Jobs in Somerset under threat as Comet faces administration (From Somerset County Gazette)

I feel sorry for some of the staff as they have seriously upped their game in recent months with more staff trying to meet and great and be etc helpful but there variance of price between them and their neighbors at hankridge can often leave a bad taste in the mouth.

I went in comet to look at a dyson and they had a dyson rep who sold me a new one very well and I got some money off for my trade of an old hoover. However a day later I visited B&Q and they were selling the same dyson £80 cheaper than anyone else. When i returned to comet they would do nothing stating my trade in had be sent back not even a goodwill gesture.

I'm sorry for the staff who must be facing uncertain times just before Christmas, but for me it's online all the way, that way I don't have to deal with a disinterested and generally unhelpful sales assistant who obviously didn't want to come into work that day I went in to buy a new tumble drier. Shame.

Take PC World for example, order online for store collection and save at least 10%.
Now try going straight to the store and ask for a discount and see how far it gets you.

FreeSpeech? wrote:
Take PC World for example, order online for store collection and save at least 10%.
Now try going straight to the store and ask for a discount and see how far it gets you.

Halfords do them same it's infuriating. You can get 10-15% just by clicking and collecting an they can't/ won't match the deals. Also I have experienced super deals on products and clicked and gone to collect and despite their website saying that store has stock they don't. It happened on 3 different items this year alone. On one occasion they had a car seat at 99.99 but the website was offering the same product at 67.99 which it stated they had stock of. In store they said it was the same but had a different stock no and I could only have the 99.99 one as that was in stock.

Online all the way. What a lot of people don't realise is if you buy a Laptop or PC from from say Amazon you are protected by the Distance Selling Regulations in order words you fire up the laptop and if its not what you want you get so many days to return it. If you buy into said high street store like Currys/PC World and I expect Comets, if you have opened the box and take it out and change your mind they will not refund it. They will only exchange if its faulty and then you will probably get another one and you might if they haven't got another one get your money back. This works for other items as well online, in order words you get more rights as you cannot inspect the goods until they arrive, this to me gives one major advantage over the High Street.

But Amazon pay no/low UK corporate tax. So why shop there? You shop at Amazon and they pay US tax on their profits. Great. Buy local.

Why pay more than you have to and get better service, you get nothing buying local for electrical items. The staff are clueless I know as I am very good with electrical items, won't match prices even though the store next door has the exact same item cheaper. As for cables forget it HDMI lead about 5 times the price is a good example in these stores, try Richer Sounds, Amazon, Play, Ebay any of these as you will save a fortune and not be ripped off.

Guy Smiley wrote:
But Amazon pay no/low UK corporate tax. So why shop there? You shop at Amazon and they pay US tax on their profits. Great. Buy local.

I try and support local businesses and the economy i dont really want my money routed around the world to avoid tax. I now boycott starbucks.

Richersounds in exeter know their stuff and their deals are great.

I'm going where its cheapest. Couldn't care less about how much tax Amazon pay in the UK or whether or not its local.

Great, just bought a washer/dryer from Comet.

I am now in the market for a tv/dvd combo for the bedroom so may hold fire and see if they have a clearance sale

I think thats part of whats wrong with this country no gives a monkeys about anyone else or the economy.

People like you dont even want to support your own economy your just shooting yourself in the foot long term.

I actually prefer shopping on the high street than online and paying a little more but taunton doesnt seem to have any stock of anything I want so staff tell me I can order it in store or some quite blunt and tell you your better off ordering online your get free delivery I am not sure if the realise they may be making themselves redundant.

Even better than shopping at Currys/Comet/PC World etc etc blah blah: Try your local independent, they'll almost always be cheaper and you might get an interested assistant too.

When it comes to washing machines, I discovered about 10 years ago you are better off going to the Washing Machine Service centre (Taunton) the machine is either on a par price wise or cheaper BUT you get free delivery and installation, very often they will trake the old one away too! For other things, I'm afraid I do buy on-line it's often cheaper, I can do it from the comfort of my home (can't walk very far) but I accept that it's killing the High Street, I hear Argos have a shopping channel now and are closing some of their stores, it's all heading that way!

Couldn't care less about rates of corporate tax but demand free health care, education, security, welfare and a pension.

Where's the money coming from then?!

Clueless.

Guy Smiley wrote:
Couldn't care less about rates of corporate tax but demand free health care, education, security, welfare and a pension.

Where's the money coming from then?!

Clueless.

Here here, couldn't agree more.

Mi_Coc wrote:

Guy Smiley wrote:
Couldn't care less about rates of corporate tax but demand free health care, education, security, welfare and a pension.

Where's the money coming from then?!

Clueless.

Here here, couldn't agree more.

Not just seconded.
Thirded!

I notice their not honouring any gift cards, instead choosing to employ security guards in the bridgwater store as they also wont do refunds under any circumstances either which surely isnt legal.

Mi_Coc wrote:
I think thats part of whats wrong with this country no gives a monkeys about anyone else or the economy. People like you dont even want to support your own economy your just shooting yourself in the foot long term. I actually prefer shopping on the high street than online and paying a little more but taunton doesnt seem to have any stock of anything I want so staff tell me I can order it in store or some quite blunt and tell you your better off ordering online your get free delivery I am not sure if the realise they may be making themselves redundant.

