Black Friday Deals!!!!

[Antifa Hibs]

Or not.

Don't be manipulated by a billion quid/dollar advertising campaign to entice buy over-priced pish you don't need. Keep your hard-earned. The stuff on "sale" tomorrow you can no doubt get at other times of the year whether its money off or discount codes.

If you want to treat yourself - shop local.

If you need to buy online - don't use Amazon.

[CapitalGreen]

Or not.

Don't be manipulated by a billion quid/dollar advertising campaign to entice buy over-priced pish you don't need. Keep your hard-earned. The stuff on "sale" tomorrow you can no doubt get at other times of the year whether its money off or discount codes.

If you want to treat yourself - shop local.

If you need to buy online - don't use Amazon.

Telling people how and where to spend their money, that’s pretty authoritarian patter for a self-proclaimed anti-fascist.

[Antifa Hibs]

Telling people how and where to spend their money, that’s pretty authoritarian patter for a self-proclaimed anti-fascist.

Needs said. These "holidays" only serve the rich. Makes the rich even richer while ****** our already knackered planet while also putting people in debt because LG and Amazon have manipulated them into thinking they need a new tele cos there's some last years stock sitting at 100 quid off.

[RyeSloan]

Or not.

Don't be manipulated by a billion quid/dollar advertising campaign to entice buy over-priced pish you don't need. Keep your hard-earned. The stuff on "sale" tomorrow you can no doubt get at other times of the year whether its money off or discount codes.

If you want to treat yourself - shop local.

If you need to buy online - don't use Amazon.

What if my local shop doesn’t have the millions of items Amazon can deliver to me next day in a Covid safe manner?

There always has to be a bogey man doesn’t there... Amazon has revolutionised access to products for many at highly competitive prices, you would think that cheaper and more accessible for all would be a generally considered a good thing but it seems not.

Thanks for the advice but think I’ll continue to use them rather than being gouged by the high street retailers who fleeced their punters for decades for fat profits.

[Moulin Yarns]

What if my local shop doesn’t have the millions of items Amazon can deliver to me next day in a Covid safe manner?

There always has to be a bogey man doesn’t there... Amazon has revolutionised access to products for many at highly competitive prices, you would think that cheaper and more accessible for all would be a generally considered a good thing but it seems not.

Thanks for the advice but think I’ll continue to use them rather than being gouged by the high street retailers who fleeced their punters for decades for fat profits.

Just my opinion, but Amazon are not always cheaper, and postage costs are sometimes inflated. Books, the thing that Amazon was known for at the beginning, often cheaper elsewhere, and on some sites (HIVE) you are giving to a local bookshop at the same time.

This is not anti-Amazon, as they do have their place, but find what you are looking for on Amazon then check if the 'shopfront' supplier has their own website.

[Antifa Hibs]

What if my local shop doesn’t have the millions of items Amazon can deliver to me next day in a Covid safe manner?

There always has to be a bogey man doesn’t there... Amazon has revolutionised access to products for many at highly competitive prices, you would think that cheaper and more accessible for all would be a generally considered a good thing but it seems not.

Thanks for the advice but think I’ll continue to use them rather than being gouged by the high street retailers who fleeced their punters for decades for fat profits.

Work for them in their warehouses or as a driver. They're horrible *******s.

An empire built on the exploitation of workers.

Fill your boots though. Each to their own. Personally i'd rather give Richer Sounds an extra 20 quid for a tele or Vox an extra 4 quid for a record, Topping & Co an extra 2 quid for a book etc.

[CropleyWasGod]

Just my opinion, but Amazon are not always cheaper, and postage costs are sometimes inflated. Books, the thing that Amazon was known for at the beginning, often cheaper elsewhere, and on some sites (HIVE) you are giving to a local bookshop at the same time.

This is not anti-Amazon, as they do have their place, but find what you are looking for on Amazon then check if the 'shopfront' supplier has their own website.

I never go near Amazon, for a few reasons, but would also never tell anyone where to spend their money.

Amazon used to be my go-to place for music, but I now use Discogs; they're competitive price-wise, and IMO give the small retailer and musician a greater slice.

[patch1875]

I’m looking for an iPhone 11 for my daughters Christmas hoping a bit of discount materialises.

[degenerated]

I never go near Amazon, for a few reasons, but would also never tell anyone where to spend their money.

Amazon used to be my go-to place for music, but I now use Discogs; they're competitive price-wise, and IMO give the small retailer and musician a greater slice.I use discogs a lot as well, very good site. The only problem I have with it is that it's pushed the price of second hand vinyl up quite a bit. No more bargains if you ever go into bricks and mortar stores now.

