[The Deadly]

Swearing isn't really necessary is it? The wedding related posts in this thread have been moved to a dedicated wedding thread. Pretty self explanatory.

[Misfit]

I know but besides that, posts seem to have moved and stuff.

[The Deadly]

Nic might have got a bit too excited when merging. It's like sex for her.

[Nicola_Red]

I'm pretty sure I only moved wedding related stuff but I'll check. I was doing it on my phone and it's a bit faffy at times.

[dimtimjim]

Way-hey, it's Friday today! (Well, for me, anyway) Off to Derbyshire for a weekends camping and cycling tomorrow, thank feck the weather forecast is looking good...

[The Deadly]

Enjoying a healthy debate at the moment about pound shops on our local newspapers Facebook page. I say they are a horrible reflection on current society and an example of how the current and previous governments have let the working class down.

What do you guys think?

[Nicola_Red]

Hmm. Let the working class down by making them so skint they need pound shops, you mean?

[chrysostom]

They're a centric point of buying fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), and as such they're both recession proof and under no threat from the internet - which is why they're replacing niche stores which are fading from the high street. They have a high turnover, low stock cost and high footfall. It's basically the Starbucks model.

There's nothing about them which is a poor reflection on society...unless you're thinking that because 'social undesirables' make up a high percentage of their clientèle that they're undesirable by association - which could be attributed to many shops.

The goods from these stores are temporary things which people want to buy irrespective of quality (birthday cards, toothbrushes etc.) and the public will always look for bargains when it comes to these.

I struggle to see how the government are at fault...It's not the government's fault that the high street is dying - it's the high street shop's fault for not adapting. A subject which has been touched on quite a few times here.

[The Deadly]

Hmm. Let the working class down by making them so skint they need pound shops, you mean?

Yes. A personal example I'll give is my nan a few years ago could easily afford to do her weekly shop in Sainsburys and now can barely afford Poundland. The cost of living is so high that the poor/working class are pushed into going to those shops.

[The Deadly]

Another example of the desperation some people feel is the emergence of pay day loan companies. 10 years ago these place were largely unheard of and now most high streets have one of these shops. They are in business to rip off people who have no money or struggle to make ends meet.

Has anyone here ever used one or would you?

[bmstinton93]

Poundland is ace. When you're walking round town now and want to just grab a drink there's not much else you can go to really now Woolworth's has gone.

[Topher]

I have no strong opinions either way on pound shops. As Chrysostom says, it's a business model that works very well. And they're better than Starbucks because they don't smell of coffee.

Another example of the desperation some people feel is the emergence of pay day loan companies. 10 years ago these place were largely unheard of and now most high streets have one of these shops. They are in business to rip off people who have no money or struggle to make ends meet.

Has anyone here ever used one or would you?

Now payday loan companies make my blood boil - they are legalised loan sharks and are charging rates that frankly should be illegal. Their practices, principles (or lack thereof) and business models are abhorrent.

I'm trying to find a Graun article I read a while back about their debt collection techniques, but I can't right now.

[The Deadly]

I have no strong opinions either way on pound shops. As Chrysostom says, it's a business model that works very well. And they're better than Starbucks because they don't smell of coffee.

Another example of the desperation some people feel is the emergence of pay day loan companies. 10 years ago these place were largely unheard of and now most high streets have one of these shops. They are in business to rip off people who have no money or struggle to make ends meet.

Has anyone here ever used one or would you?

Now payday loan companies make my blood boil - they are legalised loan sharks and are charging rates that frankly should be illegal. Their practices, principles (or lack thereof) and business models are abhorrent.

I'm trying to find a Graun article I read a while back about their debt collection techniques, but I can't right now.

Oh absolutely the pound store business on the whole is great and well done for them for capitalising on the current economic situation (not sarcasm).

[Bruvva]

I have no strong opinions either way on pound shops. As Chrysostom says, it's a business model that works very well. And they're better than Starbucks because they don't smell of coffee.

Now I love the smell of coffee, can't abide the taste though. I realise this makes me a a bit weird.

