Shopping survey

[bagpuss]

Okay- we say quite a lot aboutTesco and Asda on here- but supermakets and chainstores have pros and cons- as do local businesses.

Here is a list of things we all have to buy at some time and a list of services we all end up having to use

If you are about to buy the following- where will you make your purchase?

cushions
shoes
television
CD/DVDs
paint
washing machines
hair dryer
watch
curtains
reading specs
shoe repairs
replacement battery for watch

Will you do this:
at a supermarket?
in the chain stores at the retail park
online
local shop
and why might you make the option you have outlined?

Which local firms deserve applause and why?

[bagpuss]

and to show I'm prepared to put my money where my mouth is- here are my responses:

cushions- possibly Homebase- but if i see fabric i like in Mackenzies i buy it there and get the pad from Fairways or Buttress
shoes- local- Gunn's or M&S
television- Tesco
CD/DVDs-Tesco or online Amazon
paint- Homebase
washing machines- Comet online
hair dryer-Tesco
watch- My favourite came fro Cormack's but nowadays Cameo - or Argos
curtains- Fairways or make them myself
reading specs- (don't need them- but I went to Gerry O Brien for the other sort)
shoe repairs- no mender's in Wick- so tend to throw them away- am I mistaken
replacement battery for watch- Cameo

[brandy]

most things online..
additions, argos,
id say hombase for paint ect..
ummm last washing machine i bought was out of grahmn beggs.. last year.
cushions i would say.. woolies or argos.. depending on what im looking for.
hair dryer.. prob. semi chem or super drug..
shoes i tend to get in inverness... or online
tv.. prob tesco
watch argos
curatins.. umm where ever i see a pair i like that dosent cost the sun! usually price drop! *G*
specs obriens

[changilass]

cushions Ikea
shoes internet
television Hitchens or web
CD/DVDs Woolies or tesco
paint waters
washing machines coop is where the last one came from
hair dryer argos
watch Local jewlers
curtains argos
reading specs don't need them but opticians in Thurso
shoe repairs repairers in thurso
replacement battery for watch Tesco

[emszxr]

cushions - matalan
shoes - myself- deichmann, kids-clarks and next
tv - tescos or currys
cd/dvds - play.com
paint - b&q
washing machine - currys
hair dryer - never use one
watch - argos probably
curtains - argos
read specs - dont need them
shoe repairs - just throw them away
battery for watch - local shop in brora

being in brora i use inverness a lot although now there is a tescos in wick i may tend to use that more, i did for my xmas food shop, waited til kids were in bed at 6:30pm and went up, it was great.

[Max]

Cushions - Makro
Shoes - Tesco, Primark, M & S, Makro, online
TV - Tescos, Lidl online or wherever I see a good deal
CD/DVD - Woolies, Tesco, Amazon
Paint - W & D Ross
Washing Machine - last one Alacam
Hair Dryer - Argos, Tesco
Watch - probably local jewellery shop and Lidl for everyday disposal item!
Curtains - Argos
Read Specs - Co-op
shoe repairs - don't usually bother
Battery for watch - local jewellers

[rockchick]

This is where I've shopped in the last six months:

cushions - tried Homebase, but wasn't happy...went to Next, in Inverness
shoes - Paris!
television - Costco (Edinburgh)
CD/DVDs- Amazon.co.uk, various internet sites, Ebay
paint - Caithness Chemicals, also local Thurso shop (can't remember name)
washing machines - Empire Direct (found model we wanted, then internet shopped for best buy)
hair dryer - Tesco's
watch - Dressy - jewellers back in Toronto, that I've had for years; practical - Whatsits
curtains - Livingston Mall
reading specs - NA
shoe repairs - small shop in Thurso, can't remember name
replacement battery for watch - jewellers in Wick

Will you do this:
at a supermarket? yes, if they sold the same products at better price/conditions
in the chain stores at the retail park as above
online yes, as above
local shop yes - especially if I get the service for value
and why might you m)ake the option you have outlined?

Which local firms deserve applause and why? I really like Mackays grocers in Thurso, because what they do well, they do really, really well. Good prices, good service, and I enjoy browsing in there, because I always know I'm going to find something in there that wasn't there before. Brilliant Single Malt collection as well!

[DarkAngel]

Me...Ebay!! I buy lots from ebay so never really use the towns shops now really..

[bagpuss]

At least 2 shops in Wick are already disposing of their stock on ebay- prior to closing and turning shop premises into flats.

This is what happened in Huntly and in Dingwall- how would you feel if that happened in Wick- and how many of the orgers are actually Caithness based?

If i were a shop owner I'd be buying up houses to let out and investing in a windmill- the survey is suggesting they are redundant anyway

[footie chick]

Cushions: Fairways wick
Shoes: DE Wick {Thurso are hopless cant wait until you get out of the door}
Tv and Washing Machine: Chessors Halkirk
CD & DVD : Woolies
Paint: Has to be Waters Thurso {FIRST CLASS WHAT CAN I SAY}
Hairdryer: Bought last one from Boots
Curtains : has to be Fairways again
Specs: Henderson Thurso For FIRST class service
Shoe Repairs; Sinclairs in Thurso across from BOS
Watch or Jewellery ; CAMEO Wick EVERY TIME FIRST CLASS

Sausages? Mackays butchers Thurso AA++

Must admit I go to Wick a LOT more than I ever did that includes the shops on the street

[sweetpea]

If I was buy6ing these it would be

cushions - make myself, source material etc
shoes - Glasgow
CD / DVD - anywhere I see the one I want
Paint - MacAllans
Hairdryer - Boots
Curtains - Make
Specs - Don't need
Shoe Repairs - Thurso or Carse in Inverness
Watch /Jewlerry - Don't wear watches but jewlerry anywhere

I but a lot of thigns locally but I don't have preferences over where I shop. I see something nice.....