[JeMeSouviens]

I’m looking for an iPhone 11 for my daughters Christmas hoping a bit of discount materialises.

giffgaff have new and refurb'd with a bit off:

https://www.giffgaff.com/mobile-phones/apple/apple-iphone-11/new?color=black&memory=64000&condition=

[CapitalGreen]

I never go near Amazon, for a few reasons, but would also never tell anyone where to spend their money.

Amazon used to be my go-to place for music, but I now use Discogs; they're competitive price-wise, and IMO give the small retailer and musician a greater slice.

Maybe not directly but the Discogs site is run using Amazon Web Services infrastructure so Amazon will still be getting a slice of your purchase.

[hibsbollah]

Telling people how and where to spend their money, that’s pretty authoritarian patter for a self-proclaimed anti-fascist.

He’s campaigning for something he believes in, he’s trying to persuade you.
An authoritarian tells you do something under the threat of pain.
I think anybody can see the difference.

I agree with him but I’ve also shopped on Amazon today already so I’m a massive hypocrite.

[calumhibee1]

Work for them in their warehouses or as a driver. They're horrible *******s.

An empire built on the exploitation of workers.

Fill your boots though. Each to their own. Personally i'd rather give Richer Sounds an extra 20 quid for a tele or Vox an extra 4 quid for a record, Topping & Co an extra 2 quid for a book etc.

Have you worked for them? I know a couple of folk who have worked for them - never necessarily enjoyed it but their experiences really weren’t bad at all.

It seems to be the go to criticism of big companies when it’s not always necessarily the case.

[CapitalGreen]

He’s campaigning for something he believes in, he’s trying to persuade you.
An authoritarian tells you do something under the threat of pain.
I think anybody can see the difference.

I agree with him but I’ve also shopped on Amazon today already so I’m a massive hypocrite.

Personally I’ve never found condescension to be very persuasive.

[CropleyWasGod]

Maybe not directly but the Discogs site is run using Amazon Web Services infrastructure so Amazon will still be getting a slice of your purchase.

Didn't know that. :greengrin

**** Discogs.... I'm going back to Bandparts and Bruce's.......

[Keith_M]

Maybe not directly but the Discogs site is run using Amazon Web Services infrastructure so Amazon will still be getting a slice of your purchase.


Just to clarify, what is it that they're actually using?

Are they paying Amazon for use of their services (e.g. SAAS) or are they just using AWS software (which I believe is largely free)?

[SaulGoodman]

Thanks for reminding me, I’ll need to get on and see what deals I can get.

[Antifa Hibs]

Have you worked for them? I know a couple of folk who have worked for them - never necessarily enjoyed it but their experiences really weren’t bad at all.

It seems to be the go to criticism of big companies when it’s not always necessarily the case.

Yes. Dunfermline warehouse and as a courier.

[Beefster]

Needs said. These "holidays" only serve the rich. Makes the rich even richer while ****** our already knackered planet while also putting people in debt because LG and Amazon have manipulated them into thinking they need a new tele cos there's some last years stock sitting at 100 quid off.

Haven’t manufacturers and retailers advertised since well before LG and Amazon were around? Maybe I’m in a minority but, if folk put themselves into debt buying **** they don’t need, that’s on them.

[Hibrandenburg]

Have you worked for them? I know a couple of folk who have worked for them - never necessarily enjoyed it but their experiences really weren’t bad at all.

It seems to be the go to criticism of big companies when it’s not always necessarily the case.

Nationwide strikes by Amazon employees for the next 3 days in Germany starting today. The union Ver.di want Amazon to recognize long standing German CLAs covering different employment groups. They've avoided paying their fair share in taxes and won't pay their employees the going rate. Massive companies like Amazon are the driving force behind "race to the bottom" employment policy that has a domino effect on other employers because they can't compete whilst paying their employees a fair wage.

Hypocritically I do occasionally order stuff from them but wouldn't cry if they had to play on an even playing field.

[Moulin Yarns]

To get away from amazon, I would like to warn folks about the adverts on Instagram. If it looks too good to be true then it probably is.

I have been taken in by one where I spent over £50 for something that I could have probably got on the high street for close to £15 bearing in mind the quality of the product that was received.

Often the goods advertised bear only a passing resemblance to what arrives.

Check out the company on review sites.

[stoneyburn hibs]

What if my local shop doesn’t have the millions of items Amazon can deliver to me next day in a Covid safe manner?

There always has to be a bogey man doesn’t there... Amazon has revolutionised access to products for many at highly competitive prices, you would think that cheaper and more accessible for all would be a generally considered a good thing but it seems not.

Thanks for the advice but think I’ll continue to use them rather than being gouged by the high street retailers who fleeced their punters for decades for fat profits.