Another example of the desperation some people feel is the emergence of pay day loan companies. 10 years ago these place were largely unheard of and now most high streets have one of these shops. They are in business to rip off people who have no money or struggle to make ends meet.

Has anyone here ever used one or would you?

Hmmm, yes I've used one, got some money to buy some stock to sell on ebay, I was aware of the cost, I needed to get the items as they were a really good deal and I paid it off within two weeks so from that point of view, they provided a service. However, I really don't like the way they advertise themselves, it's too easy to roll over to another loan if you can't quite make the payment and you end up owing a quite ridiculous amount. They're quite happy to use underhand tactics as well, someone I know had taken a loan with a company, then gave them a cheque to pay it off - what he didn't realise at the time was that the loan company didn't pay the loan off, they just used it to pay off the amount owed every month. So while my friend had thought he'd paid the loan off, he hadn't and then they chased him for "missed payments" as the amount he'd given them, although enough to clear the balance at the time, wasn't enough to cover the interest accumulated over the 12 months or so he had left on the loan.

In short, they're bastards and I feel a bit unclean for using one.

[Nicola_Red]

I considered it once when I was so strapped I was struggling to afford the tram fare into work. I can't remember why things were so bad that month - probably just a big utility bill or something. I was very aware that I'd probably end up in the trap of falling short and borrowing every month from thereon, so it would have been an absolute last resort. In the end I figured it out some other way, thankfully.

[Misfit]

Our pound shop lowered its price to 87p and everyone complained as they couldn't be arsed with the change ha

[Boboff]

Personally I love poundland. Something sold are cheaper than you can find elsewhere, however I would disagree with Toph a bit with his Gran, with value ranges in Sainsbury you end up paying more for food & soap in poundland than in the multiples. You cannot buy fag papers and tips or lubricating Jelly any cheaper!

Payday loans are arse's and I personally think that along with Personal Injury and PPI claims all advertising should be banned.

However the Pawn shop is a historic and I must say needed part of society, and has always been a very dubious and slightly criminal element to it.

The fact is that we have had five years of effective income reduction for most people, that is not this governments fault. The last government missed a trick by inflating the economy and borrowing to do it to sustain growth, but then they were not alone Internationally.

It's all very Sad.

What is not sad, but very funny, is going in to a pound shop on Christmas Eve and watching the Chavs buy their "Mas" Christmas present! Especially when with the Siblings they talk about getting "joint" pressies!!!!!!!

[chrysostom]

So basically, Poundshops aren't a horrible reflection of society?

Well that's something to smile about...

[Bruvva]

There's nothing wrong with poundshops themselves, the real problem is that soon town centres will only consist of poundshops and starbucks which I'm not entirely sure is a good thing.

[chrysostom]

Clothes shops are doing well to adapt in the modern age, and I think people feel safer getting their high priced technology from in store too. Kids will also be unable to replicate the 'toy store' feel - I guess shops have to do a lot more to get people in their doors.

Although it didn't go well when Borders tried that with Starbucks...

[Bonanzoid]

There's nothing wrong with poundshops themselves, the real problem is that soon town centres will only consist of poundshops and starbucks which I'm not entirely sure is a good thing.

...and bookies. Lots of bookies.

EDIT - Speaking of bookies, I'm leaving mine for a new job. I haven't minded the majority of my time there, but my patience has grown thin and now I'm ecstatic about the thought of not having to go back.

[The Deadly]

In Bracknell high street it goes like this: Bank, bookies, bookies, bookies, Greggs, Dominos Pizza and last but not least a pay day loan shop. All you need right there.

[Bonanzoid]

For all the stick bookies and pound shops get, these pay day loan places/websites are so much worse. It's astonishing that they're even legal.

[The Deadly]

I can see them doing well in London but certainly around here as soon as one clothes shop opens another closes.

[Topher]

There's nothing wrong with poundshops themselves, the real problem is that soon town centres will only consist of poundshops and starbucks which I'm not entirely sure is a good thing.

...and bookies. Lots of bookies.

EDIT - Speaking of bookies, I'm leaving mine for a new job. I haven't minded the majority of my time there, but my patience has grown thin and now I'm ecstatic about the thought of not having to go back.

Congratulations! What's the new job?