Town Centre

[DavCobb]

"I'll tell you now and I'll tell you firmly I don't never want to go to Burnley"

[Tabasco Kid]

Down from that square towards the Lower Precinct, really is a nice job so fingers crossed for Northampton market square.

By the way where that cat cafe is now and  the whole lot of the seventies build arcades are coming down too, to be replaced with city Centre South development - see pic

One thing about Coventry is that there are not so many empty shops than in most cities.
Indeed as in every town when Debenhams closed it left a huge vacant store, well in Coventry the whole of it has been re-let, which is some achievement on the present day I think.

I have kept an eye on the market square refurb, and it is starting to look very good. With regards to Debenhams, Nptons is being completely rebuilt, along with BHS and Marks & Sparks, so things are looking up. Just need Bridge Street sorting out now.
I had to google "cat cafe" as I had never heard of one before, and I cannot think of a worse experience, of eating whilst being surrounded by the furry little two faced bastards.

[Bingers]

The demise of town centres is sad but most of us need to take some collective responsibility- we buy more and more online, we prefer out of town shopping complexes and we eat too much s***e food.

Here is a genuine question for you all, what role should town centres of the future have? They are not going to be like the shopping destinations of old, so what should all the empty buildings become?

I have no real answers, but would like to hear bright ideas.

[Manwork04]

Here is a genuine question for you all, what role should town centres of the future have? They are not going to be like the shopping destinations of old, so what should all the empty buildings become?

I have no real answers, but would like to hear bright ideas.

The trend is to have a shop that you can’t buy from and has no stock, but you can try on or test their products and talk to experts, then go and order online.
Samsung have one of these near Kings Cross.

[guest3670]

The trend is to have a shop that you can’t buy from and has no stock, but you can try on or test their products and talk to experts, then go and order online.
Samsung have one of these near Kings Cross.

Commonly known as “showrooms”

[Tabasco Kid]

Commonly known as “showrooms”

One of my old sites, has become one of these "showrooms" for a range of Italian kitchens and bathrooms. Now I dont expect them to have things in stock, but placing restrictions by appointment only viewing, and a dress code is pushing it a bit. The "meet n greet" muppet wears a tuxedo FFS. And takes great delight in turning people away. We are talking about kitchen units. 

[Bingers]

The trend is to have a shop that you can’t buy from and has no stock, but you can try on or test their products and talk to experts, then go and order online.

That sounds like the opposite to Argos.

[Melbourne Cobbler]

The trend is to have a shop that you can’t buy from and has no stock, but you can try on or test their products and talk to experts, then go and order online.
Samsung have one of these near Kings Cross.

How about a shop that you can buy from, but is also a mini distribution centre that does same day deliveries within a 10 mile radius or so? If they can do it with pizza, seems a bit stupid not to apply the same principle to higher value stuff?

[DavCobb]

The trend is to have a shop that you can’t buy from and has no stock, but you can try on or test their products and talk to experts, then go and order online.

Isn't that called 'retail' these days? Although you might struggle to try it on as they won't have your size and you may get sneered at by a shop assistant.
The shopping model I use nowadays is to order the same item in 5 sizes/colours, maybe keep one and send the rest back to receive what I like to call 'free money'. 

I never use anyone who charges for delivery or has a dodgy returns policy, i.e. someone like Sports Direct.

[Manwork04]

Isn't that called 'retail' these days? Although you might struggle to try it on as they won't have your size and you may get sneered at by a shop assistant.
The shopping model I use nowadays is to order the same item in 5 sizes/colours, maybe keep one and send the rest back to receive what I like to call 'free money'. 

I never use anyone who charges for delivery or has a dodgy returns policy, i.e. someone like Sports Direct.

I know what you mean but the business model of having flagship store where you can speak with experts, try things on and then order for delivery is the future. FACT.

[TPFKA Marvo]

Isn't that called 'retail' these days? Although you might struggle to try it on as they won't have your size and you may get sneered at by a shop assistant.
The shopping model I use nowadays is to order the same item in 5 sizes/colours, maybe keep one and send the rest back to receive what I like to call 'free money'. 

I never use anyone who charges for delivery or has a dodgy returns policy, i.e. someone like Sports Direct.

