To Me, Just A Newsagents (WH Smith)

Member Name: Billiesue

Product:	WH Smith
Date:	15/08/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good range of magazines and newspapers

Disadvantages: Expensive in other ranges

WHSmith is the only place to get books, DVD's, CD's and stationary in our local shopping centre. This is because Music Zone, Woolworths and Stationary Box all closed down in the past few years. They also sell cards, magazines, newspapers, drinks and snacks.

I have always thought of WHSmith as a newsagents. The only thing that I would possibly buy from there is newspapers and magazines. This is not because of the customer service or the shop itself, it is because of the price. The shop itself I quite like. I like the way it is organised and everything is easy to find. It is also big and airy which I love. The customer service is quite good too. I have no complaints in this area.

The range of books in my store is not brilliant. I would rather shop somewhere like Waterstones for my books. The special offers are sometimes good but not brilliant. For these reasons I don't buy books from WHSmiths. However, the bigger stores may have bigger book sections.

The range of stationary in my store is slightly better but really expensive. I would go in here if I just needed a pen and I couldn't get one from anywhere else. But I would rather get the bus into the city centre and go to a cheaper shop.

The range of DVD's and CD's is rubbish in my store. There are rarely special offers and they are expensive. Again, I would rather go over to the city centre and go to somewhere like HMV.

The range of cards is not great but ok if you are in a rush. Unfortunately there are many cheaper card shops in our shopping centre with better ranges.

The drinks and snacks are ridiculously overpriced in my opinion. The corner shop is much better for these.

The only redeeming features in our WHSmiths are the newspapers and magazines. Here the range is brilliant and the prices are fixed anyway. This is the section of the shop which is always busy and the only section I would visit.

Overall, I don't dislike this shop but I think that it has some ranges which are not needed.

Summary: I personally can't afford to shop here.