QuoteAnalysis: Best Buy seen pulling plug on UK megastores
Mark Potter and Dhanya Skariachan
Reuters
LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Best Buy Co is likely to abandon its British megastores next year, retreating from an overseas expansion plan that has been stymied by a global recession and cultural differences in how people like to shop.
Analysts said they expect the move to shutter the British big box stores to come in early 2012 as the company instead needs to focus on strengthening its mainstay U.S. business against cut-throat competition from discounters and online rivals.
Closing the 11 British stores would be the biggest admission of failure so far in the U.S. retailer's overseas expansion strategy.
It would also stem tens of millions of dollars in annual losses and raise hopes among investors that Best Buy will take steps to reset its business after the latest in a series of profit warnings this month.
The company did not respond to requests seeking comment.
"Given the challenges that Best Buy is currently facing ... I think investors would probably rather see the company focus on the changes they are trying to make domestically rather than investing a lot of money in Europe," said Anthony Chukumba, an analyst with BB&T Capital Markets. BB&T Capital Markets makes a market in the securities of Best Buy.
The company could also shrink other stores, reduce space in weak product categories like entertainment, speed up the expansion of a fast-growing mobile business and make a bigger push to sell online.
When Best Buy laid out plans to expand into Britain in 2008, it envisioned building a chain of around 100 megastores over five years that would act as a springboard for expansion elsewhere in Europe.
Three years on, things have proved very different.
Best Buy and British partner Carphone Warehouse Group Plc have opened just 11 big box stores and in the process racked up 62 million pounds ($98 million) of losses in the year ended in March after losing 21 million the year before. In June they froze store openings and announced a strategic review of the chain.
"I can't see anything other than a market exit now. It'll be very much tail between their legs," said Greg Hodge, global retail director at consumer research firm Iconoculture.
Best Buy's foray into Britain ran into trouble even before it started, as the world plunged into recession and an initial plan to open stores in summer 2009 was put back to April 2010.
Now Britain is undergoing a fiscal squeeze as its government takes steps to rein in a yawning deficit.
With disposable incomes falling, shoppers have cut spending on discretionary items like electrical goods, triggering a plunge in sales and valuations across the sector.
Earlier this month Dixons Retail Plc , Britain's biggest electricals retailer, reported a 10 percent drop in quarterly sales from UK stores open over a year, while No. 2 Kesa Electricals Plc said quarterly sales on the same basis at its British chain Comet plunged 22 percent.
Best Buy has also made mistakes, though. By announcing its expansion plans so openly, for example, it gave rivals the opportunity to respond.
Dixons did this in particular, opening a string of megastores -- often by combining its existing Currys and PC World outlets -- that not only mimicked Best Buy's plans but often did so just down the road from one of Best Buy's new stores. :lmfao:
The U.S. retailer also failed to adapt its store format to the British market and gave too much space to weaker performing entertainment products, analysts said.
"It was the wrong format, at the wrong time, in the wrong market," said Robert Gregory, research director at Planet Retail.
"U.S. retailers have a mediocre to bad track record of expanding their concepts into Europe," Chukumba said. "I think part of it is different cultures and part of it is the fact that U.S. brands aren't as readily known in Europe."
Also: "U.S. retailers tend to have large box stores and generally Europeans aren't used to shopping that way. They are used to shopping in smaller boxes," Chukumba added.
Borders Group Inc , the bankrupt U.S. bookseller, in 2007 sold its U.K. stores, including 41 superstores, leading to a loss of $125.7 million. It had had a British presence for 10 years. Chains such as TJX Cos Inc and Signet Jewelers Ltd have also seen lackluster same-store sales in that market recently.
TO CLOSE OR NOT TO CLOSE
Closing Best Buy British megastores, which Bank of America-Merrill Lynch analysts think could cost more than 60 million pounds, is not a foregone conclusion.
Some analysts have suggested that Best Buy might wait to see what happens to Comet, which Kesa has put up for sale. Any downsizing of that loss-making business could take out a big chunk of capacity from the British electrical goods market.
However, Planet Retail's Gregory said prospects for the sector, which faces competition from online retailers like Amazon.com Inc , grocers such as Tesco Plc and department stores groups like John Lewis, were so grim that even Comet's demise would not make Britain an attractive investment.
