game" at first until they worked out that these were people's jobs being threatened, and not just the hedge-funders but also their cleaners, photocopier-menders, caterers and so on. Now it's hit the high-street things are a bit different and people will see the effect instantly - a shop in your street will disappear, someone on your road or in your block will be newly unemployed. It'll be true for everyone.

TWINSETinapeartree · 30/12/2008 15:13

UD I live in one of those Middle England towns with little boutiques and we are feeling the credit cruch we have lost 2 gift shops, 2 pubs, a card shop, woolies, a shoe shop and about to loose a book shop. It does make me worry what is going to appear in this place.

I feel for employees of course but have very little sympathy for those at the top. My ex's family owned a large chain of stores that went bankrupt, it caused untold grief to their employees but to them it just meant that their debts were cleared. They still love their overly extravagent life style, there kids are still privatlet educated and they still live in their huge house while others suffered.

TWINSETinapeartree · 30/12/2008 15:14

I used to buy quite a lot in the body shop but have never stepped foot in a store since the Loreal buy out I bet that is quite common.

apuppydaviesisforlife · 30/12/2008 15:15

nobody here is gloating ud. i repeat - i already lost my retail job, am i only allowed to make harmless quips if my family are on the breadline? or only in the privacy of my own home when i can't afford an internet connection any more

goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh · 30/12/2008 15:17

and I hate to burst your bubble UD - but many of the threads of those natures haven't been "oh I'll have to get rid of the cleaner/put the DC into state schools" - it's been the "I'm going to lose my home/struggle to live" type ones.

UnquietDad · 30/12/2008 15:21

I know, I was being a little provocative there...

goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh · 30/12/2008 15:22
  • sorry just feeling a little teeny wee bit sensitive as I settled into bed last night and looked around and realised it's the nearly the New Year and I'm going to have to start packing soon ready for when I move
TWINSETinapeartree · 30/12/2008 15:22

UD

I wish I could have had you to hand when I was married.

UnquietDad · 30/12/2008 15:25

What would I have done? Cited just cause or impediment?!

DaddyJ · 30/12/2008 15:29

'Also it may seem amusing if you live in a small Middle England town whose shops are nearly all trinkety boutiques where people with more money than sense, even in a recession, will keep them going.'

How very dare you slag off Richmond upon Thames, UQD!

I sort of agree with the tone of this thread.
Our sense of humour is the only thing that will keep us sane in the next few years.

Incidentally, I had a chat with someone who spent the last few days shopping
in Central London and she said it was packed to the rafters with Euro Shoppers
particularly from Spain. Shops that cater to tourists are presumably doing well then?

UnquietDad · 30/12/2008 15:32

DaddyJ - I sort of had Boughton-on-the-Water in mind when I wrote that!

I suppose a "yer gorra laaaaaaarf ain'tcha?" attitude is one way of getting through it!

David Cameron must be hoping to god he doesn't get elected any time soon and inherit this mess...

TWINSETinapeartree · 30/12/2008 15:54

cited just cause, I was the lone voice of reason in a world of selfish decedance throughout my marriage.

Pinkjennybellrock · 30/12/2008 15:56

Blockbuster (no 's' on the end) is part of a massive and hugely profitable American company. I would be very surprised if they went into administration, however, they may just close stores until they have quite a small number of profitable stores left.

Tinker · 30/12/2008 16:01

Habitat are also owned by IKEA aren't they? Do expect them (Habitat) to shut some stores though.

SummatAnNowt · 30/12/2008 16:32

I thought Blockbuster weren't doing too well in the US these days.

andyrobo237 · 30/12/2008 16:51

Currys should be ok given the volume of sales they have taken this year (DH works there) even if they had major problems with their computer system and were running out o stock to sell - DH organised an artic of TVs to arrive on Monday this week, which arrived a day early!! He reckons that they do not rely on finance, so not borrowing money rom elsewhere.

PC World is another story all together. They have been having difficulties for over a year that I know of, and they have rebranded some stores as 'destination' stores which have hands on stuff (not sure how they manage the security issue of that!). The staff are generally poor though, we went in twice while Christmas shopping in mid afternoon, and had to hunt out a member of staff who was useless - DH knew more than she did! He regularly transfers stock from the branch next door to his as PC World have failed to sell something, and Currys have been more helpful, and they get narked about that!

DH can see them being fitted inside Curry's branches - perhaps as a mezzanine level, as a lot of their stores are quite large and could fit another floor in. It would save on rent, and overheads, etc as they would only need one retail unit.

Comet I can see going, as well as BHS and the likes of Laura Ashley - who shops there?!

Our Woolies closed on Saturday and we went past yesterday - it is in a square with about 15 stores, and it was the largest - it is very sad, but I can see Tesco snapping it up for an Express store, which would be ok!

notcitrus · 30/12/2008 18:22

Our Woolies shut the other day, which I'd been predicting for 3 years as invariably half the shelves were empty and stock dirty/broken. The Brixton one was half the size but had double the contents.

I'd predict a Tesco Express if there weren't already t3wo plus a sainsburys central and mini somerfield within a 1 minute walk.

Actually, that probably won't stop them...

Looked closely recently and more than 12 estate agents havr closed - quite a few are now windows-only with no staff, just sign on the door telling you which real branch to phone. so prabably 18 shut out of 36 or so.