We called up at turners retreat on tuesday morning and spent about 35 minutes browsing the shop and in that time there were just another couple who entered the shop, is the net killing off these shops? How would you feel if this was to happen.
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Are suppliers a dying breed
- Thread starter ataylor
- Start date
Can't imagine Tuesday morning at this time of year is expected to be a busy time for them, also they sell quite a lot of gear via the internet, so doubt they are worried unduly about lack of footfall on the day you went.
I went on there open day & the place was full so horses for courses I guess.
I went on there open day & the place was full so horses for courses I guess.
It's more likely that local councils kill off the shops, have you seen the cost retail rates. I would never visit turners retreat and yet they could still benefit from my custom, they have a wider customer base with the net.
Peter
Peter
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- Jan 31, 2013
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- Terry
Turners Retreat is always empty during weekdays. Most of their trade is internet based !!!
Neil
Fellow
Which is why it is on an industrial estate in which they will probably manage to get charged warehouse rates as opposed to retail rates if there is a difference. The "shop" is only there for the open days and to attract the open wallets of those who attend tuition courses there and casual visitors
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- Terry
Snainton is always empty too although their shop is on their land so it just shows the strength of the web. !!!!
Neil will know and understand why craft supplies are no longer, mostly as they were not as accessible and the overheads for such a building are astronomical.
They were good in their day but I don't believe it's the suppliers fault, there is just not the market now as its a dying trade..
Neil
Fellow
Havent managed to visit Axminster Warrinton yet but have so far crossed off the branches at Axminster, Nuneaton, the one in Kent, (havent made it to Basingstoke) and they are all on industrial estates, High Wycombe is always the busiest of the lot. Toolpost is in the middle of nowhere round the corner down a dead end on an industrial estate to and is deserted most of the time. Stiles and Bates takes the biscuit, you have to go on a global navigation course to find the place and then when you do get into the vicinity its round the back of the sio tower turn right just before the manure heap and you can just see the door!!! Peter Childs is another joke to find, the directions say look for the post box on the right and the turning into the yard is on the left!! Deserted, all the time!
John davis is like that
Neil
Fellow
What? like a post box, poor bloke.
Lons
Fellow
I recently bought my lathe which was my first purchase from Turners Retreat and they were a pleasure to deal with both on the website and by phone. Out of the 4 dealers I emailed to check stock they were the only ones who responded quickly, another took 10 days, (by which time I'd already bought and received it) and the other 2 didn't bother so I'll buy from them whenever I can now.
As an aside, the lathe was wrongly priced on their site and though they did correct the mistake they still honoured the listed price which was a considerable saving. They didn't need to do that and could have just refused or told me it was out of stock. It was delivered within 24 hours as well.:up:
Dealers of this type are invaluable to people like me who have no shops within reasonable distance.
Bob
As an aside, the lathe was wrongly priced on their site and though they did correct the mistake they still honoured the listed price which was a considerable saving. They didn't need to do that and could have just refused or told me it was out of stock. It was delivered within 24 hours as well.:up:
Dealers of this type are invaluable to people like me who have no shops within reasonable distance.
Bob
For turners retreats down falls they are still very good for some things
I have always found them so & do try when ever possible to buy from them, fortunately they are fairly local to me just a shame they are no longer Festool dealers :hurt::moody:
Walter
Fellow
All makes sound economic sense to me. If most of your business is internet based and you don't need a high street presence, why pay high street rent and rates.
There are many more suppliers and a better range of products available now than there were twenty years ago.
There are many more suppliers and a better range of products available now than there were twenty years ago.
I don't believe there are more around than 20 years ago, there may appear to be more as the www has now opened up all areas to the whole country and world now. It just means we are aware of more available.
Most towns and cities had there own hardware stores that dabbled in nearly everything, tools, equipment and spares. I don't think you will find many of them now..
I agree with high street charges and that's where it killing the small market towns now. But that's another subject.
Walter
Fellow
You could be right. Certainly however it is easier now to find what i want from a wider range of suppliers. The local hardware shops near to me in Amble, Alnwick and Morpeth have survived and appear to be thriving. I use them by preference if they have what I want, but they don't sell specialist tools or higher quality tools which is where the internet comes into its own.
Very true sadly.
Where would we be if google hadn't come along? It certainly beats looking through the telephone books.. Telephone books!!!! what are they?
The www has made the lives so much better, here I am talking through a thread on tinternet to a complete stranger. And there is nowt stranger than some of the folk on here..
It has opened the world to so many of us and I don't even believe that many of us would be the same without it. Just think about it! Sending a cheque through the post to someone to pay for goods.
Even worse, send one to someone on the other side of the world and then waiting for delivery.. .. Enough said I'm beginning to go in to cold sweats just thinking about life without www......
Where would we be if google hadn't come along? It certainly beats looking through the telephone books.. Telephone books!!!! what are they?
The www has made the lives so much better, here I am talking through a thread on tinternet to a complete stranger. And there is nowt stranger than some of the folk on here..
It has opened the world to so many of us and I don't even believe that many of us would be the same without it. Just think about it! Sending a cheque through the post to someone to pay for goods.
Even worse, send one to someone on the other side of the world and then waiting for delivery.. .. Enough said I'm beginning to go in to cold sweats just thinking about life without www......
Quite right you are Eamonn......"Best thing since sliced bread" ? No! Sliced bread isn't even in the same league !