Agree, seems fashionable to bash Amazon.
If they can keep my next day deliveries of Rum coming,then what's not to like 😁

[BroxburnHibee]

Have you worked for them? I know a couple of folk who have worked for them - never necessarily enjoyed it but their experiences really weren’t bad at all.

It seems to be the go to criticism of big companies when it’s not always necessarily the case.

Im currently working at the Bathgate warehouse since there's no work in the taxi trade at the moment.

Its a perfectly fine place to work as long as you're not a skiving *****r.

I have heard the Dunfermline warehouse is a lot worse though.

[Peevemor]

Amazon's current advertising campaign in France is different employees saying how good it is to work for them.

[Jay]

Just be wary with Amazon. I ordered an Echo dot on Sunday in their black friday deal thing. Delivery by today it said. I've had no confirmation or anything so checked my order and delivery is now between 23rd Feb and sometime in May. I obviously cancelled.

[AugustaHibs]

Amazon are incredibly reliable and efficient. I’ll continue using them until independent retailers become as fast and as cheap as they do.

[speedy_gonzales]

Amazon's current advertising campaign in France is different employees saying how good it is to work for them.

We had something similar in the UK a few months back, highlighting the flexible hours so you can live your life as you see fit, apparently folk go to work just to get a bite of Betty from accounts Scones (or something similar).

[Pretty Boy]

Like anywhere workers will have good and bad experiences at Amazon. I've known various people doing the courier jobs for them, nominally self employed but not really the case.

Some have hated it, spoke about slave labour and said 12 hour days, 6 days a week is the only way to make a living. Others have boasted about finishing their runs in a fraction of the allocated time and clearing close to a thousand pound a week after their van and fuel costs. I'd guess the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

I use Amazon ocassionaly but as has been mentioned earlier on the thread it's generally quite easy to find the same item at a cheaper price if you are willing to spend a bit of time looking.

[Killiehibbie]

Like anywhere workers will have good and bad experiences at Amazon. I've known various people doing the courier jobs for them, nominally self employed but not really the case.

Some have hated it, spoke about slave labour and said 12 hour days, 6 days a week is the only way to make a living. Others have boasted about finishing their runs in a fraction of the allocated time and clearing close to a thousand pound a week after their van and fuel costs. I'd guess the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

I use Amazon ocassionaly but as has been mentioned earlier on the thread it's generally quite easy to find the same item at a cheaper price if you are willing to spend a bit of time looking.

Couple of guys i know say it's impossible to earn good money as they change your run all the time. The only way to earn a decent hourly rate at the delivery game is to know the area as good as the postman. The self-employed bit of these jobs should be outlawed.

[hibsbollah]

Personally I’ve never found condescension to be very persuasive.

Which particular words he used did you find condescending? I can’t find any.

[calumhibee1]

Im currently working at the Bathgate warehouse since there's no work in the taxi trade at the moment.

Its a perfectly fine place to work as long as you're not a skiving *****r.

I have heard the Dunfermline warehouse is a lot worse though.

I think it’s the Bathgate one folk I know used to work in. They seemed happy enough, just the same as most folk. Didn’t want to be there but no real issues.

[lord bunberry]

Yes. Dunfermline warehouse and as a courier.
I worked there in the warehouse for a short time and while the work was demanding physically the staff were well looked after and treated well. There was people walking around asking you if everything was going ok and if there was anything they could do o help. If it hadn’t been for the travelling I’d have stayed.

[Scouse Hibee]

Black Friday must be one of the greatest marketing ideas ever. Millions of folk buying stuff thinking they got a deal they could only get on Black Friday 😂

[Peevemor]

Black Friday must be one of the greatest marketing ideas ever. Millions of folk buying stuff thinking they got a deal they could only get on Black Friday 😂

It was national news here that it had been agreed to push black Friday back by a week to allow for lockdown being partially lifted.

Who decided and since when did it become a major event?

As you say, superb marketing. :agree:

[Killiehibbie]

It was national news here that it had been agreed to push black Friday back by a week to allow for lockdown being partially lifted.

Who decided and since when did it become a major event?

As you say, superb marketing. :agree:

Just another Americanism that's worked its way over here.

[Keith_M]

The working condition of Amazon employees is not the only issue.

I appreciate that many people are happy with their service, and prices, but there's an increasing danger that they're fast becoming a monopoly, aiding in killing the high street shops and, like many other mega-large businesses, seem to operate under a whole different set of rules when it comes to paying taxes (£60M corporation tax in the UK over twenty years - up to 2018).


I expect a lot of people have no interest whatsoever in the moral argument, though, which is part of the reason they've grown so massively.

[Peevemor]

The working condition of Amazon employees is not the only issue.

