Could be a combination of all the things you mention ,though I have to say customer service in John Lewis has always been top notch ,whenever I use them (often) I go there for that reason.That's a real shame - although I'm also quite relieved that the local Oxford store is staying.
I really don't know why high street stores in the UK have such a hard time surviving though. I mean I realise that they're competing against the internet, but it's not a particular problem in other countries, especially in Asia.
Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Osaka, etc - they all have some of the most amazing shopping malls and stores on the planet, and they're always packed full of shoppers.
Personally I suspect it's unfortunately mostly down to customer experience though. Any of the megamalls in Asia are packed with interesting independent stores, loads of stock on display, and helpful staff. UK - we get identikit high street chains, minimal stock on display - and what is out is broken or chained down, and of course the traditional surly staff that you have to run after to get any help!
Perhaps it doesn't help either that much of the UK is owned by a tiny percentage of uber-rich, greedy aristocrats (it's something like 0.6% of the population own over half of rural England) - so they have no interest or need to reduce rents for stores that are struggling.
Possibly, but going into stores to see goods isn't unique to the UK.Could be a combination of all the things you mention ,though I have to say customer service in John Lewis has always been top notch ,whenever I use them (often) I go there for that reason.
Could it also be that UK shoppers have or at least had a tendency to go into physical stores and view the product and get it demonstrated ,then rushed home to see how low they could get it online for, John Lewis some time ago realised this was a zero sum game which is why they abandoned the never knowingly undersold pledge a while back , Physical stores will never compete with online retailers with lower costs and rents ,which at least makes one wonder when the physical stores have been decimated prices on the internet will go up to reflect the competition having gone ,time will tell.
Yes these are all things that John Lewis or any other retailer could do ,though interestingly I had a conversation today with a guy on Facebook very pleasant exchange ,who told me categorically customer service did not matter to him it was all down to price nothing more ,even John Lewis couldn't win that won with physical stores.Possibly, but going into stores to see goods isn't unique to the UK.
I think the difference is that stores abroad take that customer window shopping behaviour into account - so they try to present as good an impression as possible in the hope that the customer may buy online, but will still remember the positive experience they had instore and buy accordingly.
If the customer does choose to buy instore though then they reward that behaviour as well - so for example you get your shopping gift wrapped, have your purchase cheerfully carried to the door by the member of staff, and so on.
UK stores like currys are little more than shiny market stalls - there's no customer experience there, so customers prod and poke the things they want to buy, and then go home and buy from the cheapest possible retailer.
Apple stores were probably the closest we had to an actual customer experience in the UK - and it shows, as - sadly to it's detriment - the stores are* now so crowded on a weekend that they've become unpleasant.
*obviously I'm talking about pre/post lockdown!
The bloke you spoke to on facebook might have a different opinion if he'd experienced Asian customer service! I suspect it's too late to turn things around for the uk now though - everything is so price dependent here that no luxury mall operator or store is going to invest hugely in the uk now. Even Westfield London is pretty anaemic and dull - stuffed full of Boots, phone shops, Costa coffees, etc.Yes these are all things that John Lewis or any other retailer could do ,though interestingly I had a conversation today with a guy on Facebook very pleasant exchange ,who told me categorically customer service did not matter to him it was all down to price nothing more ,even John Lewis couldn't win that won with physical stores.
As an aside when I bought my apple computer from John Lewis I got a better two year free warranty from them then the one year apple were going to offer me. .
As for currys I avoid like the plague no service surly employees just my option though.
I work with asian people they have often said to me shopping there is much more peasant , funnily I think the last retailer to invest heavily in new store openings was .....John Lewis under Andy Street including a new store he opened in Birmingham of which he is now mayor , and that store is now closing. Don't think any other retailer will even try that now.The bloke you spoke to on facebook might have a different opinion if he'd experienced Asian customer service! I suspect it's too late to turn things around for the uk now though - everything is so price dependent here that no luxury mall operator or store is going to invest hugely in the uk now. Even Westfield London is pretty anaemic and dull - stuffed full of Boots, phone shops, Costa coffees, etc.
Nah, this is a nice apple storeI work with asian people they have often said to me shopping there is much more peasant , funnily I think the last retailer to invest heavily in new store openings was .....John Lewis under Andy Street including a new store he opened in Birmingham of which he is now mayor , and that store is now closing. Don't think any other retailer will even try that now.
Yes I know what you mean about Westfield my son works near there ,though they do have a nice apple store there.
WOW I stand corrected that one takes your breath away.!Nah, this is a nice apple store
View attachment 1481929
Cheap shot. Their electronics, esp with longer warranties, are competitive.John Lewis is aimed at the more money than sense consumer.
If you go to a pile it high and sell it cheap discounter such as home bargains/B&M etc every now and again you may find something more expensive than usual. Ive always seen john lewis as the reverse of this usually worth a look, and every so often theres a good bargain to be hadCheap shot. Their electronics, esp with longer warranties, are competitive.
Some of their stuff is overpriced but some of it is just better quality at a higher price.
Sorry, but that’s absolute rubbish. If lowest price shopping is all that people care about then economics dictate that it’s going to be an impossible task to revive the uk high street with anything more than extra poundland and b+m excitement - as they’re the only ones that can outfit a store for peanuts and still make a profit.John Lewis is aimed at the more money than sense consumer.
John Lewis is aimed at the more money than sense consumer.
If you go to a pile it high and sell it cheap discounter such as home bargains/B&M etc every now and again you may find something more expensive than usual. Ive always seen john lewis as the reverse of this usually worth a look, and every so often theres a good bargain to be had