another firm goes under

[saundra]

blockbusters video hire expected loss of 4,000 jobs
didnt know they still exiscted to be honest
how many more?

[debih]

I hadn't heard about that one.

We have a Blockbusters in town and although we don't use it all that often we will miss it if it goes.

Off to google it.

[JoM]

I was just reading about that Saundra. We've had a local one for years but I'd never been in until a few days after Christmas when Joe wanted to buy an X Box controller from there - it was so busy!
Such a shame that yet more people are facing losing their jobs

[meriad]

so sad; those poor employees

but they have the same problem as HMV had. How on earth were they expected to compete against the online retailers that don't have a rent to pay and minimal staff costs. It was waiting to happen and I sadly really don't think they will be the last to go.... bookshops like Waterstones I suspect won't be far behind.

[Kaz]

Will there be anyone left at this rate!!! I know online shopping is a lot to do with it, but also the banks have a lot to answer for - and if the govt had any b@lls at all they would be sorting the banks out!

I would be very sad to see Waterstones go - we enjoy a good mooch in there and do still buy books from them sometimes. Mick has a loyalty card.................

[Kaz]

Me too ((((((saundra)))))) xx

[meriad]

but comparatively Kaz; how many books do you buy:

a) from a high street shop
b) proper book online
c) electronic book to download?

If anything I buy electronic; I cannot remember the last time I bought a 'proper' book.

[Kaz]

I did buy a couple of paperbacks for myself in Waterstones just before Christmas, buy one get one half price, but yes I do download cheap and free books to kindle.....

Mick however buys a lot of art books and mainly from Waterstones..............

[JoM]

I suppose that services like Lovefilm and Netflix don't exactly help either. We have subscriptions to both for the streamed movies and TV shows and I know that Lovefilm offer a rental service by post.

Then the ever-increasing overheads involved in running a shop certainly won't help, not to mention the costs to us consumers who have to pay increased petrol prices, increased parking charges or increased public transport fares to travel to the high street

[cruiser2]

Have just bought a new mouse using the internet. Ordered on Saturday, delivered by Royal Mail today. Read the reviews of the different makes and models before I placed the order. Wouldn't be able to do that in a retail shop. Use my local shop to get the daily newspaper including Sunday. Also use a local butcher for meat. Next time I see him I will say I don't want any horse meat as the saddle is too tough!! Buy our books from a local charity shop and then pass them onto friends.