Is This The End Of Retail?

[Asterix, the former Gaul.]

Went to a local garden centre a week ago, the sort that sells everything besides plants and has an eatery. Apart from pets and pet food almost its entire stock besides plants consisted of discounted Christmas decorations. Despite the discounts prices were absurdly high.

[ian]

I remember being told in the early '90s that Waterstones had an official policy of not prosecuting shoplifters...

Years ago I worked the information desk at a bookshop in NYC. One of the bonuses of the job was that it gave me the opportunity for a bit of exercise from time to time, because I served as backup for the security guy stationed at the front door.

Most stolen book: the good one.

...

One day yet another thief set off the alarm triggered by the thin metal strip chucked into the spine of hardcovers and the more expensive titles, prompting me to give chase down 42nd Street. It was thrilling, like some kind of TV show! And a few blocks later I caught up with the guy!!

He turned around, looked at me huffing & puffing, and pulled a knife. It's safe to say my lack of enthusiasm as deputised lawman can be traced from that moment.

I used to be occasionally store detective in the Coop. I occasionally had to give pursuit of errant children, fleeing with filched bags of crisps and thre like. As I was pretty much an errant child myself, it mostly wasn't much of a pursuit – I certainly stole several metric tonnes of pick-n-mix from Woolies. Occasionally they'd throw away their ill-gotten five-fingered booty and I'd eat it and then claim to have lost them. That happened a lot. I was basically outsourcing my thievery. I was also supposed to stop old ladies stealing tins of salmon for their cats. Really fast those old ladies, I don't recall ever catching them.

[mark]

Most American retailers have adopted a very strict "do not pursue" policy, to the point where any employee or manager who attempts to chase or physically stop a shoplifter can expect to be fired. The rationale seems to be that any injury to the employee is going to cost the retailer more than any amount of merchandise a shoplifter could walk off with (American healthcare might not be the best, but it's definitely the most expensive). The store I work in does, however, work pretty closely with the local police in trying to apprehend shoplifters and track down the more expensive stuff when it gets stolen.

[Jaded]

I used to run after people. Once, as the perp stopped to take breath, I casually mentioned that I ran half marathons, and I'd carry on following him until we saw one of the Met's finest.

He came back with me.

(I wouldn't do that now, on account of 1 not being able to and 2 knives and stuff init. )

[orienteer]

Need to buy a pair of pyjamas. Tried M&S, only one set available in Medium, which was not suitable. Have had this size availability problem in M&S frequently over the years, you'd think such a major retailer would have a better idea of the population's size distribution.

No other shops in Uxbridge seem to sell pyjamas these days, got some weird looks from assistants when asked.

Don't want to buy online, need to feel the material first. Might be forced to buy a second set of Routemaster seat moquette pattern pyjamas from the London Transport Museum....

Went to John Lewis in Oxford Street today. Another shop that doesn't believe in pyjamas, just a very meagre selection in the loungewear area. Tried Uniqlo across the road - no pyjamas. Finally found some up the street in Muji, doubly discounted to half the original price.

Paid at a self service till, then when I got home found a security tag attached. Managed to remove it with a couple of screwdrivers and a pair of pliers without damage (to the pyjamas at least!).

[rafletcher]

Changed the better in my car key fob. It’s the first one I’ve come across that hasn’t a coin shaped slot to turn the better cover with, rather a reinforced slot for a screwdriver.

[Cudzoziemiec]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1rvlv01255o
Getir gets out, in part due to a return to physical location shopping.

[Paul]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1rvlv01255o
Getir gets out, in part due to a return to physical location shopping.

So is this the end of is this the end of retail? Or the beginning of the end of is this the end of retail? Or just the end of the beginning of the end of is this the end of retail.

(I feel a bit funny. I'm going to lie down)

[grams]

It's the end for a particular speculative type of retail that not enough people wanted.

[Jaded]

Neverheardofit.

[MikeFromLFE]

Getr were pioneers in the use of electric mopeds for delivery. I think they used 'dark stores' to source their delivery items rather than physical shops. We tried to use them a couple of times towards the end of lockdown but they had supply issues even then.
Won't be missed.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Yes^. I've never used them but used to see their plums-and-custard coloured mopeds buzzing around a lot and they had a dark store about half a mile away on a main road. That closed a couple of years ago (I think it's now a Lucy & Yak clothing shop) and about the same time, we ceased to see the delivery riders, or at least only infrequently. They seem to have been a sort of Deliveroo of retail.

[TimO]

Body Shop in receivership again & a big department store closing in Cheltenham.   https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/feb/17/big-mausoleums-of-stuff-cheltenham-is-latest-town-to-mourn-loss-of-beloved-department-store

I'm a couple of months late to this particular snippet, but I lived in Cheltenham for a decade and a half, and visited Cav House about twice in all that time. Even back then, it clearly appealed more to the well heeled customer who didn't bother looking at the price. It was one of those places where there were weird routes to get in and out of places, with steps in strange locations, and entrances where you didn't expect them, because they'd had to progressively change the shape and organisation of an old building, which was never designed or built for the more modern ideas of current shops.

I'm somewhat surprised it lasted this long. It felt very dated in the late 1990s, so most have been positively prehistoric by now. There's only so long you can keep your trade going, based on tradition and a shopping experience more beloved by those who are retired with a six figure income, which I'd suspect is more common in Cheltenham than many other parts of the country!

As many others have said, unless you want to feel and touch an item, or you're buying something like food, for immediate consumption, department stores really cannot provide the range of items that online shopping can, and often cannot even provide an item as fast.

[robgul]

Body Shop in receivership again & a big department store closing in Cheltenham.   https://www.theguardian.com/money/2024/feb/17/big-mausoleums-of-stuff-cheltenham-is-latest-town-to-mourn-loss-of-beloved-department-store

I'm a couple of months late to this particular snippet, but I lived in Cheltenham for a decade and a half, and visited Cav House about twice in all that time. Even back then, it clearly appealed more to the well heeled customer who didn't bother looking at the price. It was one of those places where there were weird routes to get in and out of places, with steps in strange locations, and entrances where you didn't expect them, because they'd had to progressively change the shape and organisation of an old building, which was never designed or built for the more modern ideas of current shops.

I'm somewhat surprised it lasted this long. It felt very dated in the late 1990s, so most have been positively prehistoric by now. There's only so long you can keep your trade going, based on tradition and a shopping experience more beloved by those who are retired with a six figure income, which I'd suspect is more common in Cheltenham than many other parts of the country!

As many others have said, unless you want to feel and touch an item, or you're buying something like food, for immediate consumption, department stores really cannot provide the range of items that online shopping can, and often cannot even provide an item as fast.

Ah - I missed that piece of news while I was on holiday in Feb - I too lived and worked in Cheltenham for about 10 years up to 1993 . . . you pretty much encapsulate the Cav House experience - sad to see it go - and do you remember "The Famous" in the High Street, clothes for the gentry (and IIRC Guide and Brownie uniforms for my daughters)?