Staples - Death Watch... closing 225 Stores.

[SKORPI0]

http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/06/news/companies/staples-store-closing/

Staples will close 225 stores in North America by the middle of next year as the office supply retailer tries to trim costs in the face of weaker sales.
The store closings will come to about 12% of its stores in North America. The closings build upon the 40 stores it closed in the region in 2013.
Staples said it is aiming to save $500 million annually through the closings and other cost cutting measures.

The announcement comes two days after electronics retailer Radio Shack (RSH) announced plans to close up to 1,100 stores, or about 20% of its locations.

 

[SamQuint]

Of the three big office stores I like Staples better than OfficeMax and Office Depot.

Hopefully they will have some good close out sales.

 

[IronWing]

The supply chain is getting ugly. Amazon is destroying all competition by being willing to not make any money.

 

[Jimzz]

Staples near me is more bestbuy then it is a supply store.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Staples is still turning decent revenue and EPS. It's not like they're underwater. They'll be just fine...we don't need a Staples on every corner.

 

[rudeguy]

I hope they do burn.

I used to get lil rudeguy's school supplies there every year. I would buy the nice stuff so I didn't have to replace it. The average trip was about $250 per year. Plus I would buy ink, printers, random shit there.

The last time I went there was to buy printer ink. I wandered around in the ink aisle trying to find the ink I needed. I finally gave up and decided I wanted a new all in one because I really wanted to be able to print from my phone. I picked out a decent one and walked up to the counter.

The cashier asked me if I wanted the warranty and I politely said no. Then he asked if I wanted extra ink and again I politely said no. Then he got a little pushy and explained that they only had starter ink in them. I said that was fine and I could come back if I needed it. Then a little punk who I can only assume was a manager comes over and starts telling me how I absolutely need the ink and I need to get the warranty because companies don't stand behind their products any more. He was belittling the $200 printer I was trying to buy!

I firmly said" You know what. I don't want anything now. If I can't just buy something without being harassed, then I don't want a thing." I started to walk out and the old ady behind me started tearing into the guys for how they treated me.

Haven't been back since.

 

[JManInPhoenix]

The Staples here has high prices. Only go there when I can't find what I need elsewhere.

 

[Markbnj]

Staples is pretty much the only place left around here where I have a chance of finding an emergency computer part.

 

[acheron]

I haven't been to a Staples in years.

Amazon: it exists.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Staples is number 1 in office supplies. I'd say closing as many stores as they are, they may be resizing stores and realigning their supply-chain with business.

Most stores with large accounts provide delivery (that's a larger part of their business than anything). They can do that from warehouses or via 3rd party logistics suppliers like UPS and don't need high-lease storefronts. I'm not sure how they operate. Just stating the facts.

 

[PottedMeat]

amazon should be like - "damn we're cutting prices too low, our free showrooms are closing. raise prices a tad so they stay barely afloat"

 

[luv2liv]

did anyone ever figure how Radio Shack survived for so long?

 

[Markbnj]

I haven't been to a Staples in years.

Amazon: it exists.

Your power supply/gfx card/memory chip/hard drive just died, you don't have a spare, and you have critical work that needs completing.

Amazon: it can't help you.

 

[Markbnj]

did anyone ever figure how Radio Shack survived for so long?

I have such fond early memories of Radio Shack, from back in the 60's and 70's when going into one was like diving into a parts bin. Now, about the only purchases I have made there are the odd charging cable and the parts for each of my daughters' sixth grade electronics projects. The local Radio Shack always knew when that was coming up and they had the 1.5v lightbulbs, sockets, and battery holders.

Maybe that's how they survived!

 

[Capt Caveman]

Staples is doing alright. Most of their business is corporate and online, so closing retail stores is a logical move.

 

[Jeeebus]

NOOOOO.... then who will I price match to Microcenter for ridiculous PC component prices!?!?!

 

[iamwiz82]

I hope they do burn.

I used to get lil rudeguy's school supplies there every year. I would buy the nice stuff so I didn't have to replace it. The average trip was about $250 per year. Plus I would buy ink, printers, random shit there.

The last time I went there was to buy printer ink. I wandered around in the ink aisle trying to find the ink I needed. I finally gave up and decided I wanted a new all in one because I really wanted to be able to print from my phone. I picked out a decent one and walked up to the counter.

