Jessops into administration

[mikerr]

Jessops is set to be in administration by close today:

http://www.retail-week.com/sectors/g...contentID=5963
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...tion-jobs-risk

[big_hairy_rob]

I'm not surprised. The online market must have killed most of their sales. Same reason comet went. Too little choice, too expensive, too many overheads.

I'm surprised that companies (samsung etc) have not opened outlets, not for people to buy things, but just for people to try them, before going home to purchase their products....

[TheAnimus]

See my rant in the photography section about how they approach retail sales......

I wonder how much money Canon or Nikon will have to bung them to keep them running.

[Stringent]

The problem will be if there are no high street chains around where we can go and faff about with new kit, how will we know what it feels like to hold, use and test? The only reason I go into a Jessops is to try out stuff and annoy the staff.

I guess the manufacturer will have to have a 'presence' where you can try out their stuff and then order it on line for you via their website, or an authorised reseller.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Another part of the problem are the people dodging UK import duty by using companies based in Asia, who declare 1000s of quids worth of camera gear as things like toys so to dodge most of the import duty.

Its one thing if someone goes on holiday and "forgets" to declare things they have bought,but it is another kettle of fish when large companies are basically using dodgy means to get one up on the UK competition on a mass commercial level.

I really think the government needs to investigate this further.

On another place when I questioned this I was met with hostility by the bargain hunters. In the end they are only fooling themselves,as such companies pay very few taxes to the UK coffers let alone employ any UK people,and yet the same people probably like all the social benefits we get like cheaper healthcare and the like.

[TheAnimus]

On another place when I questioned this I was met with hostility by the bargain hunters. In the end they are only fooling themselves,as such companies pay very few taxes to the UK coffers let alone employ any UK people,and yet the same people probably like all the social benefits we get like cheaper healthcare and the like.

Now, now. First rule of people crowing about companies not paying enough tax. It's only when its something other than you that it's imoral. Rule 1.

For more examples, see certain shadow cabinet members, it has been question why the richest MP of the whole parliment, has ties to companies which specalisie in helping people pay the correct amount of tax. The minimum correct amount. Yet she crows about companies.

I'm sick of this.

Anyway, jessops is dieing because the margins are so low & staff costs high. Meanwhile those staff do little to actually drive a sale.

[kalniel]

The problem will be if there are no high street chains around where we can go and faff about with new kit, how will we know what it feels like to hold, use and test? The only reason I go into a Jessops is to try out stuff and annoy the staff.

And then you order online from someone else?

I guess the manufacturer will have to have a 'presence' where you can try out their stuff and then order it on line for you via their website, or an authorised reseller.

Yep. There were plenty of manufacturer supported stores last time I was looking for a camera in London, and hopefully the likes of LCE will remain - very helpful, good price and earned sales not just from me but also the rest of my family.

[BobF64]

The problem will be if there are no high street chains around where we can go and faff about with new kit, how will we know what it feels like to hold, use and test? The only reason I go into a Jessops is to try out stuff and annoy the staff.

It's why we have DSR though, so you can buy it, see if it meets your needs and then send it back if it doesn't.

Another part of the problem are the people dodging UK import duty by using companies based in Asia, who declare 1000s of quids worth of camera gear as things like toys so to dodge most of the import duty.

This is why they reversed the onus of doing it.

It is now your responsibility to ensure the sender does not lie on the customs declaration, if only because you are now held liable, not the sender.

I'd suspect that HMRC could probably bring in a fair chunk of cash by checking every single item coming in to ensure its legit, even if it does just come down to "we're holding your package until you prove the value".

[TheAnimus]

Yep. There were plenty of manufacturer supported stores last time I was looking for a camera in London, and hopefully the likes of LCE will remain - very helpful, good price and earned sales not just from me but also the rest of my family.

But what about people outside of such hub areas.

Will we start to see alliance stores, where a bunch of firms rent a space and allow people to try their devices directly? For instance Apple stock a lot of complementory products.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Now, now. First rule of people crowing about companies not paying enough tax. It's only when its something other than you that it's imoral. Rule 1.