Shutting its branded stores would not end Best Buy's links to Britain, as its joint venture with Carphone Warehouse includes the British firm's chain of mobile phone shops across Europe, as well as its newer Wireless World stores, which also include some electrical products like laptops and tablets.
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Had no idea they were in the UK.
Sounds like it was a stupid move though, trying to break into a niche where we already have plentiful big companies filling it.
Yes, huge over-capacity in that area of business. Retail is also an area where the British are pretty competent. Which doesn't mean that firms like Lidl and Aldi have not made good progress, but they brought something new to the British market.
I'd have advised Best Buy not to bother, for a mere $200,000 consultancy fee, but they chose to lose $98m instead :(
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on September 20, 2011, 06:24:34 AMI'd have advised Best Buy not to bother, for a mere $200,000 consultancy fee, but they chose to lose $98m instead :(
lol, I'd have done it for less. "Hey guys, global recession here. Brits don't want to drown in their own debt like we do. That'll be $100, thanks."
I'm kind of surprised how resilient Aldi has been over here, particularly since Giant Foods has managed to kick other chains in the nuts, like SuperFresh, who'd been around for decades.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 20, 2011, 06:28:17 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on September 20, 2011, 06:24:34 AMI'd have advised Best Buy not to bother, for a mere $200,000 consultancy fee, but they chose to lose $98m instead :(
lol, I'd have done it for less. "Hey guys, global recession here. Brits don't want to drown in their own debt like we do. That'll be $100, thanks."
I'm kind of surprised how resilient Aldi has been over here, particularly since Giant Foods has managed to kick other chains in the nuts, like SuperFresh, who'd been around for decades.
The Aldi guy is like one of the richest in the world.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 20, 2011, 06:08:44 AM
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:lol:
Quotelol, I'd have done it for less. "Hey guys, global recession here. Brits don't want to drown in their own debt like we do. That'll be $100, thanks."
Why do it for less when they are stupid enough to pay more?
I'm a slasher....of prices!
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 20, 2011, 07:37:20 AM
I'm a slasher....of prices!
" hey babe. I'm gonna call you prices"
A victory for cousin Sissy.
Quote from: Neil on September 20, 2011, 07:45:25 AM
A victory for cousin Sissy.
:lol:
Hot Fuzz reference FTW. I'm off today, so I might watch it...
:ccr
The real winner here are the strategy consultants who advised on this disastrous expansion.
:D Best Buy sent teams of sexy young things in company t-shirts to distribute flyers and catalogues in my town. My first thought was, "We have them here now?" such was their market awareness.
By trying to emulate HMV and Curry, they're failing to compete with either.
Plus, ya know, we have the internet here where everything's half the price of real shops.
Never heard of Best Buy, although I avoid retail parks like the plague.
Aside from fast food, I'm struggling to think of a single American retailer who has been successful here (aside from takeovers like Walmart/Asda). 10 years ago you could have said Woolworths, but now?
You want the Best Buy experience? Stand in front of your TV, turn your stereo on the loudest setting and play the worst music you've ever heard. Get two friends to wear blue shirts and repeatedly ask you if you want the extended warranty.
Quote from: Gups on September 20, 2011, 09:05:50 AM
Aside from fast food, I'm struggling to think of a single American retailer who has been successful here (aside from takeovers like Walmart/Asda). 10 years ago you could have said Woolworths, but now?
Other than clothes, shoes and sportswear?
Quote from: Brazen on September 20, 2011, 09:09:28 AM
Quote from: Gups on September 20, 2011, 09:05:50 AM
Aside from fast food, I'm struggling to think of a single American retailer who has been successful here (aside from takeovers like Walmart/Asda). 10 years ago you could have said Woolworths, but now?
Other than clothes, shoes and sportswear?
Such as?
I already have a TV and a DVD player (although I suppose technically it's a Blu-Ray player, but I don't really care for Blu-Ray discs), so I rarely go near a best buy. The big box stores can't compete with specialists like HMV when it comes to content, and they know it. Every time I go into a Best Buy or a Future Shop, it looks like a bomb went off in the DVD section, and the entire staff is hanging out in the camera/cellphone section.
Quote from: Brazen on September 20, 2011, 09:13:46 AM
Quote from: Gups on September 20, 2011, 09:12:05 AM
Such as?
