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Meanwhile in the U.K. I give you the saga of Homebase. Major middle class supermarket chain Sainsbury’s set up Homebase DIY stores with the premise that it is a jack of all trades store for everyone. Has gardening sections, diy sections, fitted bathrooms and kitchens, decorating sections, soft furnishing accessories, lamps, and so on and so forth. Is incredibly successful because middle class middle aged women loving love shopping for curtains while their husbands look at drills. In 2016 It ends up being sold Australian company Bunnings, with the takeover being completed in June 2018. August 2018 profit warnings, store closures oh my. But why would it tank so hard in only two years? Parent company financial troubles like with Toys were us? Oh no. It was because the first thing the good people of bunnings did was to decide to rebrand the stores as DIY FOR MANLY MEN and removed all the GIRLY things like lampshades and cushions, and not only made it like every other generic DIY store in the U.K. but also pissed off its entire customer base. Meanwhile Sainsbury’s bought out Argos, the only company in the U.K. capable of delivering curtains to your door in 4 hours from ordering for £3.99
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Aug 14, 2018 12:05
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fishmech posted:No, because that isn't true here. Depends on your perspective....The U.S. currently ranks 18th in economic freedom (trending upward again), below "socialist" countries like Sweden and Denmark. OTOH, we're kicking France's butt.
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Aug 14, 2018 21:27
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Lol, you know who makes that Freedom Index bullshit right?
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Aug 14, 2018 22:28
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BrandorKP posted:Lol, you know who makes that Freedom Index bullshit right? Not to diminish this, but I like to point out those "socialist" Scandinavian countries that are doing relatively well every time some fuckwit insists that the face that France is struggling right now is because they, too, are too "socialist" I'm not comparing France to Sweden/Denmark/Norway/Finland in any meaningful way, it's just an easy way to gently caress with people who think that the reason any country has problems is because they have the nerve to have universal health care and robust social protections.
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Aug 15, 2018 05:52
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Jesus Christ just put fishmech on ignore you assholes. In thread relevant news: https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/14/moviepass-uncancels-accounts-so-shady/ quote:We've been following the seeming death spiral of MoviePass for awhile now, as the company has run out of cash, limited services, raised prices and more. Now, there's a new issue for subscribers to contend with: People who cancelled their MoviePass subscriptions are finding that their accounts have been reactivated, seemingly without their consent.
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Aug 15, 2018 06:06
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learnincurve posted:Meanwhile in the U.K. I give you the saga of Homebase. It wasn’t just that, of course, Bunnings picked up Homebase right as the recession started, but they certainly didn’t do themselves any favours. I remember the adverts for Homebase used to feature Neil Morrissey and Leslie Ash, to emphasise that the store was the preferred choice of men and women, as well as being clear that it was focused on average homeowners rather than clued up DIY enthusiasts. I think Homebase would still have been in trouble with the recession, I’m not sure Sainsbury’s would have sold if they didn’t see a challenging future ahead of it. Honestly Argos really seems like the miraculous survivor of the collapse. In retrospect you can quite easily rationalise it as “it’s like if Amazon had five to ten warehouses in every city and you could collect same day” but I imagine if you were to ask analysts fifteen years ago which types of shops would have been most at risk from online retail, catalogue and warehouse retailers would probably have been top of the list. I think it’s interesting to compare Maplin (for Americans, Maplin sold electronic and AV equipment) and Argos side by side. People use to complain about Maplin being much more expensive than Amazon, and it was, but before Prime existed the cost of next day shipping would often even the price out. So Maplin’s logic was that you were paying a premium to get it now. But it turns out you can’t run a business on just the people who realise they’re short a cable on a day they can’t wait. Meanwhile Argos focused on basically being the same price as Amazon but you can collect the same day if you don’t want to wait for delivery. I’m sure the cost of the warehouses built inside retail units means they make less money on each sale than Amazon does, but at least it’s a popular and sustainable business model that lets them grow.
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Aug 15, 2018 16:50
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Media Bloodbath posted:That sure was a thing. The CEO has been a bitcoin believer for as long as bitcoin has been around. He's accepted actual bitcoin for payment on his site (not a convert to dollars processor) and he offers to pay his employees in bitcoin. They're also under investigation for doing a token sale https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/01/overstock-com-drops-10-percent-after-revealing-sec-investigation.html
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Aug 15, 2018 17:02
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Reveilled posted:It wasn’t just that, of course, Bunnings picked up Homebase right as the recession started, but they certainly didn’t do themselves any favours. I remember the adverts for Homebase used to feature Neil Morrissey and Leslie Ash, to emphasise that the store was the preferred choice of men and women, as well as being clear that it was focused on average homeowners rather than clued up DIY enthusiasts. Argos is weird because I've literally ordered something at 9am on a Sunday and picked it up at 1pm the same day. I have no idea how they do it.
