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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 18, 2021 18:29:16 GMT
With Debenhams, Top Shop, etc gone and House of Fraser going I think it might be. And it’s very sad. My solution would be that online shopping be taxed to make it more 5% or more expensive to shop at home vs in a shop.
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Nov 18, 2021 19:04:43 GMT
With Debenhams, Top Shop, etc gone and House of Fraser going I think it might be. And it’s very sad. My solution would be that online shopping be taxed to make it more 5% or more expensive to shop at home vs in a shop. When was it alive? Soz, can't answer the question |
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 18, 2021 19:06:40 GMT
Firstly I cycle down Oxford Street about 10pm and let me tell you, this year festival lights look glorious. As is Regent's Street and New Bond Street.
Top Shop is going to be an Ikea. I hope with the £300m sale of the building, it goes to the Government than Phillip Green, pay back some of that pensions.
How people shop today is different, than years ago, there are now more out of town retail parks, that have eroded the traditional High Street. Where I live in Bexleyheath a new parking contractor has taken over the car parking, and installed all these new fancy payment machines, barriers with registration plate recognition, all bells and whistles - however the contractor also has put parking up from 70p to £1.20 for an hour, these are another few nails in the coffin, do I really want to spend money on parking just to go to Greggs, TK Max or Poundland?
Supermarkets also have done a lot of damage to the High Street.
No there shouldn't be an extra 5% tax, but all tax should be collected and it should be no different from a small shop to Jeff Benzo.
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 18, 2021 19:24:47 GMT
Firstly I cycle down Oxford Street about 10pm and let me tell you, this year festival lights look glorious. As is Regent's Street and New Bond Street. Top Shop is going to be an Ikea. I hope with the £300m sale of the building, it goes to the Government than Phillip Green, pay back some of that pensions. How people shop today is different, than years ago, there are now more out of town retail parks, that have eroded the traditional High Street. Where I live in Bexleyheath a new parking contractor has taken over the car parking, and installed all these new fancy payment machines, barriers with registration plate recognition, all bells and whistles - however the contractor also has put parking up from 70p to £1.20 for an hour, these are another few nails in the coffin, do I really want to spend money on parking just to go to Greggs, TK Max or Poundland? Supermarkets also have done a lot of damage to the High Street. No there shouldn't be an extra 5% tax, but all tax should be collected and it should be no different from a small shop to Jeff Benzo. I’ve heard the lights this year are the best in years and I am looking forward to seeing them soon. |
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Post by lynette on Nov 18, 2021 19:25:20 GMT
Yes it is. The number of nasty sweet shops, money exchanges etc is ridiculous. No longer a pleasure to stroll down and gaze at the fashion. No nice cafes, nada.
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Post by Jon on Nov 18, 2021 19:30:31 GMT
Judging by the amount of people still shopping there, the answer is no.
Shopping habits have changed and TBH Oxford Street 100 years ago was different to the Oxford Street of today. You can’t stop progress and shopping will evolve into a different experience
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Post by lynette on Nov 18, 2021 20:02:17 GMT
Judging by the amount of people still shopping there, the answer is no. Shopping habits have changed and TBH Oxford Street 100 years ago was different to the Oxford Street of today. You can’t stop progress and shopping will evolve into a different experience Thank you, JON, I’m not that old. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 18, 2021 21:02:28 GMT
Interestingly there is no actual coffee shops on Oxford Street, as the rents is too high. However there are plenty off Oxford Street.
That will change, there will be a Starbucks between Poundland and Superdrugs.
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Post by pomegranate on Nov 19, 2021 0:14:11 GMT
Have to say yes. Every day another American Candy Shop pops up an angel loses its wings.
Surely they have to be a front for something! I’ve never seen anyone go in, or anyone come out.
The whole of Oxford Street looks set to be exclusively candy shops by this time next year.
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Post by samuelwhiskers on Nov 19, 2021 10:52:54 GMT
Money laundering/tax scam.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 19, 2021 11:34:36 GMT
Some of the shops must surely be fronts for criminal activity. How in earth do they afford the rent/rates for what is supposed to be (or was) one of Europe’s prime retail streets?
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 19, 2021 11:40:27 GMT
Some of the shops must surely be fronts for criminal activity. How in earth do they afford the rent/rates for what is supposed to be (or was) one of Europe’s prime retail streets? I’m not sure. I know someone with a very small shop on Oxford street and apparently the rent is nit as high as people think. |
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Post by The Matthew on Nov 19, 2021 12:32:53 GMT
1275 m 2 near me: £95k p/a; rateable value £89k 1449 m2 in central London: £2308k p/a; rateable value £2050k
About 20 times as much. There are probably better deals to be had because many of the properties available in the Oxford Street area didn't list the prices, but still: ouch.
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Post by craig on Nov 19, 2021 12:57:26 GMT
Oxford Street has been unpleasant for years but it's definitely in a very pronounced decline as a shopping destination currently. I like Selfridges but always walk up Wigmore Street and throughout Cavendish Square to Soho to avoid walking up Oxford Street. It really is just TAT.