I am surprised I agree with you ;)
.
Having purchased both a washer/dryer and fridge-freezer from them earlier in the year, I am very glad I did not take their protection plan and instead stuck with the manufacturer's guarentee. Although they are going bust, you can bet they wont cancel people's protection plans and return their money to them...

*Flick* wrote:

Mi_Coc wrote:
I think thats part of whats wrong with this country no gives a monkeys about anyone else or the economy. People like you dont even want to support your own economy your just shooting yourself in the foot long term. I actually prefer shopping on the high street than online and paying a little more but taunton doesnt seem to have any stock of anything I want so staff tell me I can order it in store or some quite blunt and tell you your better off ordering online your get free delivery I am not sure if the realise they may be making themselves redundant.

I am surprised I agree with you ;)
.
Having purchased both a washer/dryer and fridge-freezer from them earlier in the year, I am very glad I did not take their protection plan and instead stuck with the manufacturer's guarentee. Although they are going bust, you can bet they wont cancel people's protection plans and return their money to them...

Flick in the case of comet group the plans are provided by a third party insurer and are still valid.

Mi_Coc wrote:

*Flick* wrote:

Mi_Coc wrote:
I think thats part of whats wrong with this country no gives a monkeys about anyone else or the economy. People like you dont even want to support your own economy your just shooting yourself in the foot long term. I actually prefer shopping on the high street than online and paying a little more but taunton doesnt seem to have any stock of anything I want so staff tell me I can order it in store or some quite blunt and tell you your better off ordering online your get free delivery I am not sure if the realise they may be making themselves redundant.

I am surprised I agree with you ;)
.
Having purchased both a washer/dryer and fridge-freezer from them earlier in the year, I am very glad I did not take their protection plan and instead stuck with the manufacturer's guarentee. Although they are going bust, you can bet they wont cancel people's protection plans and return their money to them...

Flick in the case of comet group the plans are provided by a third party insurer and are still valid.

Knew you would know all about it, could you tell us what you don't know about apart from selling sorry spelling?
Never known such a know-it-all that hasn't even learnt the basics yet.

FreeSpeech? wrote:

Mi_Coc wrote:

*Flick* wrote:

Mi_Coc wrote: I think thats part of whats wrong with this country no gives a monkeys about anyone else or the economy. People like you dont even want to support your own economy your just shooting yourself in the foot long term. I actually prefer shopping on the high street than online and paying a little more but taunton doesnt seem to have any stock of anything I want so staff tell me I can order it in store or some quite blunt and tell you your better off ordering online your get free delivery I am not sure if the realise they may be making themselves redundant.

I am surprised I agree with you ;) . Having purchased both a washer/dryer and fridge-freezer from them earlier in the year, I am very glad I did not take their protection plan and instead stuck with the manufacturer's guarentee. Although they are going bust, you can bet they wont cancel people's protection plans and return their money to them...

Flick in the case of comet group the plans are provided by a third party insurer and are still valid.

Knew you would know all about it, could you tell us what you don't know about apart from selling sorry spelling? Never known such a know-it-all that hasn't even learnt the basics yet.

Its all on the comet website I am waiting for their fire sale but it appears they don’t own most of the stock so they are trying to agree terms before having a big sale.

I will be spell checking all my post in future since its your only criticism of me ; ) In fact I am honoured you have taken time out of your busy schedule to post about just me.

Back on subject they state all warranties are with the manufacturers but the contract of sale will fall with comet group or the administrators if purchasing now. However I assume administrator must be except from retail law?!?

Well aktuerly I was going to comaplin about your spellin too becoz it's "hear hear " and not "here here"

My retail business was the first in Taunton to have broadband in 19earlysomething and the first in it's field in the country to have a website. The business was primarily retail from premises. I felt then it was the thin end of the wedge and am surprised it has taken so long for the sheds, that also have vast websites, to feel the draught. I don't think there is any cause for Currys/PCWorld to feel more secure as a result of the demise of it's greatest competitor.
Clearly without retail showrooms to use as libraries the consumer is going to find it harder to choose from online offerings. Returns policies will be even more key than they are today
Next stage syndrome

Mi_Coc wrote:
I notice their not honouring any gift cards, instead choosing to employ security guards in the bridgwater store as they also wont do refunds under any circumstances either which surely isnt legal.

In case anyone's still got a gift card, there has been an announcement that they will be accepted - for how long etc.. is anyone's guess so get down there and spend 'em!

(my view on gift cards? The Bank of England does a good range, quite papery and flimsy but accepted universally - and if they ever stop being accepted I'd not be worrying about white goods!)

Samej1 wrote:

Mi_Coc wrote:
I notice their not honouring any gift cards, instead choosing to employ security guards in the bridgwater store as they also wont do refunds under any circumstances either which surely isnt legal.

In case anyone's still got a gift card, there has been an announcement that they will be accepted - for how long etc.. is anyone's guess so get down there and spend 'em!

(my view on gift cards? The Bank of England does a good range, quite papery and flimsy but accepted universally - and if they ever stop being accepted I'd not be worrying about white goods!)

Still wont do refund or honor warranties. Despite them entering into a contract under the sale of goods act they put it on on the manufacturer.