I appreciate that many people are happy with their service, and prices, but there's an increasing danger that they're fast becoming a monopoly, aiding in killing the high street shops and, like many other mega-large businesses, seem to operate under a whole different set of rules when it comes to paying taxes (£60M corporation tax in the UK over twenty years - up to 2018).


I expect a lot of people have no interest whatsoever in the moral argument, though, which is part of the reason they've grown so massively.

I'm saddened by the demise of high street shops and the effect this has on town centres and communities. I continue to do my bit to support them, but there's a limit to how much money I can "lose' by ignoring savings either online or in supermarkets. The high street isn't always the most convenient either.

Sad but true, and we're all to blame.

[Pretty Boy]

Couple of guys i know say it's impossible to earn good money as they change your run all the time. The only way to earn a decent hourly rate at the delivery game is to know the area as good as the postman. The self-employed bit of these jobs should be outlawed.

I do always think the adverts for courier jobs with them fall into the too good to be true bracket. If you could really clear £200 a day delivering parcels then we'd all be doing it.

The guys I now who have made decent money doing it tended to have their own vans so that's a huge saving, I think Amazon charge about £190 a week to hire from them. As you say the self employed part is the really devious part of these jobs and others like it, largely because it is nothing of the sort.

On a more general theme I think some people fail to understand the overheads involved in running a small business. I had a wee something going on the side for a while selling through the likes of Etsy and Ebay and regularly got reviews stating they could have 'made it myself with stuff bought from a supermarket for half the price' (I also got a lot of really good reviews and repeat custom because what I was selling was good). If you discounted the fact I was posting goods out at a cost of £3.10 a time (of which I was absorbing about half the cost), was providing a gift wrapping service, was using high quality packaging, was personalising every item and had to set aside a bit for tax then you probably could have done it for somewhere around half the price. As it was I had a cost of £6.98 per item and was selling at £8.00, hardly an earth shattering margin but it was the only way I could compete with people selling similar. That's one pretty crap example but there's a reason why your local pub is more expensive than Wetherspoons for a pint (remember those) and a reason an independent shop costs more for certain goods than Amazon.

[Moulin Yarns]

I do always think the adverts for courier jobs with them fall into the too good to be true bracket. If you could really clear £200 a day delivering parcels then we'd all be doing it.

The guys I now who have made decent money doing it tended to have their own vans so that's a huge saving, I think Amazon charge about £190 a week to hire from them. As you say the self employed part is the really devious part of these jobs and others like it, largely because it is nothing of the sort.

On a more general theme I think some people fail to understand the overheads involved in running a small business. I had a wee something going on the side for a while selling through the likes of Etsy and Ebay and regularly got reviews stating they could have 'made it myself with stuff bought from a supermarket for half the price' (I also got a lot of really good reviews and repeat custom because what I was selling was good). If you discounted the fact I was posting goods out at a cost of £3.10 a time (of which I was absorbing about half the cost), was providing a gift wrapping service, was using high quality packaging, was personalising every item and had to set aside a bit for tax then you probably could have done it for somewhere around half the price. As it was I had a cost of £6.98 per item and was selling at £8.00, hardly an earth shattering margin but it was the only way I could compete with people selling similar. That's one pretty crap example but there's a reason why your local pub is more expensive than Wetherspoons for a pint (remember those) and a reason an independent shop costs more for certain goods than Amazon.

Jeez, I couldn't work to your margins :greengrin

I've just been going through my 2019-20 accounts to do my tax return, and made a 36.5% loss on the years turnover, all because of one stock processing cost, otherwise I would have had a 9.5% profit to turnover. I had expected to do well this year because of the item that accounted for my loss. Still, Hector will be kind to me. :wink:

[JeMeSouviens]

Black Friday must be one of the greatest marketing ideas ever. Millions of folk buying stuff thinking they got a deal they could only get on Black Friday 😂

Remember when there were "January sales"?

The way things are going, we'll wrap right round and they'll be back! :greengrin

[Pretty Boy]

Jeez, I couldn't work to your margins :greengrin

I've just been going through my 2019-20 accounts to do my tax return, and made a 36.5% loss on the years turnover, all because of one stock processing cost, otherwise I would have had a 9.5% profit to turnover. I had expected to do well this year because of the item that accounted for my loss. Still, Hector will be kind to me. :wink:

Luckily it was just a wee bit pocket money for me and I turned over a lot of stock so it was a few quid extra in my pocket every month. I gave it up because it was just too much time when my daughter came along.

[JeMeSouviens]

The working condition of Amazon employees is not the only issue.

I appreciate that many people are happy with their service, and prices, but there's an increasing danger that they're fast becoming a monopoly, aiding in killing the high street shops and, like many other mega-large businesses, seem to operate under a whole different set of rules when it comes to paying taxes (£60M corporation tax in the UK over twenty years - up to 2018).


