Headlines - Komplett.co.uk shuts down its UK operations!

[SiM]

Omgz! Ever since they left hexus care things went downhill for them!

Only ever used them once and it was ok. This is a shame.

[directhex]

erm... feck

i have a really good track record now - my dad's pc is an evesham (at my suggestion) and my sister's is komplett (also at my suggestion)

[HEXUS]

We didn't see this one coming: as of June 24th 2008, Komplett.co.uk has closed down its UK operations.

Read more.

[directhex]

hm, posting appears to be a bit funny. is it in reverse order for anyone else?

[Lee H]

Yes Directhex it's a bit muddled :S

[SiM]

hm, posting appears to be a bit funny. is it in reverse order for anyone else?

new bug: Time travelling posts - Oh noes the forums are breaking

[MD]

If I had to take an educated guess as to why there are a few factors which come to mind...

Komplett had a number of different country sites but in realistic terms these were 'ghost' sites for a product shipped from a central EU warehouse.

Now that warehouse is in Norway, an EFTA, not EU nation. It is also in a Euro zone, and given the plumetting exchange of the Euro (I was in the EU last week, 1.24 was the exchange rate) I would imagine that this is one of the driving factors, especially as all the other 'ghost' sites within the EU and more mportantly euro zone are still around.

Not only that, but because it was a 'ghost' site there is a great deal of logistics costs in running an UK based solution, namely thier RMA process was renown for being slow and most of that was due to the consolidated returns process done by expensive means.

Then there is the express delivery costs, they were never that cheap and suffered against the likes of PixMania who introduced, cleverly so, central distribution from the UK, imported via road. Alot of the stuff came out of Komplett as air freight, and most of that was DHL.

DHL is having a massive price squeeze on users at the moment, the margins are small, the revenue shrinking and more importantly with thier US business in tatters they are seeking as much revenue from the EU - something that has already resulted in them increasing prices...

Just a few things for the pot

[Mossy]

, 1.24 was the exchange rate

OMG I need euros is it best changing over here or leaving it till I get abroad?

think it was about 1.47 last time.

[DR]

The thread issue should not happen anymore... (!)

[MD]

Hence why im all inclusive on my euro holiday

Travellex are the best to get them from if you have time before you go - but thats another topic for another thread

[Parm]

*Update 1 - 12:32pm*

It appears that Komplett's German operations have met similar fate. The retailer's German website, Komplett.de, now displays a similar message.

Read more.

[neonplanet40]

I am going to Rome in august and im just hoping that the euro goes up! Its a shame to see komplett go. i have used them many times in the past and really liked them to be honest. Never had a problem.

[Gordy]

Wow didn't see that happening. They've been great when I've ordered from them in the past.

PS. The first link in the article goes to the german site not the UK one

[Stringent]

I didn't see that coming either! Perhaps no one was ordering from them any more or became unprofitable? I used to order from them a lot (till Scan free shipping!) and their services was great.

Shame really, but we live in a highly competitive world.

[Parm]

*Update 2 - 12:57pm*

Komplett's European websites are dropping like flies - French portal, Komplett.fr, has just bitten the dust. According to our sources, Komplett could not make any money in the UK and Germany. They described the markets as "Rotten".

Read more.

[Agent]

Am I the only one that did see this coming? Its been in the back of my mind for a while, wondering how they kept customers.

The RMA service was sllllooowwwww. Usually several weeks in most cases that I have used them.
Customer service was ok, but again replies were slow.
The products were shipped from outside of the UK, meaning delivery was usually slow.
And the prices were nothing amazing either, Scan beat them on a fair few things when I was comparing not too long back.