For more examples, see certain shadow cabinet members, it has been question why the richest MP of the whole parliment, has ties to companies which specalisie in helping people pay the correct amount of tax. The minimum correct amount. Yet she crows about companies.

I'm sick of this.

Anyway, jessops is dieing because the margins are so low & staff costs high. Meanwhile those staff do little to actually drive a sale.

?? I am not sure what you are going on about. Is it for people paying proper taxes or not??

These companies employ nobody in the country and then send 1000s of quid worth of equipment as £100 of toys or something. So in this case they are do nothing for the UK economy.

These are not companies exploiting some legal loophole in the law,but basically lying about the value of the goods they sell.

If they even declared the full value of items,fair enough but they don't though.

These are companies operating on a commercial scale from places like Hong Kong.

Then when this is pointed as actually being sort of stabbing yourself in the back longterm,people get all defensive supporting their bargains,and yet act like hypocrites and complain when the government starts reducing spending on public utilities. Saw this on the blue place where they were getting all emotional in their support for such companies.

If people want their bargains,due to such practices,they really should not complain about the lack of jobs,cuts to public spending and increased taxes,because they are adding to the problem.

This is why they reversed the onus of doing it.

It is now your responsibility to ensure the sender does not lie on the customs declaration, if only because you are now held liable, not the sender.

I'd suspect that HMRC could probably bring in a fair chunk of cash by checking every single item coming in to ensure its legit, even if it does just come down to "we're holding your package until you prove the value".

Is this something very recent,as looking on forums like OcUK,at least with the imports of some of those cheap 27" IPS monitors it was the sellers declaring the value,and in many cases significantly lower than the actual purchase price.

Edit!!

Might need to get more caffeine in today!!

Got what you said!!

[kalniel]

But what about people outside of such hub areas.

Will we start to see alliance stores, where a bunch of firms rent a space and allow people to try their devices directly? For instance Apple stock a lot of complementory products.

How are Argos doing these days? Can quite easily see an Amazon store taking up a similar model.

Or what you suggest but with Tesco etc. - my local tesco already has a costa, why not a consumer electronics show room staffed by shills from xyz company?

[mikerr]

Now its announced they won't be honouring vouchers anymore - ouch !

http://news.sky.com/story/1035613/je...-gift-vouchers

[Saracen]

Now, now. First rule of people crowing about companies not paying enough tax. It's only when its something other than you that it's imoral. Rule 1.

For more examples, see certain shadow cabinet members, it has been question why the richest MP of the whole parliment, has ties to companies which specalisie in helping people pay the correct amount of tax. The minimum correct amount. Yet she crows about companies.

....

Well, while by and large I agree with you, I would point out the distinction between avoidance and evasion.

Lying on declaration forms to reduce or eliminate tax is clearly illegal, it's evasion. On the other hand, using existing laws to reduce your tax bill, while fully complying with the law, is avoidance, and an awful lot of people do it, including me and very likely most people on this forum, is avoidance.

The hypocrisy of politicians is that they are arrogant enough to moan when they write laws, we (people or companies) follow them to the letter, and they don't like the results. Whether it's writing UK tax law, or international treaties, or double-taxation agreements, politicians sign off on these, and then, like Ms
Hodge, when people are brighter than them and use the law to their own best advantage, they get all pompous and self-righteous.

But there's a difference between even big companies using the law, and smaller companies that are effectively crooks, by breaking the law not taking advantage of it.

[kalniel]

Now its announced they won't be honouring vouchers anymore - ouch !

http://news.sky.com/story/1035613/je...-gift-vouchers

Very common when companies enter administration - voucher holders are creditors, but way down the priority list.

[TheAnimus]

?? I am not sure what you are going on about. Is it for people paying proper taxes or not??

I'm not defending the people. I'm saying what I find interesting is they are often the first to get a bug up their arse about it.

For instance, a national newspaper which beats the drum loudly was involved in the exact same shinanigans with their sale of a car listings rag.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I'm not defending the people. I'm saying what I find interesting is they are often the first to get a bug up their arse about it.

For instance, a national newspaper which beats the drum loudly was involved in the exact same shinanigans with their sale of a car listings rag.

Ahh,OK! Sorry,I did not get what you said. Probably need to wake up today!