View Full Version : Borders enters administration
retailworld
30-11-2009, 22:47
Ok, this was 2 days ago now, but has anyone been in since they announced their 'closing down' sale?
This effects about 1400 people's jobs, plus those that work in the concessions (Starbucks, Game & Paperchase).
Will WHSmith / Waterstones benefit? Or will someone else enter the market?
Ok, this was 2 days ago now, but has anyone been in since they announced their 'closing down' sale?
This effects about 1400 people's jobs, plus those that work in the concessions (Starbucks, Game & Paperchase).
Will WHSmith / Waterstones benefit? Or will someone else enter the market?
I cant believe it happened! I dotn have one within easy distance of me so have not been into one - have you? What are the sales like?
I wonder if they have an online sale? May have to go in and check it out later :D I love reading and am after the twilight books hehe!
Lets hope that someone else steps into the marketas what will all these people do without thier jobs? Esp now just before christmas! It cant be easy to find a new job in retail right now either as all xmas temps would have been hired already! I would hate to be faced with that prospect so close to Chrsitmas!
WHSmith or Waterstones could definately benefit here as well. especially if no one else steps in, then they gret a bigger share of the market!!!!!
m8internet
02-12-2009, 20:10
Borders Books Stores are always clean and well presented
However, the interior decor always strikes me as "dark"
Equally, every time I have been in for a specific book it has never been in stock
Ironically, I was advised they could have it in store within 5 days but if I went to the website I could have it quicker, so what's the point in that!
I have never been impressed by their joint venture elements (game, paperchase, etc)
I can understand why they include paperchase as this allows them to have a range of stationery materials
Some stores may be of interest to another retailer, as Borders is the exclusive operator at that retail park (and I can think of a few in Scotland)
Finally, internal fraud has been an ongoing issue for this company
Ironic if a small number of employees have now done themselves out of work
Dark Phoenyx
04-12-2009, 08:22
I didnt know about the internal fraud. but i have read about their problems and that they were going out of business and that they had apointed an accounting firm as well. Maybe these accountants will uncover the fraud? I mean no one could have hidden it that well if there was speculation of fraud.
retailworld
05-12-2009, 10:14
Whilst I don't doubt internal fraud may have been an issue, it was company policy to check everyone's bag on ending their shift, so you'd have thought they would have covered other areas of internal theft better?
m8internet
05-12-2009, 11:25
Internal theft isn't just about "bag checking" on staff as they leave
Equally, who checks the checker!
I recently caught (at a different retailer) two members of staff in collusion
On CCTV it looked quite genuine, the items going through the till
However, on comparing the till audit roll the print said otherwise!
£350 worth of items in the bag, £25 on the print, paid for by cash
Turned out the till had been set to "price check" after the first item went through
To other customers it looked like completely genuine
We then went back through other CCTV and found this had been happening three or four times a day, on each shift...
By comparing the items we then found them on eBay UK!
By purchasing an item this confirmed the address, which matched their payroll
They were threatened with court action for the entire amount, but the company accepted a payment of £65,000
Ironically, since the case didn't go to court these people didn't get a criminal record
retailworld
06-12-2009, 14:08
No, what I meant is, if they insisted on exit checking everyone, you'd think they'd also be hot on the other ways of internal theft, as you mention.
And yes, even the checker was checked...
m8internet
06-12-2009, 17:05
The question is were they just ticking the boxes, with the minimum number of searches or being proactive
Equally, there are so many methods of internal fraud it is quite frightening
The main problem comes if you can't spot them and put a procedure in place to prevent them in the future
Wow all of that sounds quite awful! Its amazing what people can get away with these days isn't it?
The problem is that you can put as many procedures in place as you wish, with every barrier they just come up with new ways of getting what they want! Unfortunately there does not seem to be any fool-proof method does there?
Mellijelli
09-12-2009, 09:07
SallyA, I went to get all four of the Twilight books on the same day and read them finished within a week (could not put them down) they were brilliant to say the least :), have you managed to get them yet?
SallyA, I went to get all four of the Twilight books on the same day and read them finished within a week (could not put them down) they were brilliant to say the least :), have you managed to get them yet?
No :( Everywhere I look they are £25++ I was hoping to find a deal on the net so i could get them but haven't bothered checking yet! Aaah am so jealous - don't tell me anything until I have read them ok?
Mellijelli
10-12-2009, 08:00
Ahh thats a shame, the books are so much better than the movies though, I watched twilight the first one and am going to watch new moon soon :), and dont worry I wont give anything away but I highly recommend the books best series iv read since the Harry Potters.
Dark Phoenyx
10-12-2009, 09:12
I have read a few of the harry potters, and they are excellent. lol i have most of the movie as well, but ive noticed tht reading the books you tend to see where they left chunks of the story out. :( thats the only sad thing. Im still going to get the twilight books as well. :D
Mellijelli
10-12-2009, 09:29
Well the Harry Potter and Twilight books are gloriously thick reading material and just way to much to squeeze into a movie, even so most of the movies are around 2 hrs or more, if they had to put every detail of the books in ud sit with a 5 hr move im sure, not that id mind that at all ;)
See my cunning plan is to wait and see if anyone is getting them for me for xmas hehe! If not then I will buy them afterwards!
Wouldnt want to ruin the opportunity for someone to buy me a gift now would I? LOL :D
Mellijelli
11-12-2009, 07:41
I like ur way of thinking SallyA, best start dropping some subtle hints so long around those you think would buy them for you ;), and of course!! never miss an opportunity for a prezzie hehe NEVAR!!
