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View Full Version : Anyone bought anything from Sports Direct?



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22-07-2016, 11:08 AM
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jul/22/mike-ashley-running-sports-direct-like-victorian-workhouse?utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GU+Today+main+NEW+H+categories&utm_term=182797&subid=17393308&CMP=EMCNEWEML6619I2


Seems a perfect fit for Ibrox ....

Bishop Hibee
22-07-2016, 11:48 AM
Loads in the past. Best range of kids stuff with lowest prices to match. A lot of these companies make a mockery of employment law. I know from first hand accounts that too many hours worked, working without a break etc are commonplace in retail, catering, bars etc.

The government needs to tighten and enforce employment law, not rely on whistleblowers and public pressure to bring malpractice to light.

Spudster
22-07-2016, 01:00 PM
Also applies to USC and Cruise as they use the same warehousing (same company)

IrnBru22
22-07-2016, 01:07 PM
They've just bought the lease for the HMV unit on Princes Street, so there will be a Sports Direct opening there soon.

Hibs Class
22-07-2016, 01:09 PM
The comparison with Victorian workhouses may be accurate but it seems a little dated. A better, more contemporary comparison would be with how workers in other countries are treated today, whether it is producing cheap products for supermarkets etc. or branded items which sell for grossly inflated amounts. Any analysis of the market has to look at the entire supply chain, and attach similar values to foreign workers as it does to UK workers.

heretoday
22-07-2016, 02:26 PM
Apparently the BHS store is to become a hotel. They'll not have to look far for bedside lights and that.

grunt
22-07-2016, 04:07 PM
They've just bought the lease for the HMV unit on Princes Street, so there will be a Sports Direct opening there soon.
HMV closing then?

Keith_M
22-07-2016, 04:09 PM
I bought a "Rangers Treble 2016" T-Shirt from them in May.

hibsbollah
22-07-2016, 04:20 PM
The Victorians get a hard time eh? I blame Dickens.

There were plenty of reasonable employers; David Dale who founded New Lanark and Robert Owen were utopian socialists who provided paid breaks and holidays, free education, food and heating for their employers and they got a day off for their birthday! I bet they'd be furious at always being compared with genuine ****s like Ashley.

lord bunberry
22-07-2016, 05:12 PM
The Victorians get a hard time eh? I blame Dickens.

There were plenty of reasonable employers; David Dale who founded New Lanark and Robert Owen were utopian socialists who provided paid breaks and holidays, free education, food and heating for their employers and they got a day off for their birthday! I bet they'd be furious at always being compared with genuine ****s like Ashley.
New Lanark is a fantastic place to visit, the whole story surrounding it is fascinating. I'd forgotten all about it. I will definitely be taking the wee one there during the school holidays. Thanks for reminding me.

WoreTheGreen
22-07-2016, 05:47 PM
The comparison with Victorian workhouses may be accurate but it seems a little dated. A better, more contemporary comparison would be with how workers in other countries are treated today, whether it is producing cheap products for supermarkets etc. or branded items which sell for grossly inflated amounts. Any analysis of the market has to look at the entire supply chain, and attach similar values to foreign workers as it does to UK workers.

Mybe so but the groul served in the canteen is not the best!

Pretty Boy
22-07-2016, 06:02 PM
The problem here is the only way this will change is if it's consumer led, the government aren't going to do anything. Tory MPs are probably in admiration of Ashley.

That places the burden on those who are shopping in Sports Direct for the value aspect. Say a family of 4 has saved to afford a foreign holiday and they can go to Sports Direct or Primark and get a T shirt for a fiver or pay £20 in another high street store; morally they may want to make 1 choice, financially it's the other.

Callum7
22-07-2016, 06:06 PM
I went in to sports direct the other day. It was boiling, they have no air conditioning at all! They're losing a lot of business all because Mike Ashley's to cheap to pay for an AC.

lord bunberry
22-07-2016, 06:11 PM
The problem here is the only way this will change is if it's consumer led, the government aren't going to do anything. Tory MPs are probably in admiration of Ashley.