[Naefearjustbeer]

cushions err! no idea the wife appears with cushions every so often
shoes Next or M&M Sports or Millets/Tissos/Blacks
television Online stores check prices using kelkoo.co.uk
CD/DVDs amazon cdwow
paint Local shops in thurso
washing machines Alacam or the Hydro
hair dryer LOL no need for one of them
watch Argos
curtains The wife sorts that out
reading specs I dont need but wife and daughter use specsavers
shoe repairs Bin them
replacement battery for watch 99p store

I live near thurso and do try to spend local but when local shops dont make any effort to provide a quality service then I go elsewhere. I dont mind paying a wee bit extra by shopping local but when the service is crap or the things cost 50% more then they have no hope.

[sms]

cushions Tesco
shoes New look
television Tesco
CD/DVDs Amazon
paint Homebase
washing machines Argos
hair dryer Argos
watch Argos
curtains Online
reading specs Opticians
shoe repairs Buy new Pair
replacement battery for watch Local jewellers

Will you do this:
at a supermarket?
in the chain stores at the retail park
online
local shop
and why might you make the option you have outlined? Best Value for money.

Which local firms deserve applause and why?[/quote]

[Fran]

and to show I'm prepared to put my money where my mouth is- here are my responses:

cushions- possibly Homebase- but if i see fabric i like in Mackenzies i buy it there and get the pad from Fairways or Buttress
shoes- local- Gunn's or M&S
television- Tesco
CD/DVDs-Tesco or online Amazon
paint- Homebase
washing machines- Comet online
hair dryer-Tesco
watch- My favourite came fro Cormack's but nowadays Cameo - or Argos
curtains- Fairways or make them myself
reading specs- (don't need them- but I went to Gerry O Brien for the other sort)
shoe repairs- no mender's in Wick- so tend to throw them away- am I mistaken
replacement battery for watch- Cameo

###There is a shoe repairers in argyle Square, wick#######

[Fran]

At least 2 shops in Wick are already disposing of their stock on ebay- prior to closing and turning shop premises into flats.

This is what happened in Huntly and in Dingwall- how would you feel if that happened in Wick- and how many of the orgers are actually Caithness based?

If i were a shop owner I'd be buying up houses to let out and investing in a windmill- the survey is suggesting they are redundant anyway

What shops are closing and turning into flats? Stevens old shop by Camps is reopening on monday as a new shop and A&D have a sale on just now then moving their stock to their shop in Thurso. their wick shop will be an indian restaurant.

[Piglet]

cushions - Matalans
shoes - Deichmanns/Next/DE
television - Hydro Electric/Tesco
CD/DVDs - Amazon/Woolies
paint - Homebase/Waters
washing machines Hydro
hair dryer Argos
watch Macbeaths/Argos
curtains Online
reading specs Dont need
shoe repairs Thurso/bin them
replacement battery for watch Macbeaths

[Lucy]

Cushions- fairways
Shoes - Gunns, DE,
Television - Tesco
CD/DVD - woolies, on-line
Paint - McAllans, Homebase
Washing Machines - Hydro
Hair Dryer - Semi-chem
Watch - cameo
Curtains - Fairways
Reading Specs - Spec Savers
Shoe repairs - none (bin them)
Replacement Battery for Watch - Cameo's

I try to use local shops first but if i can't get what i want i will go to the supermarkets, on-line etc.

[Kenn]

cushions:Buy the pads from fabric shop and make my own covers.
shoes: Mail order as I have very wide feet.
tv: Local family run business who are usually cheaper than most places.
cd/dvds:Get them as presents.
paint: Do it all or similiar.
washing machine:See TV
hair dryer: Never bought 1
watchon't wear 1
curtains: Any good fabric shop and then make them up myself
reading specs: Boots
shoe repairs: Only bother with the good ones, have several repairers locally.

The local family run Electrical Shop not only compares very favourably on prices but will deliver at no extra charge and at a time that suits you. The record was the new tumble dryer that was at the door before hubbie got back from the shop, NOW that's what I call service.

[DarkAngel]

Cushions - Au Naturelle in Inverness
Shoes - Online from Ebay or new look
TV - Got our tele online from Ebay brand new
CD/DVD - Woolies, But mostly buy from Play.com
Paint - Macallans or homebase
Washing Machine - came from Argos
Hair Dryer - Online
Watch - probably local jewellery shop or Argos for a cheap one
Curtains - Argos and Ebay
Read Specs - Specsavers in Inverness
shoe repairs - don't usually bother just throw them away
Battery for watch - local jewellers

I buy most of my things online as you can see.

[jinglejangle]

cushions Next
shoes Next or DE Thurso
television Tesco
CD/DVDs Woolworths / Tesco
paint Homebase
washing machines Graham Beggs or Argos or Tesco [if Tesco do!]
hair dryer Argos
watch Next
curtains Next
reading specs local optician if i needed
shoe repairs don't get shoes repaired
replacement battery for watch McBeaths

through in Wick lot more than ever before - probably once a week. don't use local shops much - except Harrolds [Thurso] for butcher meat.