Quoted from misc

Ironically, I got a much better deal on my plasma TV from John Lewis than Dixons were prepared to offer (either on- or off-line). Free five year warranty, too.

details, details please.

Oh it was a year or two ago now. A Panasonic 42" 1080p plasma that had all the features I was looking for, and top notch reviews. Originally £799, Dixons/Currys could only get down to £769. I talked John Lewis down to £729 (including the five year warranty) and got a further £10 off when I went to collect it and they didn't have it in stock.

Unfortunately, our greed to buy cheaper (and we are all guilty, including myself) will cause more closures of high street retailers.

Remember year's ago a SALE was either a mid summer SALE, or a Boxing Day start/January SALE. Now the SALE sign is out all year round. Gone are the queues for that "special" deal for the chosen few when the sale starts.

Ironically, the knock-on effect is less jobs, which means less money, which means less buying power, which means less buyers, thus forcing down prices and reducing profit margins even further. It is a disasterous spiral, where we will self-destruct the high street as it is now, and then there will be nowhere to go to see and purchase products on speck. And I can't see an end or a resolve........

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8380268.stm

Such a shame, particularly as the staff their really tried hard to play a part in the local community (much harder than some of the independent local businesses that I could mention).

But who of us can say that they haven't browsed in Borders and then ordered a book from Amazon at £10 less than Borders' price on their smart phone while sipping an Americano in Starbucks?  Certainly not me.

Quoted from noobree

But who of us can say that they haven't browsed in Borders and then ordered a book from Amazon at £10 less than Borders' price on their smart phone while sipping an Americano in Starbucks?  Certainly not me.

Me for one. If a shop has an item that I want, and I think the price is acceptable, then I'd buy it there and then. While it's good to save money where possible, I can't see the point in constantly shopping around for the absolute lowest price as if that's the most important thing. It's like driving miles out of your way to a petrol station that has unleaded 1p cheaper than elsewhere.

Quoted from massifheed

Me for one. If a shop has an item that I want, and I think the price is acceptable, then I'd buy it there and then. While it's good to save money where possible, I can't see the point in constantly shopping around for the absolute lowest price as if that's the most important thing. It's like driving miles out of your way to a petrol station that has unleaded 1p cheaper than elsewhere.

It's pretty much accepted these days that everything is more expensive on the high street than it is online. Websites like Amazon or Play (for books, music, films and games)  and eBuyer or Novatech (for technology) are one-stop shops - each of which has a gigantic product range and excellent prices. There's really not much need to shop around.

The only thing I consider to be worth buying from an old fashioned bricks and mortar retailer is clothing, so I can try it on, although many online clothing retailers now offer free postage and packing, and even free return postage (along with a full refund) if an item doesn't fit.