Dick Smith in store decline

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#1029422 22-Apr-2014 21:13

And just another thing I saw. Recently, the Canon reps. put on a series of camera demonstrations at the mall but not at the Dick Smith store. They did this at Noel Leeming. If you went to have a look at how the cameras are displayed you would understand why the demonstrations took place at Noel Leeming!

heavenlywild

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#1029424 22-Apr-2014 21:27

Is it me or are they discounting every second day? Especially via e-mail. 10% off online is happening nearly every week.

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#1029425 22-Apr-2014 21:29

sbaird: Apparently the new owners tried to aggressively negotiate better terms of trade with the suppliers/manufacturers and some of them told them where to shove it,

Does that explain the lack of LG in the Dick Smith stores?
Samsung seem to have the goal of setting up as 'stores within stores' like they do in America, or start up 'Samsung concept stores' to take on the likes of Sony/Apple. So it's not surprising to see them with a big shiny setup within the shop. Free display stands / free stock / it would be an easy thing to say yes too!

richms

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#1029426 22-Apr-2014 21:29

You can do that when you are 30% more. Hello Briscoes and warehouse.

Richard rich.ms

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#1029437 22-Apr-2014 21:55

amiga500: ming joysticks any more. No sign of e readers. Samsung the only brand of tablet. The Apple display area looks the same as it did 2 years ago.
The only attractive display with a bit of class is the Samsung area. As for them being TechXperts, I'd take that with a grain of salt or two judging by the low staff levels.

Yes I noticed that too. Only samsung tablets, no other brands. I was looking at the different tablet options for my brother, and was wanting to show him the different brands so he could compare. Instead when to Noel leemings which still has a reasonable selection of stock on the floor.

freitasm

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#1032449 28-Apr-2014 11:06

On the other hand... People complain about in store experience. I agree the stores seem to have less people than before (Johnsonville seems to always have just one staff at any time) but when I asked him for a US - NZ pin adapter he made a point of asking me if I knew that there difference in voltages and NZ is higher and that I was sure the device I wanted to plug supported 240v.

On that front have to say he was doing a good job. Probably too many people come back later complaining "the adapter blew my new {insert device here}".

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#1032799 28-Apr-2014 20:02

freitasm: On the other hand... People complain about in store experience. I agree the stores seem to have less people than before (Johnsonville seems to always have just one staff at any time) but when I asked him for a US - NZ pin adapter he made a point of asking me if I knew that there difference in voltages and NZ is higher and that I was sure the device I wanted to plug supported 240v.

On that front have to say he was doing a good job. Probably too many people come back later complaining "the adapter blew my new {insert device here}".

That's rare from a DSE store these days...

The sad decline of the DSE stores is horrible, they used to be a great place for low end light consumer electronics and electrical componetry, Staff generally knew thier stuff, or if not there was a senior on board who did, and could give you some ideas or sugestions to help you out. Now you go in there ask for something they stare at you like blank zombies without a throught in thier heads these days.

They've lost to places that cater to what people need, we have JB Heefee that does consumer/home electronics and entertainment, HN and Noel Lemmings that do Large homewares/whitewares and general consumer goods. And then Jaycar/Boonen Electronics, who somehow manage to survive selling componentry and the odd "Toys" in thier stores.

I dont even know where DSE is trying to fit in anymore, its like the poor younger brother that doesnt understand what is happening around him anymore. They sell rubbish store branded equipment for top shelf pricing its maddening.

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#1035384 2-May-2014 12:25

Holy crap! I'm in the library and I just saw an old bloke with a Dick Smith bag. It was like seeing a Bigfoot!

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#1035968 3-May-2014 13:38

Empty shelves and hangers.

can't even do a clearance properly.

vs everywhere else...

bought a skinny sim and some topups from them. Guy serving had a 10 year pin on him. Seems that anyone same would jump ship before now...

Richard rich.ms

zaptor

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#1036116 3-May-2014 18:35

To be fair, DSE still has the ability to surprise:
http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/ipod-docks/sony-ipod-iphone-hi-fi-dock-rdh-gtk37ip-dsnz-ae7847

Still good for price matching negotiations...

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#1036118 3-May-2014 18:38

That is one damn ugly box. I saw some boxes at DSE (and also at JB HiFi) with coloured leds in speakers. Gosh people have no sense these days.

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#1036143 3-May-2014 18:52

zaptor: To be fair, DSE still has the ability to surprise:
http://www.dicksmith.co.nz/ipod-docks/sony-ipod-iphone-hi-fi-dock-rdh-gtk37ip-dsnz-ae7847

Still good for price matching negotiations...

By the look of it I am not surprised it is discounted. Also probably becuase it doesn't look like it has a lightening connector, which means it can only be directly connected to devices older than 2 years old or possibly using and adapter. DS don't price match anymore, but their competitors do.

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#1036176 3-May-2014 19:44

Actually, from what I've read it's a fairly impressive speaker dock (and yes it's for a lightning connector).

I had a look at one in NL today. I'd probably consider one - taking into account the price. But, it's just too much audio. Although, for the volume level we'd use the sound is probably awesome.

I've never been one for judging a book by it's cover - tech-wise anyway.

nigelj

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#1036208 3-May-2014 21:29

I vowed never to return to the DSE Westgate store about 3 years ago, ever since the duty manager (and one of the workers) got a bit nasty over 2 returns (in the first case it was Telegistics/Samsung dragging their feet over a crippling firmware bug, the second and most frustrating, a weak point in a pair of headphones was blamed by them on me), I've only brought something from there once since, and in general our other-store DSE spend has dropped dramatically too.

Primary reason is simply price and attitude, a couple of examples:

- (Queen St just last weekend, several staff seemed to be doing nothing, hardly anyone in the store) It's not great service for your person at the counter to be on the phone and hence unable to give any pleasent greetings etc.
- Today around Westgate, I realised upon arriving that Dick Smith was likely to have a product that I was after (and potentially JB Hi-Fi), after checking their website and realising the options were either a crippled branded option, or a horrendeously overpriced 'own-brand' option with very little detail in terms of specs, I decided to go into JB Hi-Fi and found what I wanted at roughly just over half the price of their own-brand product.

I'm just wondering when DSE leave Westgate what will replace it in that store, my bet is clothing outlet store, especially once the majority of business is at the new Westgate Shopping Centre area over Fred Taylor Drive (Old SH16).

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#1036236 3-May-2014 23:54

amiga500: And just another thing I saw. Recently, the Canon reps. put on a series of camera demonstrations at the mall but not at the Dick Smith store. They did this at Noel Leeming. If you went to have a look at how the cameras are displayed you would understand why the demonstrations took place at Noel Leeming!

I have to say that if I was in charge of Canon, I wouldn't want my camera brand devalued by any of those stores!

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