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[Sunny Jim]

I stopped reading CLR as I was only reading a maximum of half the articles. This looks like it will cover exactly the same material?

I shan't bother (unless I have to go back to my former employer to have more bits cut off)!

Sunny Jim

[oilstain]

Up to the end of the Tdi then.
At a subscription price of £25 for 4 issues annually I won't be subscribing. I'll have a look when it appears on the shelf in the local Smith's.

Good time period but like you I'll buy one and have a look

[Alan Drover]

I don't intend buying one, oilstain. I'll just take it off the shelf, have a scan and put it back unless there's something really interesting then I'll probably buy it.

[oilstain]

I don't intend buying one, oilstain. I'll just take it off the shelf, have a scan and put it back unless there's something really interesting then I'll probably buy it.

Wise man

[Mycroft]

I rarely find myself in town, even less WH Smith, so it'd be great to hear opinions, if anyone gets a chance to leaf through a copy. I dare say we're not the market, but I am curious to know how it stacks up against CLR.

[oilstain]

^^^ I fear that many people no longer go to towns or WH Smiths (out of town store apart) due to parking problems/charges and the time it takes

[Mycroft]

Very true. I was a lifelong fan of Smiths and have been finding excuses to check out their branches since the 70s - as a child, husband and later parent. But it's become a fairly grim place in the last decade - no I don't want half a tree of receipts and offers of money off next week on things I won't be buying; no I don't want to pay that price for basic stationery and cards; no I don't want to overhear you and your work colleague shouting about your personal lives so loudly I forget why I came in. And no I don't want to give you my blinking email address or see a look of disapproval when I tell you that.

Yes I am turning into one of Harry Enfield's Old Gits. And not the nice one...

[oilstain]

 
What he said!

[Mycroft]

What he said!

Ha! Diolch yn fawr Oilstain 

[2286]

There has been a bloke on local radio that my elderly mother insists on having on, otherwise I would not have heard it in passing.

I think he was editor of practical classics.  He was on about 205's, orions and mastros!

It made me wonder how many of the the folk buying selling and owning these truly are enthusiasts or speculators looking to make money.

He kept making reference to the ULEZ exemption as a plus point.

Only late on did he refer to spannering ease and parts prices.

[jonhutchings]

Very true. I was a lifelong fan of Smiths and have been finding excuses to check out their branches since the 70s - as a child, husband and later parent. But it's become a fairly grim place in the last decade - no I don't want half a tree of receipts and offers of money off next week on things I won't be buying; no I don't want to pay that price for basic stationery and cards; no I don't want to overhear you and your work colleague shouting about your personal lives so loudly I forget why I came in. And no I don't want to give you my blinking email address or see a look of disapproval when I tell you that.

Yes I am turning into one of Harry Enfield's Old Gits. And not the nice one...

Ha my wife always used to say something similar about w.h. smith and I used to defend them, until recently when my experiences have been exactly as you describe. Also given how few customers  they seem to get, how is it that they are ALWAYS dons some kind of shelf restocking/inventory check/store reorganising when I go into one of their branches.

No I don't want some chocolate for a pound, or whatever mutli-buy offer you've been told to push

[Mycroft]

Ha my wife always used to say something similar about w.h. smith and I used to defend them, until recently when my experiences have been exactly as you describe. Also given how few customers  they seem to get, how is it that they are ALWAYS dons some kind of shelf restocking/inventory check/store reorganising when I go into one of their branches.

No I don't want some chocolate for a pound, or whatever mutli-buy offer you've been told to push

I'd forgotten about the endless chocolate pushing since they turned into shills for Big Sugar! If I wanted a bar of chocolate, I think I'd probably have picked one up, thanks. I just want to pay and get the hell out of here, if that's remotely possible.

[Mycroft]

There has been a bloke on local radio that my elderly mother insists on having on, otherwise I would not have heard it in passing.

I think he was editor of practical classics.  He was on about 205's, orions and mastros!

It made me wonder how many of the the folk buying selling and owning these truly are enthusiasts or speculators looking to make money.

He kept making reference to the ULEZ exemption as a plus point.

Only late on did he refer to spannering ease and parts prices.

To be fair, it's a legit reason to buy an old classic at the moment - the ULEZ thing is a nightmare for many folks. I'm sure that loophole will be closed soon enough.

[oilstain]

I just want to pay and get the hell out of here, if that's remotely possible.

My last visit was to Smiths in Tewsbury, a small branch. I picked up a newspaper and went to the counter - NO STAFF, I looked and spoted one filling a shelf, she said we dont serve people we fill up the stock, if you want to buy somthing use the machine. I left the newspaper on the counter and left the store

A shop down the road was happy to serve me....

[Mycroft]

That's terrible.

Years ago, this sort of thread would have been gold dust to a Board member trying to stop the rot. Nowadays, you get the feeling they know perfectly well what they're doing and why. I doubt they'd give a damn.