Jessops - 187 Store Closures, 1,400 Job Losses & Customers Left Feeling Robbed!
The Jessops chain of 187 camera shops closed down (1) in early January 2013, with the loss of almost 1,400 jobs. As well as being bad news for the staff, it was also grim for customers who had placed deposits on orders for equipment and others who were left holdinggift vouchers rendered worthless (2), as the administrators instructed shops to stop accepting them.
Sadly, people who've paid for orders or gift vouchers with a bank debit card just before a shop fails are unlikely to get a penny back. Yet some of those customers paying with prepaid cards, could get help with getting their money back. That’s because one or two prepaid cards offer free Purchase Protection with their accounts (3). This valuable benefit is designed to provide help if goods don’t turn up or a business goes bust after a payment’s been made to it.
Sadly, people who've paid for orders or gift vouchers with a bank debit card just before a shop fails are unlikely to get a penny back. Yet some of those customers paying with prepaid cards, could get help with getting their money back. That’s because one or two prepaid cards offer free Purchase Protection with their accounts (3). This valuable benefit is designed to provide help if goods don’t turn up or a business goes bust after a payment’s been made to it.
So What's Driving So Many High Street Shops In The U.K To Close In The First Place?
The rise in popularity of online shopping has had an effect and what’s more, around 66% of UK online retailers believe sales via the internet will grow further in 2013, even though high street figures are the worst since 2008 (4).
Yet recent research discovered that in over 5 million online shopping sessions, one in five shoppers looking for bargains ended up on sites that sold fake goods (5). Using search terms such as ‘cheap’ and ‘discount’ seemed to increase the chances of ending up at a dodgy site. With the prices typically as low as 50% off the usual price, shoppers are highly likely to try and grab a bargain. But despite viewing shots of genuine goods, all too often a cheap fake is delivered to the disappointed bargain hunter. To avoid being ripped off, it’s best to shop at well-known shopping sites and instead of starting a search with ‘cheap’ or ‘discount’ it seems best to type in the brand name of what’s wanted, followed by the type of item.
Yet recent research discovered that in over 5 million online shopping sessions, one in five shoppers looking for bargains ended up on sites that sold fake goods (5). Using search terms such as ‘cheap’ and ‘discount’ seemed to increase the chances of ending up at a dodgy site. With the prices typically as low as 50% off the usual price, shoppers are highly likely to try and grab a bargain. But despite viewing shots of genuine goods, all too often a cheap fake is delivered to the disappointed bargain hunter. To avoid being ripped off, it’s best to shop at well-known shopping sites and instead of starting a search with ‘cheap’ or ‘discount’ it seems best to type in the brand name of what’s wanted, followed by the type of item.
You, The Customer. Can Get Help With Getting Your Money Back!
Again, when shopping online, just as on the high street, it’s a good idea to pay with prepaid cards that provide free Purchase Protection. So if goods aren’t received, are faulty, fake, just don’t turn up, or the business goes bust, the customer can get help with getting the money back. What’s more, with prepaid cards the risk to the cardholder’s money is limited to what’s been loaded onto the card. And with secure access to transaction information 24/7 online, suspicious account activity can quickly be spotted by the customer.
So all in all, anyone that’s concerned about losing out due to high street shops closing down or being ripped off online should consider shopping with a prepaid credit card or debit card.
So all in all, anyone that’s concerned about losing out due to high street shops closing down or being ripped off online should consider shopping with a prepaid credit card or debit card.
Resources & Image Sources
Resources
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/photo-news/539404/jessops-customers-lose-deposits-as-all-stores-shut-down (1)
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2261288/Jessops-customers-left-800-000-gift-vouchers.html?ito=feeds-newsxml (2)
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/prepaidcards/ - (3)
http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/01/02/two-thirds-uk-e-retailers-predict-online-sales-surge-2013 (4)
http://mashable.com/2012/11/19/online-shoppers-beware-scrooge/ (5)
Image Sources
Image 1 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/75468116@N04/6783746349/
Image 2 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/27340884@N07/2550811617/sizes/m/in/photostream/
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/photo-news/539404/jessops-customers-lose-deposits-as-all-stores-shut-down (1)
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2261288/Jessops-customers-left-800-000-gift-vouchers.html?ito=feeds-newsxml (2)
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/prepaidcards/ - (3)
http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/01/02/two-thirds-uk-e-retailers-predict-online-sales-surge-2013 (4)
http://mashable.com/2012/11/19/online-shoppers-beware-scrooge/ (5)
Image Sources
Image 1 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/75468116@N04/6783746349/
Image 2 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/27340884@N07/2550811617/sizes/m/in/photostream/
No comments:
Post a Comment