Amazon is the weirdest one. They want to charge you to deliver it the day after TOMORROW of you can have it free in three to four days. I always choose the free option and 9 time sour of 10 it comes on the same day it would of if I'd paid the extra. If I haven't paid enough to get free delivery to my home, I have it delivered for free at a local store, about a 2 minute walk away.

[Deepcut Cobbler]

Amazon is the weirdest one. They want to charge you to deliver it the day after TOMORROW of you can have it free in three to four days. I always choose the free option and 9 time sour of 10 it comes on the same day it would of if I'd paid the extra. If I haven't paid enough to get free delivery to my home, I have it delivered for free at a local store, about a 2 minute walk away.

Likewise, many times the things arrive the day after I've ordered them without paying extra for delivery.

[Manwork04]

Here’s one I made earlier……
https://www.samsung.com/uk/explore/kings-cross/visit-us/

[DavCobb]

Amazon is the weirdest one. They want to charge you to deliver it the day after TOMORROW of you can have it free in three to four days. I always choose the free option and 9 time sour of 10 it comes on the same day it would of if I'd paid the extra. If I haven't paid enough to get free delivery to my home, I have it delivered for free at a local store, about a 2 minute walk away.

I couldn’t live without Amazon Prime and getting teabags delivered the next day to my house or local locker. It blows my mind but I’m easily pleased.

[Bingers]

I couldn’t live without Amazon Prime and getting teabags delivered the next day to my house or local locker. It blows my mind but I’m easily pleased.

 I have never used Amazon Prime and have not used normal Amazon for years - they don't pay their fair share of tax for the money they make in this country. Principles, not convenience. Boycott Amazon!

[Melbourne Cobbler]

Isn't that called 'retail' these days? Although you might struggle to try it on as they won't have your size and you may get sneered at by a shop assistant.
The shopping model I use nowadays is to order the same item in 5 sizes/colours, maybe keep one and send the rest back to receive what I like to call 'free money'. 

I never use anyone who charges for delivery or has a dodgy returns policy, i.e. someone like Sports Direct.

Word of advice for all. There is sometimes a significant difference between a “returns policy” and what the Consumer Rights Act says. Know your rights and never just shrug your shoulders, accept what you are told and walk away. Dont get me started on extended warranty offers.

This relates to distance selling which covers internet purchases under UK law and it’s unconditional.

“You must offer a refund to customers if they’ve told you within 14 days of receiving their goods that they want to cancel. They have another 14 days to return the goods once they’ve told you. You must refund the customer within 14 days of receiving the goods back. They do not have to provide a reason”.

https://www.gov.uk/accepting-returns-and-giving-refunds

[TPFKA Marvo]

I have never used Amazon Prime and have not used normal Amazon for years - they don't pay their fair share of tax for the money they make in this country. Principles, not convenience. Boycott Amazon!

If you pay tax, it goes to the government, and when that government happens to be a Tory administration, that money then finds its way into Tory MP's and backers bank accounts. Sod that!

[Bingers]

If you pay tax, it goes to the government, and when that government happens to be a Tory administration, that money then finds its way into Tory MP's and backers bank accounts. Sod that!

But also the vast majority of it goes to pay for OUR health care, our roads, our education system, etc, our whole fabric of society, WE all need to do our bit for society. Fortunately, the Tories will not be in charge for much longer, so at least that is one bit of corruption that we won't need to worry about for much longer.

[TPFKA Marvo]

But also the vast majority of it goes to pay for OUR health care, our roads, our education system, etc, our whole fabric of society, WE all need to do our bit for society. Fortunately, the Tories will not be in charge for much longer, so at least that is one bit of corruption that we won't need to worry about for much longer.

WE need to allow in a lot more immigrants, get them working, get them paying taxes. WE could also, oh, I don't know, join the European common market, ease trade and travel controls, increase our GDP, etc, etc.

Nice to see Starmer actually broaching the subject for a change. Every long journey starts with the first step.

[singcobb]

WE need to allow in a lot more immigrants, get them working, get them paying taxes. WE could also, oh, I don't know, join the European common market, ease trade and travel controls, increase our GDP, etc, etc.

Nice to see Starmer actually broaching the subject for a change. Every long journey starts with the first step.

And I need to grow wings so I can fly away on holiday free of charge. Neither are likely to happen.