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Posted by: Sherlock Mar 21 2014, 02:35 PM

Has anyone heard recently how the Parkway development is doing in terms of footfall? Many of the shops seem pretty dead during the week, particularly Debenhams. On the few occasions I've visited Debenhams hardly has any customers - 10 or so at the most on weekday mornings. I hope they make up the difference at the weekend. I've also heard rumours that John Lewis aren't very pleased with the performance of their Newbury store. Is there any truth in this? It would be a great shame if this development fails and I'd feel particularly sorry for the staff who have worked so hard.

Posted by: massifheed Mar 21 2014, 04:43 PM

Seems busy at the weekends whenever I am in town. On the rare occasion that I am there during the week it's certainly quieter, but then it would be, wouldn't it? From what I can see it's as busy as the rest of the town centre. Go on then, which rumors have you heard and from where?

Posted by: Sherlock Mar 21 2014, 10:07 PM

As I mentioned, the rumour was about John Lewis's performance and the source was a friend of my wife's, if that's of any help. As a big fan of John Lewis's electrical department - and the shop generally - I hope it's just a rumour.

Posted by: Strafin Mar 21 2014, 10:33 PM

I was there on Sunday and it was pretty packed, it was a nice day though. We had a picnic in Victoria Park which was also packed. Good times!

Posted by: pbonnay Apr 18 2014, 09:28 AM

Not wishing to derail the intention of this thread, but I would just like to remember Mark Williams - the forklift handler who was killed during the construction of Parkway in July 2011. RIP.

A couple of weeks ago Costain Ltd was found guilty of health and safety breaches that had contributed to the tragic event. Sentencing is listed for next week.

Posted by: Strafin Apr 18 2014, 02:21 PM

Did you know him? I paid a visit to the site during construction and everyone was so nice to me and my wife. I was a little sad when it happened because of that.

Posted by: On the edge Apr 18 2014, 02:32 PM

In reality all retailers are having a bad time. Parkway is actually a pretty good design and does replace a dreadful old bomb site that gave the town an unkempt, draggle tailed impression. Very sad that the local councils haven't done their best, simply by not playing straight as usual, but we do have something many similar sized towns would give a lot for.

Posted by: pbonnay Apr 19 2014, 04:25 PM

No I didn't know him but, like many others, came across the accident just after it had happened.

Amongst all the squabbling about Parkway and the damage to Victoria Park, it would be the decent thing not to forget about this poor man and his family.

It will be interesting to see what sentence the Court imposes.

Posted by: On the edge Apr 20 2014, 10:16 AM

You are quite right. It would be quite fitting to follow the practice of a good few years back, where memorials were often added to big constructions to remember those who gad died during the works. Health and safety is often scoffed at; which makes it far too easy for attitudes to become complacent and for us to forget that construction works are still dangerous places.

Posted by: Brad Jul 4 2014, 02:19 PM

John Lewis... Overpriced. People come in to our electrical wholesalers with a John Lewis catalogue we get the manufacturer from there website. Call them and buy them at 70% off what Lewis charge

Maybe you should consider your favourite electrical store!

Posted by: Strafin Jul 4 2014, 03:03 PM

I would never take John Lewis prices as being a true reflection of what things should cost.

Posted by: Ciderdrinker Jul 4 2014, 03:15 PM

I purchased a laptop from John Lewis online and they were cheaper than Amazon and other resellers, plus I got additional 1 year warranty. Very happy with it.

Posted by: massifheed Jul 4 2014, 03:40 PM

Same here. I bought a TV from them that was the same price as other retailers, and it has a 5-year warranty on it for no extra cost.

Posted by: HJD Jul 4 2014, 05:32 PM

Well it looks like you need a pass if you want to go into Parkway tomorrow !!!!

Posted by: Biker1 Jul 4 2014, 09:25 PM

I'm sorry I don't understand this post.
Maybe it's me!
Are you saying that I can purchase electrical items from somewhere at 70% less than John Lewis prices?
If so could you elaborate please.
Thanks.

