COMET going in to administration

I thought they were dreadful, but don't like people losing jobs ... it was a shop I would never use because of its dreadful hard sell approach and mediocre customer service - hopefully the workforce can find work elsewhere and it will only hit the executives, but that is never the way of things I'm afraid. 

Yes times are hard at the moment,very hard. For a company the size of Comet to go Belly Up stinks of poor management. When things are bad management has to make decisions on what has to be changed to survive.

We went to buy a washing machine from them a few years back,service was a joke and we ended up buying from another retailer. 

I feel very sorry for the staff who may be without work very  soon and with xmas coming and bills to pay,not good.

Mista h

More historic debts being called in than current profitability?

Thay had an awfiul lot of stores, I suspect big overheads in a ferociously cut price (and high choice) market.

Our local store was actually a lot smarter last time I went in and they seemed to be trying to give a bit more service. I still bought the item elsewhere though!

Bruce

My dad bought me my first HiFi from them for my 17th birthday in '83 - Sansui AU-D22, Akai HX- R5, Sony PS-LX310 and a pair of Tannoy Mercury's. Shame to see them in trouble...

Recent years' experience of Comet is of mediocre  white goods and crappy service and so initial reaction is no great loss. But, yes, DaveBK, go back further and Comet was big on selling separates. In the mid seventies I got my first proper amp and TT from Comet. A Sansui AU222 and a Goldring 102 if I remember correctly.  A little later I remember replacing the Goldring with the then newly introduced Pioneer PL112D (an inadequate replacement for the much more famous PL12D) and lugging it home on the train from Comet in Southampton.  Oh, I'm feeling rather nostalgic about Comet now!  

Yep, the old Comet in Caversham Road, Reading... They had an interesting little corner with racks of separates. Proper hi-Fi, not just 'music centres'. A long way from my current set up, but it was where it all started.

People go in to places like Comet, have a look at the quality and how big the wide screen is, then go home and buy it on-line from somewhere else that's cheaper.

On-line shopping seems to be the cause of these closures

Must admit, i haven't purchased anything from Comet since the 80's, although they were a lot better in them days imo.

Debs

I wonder if people will be as keen to buy "unseen" goods on the internet after all the browsing shops (eg Comet) have disappeared.

Or will the on-line shops only survive if they provide high-street viewing parlours ?

Cheers

Don

> People go in to places like Comet, have a look at the quality and how big the wide screen is, then go home and buy it on-line from somewhere else that's cheaper

Not me - I look at a set in John Lewis, ask them to let me try a couple of things to see how easy it is to operate and then if I'm happy buy it from there with the 5 year guarantee that comes as standard. If I want a computer or something for a computer I go into the Apple store. 

With Comet it was hard sell an extended warranty that almost cost as much as a new set. Also the sales person often seems to know little or nothing about the product. At least that is how it was a few years ago. 

Your 100% right in what you say Debs,but what Comet MANAGEMENT failed to do is pick up on this.

If the way foreward is Internet mail order you close loss making shops and open up a Mail Order Division. This failure is down to poor management and its the workers i feel sorry for as they are the ones left with mouths to feed and mortages to pay.

RE the photos i said i would do,both our digital cameras have bits missing so will try and borrow a camera.

Mista h

I bought my first amplifier from them in 1974, Rotel RA611, but it was a completely different store then, almost just a warehouse with a service counter and the price list was like a newspaper with all the stock prices listed. It is (was) a different concept now, a bit like Woolworths, trying to sell everything and specialising in nothing and lost their identity.

Just my opinion.

Ken

The new owners only bought Comet a few months ago for £1 or 1p.

It does beg the questions?

Was it done on purpose?  worth more broken up than as a going concern?

Stu.

Spot on.  Awful customer experience.  Got my Panny plasma from the Panasonic shop with 5y warranty at no extra cost because they believe in their own products.

i used to enjoy the look of paralysed uncertainty induced in the (hard) sales person trying to flog a 5 year warranty when asked how likely product X was to fail within 5 years.  G

I have to say I disagree with most posters. I'd never used them before but I recently bought a new fridge from Comet online. They were cheapest, could deliver the item I wanted quickest (and for free) and took my old fridge away for a tenner. They arrived within 5 minutes of the delivery time specified and were  courteous and efficient.

That said, I'd never buy anything from Dixons/Currys/PC World. Their staff know sod all - all they want to do is sell you an extended warranty.

If I was buying a new TV to replace my 20 year old CRTV I would definitely go to John Lewis because the level of service/advice you get is well worth any (slight) price premium.

We have a large Comet and Currys/PC World nearby. I've generally chosen Currys because the staff are less pushy and generally nicer than in Comet.

Our washing machine recently finally gave in after nearly 20 years loyal service. Currys were cheaper, delivered the new one the following day and phoned to make sure it had all gone well.