Amazon Supply - wow!

[Ex-SolentBoy]

I sincerely hope that there will always remain chandlers around like Force 4.

Open at nine o'clock on a Sunday morning, right by the boatyard when - covered in sweat or bilge oil - you need that s/s washer or whatever, their staff both very knowledgeable and extremely helpful without ever being pushy, happy to root around in the old store out the back for something that could just fit, or order the part in for you.

Happy to use Amazon for loads of things (books, CDs, cordless telephones, toys, etc), but would hate to lose local chandlers, stationers, shoeshop, bike shop, hardware shop, etc, etc.

Yes, without all those shops how would you try on shoes to check the right size before buying them cheaper online.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I sincerely hope that there will always remain chandlers around like Force 4.

Open at nine o'clock on a Sunday morning, right by the boatyard when - covered in sweat or bilge oil - you need that s/s washer or whatever, their staff both very knowledgeable and extremely helpful without ever being pushy, happy to root around in the old store out the back for something that could just fit, or order the part in for you.

Happy to use Amazon for loads of things (books, CDs, cordless telephones, toys, etc), but would hate to lose local chandlers, stationers, shoeshop, bike shop, hardware shop, etc, etc.

+1

 

[Babylon]

Yes, without all those shops how would you try on shoes to check the right size before buying them cheaper online.

Not everyone has such a small and parsimonious mind.

Aside from the fact that I've never bought a pair of shoes that way, I know the owners of the local (independent) shoeshop, the local hardware store, some of the employees of WH Smiths, the butchers, etc - and most of all I don't want to see my small town become even more of a ghost of what it once was.

Waitrose, Sainsburys, Aldi, Boots, Amazon, Ebay - all have their place as part of the mix. No mix and you get an even more impoverished society.

Real people, real communities - and bugger the 8% I can save by expending even more time back at home ordering the thing online, because the exercise of going to town to try on the shoes satisfies the need, and I can move on with my life.

 

[SAMYL]

Small businesses will adapt there will still be demand and outlets for buying one roll pin, two bolts the odd bits etc.

What world do you live in? You obviously have never been in any sort of retail business yourself so please do not try to tell any small business to 'adapt'.

How do you expect any small business to survive selling one roll pin, two bolts, odd bits etc? They need to sell the big stuff just to stay in business so they can just be there to sell the small bits too.

Perhaps you should call into your local friendly chandler and ask them how they survive in this current economic climate. I think you will get a nasty shock.

If you don't use it you lose it.

 

[nathanlee]

What world do you live in? You obviously have never been in any sort of retail business yourself so please do not try to tell any small business to 'adapt'.

How do you expect any small business to survive selling one roll pin, two bolts, odd bits etc? They need to sell the big stuff just to stay in business so they can just be there to sell the small bits too.

Perhaps you should call into your local friendly chandler and ask them how they survive in this current economic climate. I think you will get a nasty shock.

If you don't use it you lose it.

I know a couple of chandlers quite well, and they are adapting. One is focusing, successfully, on the more commercial side of things. Ships supplies and safety equipment, etc, and the other stocks a range of skiwear in the winter, as well as running all sorts of other lines.

Would be a poor business to just sit there and complain about "bigger business" taking over.

 

[lustyd]

Eh? All three of my nav light bulbs have gone over the winter ( why? ) and the price of a new one - £7 each. 7 quid for a glorified torch bulb! Shouldnt even be 70p.

Where did you find them for 70p? I may stock up assuming they are the proper ones.

 

[rotrax]

Chandlers get a lot of bad press but I've never seen anything particularly overpriced in one. Often they see, to be cheaper than the alternatives - maybe its just the things I've needed I've been lucky with

In Mahon last year a Wetline Airdeck Inlatable was over 1200 Euro's in a chandlers. about 450 quid here.

 

[lustyd]

In Mahon last year a Wetline Airdeck Inlatable was over 1200 Euro's in a chandlers. about 450 quid here.

I assume by here you mean a chandlers though. My point is that you may not be able to find one cheaper than the local chandler.

 

[SAMYL]

I know a couple of chandlers quite well, and they are adapting. One is focusing, successfully, on the more commercial side of things. Ships supplies and safety equipment, etc, and the other stocks a range of skiwear in the winter, as well as running all sorts of other lines.

Would be a poor business to just sit there and complain about "bigger business" taking over.

Just as I said, you have to sell the big stuff to be able to cover the small stuff.

My point is that it is difficult to sell the big stuff when everyone buys from the internet - and then they expect a shop to be there just to sell nuts and bolts as Sneaky Pete suggests.

Of course you have to diversify into whatever sells just to keep going but if everyone just buys from online then don't expect the local chandler to be there just to service your minor requests.

Personal local service is paramount and I say again, if you don't use it you lose it.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

What world do you live in? You obviously have never been in any sort of retail business yourself so please do not try to tell any small business to 'adapt'.

How do you expect any small business to survive selling one roll pin, two bolts, odd bits etc? They need to sell the big stuff just to stay in business so they can just be there to sell the small bits too.

Perhaps you should call into your local friendly chandler and ask them how they survive in this current economic climate. I think you will get a nasty shock.

If you don't use it you lose it.

No your dead right I was not in the retail business I was in the manufacturing business at the sharp end the beginning of the supply chain and believe me it is a cut throat business as bad as retail. The point I am making is if you are looking to buy small quantity even one off’s the B&Q, Amazon, Wickes etc won’t sell you this they have multiple items in each bag or box if you want one item they have a bag with ten or twenty it not ideal. Small traders generally offer a better service they will go the extra mile to get your business and if they do you will go back, large out of town outlets don’t tend to offer this level of personal service. If the small traders have to sell the big stuff to stay in business
a) there’s got to be demand for it and
b) it needs to be competitively priced.
How is it the Pakistani and Indian shop keepers make a living, there up against the big five.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I'll admit to being an amazon fan. Prices are good and service excellent - I once had to return an electrical item that wasn't right and they were great. The wonderful thing is if they have it on the site, it's in stock. As to the 15p split pin, that's what ebay is for. Anything you want through the post in a couple of days.

I've just been to Reliable Fire Protection Services in Leigh because I needed specialist advice and help on the options for new fire extinguishers - and that's what I got. (No connections - I got their name off this forum!) But most retail outlets are staffed by sales staff who are rarely experts so they can't really offer advice.

Retailing is changing. Agreed it's good to pop into the Chadlers for what you want here and now and I do. But the high street is going to lose even more custom to the internet - amazon and ebay are a powerful combination.

Well said - and agreed...