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Aug 15, 2018 17:02
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From what I can see they did everything sears did wrongly the right way. Usable website that has been around for as long as I can remember, clear discounts and codes, clear delivery times with bookable time slots and cheaper prices than everywhere else on white goods. When I moved house I hired a skip and dumped most of my possessions into it, the money I saved on not hiring movers and instead renting a van, meant I could take advantage of a load of 20-25% off codes and order everything new off of Argos instead. Moving day was chuffing beautiful, brand new washing machine, fridge freezer, beds, sofa and chairs, bedroom sets, oven, curtains, rugs all set up and ready a week in advance.
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Aug 15, 2018 17:09
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serious gaylord posted:Argos is weird because I've literally ordered something at 9am on a Sunday and picked it up at 1pm the same day. I have no idea how they do it. I live very close to a distribution hub and because somone has common sense, and realised that delivering the closest packages first would save weight and therefore fuel, I get the option of my same day delivery arriving in four hours flat.
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Aug 15, 2018 17:15
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Speaking of Sears, it appears that Lampert is planning on stripping the last valuable asset of note, the Kenmore brand, for $400 million, along with another $80 million for Sears Home Services, which caused the stock price to crash about 13% to $1.59.
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Aug 16, 2018 00:04
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Bunnings is hugely popular and successful in Australia. It's what Australians do at the weekends, go to Bunnings, buy a sausage from the sausage sizzle stall outside manned by the RSL, and buy some plants or some DIY items or some outdoor/bbq stuff. It's just Australia. It's just part of the Australian national identity and way of life here. What Bunnings did wrong in the UK was to just translate the Bunnings store wholesale into the UK market with no changes. They honestly thought that because it works in Aus and is so popular that it would be the same in the UK too. Wesfarmers, the company who own Bunnings reported a 56% overall loss in profits because of their UK misadventure, though Bunnings in Aus and NZ are up by 12%. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/15/wesfarmers-net-profit-slumps-58-following-bunnings-uk-debacle
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Aug 16, 2018 15:15
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The problem there is that Wickes and B&Q exist in the U.K. already and do that exact same thing. Dobbies which is a garden centre chain with cushions, candles n stuff very quickly realised what had happened to Homebase and started stocking drills and making the loyalty points available to non-members as well so that’s where a lot of the old Homebase customers are now .
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Aug 16, 2018 15:25
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So, apparently J.C. Penney cratered in terms of their quarterly loss and projected loss for the fiscal year and their stock has plummeted nearly 23% to an all-time low.
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Aug 16, 2018 16:22
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Is there anywhere to buy clothing that's between Walmart/Outlet Mall and full price at the stores that drain into the Outlet Mall? I've been to the big retail stores and honestly, the quality wasn't really there anyway.
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Aug 17, 2018 01:34
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Horseshoe theory posted:So, apparently J.C. Penney cratered in terms of their quarterly loss and projected loss for the fiscal year and their stock has plummeted nearly 23% to an all-time low. Damnit. Hang in there JCP. Beachcomber posted:Is there anywhere to buy clothing that's between Walmart/Outlet Mall and full price at the stores that drain into the Outlet Mall? I've been to the big retail stores and honestly, the quality wasn't really there anyway. JCP has decent sales every now and then but check out Marshall's/TJ Maxx/Burlington.
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Aug 17, 2018 01:44
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Doctor Butts posted:Damnit. Hang in there JCP. Target has a fairly nice line under the Goodfellow name. I usually buy JCP polos for like $8 a pop and they’re pretty good quality.
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Aug 17, 2018 02:05
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Spring Heeled Jack posted:Target has a fairly nice line under the Goodfellow name. I usually buy JCP polos for like $8 a pop and they’re pretty good quality. That goodfellow stuff is legit. It reminds me of Banana Republic style, just under BR fabric, Gap level stitching and Old Navy prices.
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Aug 17, 2018 04:30
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TJ Maxx, Burlington, Ross, and Marshall's are nice, but they mostly soak up manufacturer surplus, so their selections are unpredictable. If JCP and Sears both go bust, then Kohl's is like the only thing left at that price/quality tier with a regular selection, and they're doing lovely too.
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Aug 17, 2018 06:00
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OneEightHundred posted:TJ Maxx, Burlington, Ross, and Marshall's are nice, but they mostly soak up manufacturer surplus, so their selections are unpredictable. If JCP and Sears both go bust, then Kohl's is like the only thing left at that price/quality tier with a regular selection, and they're doing lovely too. No surprises there, the market they cater too (the middle class) have spent a decade pinching pennies on anything that isn't a status symbol because their wages are stagnant, and nobody can really tell if you got your jeans at walmart besides the need to keep replacing them because the lovely lowest tier manufacture means they fall apart in six months of light wear.
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Aug 17, 2018 07:59
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Kohls is actually doing really well and not lovely at all. I don't shop there but the one by me has Amazon returns and it owns. Hand Row fucked around with this message at 12:50 on Aug 17, 2018 |
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Aug 17, 2018 12:46
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Uniqlo is worth a look if you've got one near you.