I expect a lot of people have no interest whatsoever in the moral argument, though, which is part of the reason they've grown so massively.

There are 2 things going on there, imo.

1. Lack of regulation - it's up to government to set taxes appropriately, eliminate loopholes and ensure they collect. Similarly, the gig economy and other cost cutting wheezes.
2. Bricks and mortar shops can't just sit there pining for the good old days. If their goods cost more then they have to offer services (advice, fitting, etc) that make people want to shop there.

I guess with (1) it's also up to us, the public, to vote for the parties that will regulate even if it means some price rises.

[Keith_M]

There are 2 things going on there, imo.

1. Lack of regulation - it's up to government to set taxes appropriately, eliminate loopholes and ensure they collect. Similarly, the gig economy and other cost cutting wheezes.
2. Bricks and mortar shops can't just sit there pining for the good old days. If their goods cost more then they have to offer services (advice, fitting, etc) that make people want to shop there.

I guess with (1) it's also up to us, the public, to vote for the parties that will regulate even if it means some price rises.


I agree, but the issue that bricks and mortar shops have is that they have to charge even more because they, most likely, pay a decent level of tax on earnings and are also added with the burden of Business Rates on their premises. These are two areas that companies like Amazon have an unfair advantage.

We also live in a country where people are more likely to buy from massive conglomerates, like Amazon, than from individual local shops. That's not the case in some other countries, e.g. Germany, and is the reason that our high streets are much more uniform (and dull) than elsewhere.

If we don't face this challenge now, then even more people are either going to have to work in the Gig economy or lose their jobs completely when even more shops start shutting down.



Can I just add that I'm not saying that nobody should ever order stuff online. I'd just like to see a more level playing field and people's jobs, and working conditions, being protected

[Peevemor]

I agree, but the issue that bricks and mortar shops have is that they have to charge even more because they, most likely, pay a decent level of tax on earnings and are also added with the burden of Business Rates on their premises. These are two areas that companies like Amazon have an unfair advantage.

We also live in a country where people are more likely to buy from massive conglomerates, like Amazon, than from individual local shops. That's not the case in some other countries, e.g. Germany, and is the reason that our high streets are much more uniform (and dull) than elsewhere.


If we don't face this challenge now, then even more people are either going to have to work in the Gig economy or lose their jobs completely when even more shops start shutting down.

To be fair high streets/town centres in France are in decline too and the authorities are as much to blame as big business.

[weecounty hibby]

To be fair high streets/town centres in France are in decline too and the authorities are as much to blame as big business.

It's not just the likes of Amazon to blame for the high street decline. We have a Tesco that is open 16 hours per day and you can buy anything from meats to car accessories to TVs to phones to clothes to groceries. Our high street is now full of charity shops, bookies and take away shops. Said to see what was a busy town centre change like it has.

[Keith_M]

To be fair high streets/town centres in France are in decline too and the authorities are as much to blame as big business.


Sorry to hear that.

I don't really know France all that well, but I remember visiting Lille many moons ago and the town centre was really nice, with a decent mix of shops.

[Peevemor]

It's not just the likes of Amazon to blame for the high street decline. We have a Tesco that is open 16 hours per day and you can buy anything from meats to car accessories to TVs to phones to clothes to groceries. Our high street is now full of charity shops, bookies and take away shops. Said to see what was a busy town centre change like it has.

Same here - if it's not Tesco it's someone else.

Also the French went in big style for out of town developments with local authorities rubbing their hands at all the additional rates income.

[weecounty hibby]

Same here - if it's not Tesco it's someone else.

Also the French went in big style for out of town developments with local authorities rubbing their hands at all the additional rates income.
Yeah, we went to St Andre Les Alpe for years, sometimes staying for as long as 5 weeks. Beautiful village in a lovely part of the world. Great wee town with great shops. But Super U built in outskirts now and locals use it a lot. Hope it doesn't kill the local shops and twice weekly market

[Pretty Boy]

It's not just the likes of Amazon to blame for the high street decline. We have a Tesco that is open 16 hours per day and you can buy anything from meats to car accessories to TVs to phones to clothes to groceries. Our high street is now full of charity shops, bookies and take away shops. Said to see what was a busy town centre change like it has.

I think councils have to take a share of the blame as well. The reluctance to grant permission to open bars and restaurants on Princes Street, as an example, has played a big part in it's downfall and the new St James Centre is only going to compound that. Those types of establishment are huge drivers of footfall and passing trade.

[Hibrandenburg]

To be fair high streets/town centres in France are in decline too and the authorities are as much to blame as big business.

