Newstead close shop

[Phen8210]

Newstead is usually well known for students going to Poly and Uni as during their registration, there will be brochures and posters on their laptop deals and all.

I wouldn't call them deals per se but respectable for some.

But now with the advent of the online shopping platforms, their deals look like markups.

Then if the sales are mostly happening during year 1 registration periods, the rest of the year? pay staff but no sales because the price goes up to ridiculous status.
Then again, the next time Newstead's pricing looks palatable is during yet another Uni registration promotion. So rare to get good pricing. Might as well just boycott.


As for Sim Lim, take note, most shops there are using online platforms like Laz, Q10, Shp and even Carouhell. So their business is still strong on those other fronts.

Those notebooks are usually low demand.. i agree the price is good though. Every year can see their brochures for the polys.

 

[trento]

It’s about adding value. But if u realise, our physical stores really cmi. Just sell u product tats all.

It is truly no surprise. In fact it will be surprising for their survival. Competition is already tough, but now with online shopping, the laptop manufacturers themselves are selling directly to consumers without having to go through a third party. In fact, I do feel that they expanded too much with brick and mortar shops sales declining. Those Apple stores are clearly in trouble as well since most just go in to look, but don't buy. Not too mention that there are simply too many of them.

 

[Norman Chan]

Now there are three left Havey Norman , Best Denki & Challenger. I think Challenger will be next . Their product range getting lesser and lesser.

Don't forget Courts and Mustafa too...

 

[pwongkk]

The regulators will stepped in to save these shops when online tax kicked in.

If Trump is crazy enough, he may just impose tariffs next on sg since sg is a soft target. The online tax is as good a barrier to US trade (Amazon ... etc).

 

[d3adc3II]

Don't forget Courts and Mustafa too...

Mustafa is the safest. Also crowded af.

Alot of Chinese and Indian there.

 

[watzup_ken]

The next one will be Challenger. Confirm.

This is possible. I think we can already observe that they are opening small Challenger outlets instead of the giant stores we used to see when they first appear.

Personally, I feel it is good to have an electronic/ computer store in the mall near my place in case I need to get something urgently. However,
- The small stores carry very limited products, and,
- Sometimes you see a Challenger in a mall already with a bigger player there. In that sense, I feel they probably expanded more than necessary.

 

[Ark Law]

This is possible. I think we can already observe that they are opening small Challenger outlets instead of the giant stores we used to see when they first appear.

Personally, I feel it is good to have an electronic/ computer store in the mall near my place in case I need to get something urgently. However,
- The small stores carry very limited products, and,
- Sometimes you see a Challenger in a mall already with a bigger player there. In that sense, I feel they probably expanded more than necessary.

Tbh, I have more anecdotal faith in Miniso's cables than Valore's.

 

[MoneyFace =p]

Tbh, I have more anecdotal faith in Miniso's cables than Valore's.

Anecdotally, I have more faith in Qoo10 cheap but renowned cables than either those 2.

 

[LiLAsN]

Anecdotally, I have more faith in Qoo10 cheap but renowned cables than either those 2.

Couldn't agree more. At least on Qoo10, we can get live feedback from other users.
It makes Valore look like a playing a gamble. You don't know if it is good or it is bad. And bought a cable once to just try and true enough, 2-3 months top, spoilt already.

 

[trenzterra]

Couldn't agree more. At least on Qoo10, we can get live feedback from other users.
It makes Valore look like a playing a gamble. You don't know if it is good or it is bad. And bought a cable once to just try and true enough, 2-3 months top, spoilt already.

Qoo10 feedback is next to useless too. Most people just leave feedback before even opening up the product.

I think Courts, Harvey Norman and best Denki still can survive because they allow you to bargain sometimes, for things like TV laptops etc. Sometimes I buy from them rather than online cos no need to wait for delivery and their exchange policy is good. Not my produest moment, but one time I bought a laptop from IT show from courts, then after that I search online and realise this laptop has many issues down the road (many have screen flickering issue after few weeks of use!). Although mine didn't have the issue, I decided not to take the risk and went down to Courts to see if I could get a refund in accordance to their return policy. They agreed to refund for me no questions asked, even though I had already opened up the product. But if you're worried about dead pixels and all, I would buy from store than online even though it may cost a bit more.

Another anecdote is that recently I was able to buy another laptop from Best Denki at a price lower than online and lower than the IT show price. Apparently the model I wanted was EOL but they still had a few pieces left (note: EOL but still had 8th gen processor and thunderbolt 3, so it's really not outdated by any means)

Challenger, on the other hand, is less flexible in this regard. Occasionally there are items that are competitively priced if you look hard. I think their paid membership thing needs to go, although almost everyone has a membership already one way or another. Valore has the potential but they really need to look into rebranding it. Branding matters and no one wants to buy stuff with a cheapo sounding name.

Then again, all these retailers cater to the mass market crowd Nia. I have never come across a salesman who was more knowledgeable than me although my experience in a particular product was only limited to a few hours of Google searches. Plus hate it when I window shop and they start hovering near me even after I tell them I don't need help. Machiam like I am a thief. And they wonder why people are shopping online.