That places the burden on those who are shopping in Sports Direct for the value aspect. Say a family of 4 has saved to afford a foreign holiday and they can go to Sports Direct or Primark and get a T shirt for a fiver or pay £20 in another high street store; morally they may want to make 1 choice, financially it's the other.
It's never going to be consumer led for the reasons you laid out. I suppose it's the same principle as companies that avoid tax. Media pressure is what will probably lead to a change in attitude of companies like Sports Direct, government will as usual pay lip service to the issue and do nothing.

Hibernia&Alba
22-07-2016, 06:16 PM
I hate Ashley and all his race to the bottom exploitation represents. Sub-human, IMHO.

Hibernia&Alba
22-07-2016, 06:26 PM
The problem here is the only way this will change is if it's consumer led, the government aren't going to do anything. Tory MPs are probably in admiration of Ashley.

That places the burden on those who are shopping in Sports Direct for the value aspect. Say a family of 4 has saved to afford a foreign holiday and they can go to Sports Direct or Primark and get a T shirt for a fiver or pay £20 in another high street store; morally they may want to make 1 choice, financially it's the other.

A false choice. The 'market' demeans all and forces false choices. Solidarity and a rejection of divide and rule prevents this dichotomy in what is an individualistic system. I will not be an atomised economic unit in a system that demands I trample others for my gain. The moment we reject the notion that the market is always right is the moment we progress. What is this 'market' and who does it serve?

Pretty Boy
22-07-2016, 06:32 PM
A false choice. The 'market' demeans all and forces false choices. Solidarity and a rejection of divide and rule prevents this dichotomy in what is an individualistic system. I will not be an atomised economic unit in a system that demands I trample others for my gain. The moment we reject the notion that the market is always right is the moment we progress. What is this 'market' and who does it serve?
I wasn't saying I agreed with my hypothetical scenario, I'm just being realistic.

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Mcpakeisgod
22-07-2016, 06:33 PM
New Lanark is a fantastic place to visit, the whole story surrounding it is fascinating. I'd forgotten all about it. I will definitely be taking the wee one there during the school holidays. Thanks for reminding me.

There's a flashback, got taken their at primary school, still remember it like it was yesterday, great place and the guides there were fantastic

Hibernia&Alba
22-07-2016, 06:39 PM
I wasn't saying I agreed with my hypothetical scenario, I'm just being realistic.

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I know that, you're a good guy; I was just putting the question out there. What an existence.

greenginger
22-07-2016, 06:57 PM
I don't think MP's should be lecturing anyone about Dickensian working practices.


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/slave-labour-mps-accused-hypocrisy-6260279

Hibbyradge
22-07-2016, 07:00 PM
It's never going to be consumer led for the reasons you laid out.

The truth is, it's already consumer led.

Hibernia&Alba
22-07-2016, 07:21 PM
The truth is, it's already consumer led.

To consume - so we define ourselves by what we use and exhaust. I'm sick and tired of this.

lord bunberry
22-07-2016, 09:12 PM
The truth is, it's already consumer led.
It is and that's why Ashley is so rich. If you want a change in workers rights it won't be consumer led. The consumer for the most part can't afford to have principles.

monktonharp
22-07-2016, 11:52 PM
A false choice. The 'market' demeans all and forces false choices. Solidarity and a rejection of divide and rule prevents this dichotomy in what is an individualistic system. I will not be an atomised economic unit in a system that demands I trample others for my gain. The moment we reject the notion that the market is always right is the moment we progress. What is this 'market' and who does it serve?:agree:well said and well asked, comrade. some people have no values, when the only values the have is themselves

jgl07
22-07-2016, 11:54 PM
I recall going into Sports Direct on Sauchiehall Street many years ago, after a colleague alerted to me that they had a sale on. The place resembled a surplus stock clearance sale. I ended up buying two pairs of trainers and some walking boots. They were all branded and very cheap. Scroll on a year or two and I wanted to replace the trainers. I went back and purchased two pairs of branded trainers. Very soon I noticed that the goods were nothing like the quality of my previous purchases.