Gap, Footlocker, Nike.
Not sure if Nike can be effectively called a retailer for this purpose - don't they market their own brands only or predominantly?
Quote from: Neil on September 20, 2011, 11:35:46 AM
I already have a TV and a DVD player (although I suppose technically it's a Blu-Ray player, but I don't really care for Blu-Ray discs), so I rarely go near a best buy. The big box stores can't compete with specialists like HMV when it comes to content, and they know it. Every time I go into a Best Buy or a Future Shop, it looks like a bomb went off in the DVD section, and the entire staff is hanging out in the camera/cellphone section.
The funny thing is that big box stores have recently started to cary books here. I guess it's the same thing as with movies/games - i.e. they are counting on impulse purchases more than anything else.
Quote from: Martinus on September 20, 2011, 11:56:42 AM
Quote from: Brazen on September 20, 2011, 09:13:46 AM
Quote from: Gups on September 20, 2011, 09:12:05 AM
Such as?
Gap, Footlocker, Nike.
Not sure if Nike can be effectively called a retailer for this purpose - don't they market their own brands only or predominantly?
Footlocker is OK in your book?
I had no idea they were over here. Whole Foods had more impact, before retreating to just a few shops.
Yeah, I didn't know about Nike either.
Footlocker and Gap are fair calls but it's still a surpringly low success rate for US retailers.
Quote from: Gups on September 20, 2011, 12:32:25 PM
Yeah, I didn't know about Nike either.
Footlocker and Gap are fair calls but it's still a surpringly low success rate for US retailers.
Apple stores?
Quote from: Tyr on September 20, 2011, 06:18:58 AM
Had no idea they were in the UK.
Sounds like it was a stupid move though, trying to break into a niche where we already have plentiful big companies filling it.
Borders did the same thing. I used to walk by the (empty) Borders in York on a regular basis.
US companies need to be careful about expanding into the UK market.
Quote from: citizen k on September 20, 2011, 12:48:30 PM
Quote from: Gups on September 20, 2011, 12:32:25 PM
Yeah, I didn't know about Nike either.
Footlocker and Gap are fair calls but it's still a surpringly low success rate for US retailers.
Apple stores?
Same as Nike - it's a manufacturer going for vertical integration, not a retail chain like the others. To be a retail chain, you need to sell third party products (usually from more than one brand/manufacturer). If you just sell the products of the manufacturer that owns you, you are not a retail chain - you are a distributor/outlet.
7-11?
I honestly don't recall seeing much in the way of US chains where I was at -
Subway, McDonald's, Burger King - and Taco Bell announced that they were going to take another try to break into the UK.
Err... drawing a blank, really. Just those and the failed Border's in York.
What about TJMaxx (called TK Maxx in Britain I believe). Do you see lots of those? Princesca used to work for TJX and she had to deal with the British dudes all the time... their office was in Wiltshire someplace.
Cal, yeah those are there as well.
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 20, 2011, 09:08:17 AM
You want the Best Buy experience? Stand in front of your TV, turn your stereo on the loudest setting and play the worst music you've ever heard. Get two friends to wear blue shirts and repeatedly ask you if you want the extended warranty.
:lol:
Also, when you have an actual question, make sure your friends are nowhere to be found. :)
Quote7-11?
So foreign to me that for my first few weeks in Japan I thought they were a Japanese thing, then I got curious about the meaning of the name and checked wikipedia- American? International? Ey?!?
QuoteBorders did the same thing. I used to walk by the (empty) Borders in York on a regular basis.
US companies need to be careful about expanding into the UK market.
I dunno....Borders IMO were just a decade or two too late.
Sure, we have waterstones, but around Newcastle at least the Borders was a huge out of city book superstore type thing, totally different to Waterstones with its city centre shops.
Had Borders been around pre-internet it could have done quite OK I think. As things stood though- why the hell would you go to a shop to spend 2 quid more for a book (plus petrol, time and effort) than having it delivered?
Waterstones...they`re still going, they`ve got rid of a lot of their bigger stores it seems but there`s still a place for their smaller shops in people just casually popping in and buying a book. With the big out of city thing of Borders though there was just no demand.
Quote from: Caliga on September 20, 2011, 06:40:41 PM
What about TJMaxx (called TK Maxx in Britain I believe). Do you see lots of those? Princesca used to work for TJX and she had to deal with the British dudes all the time... their office was in Wiltshire someplace.