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 19, 2021 12:57:59 GMT
Interesting that those candy store are thought of as something to do money laundering, never thought of that one but tend to agree, I would have thought not much profit on humbugs! well known businesses for that laundering for dirty money have been money exchanges, tanning salons and nail booths are/were used for that purpose. Have I missed any?
Where are work in Marylebone is the upper limit upper class society this is where Harley Street and Lords cricket ground is and is your very old money, all those Georgian property cost a fair whack, this upper class society stretches down to Oxford Street/Bond Street, with Buckingham Palace bang in the middle, then stretches down to Knightsbridge, Sloane Square and Chelsea, which is very much your new money.
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 19, 2021 13:00:38 GMT
Oxford Street has been unpleasant for years but it's definitely in a very pronounced decline as a shopping destination currently. I like Selfridges but always walk up Wigmore Street and throughout Cavendish Square to Soho to avoid walking up Oxford Street. It really is just TAT. Which in the long run is bad news for all of central London. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 19, 2021 13:05:54 GMT
This idea that Central London will become a deserted wasteland is ludicrous. As I've said before, Oxford Street should and will change to allow them to improve the offering and make it a more pleasant experience.
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 19, 2021 13:10:17 GMT
This idea that Central London will become a deserted wasteland is ludicrous. As I've said before, Oxford Street should and will change to allow them to improve the offering and make it a more pleasant experience. It might not become deserted but it will lose a proportion of visitors - particulaly those who don’t go to nightlife. |
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Post by Jan on Nov 19, 2021 13:10:53 GMT
With Debenhams, Top Shop, etc gone and House of Fraser going I think it might be. And it’s very sad. My solution would be that online shopping be taxed to make it more 5% or more expensive to shop at home vs in a shop. So if I use John Lewis online I pay more than if I go into John Lewis and buy exactly the same thing and that extra money goes to the government not John Lewis ? What’s the point of that ? Why not just let people shop any way that is most convenient for them ? |
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 19, 2021 13:19:34 GMT
With Debenhams, Top Shop, etc gone and House of Fraser going I think it might be. And it’s very sad. My solution would be that online shopping be taxed to make it more 5% or more expensive to shop at home vs in a shop. So if I use John Lewis online I pay more than if I go into John Lewis and buy exactly the same thing and that extra money goes to the government not John Lewis ? What’s the point of that ? Why not just let people shop any way that is most convenient for them ? It goes to local councils to allow for a cut in business rates and also for investment to rebuild high streets in steep decline so we don’t end up city and town centres looking Derelict. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 19, 2021 13:24:47 GMT
A lot of places that have closed have simply not improve their shopping experience or range. You can't blame the rise of online shopping for that.
I've been to places like Westfield where it is a much more pleasant experience and I think Westminster Council needs to step things up and provide more than just shopping on Oxford Street. With the Elizabeth Line opening, there is an opportunity to improve the area and make it a destination again.
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 19, 2021 13:31:03 GMT
A lot of places that have closed have simply not improve their shopping experience or range. You can't blame the rise of online shopping for that. I've been to places like Westfield where it is a much more pleasant experience and I think Westminster Council needs to step things up and provide more than just shopping on Oxford Street. With the Elizabeth Line opening, there is an opportunity to improve the area and make it a destination again. How can the range of shopping improve if online is cheaper. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 19, 2021 16:00:54 GMT
Shopping online is great to a point, but there is also other stuff that is more advantageous to buy in a shop. I am also not guided solely by price and will take in other factors when making my purchase.
However I would say that buying stuff online and having it delivered is more environmentally friendly. For example I see the Amazon Prime van in my close at 2pm, making multiple drops, this is definitely greener than those households driving out to buy those goods. I need some tropical fish food, which I will buy from Amazon, this will save me an hour, than driving to Petsathome in the next town and is more environmentally friendly than me making a trip in my car.
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 19, 2021 16:39:29 GMT
Shopping online is great to a point, but there is also other stuff that is more advantageous to buy in a shop. I am also not guided solely by price and will take in other factors when making my purchase. However I would say that buying stuff online and having it delivered is more environmentally friendly. For example I see the Amazon Prime van in my close at 2pm, making multiple drops, this is definitely greener than those households driving out to buy those goods. I need some tropical fish food, which I will buy from Amazon, this will save me an hour, than driving to Petsathome in the next town and is more environmentally friendly than me making a trip in my car. Not good for mental and physical health of the people whose main reasons for going out at working or shopping. There a quite a lot of people who don’t really have hobbies or stuff that take them out on a regular basis. |
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Post by Jon on Nov 19, 2021 16:42:58 GMT
Shopping online is great to a point, but there is also other stuff that is more advantageous to buy in a shop. I am also not guided solely by price and will take in other factors when making my purchase. However I would say that buying stuff online and having it delivered is more environmentally friendly. For example I see the Amazon Prime van in my close at 2pm, making multiple drops, this is definitely greener than those households driving out to buy those goods. I need some tropical fish food, which I will buy from Amazon, this will save me an hour, than driving to Petsathome in the next town and is more environmentally friendly than me making a trip in my car. I love online shopping but you do need to be in an actual shop to get a feel of a product like a TV or a laptop which is why I can't see towns and cities becoming deserted with people not leaving their homes apart from to work. Making the shopping experience fun is one way to entice people back, it won't work for everything but going to a department store and having be airy, bright and friendly can go a long way. |
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Post by Phantom of London on Nov 19, 2021 18:10:52 GMT
Shopping is going to be like the doctor surgery, in that they will do both in-person or telephone, you don't have to go to the doctor surgery for everything, the pandemic proved that. Same with shopping online and in person will co-exist. I hate shopping and particularly hate department stores, I was in a famous department store in Herald Square, New York and I had a list of things I needed, the shop assistant said "you need to go up to the 8th floor for coats and down to the 2nd floor for jeans, then back the mezzanine level for boxer shorts" and all what I wanted to do was scream. However I still like to shop sometimes, as long as it is not for too long. Don't behind having a look around Lidl especially the middle (mystery) aisle.