I eventually found out from a Newcastle supporting colleague that Mike Ashley bought out the established brands concerned - Dunlop, Slazenger, etc - and produced crap with a respected brand name. They fell apart very quickly. I have not been back in since.

tamig
23-07-2016, 12:21 AM
Have bought tons of stuff from them both online and in store. Great deals and decent customer service. So from a consumer perspective, absolutely no complaints from me.

Ozyhibby
23-07-2016, 01:00 AM
With near full employment, why don't the sports direct employees look for jobs with other companies?


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jgl07
23-07-2016, 01:43 AM
With near full employment, why don't the sports direct employees look for jobs with other companies?


Near full employment?

What planet are you on?

The official (rather dubious) unemployment figure is 1.7 million.

Too many of the alleged 'jobs' are zero hours contracts on minimum pay.

Except that many, including Sports Direct, do not pay the minimum living wage. Security checks are not included in paid hours. Just why anyone would be so desperate to nick the crap Sports Direct sell is beyond me. A lot of care workers who have to travel from client to client are not paid for the travel time.

Jack
23-07-2016, 08:38 AM
My daughter worked for SD for years.

She quite enjoyed it. I might suggest a lot of the moans she did have could be found in almost any workplace and mainly around individual managers promoted beyond their ability.

NORTHERNHIBBY
23-07-2016, 09:00 AM
Levein and Neilson go there for their tactics.

w pilton hibby
23-07-2016, 09:36 AM
A false choice. The 'market' demeans all and forces false choices. Solidarity and a rejection of divide and rule prevents this dichotomy in what is an individualistic system. I will not be an atomised economic unit in a system that demands I trample others for my gain. The moment we reject the notion that the market is always right is the moment we progress. What is this 'market' and who does it serve?

I've read this several times and get the drift that you're anti something however I can't work out what.

Is there a version for the man in the pub?

hibby6270
23-07-2016, 03:05 PM
Levein and Neilson go there for their tactics.

:top marks :rotflmao::rotflmao::LOL:

Clever!! Saw what you did there!!

Scouse Hibee
23-07-2016, 03:08 PM
They've just bought the lease for the HMV unit on Princes Street, so there will be a Sports Direct opening there soon.

TK Maxx opening on South St David street too.

Ozyhibby
23-07-2016, 03:22 PM
Near full employment?

What planet are you on?

The official (rather dubious) unemployment figure is 1.7 million.

Too many of the alleged 'jobs' are zero hours contracts on minimum pay.

Except that many, including Sports Direct, do not pay the minimum living wage. Security checks are not included in paid hours. Just why anyone would be so desperate to nick the crap Sports Direct sell is beyond me. A lot of care workers who have to travel from client to client are not paid for the travel time.

I've only been a PAYE employee once since I was 16 (part time waiters job 27 years ago). This is now my thirtieth year self employed. I've never once had holiday pay, sick pay or any pension payments. I've never had job security.
What I don't understand is if Sports direct are so bad, why not move to Tesco or somewhere similar? They are always looking for staff at my local Tesco. There appears to be plenty of opportunities? I'm not trying to be a dick here, there must be a reason their staff stick with them?


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Pete
23-07-2016, 05:59 PM
I've only been a PAYE employee once since I was 16 (part time waiters job 27 years ago). This is now my thirtieth year self employed. I've never once had holiday pay, sick pay or any pension payments. I've never had job security.
What I don't understand is if Sports direct are so bad, why not move to Tesco or somewhere similar? They are always looking for staff at my local Tesco. There appears to be plenty of opportunities? I'm not trying to be a dick here, there must be a reason their staff stick with them?


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The vast majority of the other jobs are probably either part time or temporary. They certainly are on the tesco website anyway.

It's ****ing depressing.

grunt
28-07-2016, 10:25 AM
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/city-centre/hmv-forced-to-close-as-sports-direct-moves-to-princes-street-1-4188357

heretoday
28-07-2016, 02:49 PM
I bought a Slazenger dark blue zipped hoodie there about 5 years ago for a tenner and it's still in good nick. Very comfy.

Fascinating eh?