Death of the High Street?

[Diggs]

A large part of the problem is that we can buy most of the things we need from big supermarkets nowadays, rather than doing a food shop then getting other bits from town.

This is a fault of our judicial system. Years ago Local Authorities used to put Conditions on planning approvals for supermarkets restricting what they could sell to groceries. These Conditions were appealed over time and our glorious judicial system makes such Conditions unenforceable nowadays.
____________________
Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[BTTD]

When I was a small child I remember getting dragged along the high street by my mum: small supermarket, butchers, green grocers, Woolworths etc every week. There was also a small electrical shop, a couple of newsagents, a record shop, pharmacy, jewellers, fish mongers, shoe shop, couple of clothing shops, camping shop that also sold workmans wear, lighting shop, cobblers.
With the exception of the jewellers, pretty much all of that stuff is in Tesco Extra, and can be delivered.

[B5234FT]

Everyone bemoans the death of the highstreet, but IMHO it's an outdated concept which is changing to reflect the needs of consumers. It's as daft as bemoaning the loss of coaching inns after the motor car became widespread.

I don't shop online because it's cheaper, I shop online because it's more convenient. It saves me an hour of my evening battling from work to the shops before they close (why oh why are shops and banks only open when all their customers are at work??), having to find a place to park and then deal with the general public whilst trying to find what I want in a shop that was organised by someone with ADD. Online you can search by sensible terms, filter it, they have every size in stock and its there when you get home a day or two later.

It's the same with Uber, it's not a cut price private hire taxi service, it's a different service offering, I dont need cash, or even to know where I am really, I dont need to call 4 different companies to be told they've no cars for the next half hour, it's just convenient.

[-]

[grr666]

Brother in laws garage was broken into yesterday, along with 7 others nearby. Someones started Christmas "shopping" then.

As for the High Street, if you got any better than service with a snarl then you might want to use the shops.
When they aren't being surly, that's replaced with disinterestedness. I get why, but still. Poor staff attitude and
lack of knowledge in shops is what keeps me shopping online except when absolutely unavoidable. I bought a new
closed shackle lock yesterday in Screwfix to replace the bolt croppered one from the garage break in. I wanted to look
at a few before I chose one and you would think I had asked the bloke to forge me a padlock from scratch. When I realised
that this was a massive inconvenience to him I deliberately dithered and umm-ed and ahh-ed choosing the one I already had
sort of chosen already, just to inconvenience him some more before I bought it. I needed it immediately so couldn't wait for
an online order to arrive, with the garage being unlocked until the broken one was replaced. I'm certain he was glad when I left.
That made two of us, but at least I got a chuckle out of it.
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[c_dug]

[M.C]

[Diggs]

I'll just leave this here. Newcastle's finest...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXNA5124qR0
____________________
Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[The Shaggy D.A.]

I dunno, there's some green bits...

https://explore-uk.illustreets.com/app/where-to-live-in-england?view=HyDkP8-hx&grid=HyDkP8-hx&map=-0.1123*51.5100*10
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[chris-red]

I actually quite enjoy a wonder round a local town's shops, although never to buy anything specific, other than maybe lunch or a pint.

I enjoy looking in Charity/Second Hand Places, I also like Discount/pound shops too.

I collect old Video Games which I often get in charity/SH places. For some bizarre reason I like seeing what random shite they have for cheap in tat shops. Anything specific though Amazon/ebay FTW.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[thx1138]

I prefer to buy from local shops and to support them, even chain stores.

but they never have what I want, so I go online

local Clarks shoe shop, the men section is upstairs, actually its two shelves in the kids section

New Look, have one 1/8th of the floor space for mens clothes, and no mens changing room.

Go Outdoors pile lots of tat up down the front of the shop, but when it comes to serious kit, it's very hit and miss.

Local sports shops, bar one on an industrial, are not really sports shops at all, they just sell awful casual wear and pump out dreary r'n'b music, and are populated by unfit yoofs.

nowhere left to buy any real electronic kit either.

Shopping on somehwere like Amazon, I fall down a rabbit hole...

In the olden days, I'd want say an electronic organiser, go to a local shop like Dixons. See maybe 7, discount 5 from my selection, and then choose between the 2.

Look for the equivalent, like a tablet, on Amazon now, get absolutely bamboozled by choice, and then waste 1/2an hour reading negative reviews.

I'd better stop, before I catch teff syndrome.

[chris-red]

I buy all my A/V gear out of Richer Sounds cos the service is top notch. I'll often buy stuff in Halfords/Euro Car Parts too, prices generally are reasonable.

I also bought my car audio stuff from a local one man band because the service was great. I did over pay by 15-20% but the bloke was so helpful and really went the extra mile, although he does fitting he happily talked me through fitting and even gave me screws and crimps for nothing. Well worth the extra money IMO.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[thx1138]

actually, I forgot about Euronics. As sort of chain/consortium of independents.

I buy all my big electrics from my local one, and they are wonderful.

But I rarely need that sort of stuff. I will always go there though, always.

[M.C]

'Shopping' works when you don't really know what you want, Christmas is about the only time of year that applies The rest of the time it's just easier to find it online, occasionally that'll mean click and collect from Argos but normally it means an online retailer.

Only food shopping and clothes really need to bought in person (IMO), unless you want moldy fruit and trainers that don't fit properly.

Most of the shops I like(d) have gone out of business, it seems to be the expensive stores with hardly any stock that are surviving.

[The Artist]

I just did my entire Xmas shopping in the week before Xmas from the comfort of my own home and it is all being delivered tomorrow.

I didn't have to go and mingle with the great unwashed and I had 1000x the choice of items and the prices were better or the same as going into a store.

This is why the high street is dying.

[panrider_uk]

Many places will price match Amazon

I've got matched prices from both Currys and Go Outdoors this xmas.

Parking is my biggest gripe about shopping in town.
____________________
Current bike: Honda ST1100

[The Artist]

[B5234FT]

[M.C]

[Pigeon]

[Ste]

I was meaning in regards to parking restrictions and charges.

[thx1138]

parking charges for shopping areas seems to be self defeating

[Diggs]

Councils set parking charges for two reasons:

1. To regain some income to spend on public services, because the current Government gives them less to spend on you each year.

2. To encourage people to use public transport and to shop locally.
____________________
Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[M.C]

[Diggs]

Its a subtle form of social engineering to change people's habits. Cars pollute.
____________________
Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...