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Aug 17, 2018 14:05
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Hand Row posted:Amazon returns fucken nice
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Aug 17, 2018 14:05
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Liquid Communism posted:No surprises there, the market they cater too (the middle class) have spent a decade pinching pennies on anything that isn't a status symbol because their wages are stagnant, and nobody can really tell if you got your jeans at walmart besides the need to keep replacing them because the lovely lowest tier manufacture means they fall apart in six months of light wear. It doesn't help the formerly decent brands are cutting corners. The dockers I wear for work feel cheap and will likely fall apart within a few months. I have some twill ones that are tougher and I like better, but surprise surprise they don't make them anymore. Everything is racing to the bottom quality wise, but the prices stay the same or go up.
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Aug 17, 2018 16:04
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prisoner of waffles posted:Uniqlo is worth a look if you've got one near you.
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Aug 18, 2018 01:28
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prisoner of waffles posted:fucken nice They also give you a 20% off coupon at Kohls when you return something which is neat
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Aug 18, 2018 01:41
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Horseshoe theory posted:Speaking of Sears, it appears that Lampert is planning on stripping the last valuable asset of note, the Kenmore brand, for $400 million, along with another $80 million for Sears Home Services, which caused the stock price to crash about 13% to $1.59. My first (and until June, my only) AC was a Kenmore, and lasted me fourteen years before I required something more portable. Gonna be a shame when they're gone; I couldn't tell you another brand worth buying.
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Aug 18, 2018 22:01
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Kenmore might have been good back in 2004.
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Aug 19, 2018 09:07
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Kenmore products are all rebrands (mostly of Whirlpool products), so you're never going to really lose out on good product from them leaving the market. Their ACs are rebranded LGs.
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Aug 19, 2018 11:03
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OneEightHundred posted:Kenmore products are all rebrands (mostly of Whirlpool products), so you're never going to really lose out on good product from them leaving the market. Their ACs are rebranded LGs. A point about that last sentence: This is true and they're, on the whole, much quieter than other manufacturer's models of the same BTU rating. They also tend to have a fourth "low fan" setting that greatly helps to reduce noise in window units for easier sleeping during nighttime. On clothes chat: Believe it or not Levis is a great deal no matter where they're bought. The only thing you're going to notice is that they tend not to put their most 'stylish' lines in discounters like Kohls and the like. If you want 512's, 511's etc...you're going to have to go to either the Levis Store, Macy's (or equivalent) or the Outlets.
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Aug 19, 2018 14:10
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TyroneGoldstein posted:A point about that last sentence: This is true and they're, on the whole, much quieter than other manufacturer's models of the same BTU rating. They also tend to have a fourth "low fan" setting that greatly helps to reduce noise in window units for easier sleeping during nighttime. I've had some Levis for nearly 5 years now and there isn't a mark of wear on them. I think the only reason I'll ever get rid of them is when i'm too old and fat to fit in them anymore.
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Aug 19, 2018 14:23
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I like Madewell jeans, though I think they only make women's stuff. They're a bit pricey new (though not that much more than J. Crew or whatever), but they always have sales, and there's a ton of selection. I really like that, like guys pants, they just use waist and inseam measurements, so there's less guesswork involved with regards to sizing. Plus they're just really well made 
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Aug 19, 2018 14:35
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OneEightHundred posted:Kenmore products are all rebrands (mostly of Whirlpool products), so you're never going to really lose out on good product from them leaving the market. Their ACs are rebranded LGs. Kenmore Elite appliances used to be Bosch, but I think they're all LG now as well.
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Aug 19, 2018 14:42
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Kohls and Aldis are also putting their stores together which makes a ton of sense. I used to think the Amazon thing was an initial attempt for Amazon to buy Kohls but now Kohls stock has like doubled since then.
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Aug 19, 2018 15:20
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serious gaylord posted:I've had some Levis for nearly 5 years now and there isn't a mark of wear on them. I think the only reason I'll ever get rid of them is when i'm too old and fat to fit in them anymore. Costco jeans are actually pretty great quality. They've lasted me around 4-5 years so far and at a great price in comparison to Levi's.
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Aug 19, 2018 15:40
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FayGate posted:Costco jeans are actually pretty great quality. They've lasted me around 4-5 years so far and at a great price in comparison to Levi's. The most annoying thing about Costco clothing options is they literally only sell Medium and larger. I’ve never seen a size small there for any clothes.
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Aug 19, 2018 16:09
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Mister Facetious posted:My first (and until June, my only) AC was a Kenmore, and lasted me fourteen years before I required something more portable. 
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Aug 19, 2018 18:04
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n/m
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Aug 19, 2018 18:16
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FayGate posted:Costco jeans are actually pretty great quality. They've lasted me around 4-5 years so far and at a great price in comparison to Levi's. But their cut is very dad jeans. And I love Costco jackets and cargo shorts. Levi’s are the lowest priced denim nerd good looking jeans out there (depending on their cut.) their athletic fit cut also fits me better than any other cut out there. (Thin waist, very strong legs).
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Aug 19, 2018 18:41
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HEY NONG MAN posted:The most annoying thing about Costco clothing options is they literally only sell Medium and larger. I’ve never seen a size small there for any clothes. I'm no expert on guy's pants, but Levi's Denizen line from Target fit my tall, thin bf pretty well. And H&M is always good for, shall we say, Un-American-sized clothes.
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Aug 19, 2018 18:48
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