Posted by: Biker1 Jul 5 2014, 10:37 AM

How times change.
For example how many railway lines were closed which were built by the sterling efforts of thousands of men?
Here is an example of what was sacrificed although admittedly this line is still open, saved from closure in the 80's.

SETTLE CARLISLE LINE.

"The line was built by over 6,000 navvies, who worked in remote locations, enduring harsh weather conditions. Large camps were established to house the navvies, most of them Irish, with many becoming complete townships with post offices and schools. The remains of one camp—Batty Green—where over 2,000 navvies lived and worked, can be seen near Ribblehead.

A plaque in the church at Chapel-le-Dale records the workers who died—both from disease and accidents—building the railway. The death toll is unknown but 80 people died at Batty Green alone following a smallpox epidemic.

A memorial stone was laid in 1997 in the churchyard of St Mary's Church, Mallerstang to commemorate the 25 railway builders and their families who died during the construction of this section of the line, and who were buried there in unmarked graves."

It is shameful to the navvies' memory that so many lines were closed with such hast. Surely at least the formations could have been kept unless, as is now the case in many parts, the line was needed again.
Oh well!!

Posted by: Oneilly Jul 5 2014, 06:26 PM

What rubbish!

If so, john Lewis will price match and give longer guarantees.

Posted by: newres Jul 5 2014, 06:49 PM

They won't price match online prices.

Posted by: Strafin Jul 5 2014, 08:29 PM

A lot of their products are exclusive as well so there is no comparison.

Posted by: Oneilly Jul 5 2014, 08:36 PM

That's all stores, Curry's were/are famous for changing the product code by one number so they can claim it as the cheapest price!

Posted by: Simon Kirby Jul 5 2014, 08:40 PM

I don't quite get the point of knocking John Lewis, if you don't want to shop there go somewhere else.

I like the shop, and I like the company - check out http://www.longstockpark.co.uk/visitfs.htm, open twice a month for charities - not many retailers do that.

I bought an ASUS laptop from them eighteen months back and after a month I wasn't getting on with it so I took it back, no quibble. I bought an iPad for exactly the same price that I could have got it anywhere else, but I chose to get it from John Lewis because their guarantee is good, and I like their ethos.

Posted by: Mr Brown Jul 5 2014, 09:09 PM

Living above the shop so to speak it makes it all to easy for me, they could almost use my flat as a showroom. TBH they've never given me any cause for complaint on anything so not much point in me going anywhere else.

Posted by: spartacus Jul 5 2014, 11:43 PM

You're not giving us much of a clue as to which electrical wholesaler you're referring to Brad. 70% off sounds like you're flogging cheap Chinese replica knock-off tat.... Personally I don't mind paying that little bit extra and getting something that works and carries on working after a couple of years. We bought our big TV and Freesat system from John Lewis and were very happy with the price, fitting of the dish and after sales support.

You get what you pay for. I'm sure you can get sausages for 70% off the price you pay at John Lewis (Waitrose) but I'd rather pay a reasonable price and get something worth eating rather than something cheap and nasty..... and full of pig snouts and ar$ehole meat slurry mechanically recovered from the abattoir floor

Posted by: gel Jul 6 2014, 12:33 PM

Electrical Wholesalers are not a usual choice for purchasing electrical white or brown goods- they used to be many years back.
Their primary market these days is electrical installers/ factory plant managers.

Posted by: Oneilly Jul 20 2014, 10:02 AM

Oh but he is, the clue is he's making it up!

Posted by: Exhausted Jul 20 2014, 01:47 PM

Is this claim perhaps bad English with one F too many....

.... and buy them at 70% off what John Lewis charge

or

.... and buy them at 70% of what John Lewis charge

The latter is perhaps believable but try for a warranty claim and see where you get.