Near me is Bluewater shopping centre, where there are many empty units now, however there is a new shop and it is the first in the country called Amazon 4 star, all merchandise sold is rated 4 star and above by Amazon customers. If successful this will be rolled out and Oxford Street would be a likely location.
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 19, 2021 18:28:49 GMT
Shopping is going to be like the doctor surgery, in that they will do both in-person or telephone, you don't have to go to the doctor surgery for everything, the pandemic proved that. Same with shopping online and in person will co-exist. I hate shopping and particularly hate department stores, I was in a famous department store in Herald Square, New York and I had a list of things I needed, the shop assistant said "you need to go up to the 8th floor for coats and down to the 2nd floor for jeans, then back the mezzanine level for boxer shorts" and all what I wanted to do was scream. However I still like to shop sometimes, as long as it is not for too long. Don't behind having a look around Lidl especially the middle (mystery) aisle. Near me is Bluewater shopping centre, where there are many empty units now, however there is a new shop and it is the first in the country called Amazon 4 star, all merchandise sold is rated 4 star and above by Amazon customers. If successful this will be rolled out and Oxford Street would be a likely location. Except with the Doctors you don’t have a choice as the doctor decides how you will be seen. And the telephone is no substitute in many cases to in person appointments. Shopping is increasingly becoming the same particularly in less urban areas where towns are losing most of their best known shops. |
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Post by The Matthew on Nov 19, 2021 18:50:24 GMT
Near me is Bluewater shopping centre, where there are many empty units now, however there is a new shop and it is the first in the country called Amazon 4 star, all merchandise sold is rated 4 star and above by Amazon customers. If successful this will be rolled out and Oxford Street would be a likely location. I'd have more faith in that idea were it not for the fact that Amazon falsifies ratings to push its own products and doesn't care too much about the truthfulness of ratings of other products. Except with the Doctors you don’t have a choice as the doctor decides how you will be seen. And the telephone is no substitute in many cases to in person appointments. Shopping is increasingly becoming the same particularly in less urban areas where towns are losing most of their best known shops. If a doctor thinks that seeing you in person is necessary they'll arrange it. The point is that many ailments don't require seeing the patient in person.
And as for shopping, the high street shops that are closing are closing because not enough people want to use them. Why should people be forced to shop in a way they don't want to? (There's certainly a case for breaking up market dominators such as Amazon, but telling people they have to use high street shops when they don't want to — or in some cases can't — is ridiculous.)
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Post by marob on Nov 19, 2021 18:56:05 GMT
I hate clothes shopping, but could quite happily wander round Foyles or Fopp or Waterstones for hours. Since HMV closed on Oxford Street I’ve no reason to go there.
I do want to see the Marble Arch Mound though. It looks gloriously rubbish.
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 19, 2021 19:24:25 GMT
Near me is Bluewater shopping centre, where there are many empty units now, however there is a new shop and it is the first in the country called Amazon 4 star, all merchandise sold is rated 4 star and above by Amazon customers. If successful this will be rolled out and Oxford Street would be a likely location. I'd have more faith in that idea were it not for the fact that Amazon falsifies ratings to push its own products and doesn't care too much about the truthfulness of ratings of other products. Except with the Doctors you don’t have a choice as the doctor decides how you will be seen. And the telephone is no substitute in many cases to in person appointments. Shopping is increasingly becoming the same particularly in less urban areas where towns are losing most of their best known shops. If a doctor thinks that seeing you in person is necessary they'll arrange it. The point is that many ailments don't require seeing the patient in person.
And as for shopping, the high street shops that are closing are closing because not enough people want to use them. Why should people be forced to shop in a way they don't want to? (There's certainly a case for breaking up market dominators such as Amazon, but telling people they have to use high street shops when they don't want to — or in some cases can't — is ridiculous.)
Doctors have unofficial targets which means things that they should see before finding treatment are being diagnosed over the phone with no image of the issue being seen. And as discussed elsewhere on here GP’s are offering all day phone call slots here if you miss it you have to wait days to be given another one. Only a few are offering phone calls like an appointment with a time being given for when they aim to phone. |
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