Losing business to Amazon

[ultimatehandyman]

There is no disputing the fact that Amazon is a behemoth in online sales, they have literally every product that you could wish to purchase, and it can be delivered very quickly (sometimes the same day).

People often wonder why Amazon has grown to be so large and why it is so successful. I believe a lot of it is down to the vast amount of retailers that no longer hold stock in their stores. I had this problem a few weeks back when I wanted to buy a microwave oven! There was not one place that I could find locally, where I could walk in and pick up a decent microwave oven, I had no choice but to buy it online and get it delivered.

The girlfriend is just decorating the oldest daughters bedroom, we have had problems with mould on the ceiling, which I cleaned off a few weeks back using HG mould removal spray. Now the ceiling needs painting, so I went in the garage and discovered that I only have a small amount of Zinsser Perma white left, which would be my paint of choice for such jobs.

Angie’s friend has just informed her that you can get an additive that you can add to any paint, after a quick Google search it appears to be Dryzone anti-mould additive. Apparently, this can be added to any paint to make it mould resistant.

Toolstation sell it, as do B&Q. We have loads of emulsion paint left over from a previous job, so we were going to nip down and buy a bottle, add it to our emulsion paint and give the ceiling a coat of paint today.

The only problem is that both Toolstation and B&Q have it on their website for delivery only!



Price at Toolstation- £12.99 delivered in two days, direct from their supplier-

dryzone-toolstation.jpg (112.28 KiB) Viewed 2086 times

Price at B&Q- £24.99 can only be purchased with the Dryzone mould sanitizer, delivered in 7 days “shipped by a verified seller”

dryzone-b-q.jpg (91.71 KiB) Viewed 2086 times

Price at Amazon £9.48 free next day delivery (if you spend over £20, or if you have Prime)-

dryzone-amazon.jpg (103.57 KiB) Viewed 2086 times

Thanks Amazon

[Argyll]

I don't particularly like buying from Amazon as I like to keep my money local but when you see a product that's at least 30% more expensive in the shops and you need to drive, park and walk there it's a no brainer.

I'm afraid the High Street stores are dying and can't see it reverting back. Falkirk High St is full of cafes and charity shops. The rest of the shops have closed and they're boarded up.

I wouldn't be surprised if TS and SF are buying from the same supplier and putting a couple extra £ on it.

[Neelix]

Amazon is the key aspect of uk retail that is contributing to decimating the UK shopping centres.

Out of town retailers should pay the same business rates as High Street stores ….

I avoid buying from them about 95% of the time

[Someone-Else]

I wouldn't be surprised if TS and SF are buying from the same supplier and putting a couple extra £ on it.

Maybe Sf & TS have to add "a couple extra" Amazon are known for having huge warehouses for stuff. I suppose the downside is it is our own fault. If we didn't buy online then the smaller shops would still be open, but yes I know, when you see a price online that is cheaper than you see in a shop you will buy it, and so the downward spiral begins.

.............and if you thought they will still need people to pick, pack and sort, think again.

[oz0707]

Unfortunately i send some business amazon way. The delivery aspect is what clenches it for me. Time is money. Ffx are also pretty good usually next day delivery no minimum order value. I am consious that it is probably not a good thing but jist so convinient. I tried using a local tool shop for power tools of competitive but last time i had a issue they were a right pita about sorting me out a countersunk m4 screw in there for router base. They do repairs as well. I ended up ordering some off amazon probably but im sure an online retailer would of given better aftersales.

[Argyll]

I tend to quote the price from Amazon to local shops. I always ask if they can match it. Very rarely they can.

[dewaltdisney]

I must say that Lockdown advanced online buying for me and we bought a lot more via Amazon during that time. We still do to an extent but having time available to me I usually spend a bit of time researching the best price and supply, which to be fair is not always Amazon. I have sourced a few items through Argos which is fairly convenient to pop into for collection at Sainsburys. Mrs D tends to get quite a few bits of clothing (which she does not need) as the size required is invariably not available in store as it is popular. I have bought heavy kit online and I am amazed when it turns up next day for instance I bought a replacement engine for my chipper that came the next day from Germany for £99. Poundland and similar stores are often good to find things at a good price. I do buy things from China. if I can be patient to wait for it, from eBay. So I think it is fair to say we do a bit of both but for convenience and availability but online is the way. I used to use cash as well but no bugger wants that now, I hate putting £1.50 on my card.

DWD

[Someone-Else]

I used to use cash as well but no one wants that now

Perhaps you should look at it from their side.

I used to work for a huge service company that wanted payment when the job was done. (No customer ever had a problem with this, and money was mostly under £100 / job)

When asked how would they like to pay, we would always prefer card, every time, and if everyone that week paid by card, you would boast about it next meeting. The reason was two fold.

1) If everyone that had to pay, paid cash you could end up with £1k in cash, as an employee of the company it was down to you to look after it.
2) To bank it, we had to go to a bank (funny that) so that meant time out of your day to go to the bank (Your choice of branch) queue, wait for cash to be counted (No problem, it must be correct)

So that means (even for a small shop) they have to keep the cash safe, are at risk of having it stolen or broken into to get the cash (They only know you have cash, not how much) but if everyone paid by card, you were laughing, no time wasted going to the bank, no cash to look after.
Give me card anytime, cash is a pain.

[dewaltdisney]

Yes, I understand all the reasons for a cashless transaction, I just do not like to do very small amounts even though it is now the norm. My cocaine dealer only wants cash.

DWD

[Someone-Else]

I have seen "street beggars" with card machines.

[Argyll]

I rarely use cash now. I have NFC on my phone so use that 99% of the time. You just need to go to SE Asia where cash is king to realise how convenient cashless payments are.

The local Chinese takeaways etc don't take cards but that's because they hide their money from Hector the tax inspector which admittedly does annoy me but hypocritically I like getting paid in cash for some jobs so Hector doesn't see it.

Think I've been to an ATM a handful of times since Lockdown one.