Germany too. I'm not sure about stats but there are huge Amazon distribution centres popping up all over the place here.

[JeMeSouviens]

I agree, but the issue that bricks and mortar shops have is that they have to charge even more because they, most likely, pay a decent level of tax on earnings and are also added with the burden of Business Rates on their premises. These are two areas that companies like Amazon have an unfair advantage.

We also live in a country where people are more likely to buy from massive conglomerates, like Amazon, than from individual local shops. That's not the case in some other countries, e.g. Germany, and is the reason that our high streets are much more uniform (and dull) than elsewhere.

If we don't face this challenge now, then even more people are either going to have to work in the Gig economy or lose their jobs completely when even more shops start shutting down.



Can I just add that I'm not saying that nobody should ever order stuff online. I'd just like to see a more level playing field and people's jobs, and working conditions, being protected

Agreed. I was really just saying I think it's unfair to blame Amazon and the other onliners. It's up to govt (and by extension us voters) to level the playing field.

[Keith_M]

Agreed. I was really just saying I think it's unfair to blame Amazon and the other onliners. It's up to govt (and by extension us voters) to level the playing field.


:aok:

[Peevemor]

Agreed. I was really just saying I think it's unfair to blame Amazon and the other onliners. It's up to govt (and by extension us voters) to level the playing field.Not just us as voters, but also as customers/consumers.

[green&left]

Im currently working at the Bathgate warehouse since there's no work in the taxi trade at the moment.

Its a perfectly fine place to work as long as you're not a skiving *****r.

I have heard the Dunfermline warehouse is a lot worse though.

I lasted two weeks at Bathgate. PMP (the recruiters) their staff were great. Amazon themselves though - not so much.

I was the hybrid shift. 5am start I think it was til 12pm. Overtime was compulsory and heavily frowned upon if refused. Supervisors I couldn't believe how unprofessional they were and how they spoke to people. One day I was on the job taking stuff that had come down the belt system and placed on the shelves, I then had to take it from the shelve, scan it and place it in the bag. Went for a pish and a drink of water, come back and Wee Davey on top of me cos my scans per hour had dropped. To hell with that.

If your desperate there is always work and the hourly rate isn't the worst but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Only 9 month contracts available as well, guess there's a reason that benefits Amazon for that. I'm still on PMP's mailing list and there's emails every other day advertising jobs for the 2 sites - staff retention must be low and I can't say I'm surprised.

[Hibrandenburg]

I lasted two weeks at Bathgate. PMP (the recruiters) their staff were great. Amazon themselves though - not so much.

I was the hybrid shift. 5am start I think it was til 12pm. Overtime was compulsory and heavily frowned upon if refused. Supervisors I couldn't believe how unprofessional they were and how they spoke to people. One day I was on the job taking stuff that had come down the belt system and placed on the shelves, I then had to take it from the shelve, scan it and place it in the bag. Went for a pish and a drink of water, come back and Wee Davey on top of me cos my scans per hour had dropped. To hell with that.

If your desperate there is always work and the hourly rate isn't the worst but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Only 9 month contracts available as well, guess there's a reason that benefits Amazon for that. I'm still on PMP's mailing list and there's emails every other day advertising jobs for the 2 sites - staff retention must be low and I can't say I'm surprised.

Thanks to the Tories and Thatcher in particular, we've had an employer's market for decades, meaning that there's always enough people willing to work for less.

[davy67 +]

[QUOTE=Peevemor;6365395]It was national news here that it had been agreed to push black Friday back by a week to allow for lockdown being partially lifted.

Who decided and since when did it become a major event?

As you say, superb marketing. :agree:[/QUOTE

It's another American thing that seems to have become a thing over here . Our shops aren't closed on thanksgiving Thursday so I don't really see the need to encourage folks out to shops over here . It's nothing but a huge gimmick , unless you're actually looking for that new TV or whatever with ££££££££s knocked off it , then it's not actually a bargain is it ?

[Bristolhibby]

Remember when there were "January sales"?

The way things are going, we'll wrap right round and they'll be back! :greengrin

Yea, that never made sense to me. I want the bargain for my Christmas shopping. Not after.

J

[Moulin Yarns]

Remember when there were "January sales"?

The way things are going, we'll wrap right round and they'll be back! :greengrin

For those of a certain vintage, Jeffries at the top of Lothian Road, they seemed to have a permanent sale.

[One Day Soon]

Agreed. I was really just saying I think it's unfair to blame Amazon and the other onliners. It's up to govt (and by extension us voters) to level the playing field.


I think there's a lot more to blame Amazon in in particular for than has been stated so far. The two recent EU cases against them revealed what Amazon traders have suspected for years - that they are misusing the monopoly of their own system to create a marketplace in which they profit from every sale (including postage costs) and that independent sellers are effectively treated as employees and servants of Amazon rather than as trading partners.

