Companies going bankrupt/into administration

[emordnilap]

I last went in to Comet to look for a replacement remote control. Something in Logitech's range would have done nicely.

"Sorry mate" says helpful worker, "We only do those ones over there. We can maybe order one in though."

"M'eh" I reply, "I can order one from DODGY TAX AVOIDERS myself."

People go to Comet in order to make a choice and then they order it cheaper online. It wouldn't surprise me if Comet closed all its shops and just became an online retailer.

My attitude is: first investigate which item to buy - usually based on various ethical considerations such as potential longevity of product or manufacturing location, workers' rights or repairability etc. Then, second, to patronise local specialists as much as possible to purchase a specific model, to give them a cut of the profit.

OK, order it online and get it 'cheaper' - but is it really? I like to help sustain a lively town centre, maintain jobs, get personal service, talk to a real person in person when something goes wrong, encourage acquisition of in-depth knowledge, meet the person in the street or the pub. If you have researched an item, you can share that knowledge with a local reseller.

Fúck the big box people. I hope they all keel over.

[Tarrel]

I last went in to Comet to look for a replacement remote control. Something in Logitech's range would have done nicely.

"Sorry mate" says helpful worker, "We only do those ones over there. We can maybe order one in though."

"M'eh" I reply, "I can order one from DODGY TAX AVOIDERS myself."

People go to Comet in order to make a choice and then they order it cheaper online. It wouldn't surprise me if Comet closed all its shops and just became an online retailer.

My attitude is: first investigate which item to buy - usually based on various ethical considerations such as potential longevity of product or manufacturing location, workers' rights or repairability etc. Then, second, to patronise local specialists as much as possible to purchase a specific model, to give them a cut of the profit.

OK, order it online and get it 'cheaper' - but is it really? I like to help sustain a lively town centre, maintain jobs, get personal service, talk to a real person in person when something goes wrong, encourage acquisition of in-depth knowledge, meet the person in the street or the pub. If you have researched an item, you can share that knowledge with a local reseller.

Fúck the big box people. I hope they all keel over.

I agree wholeheartedly with this approach.

[extractorfan]

I agree wholeheartedly with this approach.

Yes, I sort of do, I always go to the local hardware store, rather then the b and queue store, and I prefer local plumbers rather than the yellow pages big chains....

although I don't hope the big box people die, maybe just bang their heads or something.

[Tarrel]

although I don't hope the big box people die, maybe just bang their heads or something

Yes. 6,500 jobs at stake with Comet.

[clv101]

Yes. 6,500 jobs at stake with Comet.

Yeah, it's a funny old system. Those 6500 jobs facilitate import, contributing to the trade deficit, weakening the currency etc. Is it in the country's economic interest to be running as high a trade deficit? Could 6500 jobs be created/paid for out of the national savings associated with reduced consumer electronic imports?

[emordnilap]

although I don't hope the big box people die, maybe just bang their heads or something

Yes. 6,500 jobs at stake with Comet.

Obviously, my point wasn't clear enough. Never mind.

[extractorfan]

Could 6500 jobs be created/paid for out of the national savings associated with reduced consumer electronic imports?

highly unlikely, who knows what they could do? Flip burgers perhaps, cooked with charcoal made from UK sustainable wood, cooked un UK produced cooking oil, made from UK cows fed on UK grass. Oh, and transported by bike to the store.

Not sure what else we could sustainably manufacture. Not even sure home made burgers is sustainable. We could certainly export them though, so long as BSE isn't still a worry to the external market.

[JavaScriptDonkey]

My attitude is: first investigate which item to buy - usually based on various ethical considerations such as potential longevity of product or manufacturing location, workers' rights or repairability etc.

I'm surprised you ever actually buy anything with a list of requirements like that.

Impress me though - which remote control manufacturer passes all those tests?

[emordnilap]

My attitude is: first investigate which item to buy - usually based on various ethical considerations such as potential longevity of product or manufacturing location, workers' rights or repairability etc.

I'm surprised you ever actually buy anything with a list of requirements like that.

Impress me though - which remote control manufacturer passes all those tests?

Dunno, I've no use for one.

[JavaScriptDonkey]

So what items have you recently researched and bought ethically rather than visit a big box store?

[kenneal - lagger]

"M'eh" I reply,

Must be one of the sheeple!!

[emordnilap]

So what items have you recently researched and bought ethically rather than visit a big box store?

Quite a lot! In the last few months:

A scythe from Simon Fairlie.

Organic cotton, fair trade bedding from Gossypium.

Some second-hand books from a co-operative and some from a second-hand bookshop.

Garden supplies from Fruit Hill Farm in Bantry.

We'll firstly try to buy stuff second-hand or get it off FreeCycle.

The last 'big' new household item was a Miele washing machine eight years ago; Miele were chosen for four prime reasons: they were rated top for reliability by Which? magazine; the company doesn't (or, at least, didn't at the time) manufacture armaments; it was a low-water-usage model, earning (IIRC) an A++ rating and lastly, fortunately, it was available in a local independent retailer. An iron counterweight (as opposed to cheaper and less recyclable concrete) and a high spin speed (meaning a more efficient motor) were bonuses which helped sway the decision.

It's not difficult - anyone can make decisions like these, it takes little effort.

lurker's tagline: "Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want."

[MisterE]

Let them all go bang for all I care. Where are all those years of growth and profit we all know, its with the directors and when they go bang they leave massive debts, no wages and they said off with all there personal assets and massive pensions. They all need shooting. I bet they got mega money from all their insurance warranty scams all stashed away.

[snow hope]

Patton Group go into Administration with 320 jobs at risk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20212886

[adam2]

I try to buy locally and thereby support local busineses, so far as possible.
When visiting Minehead, I use local shops so far as possible, but there are fewer and fewer.
Minehead now has no local hardware or tool shop, both travis perkins and jewsons are nearby, but are part of large groups.
There is no local off licence anymore. The co-op sell drink but only a rather limited choice.
The localy owned pound shop has the odd bargain, and loads of tat.
Poundland, part of a large chain, has even worse tat.
Iceland is busy selling tat food.

The farmers market is a step forward, but is not very succesful with a very limited selection, and most traders at the market have very little stock.
A new locall bakery opened, but no longer sells bread ! "let them eat cake"
At least there are two good local butchers.
The position is no doubt similar in many towns.