Smiths City - will it be the next 'Dick Smith'?

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#3407294 25-Aug-2025 13:32

richms:

I never liked that attitude. Its the not screwing it up in the first place that counts.

putting right is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff attitude to things.

It wasn't just referring to mistakes made by the retailer, it meant standing behind the product rather than trying to pass you off to the manufacturer.

If you don't want putting right you accept a much smaller choice of more expensive product.

MikeB4

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#3407296 25-Aug-2025 13:39

When I was studying I worked for the then Wellington Newspapers in advertising. One of my customers was L V Martin and I dealt with Allan Martin. I asked him why he chose the slogan “it’s the putting right that counts” he said he was looking for a differentiator from all the competition. They did actually live up to the slogan and after sales service was excellent. I did think it was a little cheesy.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

MikeB4

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#3407297 25-Aug-2025 13:42

networkn:

It feels like some here are waiting with baited breath and almost glee for them to fail. I've never understood this behaviour.

I would love to see them bounce back and maybe retrenchment could allow that to happen down the track. We need competition in the market sector. I do feel the company has been somewhat managed poorly and there decision where to place outlets odd. An example was the location in Petone.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Bung

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#3407301 25-Aug-2025 14:10

MikeB4:

They did actually live up to the slogan and after sales service was excellent. I did think it was a little cheesy.

Cheesy or not it got them free advertising as a dad joke at most Wellington wedding receptions.

In Palmerston North the Smith's store downsized to a new location before closing. That's not forward thinking.

quickymart

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#3407311 25-Aug-2025 14:32

I remember seeing his ads on TV when I was a kid. From memory the slogan went along the lines of, "if it's not right, we'll put it right, and it's the putting right that counts". So it wasn't really ambulance-at-the-bottom-of-the-cliff, it was about if you bought something and had an issue afterwards, they would simply sort it without making you jump through hoops.

I remember buying a TV from them myself (I think this was in 1997?) and it had an issue with the sound. They delivered a new one and took the old one away at a time that suited me. That was service I greatly appreciated, as I didn't have a car at the time.

re Smiths City in Petone, I think the lack of suitable sites with a large enough floor space may have been a factor in them locating where they did?

Goosey

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#3408491 29-Aug-2025 12:30

Isn’t this the 3rd time Smiths has been in this situation?

in the 80s it was known and smith and brown, hit some troubles, scaled back and became smiths city, again in recent history before now hit some troubles and scaled back and then re invented itself.

i think that’s what is happening at the moment…. Another scale back, reset and when the economy is right…come back.

However, its tough competition from say Noel leeming wholesale, jb hifi wholesale and then Harvey Norman wholesale…… so many more brands out there now….its just not the F&P, Panasonic, Sony, Mitzi anymore….

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#3408499 29-Aug-2025 12:41

All I remember about Smiths City in Auckland, was their store in Mangere town centre next to Farmers. Only ever went there because they were the only local selling Commodore 64's at the time - Farmers went with Amstrad.

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#3408501 29-Aug-2025 12:42

Anyone know what happened to the ma and pas that owned Smith City shares when it went into liquidation?

Did they lose their investment?

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MikeB4

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#3410384 2-Sep-2025 10:37

A fire sale buyer could be found now that they went in voluntary administration today. Odds I feel are low.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

turtleattacks

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#3410386 2-Sep-2025 10:40

https://www.chrislynchmedia.com/news-items/breaking-smiths-city-placed-in-voluntary-administration-all-stores-temporarily-closed/

looking grim for retailers of NZ.

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Eva888

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#3410387 2-Sep-2025 10:41

Wonder what happens now if the fridge we bought there develops a fault, can we go direct to the manufacturer or are we stuffed.

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