And it is regularly the case that traders selling items which develop decent volume and profit find themselves suddenly competing with an Amazon version of the same thing which surprise, surprise is both cheaper than the trader's and appears at the top of Amazon's own search rankings when you look for that item on the site.

Many traders also suspect that Amazon are operating a gating system for search results such that sales are spread across sellers of products just enough to keep them all interested rather than on the basic of more organic search results. Interestingly many seem to see sales pushed their way in the run up to the point in the month when Amazon are due to disburse payment fees which is also the point when Amazon take their own cut from those fees.

[SaulGoodman]

Well I was wrong earlier. Just been on Amazon and bought the mrs a cheap Brazilian waxing.

It was a complete rip-off.

[Future17]

Well I was wrong earlier. Just been on Amazon and bought the mrs a cheap Brazilian waxing.

It was a complete rip-off.

At least in that case Amazon would be classed as a local supplier. :greengrin

[Eaststand]

Marella Cruises (TUI) are giving a Black Friday discount of 300 quid per booking on cruises departing between May~Oct 2021.
That's on top of the online discount they always give for online bookings 👍

GGTTH

[Moulin Yarns]

At least in that case Amazon would be classed as a local supplier. :greengrin

😂

[Hibrandenburg]

Just got myself a good deal on a robot lawn mower at my local garden centre. Won't be able to use it until spring but at least I'll have plenty of time to set it up.

[Keith_M]

Just got myself a good deal on a robot lawn mower at my local garden centre. Won't be able to use it until spring but at least I'll have plenty of time to set it up.


Lazy bugger

[Hibrandenburg]

Lazy bugger

Guilty as charged.

[EI255]

Has it not been proven now that only 1% of BF deals are genuine BF deals. The whole thing is a con. Has been since its inception.

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

[calumhibee1]

Has it not been proven now that only 1% of BF deals are genuine BF deals. The whole thing is a con. Has been since its inception.

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

On the presumption that a deal means saving any sort of money then I’d be stunned if it was anything like that as a percentage.

I’d imagine at least 90% of the deals are genuine.

[Mon Dieu4]

On the presumption that a deal means saving any sort of money then I’d be stunned if it was anything like that as a percentage.

I’d imagine at least 90% of the deals are genuine.

I was looking at Which on Friday and they said that 85% of the deals were artificial and were specifically pointing out things in the 15% that were actually a good deal

[calumhibee1]

I was looking at Which on Friday and they said that 85% of the deals were artificial and were specifically pointing out things in the 15% that were actually a good deal

By artificial I presume you mean the original price has been falsely listed as higher than it actually is?

Im sure I remember reading that is illegal?

Might just be me but the two things I wanted to wait till Black Friday for - a television and some stuff for my pizza oven - were both massively reduced.

[Mon Dieu4]

By artificial I presume you mean the original price has been falsely listed as higher than it actually is?

I’m sure that’s illegal.

Might just be me but the two things I wanted to wait till Black Friday for - a television and some stuff for my pizza oven - were both massively reduced.

That it's not the lowest price they have ever been etc, most companies change prices throughout the year, they put them back up to the RRP before black Friday and then make it look as though the money they have taken off is a great deal, don't think it's illegal as it's the recommended price

If you use chrome to surf the web then download Honey it's a tool that searches the net for discount codes and automatically applies them but the cool feature it has is that it shows you what price a product has previously been at over a period of time so you know if you are getting a good deal or not

[Hibbyradge]

I've been looking to buy a good winter coat and I noticed a Jack Wolfskin one I liked was in their sale.

It was £300 but had 20% off for BF. £60 is a brilliant saving so I ordered one.

I needed to check something so I googled the name of the coat and, to my horror, I saw it was being sold by Outdoor GB for £220!

I immediately cancelled the JW order and bought the cheaper one. I also had a voucher for £7.50 because I'd bought Sealskinz gloves a couple of weeks ago so it only cost £213 delivered.

Black Friday or Amazon or anything, it pays to shop around.

[The Harp Awakes]

I've been looking to buy a good winter coat and I noticed a Jack Wolfskin one I liked was in their sale.

It was £300 but had 20% off for BF. £60 is a brilliant saving so I ordered one.

I needed to check something so I googled the name of the coat and, to my horror, I saw it was being sold by Outdoor GB for £220!

I immediately cancelled the JW order and bought the cheaper one. I also had a voucher for £7.50 because I'd bought Sealskinz gloves a couple of weeks ago so it only cost £213 delivered.

Black Friday or Amazon or anything, it pays to shop around.