Yeah, we have those, I must admit that probally half of my wardrobe must come from that place.
Designer stuff at knock down prices, what`s not to like.
There they`re doing something that there wasn`t really a British company doing. I never knew they were an American company TBH.
I`m really curious why Tacho Bell hasn`t tried to move into Britain. We don`t have any Mexican fast food and that sort of foreign business does well. I would really like to try it.
Keep your hands off my chalupa, chav. :mad:
Quote from: Tyr on September 20, 2011, 08:49:18 PM
I`m really curious why Tacho Bell hasn`t tried to move into Britain. We don`t have any Mexican fast food and that sort of foreign business does well. I would really like to try it.
I wrote a post about how it may do have to do with Britain not letting it's citizens eat something so generously labeled as "beef". Then I remembered that you people eat eels, grease, blood, and sheep guts. So now I'm at a loss as to why it's not in the country. The stuff is dirt cheap, probably because "dirt" is a significant ingredient. When I was in the northern part of the state there was a place called Taco John's, apparently named after the place where Tacos go to shit. It's just horrible, so it might be more your speed.
Quote from: AnchorClanker on September 20, 2011, 05:47:32 PM
I honestly don't recall seeing much in the way of US chains where I was at -
Subway, McDonald's, Burger King - and Taco Bell announced that they were going to take another try to break into the UK.
Err... drawing a blank, really. Just those and the failed Border's in York.
They don't have Taco Bells in the UK? That must suck. Taco Bell's about the only fast food restaurant I can actually get meals from anymore.
Best Buy can be an obnoxious place, but the last time I went was a year or so ago, on the release date of the Moon blu-ray, and this guy spent like twenty minutes going through boxes in the stockroom finding it for me. I felt bad because I forgot his name, and wanted to send an email to corporate about how awesome he was, albeit not mentioning the fact that he completely negated their profit on the disc by spending $4 or $5 worth of labor costs for one customer who will likely never buy anything significant from them.
Quote from: AnchorClanker on September 20, 2011, 05:47:32 PM
I honestly don't recall seeing much in the way of US chains where I was at -
Subway, McDonald's, Burger King - and Taco Bell announced that they were going to take another try to break into the UK.
Isn't that banned by the Geneva Convention?
What does everyone have against Taco Bell? They make good food quickly.
I've got a lot more against Subway, to be honest, with their retardedly inflated prices. I mean, why is a veggie sub the same price as one with meat? That's fucked up--they're the same God damned thing minus the most expensive ingredient.
Quote from: Ideologue on September 21, 2011, 12:37:44 AM
What does everyone have against Taco Bell? They make good food quickly.
I've got a lot more against Subway, to be honest, with their retardedly inflated prices. I mean, why is a veggie sub the same price as one with meat? That's fucked up--they're the same God damned thing minus the most expensive ingredient.
It's to encourage you to eat meat like a human being. Don't blame them for trying to civilize you.
I'm extra civilized. Although I might have an iron deficiency. Is there iron in "Nerds" brand candy? The point is I bought some vitamins.
They should make candy that tastes like chewable vitamins, especially those kids' Flintstones ones. They're delicious, but if you eat, say, forty, your face will fall off like those Antarctica guys.
I dislike Taco Bell because it is hideously unhealthy and disgusting, especially 1-2 hours after eating.
Yet, at the same time, I have to admit that I totally eat their soft tacos and stuff, but I don't go out of my way to go there.
Quote from: Caliga on September 20, 2011, 06:40:41 PM
What about TJMaxx (called TK Maxx in Britain I believe). Do you see lots of those? Princesca used to work for TJX and she had to deal with the British dudes all the time... their office was in Wiltshire someplace.
Didn't realise that they were American. Yes, they are all over the place and pretty popular with the women in my family. Their selling point is quality goods at bargain basement prices.
Thinking about it, for a succesful expansion into a foreign country one would either want to appear as a native firm or one's American (or whatever) origins would be an important and positive part of the brand image. A lot of the stuff sold in TK maxx seems to be various European labels, there is no mileage in appearing American. On the other hand, being American is an important part of Starbucks' image here.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on September 21, 2011, 01:08:35 AM
I dislike Taco Bell because it is hideously unhealthy and disgusting, especially 1-2 hours after eating.
