Ghastly re-branding and highly unimaginative. The only thing that keeps them going is the Post Office that's inside the stores. I liked it when they sold CDs cheaply, never had much choice but they sold stuff that was good for the car like Boots used to.

Stationary that Smiths sell are no different to what can be seen in supermarkets or Rymans. I don't see many folks buying newspaper these days, unless you have pets or a new puppy or kitten. Post Offices went to move Smiths to cut costs, many old Post Offices were falling to bits. The small Smiths are a rip-off for drinks and snacks in train stations or airports.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1290328...html#reader-comments

Its brand name is the only thing that it has going for it, so I don't know why it would want to change. It probably said this in the article, but most of WH Smith's business comes from airports and train stations. People have a week or two to do nothing but lie on a beach so they will buy a book, or magazines, or they have a long train journey and time to kill. We have one in our local village (Cranleigh) which opened about 10 years ago. I was surprised that they opened a new store. Smiths used to be one of the main places I would buy records, cds, and dvds, along with Woolworths and Boots to a lesser extent. I probably only bought something 5 or 6 times since the store opened.

robbiex wrote:
Its brand name is the only thing that it has going for it, so I don't know why it would want to change. It probably said this in the article, but most of WH Smith's business comes from airports and train stations. People have a week or two to do nothing but lie on a beach so they will buy a book, or magazines, or they have a long train journey and time to kill. We have one in our local village (Cranleigh) which opened about 10 years ago. I was surprised that they opened a new store. Smiths used to be one of the main places I would buy records, cds, and dvds, along with Woolworths and Boots to a lesser extent. I probably only bought something 5 or 6 times since the store opened.

I liked the Boots budget media, they had stuff Woolies never had in. I had a massive clear out of media about 8 years ago. I only kept albums not the compilations. I don't see many people buy magazines these days. Unless it's the trashy womens ones.

The checkouts in my WHS are dead but the Post Office lines are always busy, then again there is about 5 windows but only 2 are staffed at all times. The exchange are crap compared to travel agents.

Poundland is next door, they sell brown paper, jiffy bags, sticky tape, pens, envelopes. At cheaper prices. Want a free box? Just grab one from the cage or ask.

Sometimes, I have asked the WHS checkout staff for a pen they oblige.

When I go to WHS in Bournemouth it's to grab a drink and an overpriced choccy bar being Type 1 diabetic. There is nothing else in the town to go to.