It certainly does. A wee while back I was looking at warm jackets in House of Bruar, Blair Atholl. I was keen on a North Face therrmoball jacket and tried it on. The price was ~£170 but before I bought it I checked online prices on my phone. The North Face shop at Amazon was selling the same jacket, size and colour for £82!

That was an astonishing price mark--up so I put the jacket back on the peg and ordered it from Amazon on prime and it was delivered the next day. Cracking jacket and still wearing it today 2 years on.

[Keith_M]

By artificial I presume you mean the original price has been falsely listed as higher than it actually is?

Im sure I remember reading that is illegal?

Might just be me but the two things I wanted to wait till Black Friday for - a television and some stuff for my pizza oven - were both massively reduced.


It is but sadly there's easy ways round it.

For instance, to advertise an item On Sale, in let's say M&S, as being reduced from £300 to £200, the item only needs to have been listed at £300 in a single M&S branch for 7 days*.

The item in question might actually have only cost £180 in the branch you bought it from, but they're still allowed to advertise it as previously costing £300.




* It might not specifically be 7 days any more, but the principle remains the same

[calumhibee1]

It is but sadly there's easy ways round it.

For instance, to advertise an item as On Sale, in let's say M&S, as being reduced from £300 to £200, the item only needs to have been listed at £300 for in a single M&S branch for 7 days*.

The item in question might actually have only cost £180 in the branch you bought it from, but they're still allowed to advertise it as previously costing £300.




* It might not specifically be 7 days any more, but the principle remains the same

Yup think that’s roughly what I thought the script was.

Sure it was on here I read about it in a thread about sofa shops having year round sales!

[pollution]

[QUOTE=The Harp Awakes;6369819]It certainly does. A wee while back I was looking at warm jackets in House of Bruar, Blair Atholl. I was keen on a North Face therrmoball jacket and tried it on. The price was ~£170 but before I bought it I checked online prices on my phone. The North Face shop at Amazon was selling the same jacket, size and colour for £82!

That was an astonishing price mark--up so I put the jacket back on the peg and ordered it from Amazon on prime and it was delivered the next day. Cracking jacket and still wearing it today 2 years on.[/QUO

It doesn't surprise me the mark up at that shop. I did the same with a jacket too. £60 cheaper on line.

I don't know how the shop part of the complex survives with such high prices.

[Moulin Yarns]

House of Bruar, Blair Atholl.

It doesn't surprise me the mark up at that shop. I did the same with a jacket too. £60 cheaper on line.

I don't know how the shop part of the complex survives with such high prices.

It markets itself as Harrods of the North. Certain class of shoppers.

[Keith_M]

It markets itself as Harrods of the North. Certain class of shoppers.


They can't be that fussy, they let me in the shop once.

I didn't actually buy anything, but there you go.

[Hibbyradge]

They can't be that fussy, they let me in the shop once.

I didn't actually buy anything, but there you go.

You wouldn't get stopped from going into the real Harrods either. In fact, I definitely recommend that you do, particularly to see the food hall.

It's the most beautiful shop I've been in. Stunning.

I didn't buy anything, but I was very tempted by the steak counter. They cook it there are there for you and it looks amazing.

[calumhibee1]

You wouldn't get stopped from going into the real Harrods either. In fact, I definitely recommend that you do, particularly to see the food hall.

It's the most beautiful shop I've been in. Stunning.

I didn't buy anything, but I was very tempted by the steak counter. They cook it there are there for you and it looks amazing.

Harrods is great for a wander.

Not sure I can go back though. Last time i was in i sampled what i thought was a hermes moisturiser with no member of staff helping me. Started rubbing it between my hands and it started foaming up so i panicked and wiped it off on a Hermes towel that was for sale and made a right mess of it.

Thankfully the Hermes section was right beside the door so i made a swift exit as its safe to say i couldnt afford any of it.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Harrods is great for a wander.

Not sure I can go back though. Last time i was in i sampled what i thought was a hermes moisturiser with no member of staff helping me. Started rubbing it between my hands and it started foaming up so i panicked and wiped it off on a Hermes towel that was for sale and made a right mess of it.

Thankfully the Hermes section was right beside the door so i made a swift exit as its safe to say i couldnt afford any of it.

Strange that they let a sailor sell aircraft carrier memorabilia in their store! ☺

[Keith_M]

Harrods is great for a wander.

Not sure I can go back though. Last time i was in i sampled what i thought was a hermes moisturiser with no member of staff helping me. Started rubbing it between my hands and it started foaming up so i panicked and wiped it off on a Hermes towel that was for sale and made a right mess of it.

Thankfully the Hermes section was right beside the door so i made a swift exit as its safe to say i couldnt afford any of it.


:greengrin