Yet, at the same time, I have to admit that I totally eat their soft tacos and stuff, but I don't go out of my way to go there.
I like Taco Bell because you can substitute beans for any meat in any given product. You can't do that at, say, McDonald's.
On a related note, I did just get some french fries from McD's, but they didn't give me any ketchup. Do you think ketchup that expired in April is still technically edible?
If refrigerated, sure!* Just give it the sniff test and once-over test.
I went to a Mexican chain called Qdoba that had awesome bean, rice, beef burritos. It's kinda like subway but for burritos. It was great.
*not to be construed as actual medical advice
Subway is the devil I quite agree, they charge way too much for sandwiches.
And they`re like a plague, they`re popping up absolutely everywhere these days, its so bad they`re putting each other out of business.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on September 21, 2011, 01:22:22 AM
If refrigerated, sure!* Just give it the sniff test and once-over test.
I went to a Mexican chain called Qdoba that had awesome bean, rice, beef burritos. It's kinda like subway but for burritos. It was great.
*not to be construed as actual medical advice
Looks like a Moe's or Chipotle's. Moe's is pretty decent, although the tofu they use is a little bland. The chicken ones, when I still ate bird, was fucking delicious (and, for a while, they were selling 'em for $5, and even at $7ish it's a good deal--you get a bag full of tortilla chips with 'em).
Also, and I guess this is my problem, but burritos sure would be a lot better if the contents were uniformly heated. I guess it's not feasible to keep pico, jalapenos, etc., at a simmer for an entire day, let alone cheese, but it's always a bother to have half of a food item below 20 degrees below room temperature and the other half 20 degrees above.
Quote from: Tyr on September 20, 2011, 08:49:18 PMQuote
7-11?
So foreign to me that for my first few weeks in Japan I thought they were a Japanese thing, then I got curious about the meaning of the name and checked wikipedia- American? International? Ey?!?
I`m really curious why Tacho Bell hasn`t tried to move into Britain. We don`t have any Mexican fast food and that sort of foreign business does well. I would really like to try it.
There are 7-11s in Sweden.
Taco Bell is awful.
There were 7-11s in London back in the 1980s. I think they may have got hammered by the far cheaper and more flexible stores run by immigrants, haven't seen one for years.
Quote from: Ideologue on September 21, 2011, 01:17:13 AM
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on September 21, 2011, 01:08:35 AM
I dislike Taco Bell because it is hideously unhealthy and disgusting, especially 1-2 hours after eating.
Yet, at the same time, I have to admit that I totally eat their soft tacos and stuff, but I don't go out of my way to go there.
I like Taco Bell because you can substitute beans for any meat in any given product. You can't do that at, say, McDonald's.
On a related note, I did just get some french fries from McD's, but they didn't give me any ketchup. Do you think ketchup that expired in April is still technically edible?
I have baking powder that expired back in 1992. Of course, I'm not sure what baking powder is used for, so it's never been a problem.
Also, I hate beans.
Exsqueeze me?
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on September 21, 2011, 01:22:22 AM
I went to a Mexican chain called Qdoba that had awesome bean, rice, beef burritos. It's kinda like subway but for burritos. It was great.
I like Qdoba, but it's a ripoff.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on September 21, 2011, 01:12:49 AM
Quote from: Caliga on September 20, 2011, 06:40:41 PM
What about TJMaxx (called TK Maxx in Britain I believe). Do you see lots of those? Princesca used to work for TJX and she had to deal with the British dudes all the time... their office was in Wiltshire someplace.
Didn't realise that they were American. Yes, they are all over the place and pretty popular with the women in my family. Their selling point is quality goods at bargain basement prices.
I always thought TJ Maxx was Brit-owned.
QuoteA lot of the stuff sold in TK maxx seems to be various European labels, there is no mileage in appearing American.
Well, fuck you too.
QuoteOn the other hand, being American is an important part of Starbucks' image here.
So are they popular there, or do you guys avoid them because of their uberimperialist atmospheres?
The only time I notice there are any Starbucks in Europe is when anti-globalists are through shit through their windows.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on September 21, 2011, 05:23:22 AM
So are they popular there, or do you guys avoid them because of their uberimperialist atmospheres?