The cashier asked me if I wanted the warranty and I politely said no. Then he asked if I wanted extra ink and again I politely said no. Then he got a little pushy and explained that they only had starter ink in them. I said that was fine and I could come back if I needed it. Then a little punk who I can only assume was a manager comes over and starts telling me how I absolutely need the ink and I need to get the warranty because companies don't stand behind their products any more. He was belittling the $200 printer I was trying to buy!

I firmly said" You know what. I don't want anything now. If I can't just buy something without being harassed, then I don't want a thing." I started to walk out and the old ady behind me started tearing into the guys for how they treated me.

Haven't been back since.

...and now they are closing stores up. See what rudeguy can do to a chain? Watch your backs.

 

[techs]

iirc Radio Shack was surviving on phone sales. Now that is dying out as most everyone has their smartphone.

Sadly most of the stores are going to be in small towns like I live in. Just another nail in the coffin of small town America.

 

[DrPizza]

I have such fond early memories of Radio Shack, from back in the 60's and 70's when going into one was like diving into a parts bin. Now, about the only purchases I have made there are the odd charging cable and the parts for each of my daughters' sixth grade electronics projects. The local Radio Shack always knew when that was coming up and they had the 1.5v lightbulbs, sockets, and battery holders.

Maybe that's how they survived!

I haven't got a clue how they've survived, at least my local RS. Every time I've sat in the car in front of RS, waiting for my wife to finish shopping for clothing at the adjacent stores, I haven't seen a single customer go in or out, except at Christmastime.

And, on the occasions I go into the local Staples, they are very few customers in there - maybe 2 or 3 other customers. Though, that tends to be in the evening on week days. I hope the local store hangs on.

 

[Leyawiin]

I hope the one in my town isn't on the list. Its a small town though and the store is never busy. I wouldn't doubt it closing. Shame - I go there every now and then when I can't wait for Amazon or Newegg.

 

[slag]

Your power supply/gfx card/memory chip/hard drive just died, you don't have a spare, and you have critical work that needs completing.

Amazon: it can't help you.

Who has only one computer at their house or at least a tablet? If its critical, go into the office and finish.

And Amazon can have it in your hands early the next morning.

 

[Mai72]

I hope they do burn.

I used to get lil rudeguy's school supplies there every year. I would buy the nice stuff so I didn't have to replace it. The average trip was about $250 per year. Plus I would buy ink, printers, random shit there.

The last time I went there was to buy printer ink. I wandered around in the ink aisle trying to find the ink I needed. I finally gave up and decided I wanted a new all in one because I really wanted to be able to print from my phone. I picked out a decent one and walked up to the counter.

The cashier asked me if I wanted the warranty and I politely said no. Then he asked if I wanted extra ink and again I politely said no. Then he got a little pushy and explained that they only had starter ink in them. I said that was fine and I could come back if I needed it. Then a little punk who I can only assume was a manager comes over and starts telling me how I absolutely need the ink and I need to get the warranty because companies don't stand behind their products any more. He was belittling the $200 printer I was trying to buy!

I firmly said" You know what. I don't want anything now. If I can't just buy something without being harassed, then I don't want a thing." I started to walk out and the old ady behind me started tearing into the guys for how they treated me.

Haven't been back since.

When I was in South Korea it was a pleasure to shop there. When I walked into a store like High Mart the front door person would greet me with a bow and a smile. The men all wore 3 piece suits. They would personally go out of their way to help you. Amazing service!

Now compare this to the way that businesses treat you in America. Go to Best Buy and if you don't know shit about computers you are out of luck. I was looking at laptops and no one helped me. All the little snot faced POS were all talking to each other. I didn't need the help anyway, but imagine if I was a mother looking to purchase a laptop for her son. Technology is quite imitating for most people. How about Walmart? I hate that place. The people who greet you are a joke. Fat slobs with 3 teeth. That makes me want to shop there.

 

[Markbnj]

Who has only one computer at their house or at least a tablet? If its critical, go into the office and finish.

And Amazon can have it in your hands early the next morning.

It's not like it's a regular occurrence, but I am just noting that there is almost no place left you can go into and purchase a part for a computer. I don't think I need to defend the basic concept that even overnight shipping is not always fast enough in all circumstances.

 

[nageov3t]

there are some things I prefer to handle in-person before buying, like a paper notebook or binder that I might be carrying around for months.

my mom (a teacher) also uses Staples a lot for making copies, and I've heard that their tech support guys are at least marginally better than Best Buy's, for non-tech people.

 

[vshah]

Your power supply/gfx card/memory chip/hard drive just died, you don't have a spare, and you have critical work that needs completing.

Amazon: it can't help you.

no local computer stores?