Dark Phoenyx
11-12-2009, 08:41
LOL and the plot thickens :D scallywags, can you remember when you were a child, lol youd ask your parents for something specific for christmas, and lo and behold now that were well grown up :D were dropping hints and leaving clues all around us as to what we want for xmas..... thats the one thing i love about christmas. its the one holiday that turns everyone into a child in some way.
Mellijelli
11-12-2009, 08:51
UM SallyA, Dark Phoenyx is calling us scallywags :D, all I know is that I dont want my 2 front teef for xmas :) I hope I get some nice goodies (hint, hint) lol
UM SallyA, Dark Phoenyx is calling us scallywags :D, all I know is that I dont want my 2 front teef for xmas :) I hope I get some nice goodies (hint, hint) lol
Haha she is saying it but I bet she is no different! As she herself said it turns us all into little kiddies :D
My mum didnt even hint! Yesterday she called and said she needs foundation so i can buy her that! She uses quite an expensive one as well so job done nearly haha!
Dark Phoenyx
14-12-2009, 06:37
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ok ok you got me :D I am dropping a few hints here and there :D
hahahahahahaha youre lucky sallyA, if only my job was that easy. i have a few left to get and i am completely clueless.
Trust me there are a fair few people that I am totally stuck on! Its horrible as I like to surprise people but instead they are all telling me what to buy etc..... No surprises this year then hehe!
Oh well at least they will be getting what they wanted?
Mellijelli
15-12-2009, 06:13
LOL iv just bought some for my daughter so far, as for the others iv no idea wot to get yet and xmas is only a few days away, one good thing, I put up all my decorations and lights and it was well worth it looks really good and i feel better too :)
Dark Phoenyx
15-12-2009, 07:12
LOL I'll take the american route on that mellijelli and plead the fifth :D my decorations will be up on monday.... then i can relax. soon all the gifts will be under the tree.
Ive listened to a good few hints this year as well. so a lot of people wont be getting surprises either.
Mellijelli
15-12-2009, 07:27
Come to think of it xmas is not really abt the gifts thats just a small part of it, its more about celebrating Christ's birth its good to remember that too I think.
Come to think of it xmas is not really abt the gifts thats just a small part of it, its more about celebrating Christ's birth its good to remember that too I think.
Yes Miss lol! We must remember the true meaning of christmas hehe :eek:
Dark Phoenyx
16-12-2009, 07:35
:D Wot we normally do is open our gifts on christmas eve, after a huge dinner. that leaves christmas day open to relaxing and spending time with the family, and enjoying the real meaning of it :D
Mellijelli
16-12-2009, 08:14
Well in my fam we used to open them xmas morning early then have the mega lunch after which ur so full ur stomach is pulling ur eyes closed and you go sleep an hour or so :p, but in my husbands fam they like to open the xmas presents at when the clock hits 12 at night :D so we do that now and then xmas day we have the lunch and stuff.
Jose is portuguese so his family do the lot on xmas eve, presents big dinner and drinks etc... Its great. My family do it all xmas day so luckily for me and him there is never any conflict over who's parents house we are going to etc.... I also get to have presents xmas eve and xmas day! I mean what more could I ask for? Brilliant isn't it?
Mellijelli
17-12-2009, 06:34
My husband is also Portuguese SallyA lol, and your right they do like their food which is great never going hungry there, family is important so I like that idea too :)
My husband is also Portuguese SallyA lol, and your right they do like their food which is great never going hungry there, family is important so I like that idea too :)
Trust me he can eat - I blame him for my weight gain! Since I met him I have put on about 5kg! He is a constant eating machine!
Where does your hubby comes from? Jose is from Madeira?
Mellijelli
21-12-2009, 06:11
:D Sunday lunch is always a feast at my husbands parents house and at one time when we lived near them we used to go there all the time and ur not kidding when you say you put on weight....:eek:
SallyA my husband was born in South Africa, his dad is from Madeira also though :) his mom is also South African, strange thing is that their dad never taught them to speak Portuguese, his mom however can speak and understand it even though she is not Portuguese.
:D Sunday lunch is always a feast at my husbands parents house and at one time when we lived near them we used to go there all the time and ur not kidding when you say you put on weight....:eek:
SallyA my husband was born in South Africa, his dad is from Madeira also though :) his mom is also South African, strange thing is that their dad never taught them to speak Portuguese, his mom however can speak and understand it even though she is not Portuguese.
Haha how funny is that the mum can speak and understand it lol!
I know a few South African/Portuguese people here too - Have you been to Madeira? Its beautiful and so different from anywhere I have been before, I went this summer just gone!
Jose has family in SA as well hehe! We are supposed to go visit in the next year or two dependent on finances etc....
It does seem the end of things for them doesn't it? Oh well unfortunately thats just a sign of the times really dont you think so?
I mean they are not the first and I dont think they will be the last! Shame that things are going this way for so many companies but I dont think we will see the end of it any time soon do you?
Mellijelli
22-12-2009, 09:47
Iv not been to Madeira SallyA iv actually not done much overseas travel besides going to Mauritius a few years back with my sister, but iv traveled the whole of SA flat already loads of nice places in this country, I would like to travel more though, a lot more :D
Iv not been to Madeira SallyA iv actually not done much overseas travel besides going to Mauritius a few years back with my sister, but iv traveled the whole of SA flat already loads of nice places in this country, I would like to travel more though, a lot more :D
aaah if he is still in touch with people there I would totally recommend it there are bits of the country high up where it is sooooo scary to drive etc.... But its awsome all the same and unlike anywhere I have ever been!
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.1.5 Copyright © 2012 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.