The only time I notice there are any Starbucks in Europe is when anti-globalists are through shit through their windows.
There are at least three on every high street in London. You could spit from the door of one and hit another; in fact that's probably the best thing to do with them. People are prepared to spend £3 for weak coffee anywhere, it seems.
Well British places for having a coffee in always used to be crap, so to have an American-type place where we can drink a decent coffee in is pretty positive. There are British coffeeshop chains now but they seem to emulate the American style. OTOH the British pub continues to be the best place to drink booze in, so alternative styles of waterhole have difficulty gaining any presence here.
It really depends on the product whether it being American is a good thing or not. In Preston we have a store devoted to selling Harley-Davidsons http://www.bowkermotorgroup.co.uk/harley-davidson/ . That the bikes are American is a huge plus, you are not just getting a great bike when you buy from them, you are getting freedom :D
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on September 21, 2011, 06:03:00 AM
That the bikes are American is a huge plus, you are not just getting a great bike when you buy from them, you are getting freedom :D
:bleeding:
People don't avoid Starbucks because it's American, they avoid it because their coffees have more sugar in them than a slice of fudge. :yuk:
Starbucks has relatively good coffee and they are a good employer. I think people shit on them mainly because it's "trendy" but they are one of the good guys in the corporate world, imo.
Sugar in coffee? :yuk:
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on September 21, 2011, 06:03:00 AM
Well British places for having a coffee in always used to be crap, so to have an American-type place where we can drink a decent coffee in is pretty positive.
In the cruddier bits of the country maybe, but in London the coffee shops used to be exclusively run by Italian baristas with huge steaming espresso machines.
Yes, but there were never very many of them.
Quote from: Warspite on September 21, 2011, 06:18:51 AM
People don't avoid Starbucks because it's American, they avoid it because their coffees have more sugar in them than a slice of fudge. :yuk:
I'll have both, thanks. :bowler:
Quote from: Ideologue on September 21, 2011, 01:17:13 AM
I like Taco Bell because you can substitute beans for any meat in any given product. You can't do that at, say, McDonald's.
So you're willing to tolerate their horrid food because of your faggot veggie ways?
Quote from: Neil on September 21, 2011, 07:23:04 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on September 21, 2011, 01:17:13 AM
I like Taco Bell because you can substitute beans for any meat in any given product. You can't do that at, say, McDonald's.
So you're willing to tolerate their horrid food because of your faggot veggie ways?
It's well documented that Ide is the worse eater of this forum.
Quote from: Martinus on September 21, 2011, 06:19:56 AM
Starbucks has relatively good coffee and they are a good employer. I think people shit on them mainly because it's "trendy" but they are one of the good guys in the corporate world, imo.
And don't forget the part about having to wade through a sea of fags trying to show off their Apple products just to get to the counter.
Why is it that euros don't like buying in big stores?
Quote from: Siege on September 21, 2011, 07:57:36 AM
Why is it that euros don't like buying in big stores?
It's incredibly working class.
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on September 21, 2011, 06:35:47 AM
Yes, but there were never very many of them.
Because we drink tea. Coffee is for foreigners and homosexuals!
I've begun to loathe the super stores myself. 300,000 square feet? fuck that shit. I'm taking the scooter up front. They see me rollin', they hatin.
Quote from: Siege on September 21, 2011, 07:57:36 AM
Why is it that euros don't like buying in big stores?
driving sucks
Vaguely related - A buddy of mine brought his blue Ford Mustang over to the UK... in a town loaded with expensive cars (lots of Leeds lawyers and accountants live in Harrogate) - he received multiple notes under his wiperblades to the tune of "Hey Yank, when you go back to the States and don't wish to haul this back, I'll but it off you - call me..."
Amazing. I've heard of some guys buying classic American cars that need work and hauling it to the UK for gearheads to buy and fix up... seemed to be quite a few in Yorkshire in any case.
Also - Taco Bell *did* try to get into the UK market and failed... they are making a 2nd try last I knew.
That would be good - that was one of the things I really missed while I was there - Mexican food.
Quote from: AnchorClanker on September 21, 2011, 03:53:44 PM
Vaguely related - A buddy of mine brought his blue Ford Mustang over to the UK... in a town loaded with expensive cars (lots of Leeds lawyers and accountants live in Harrogate) - he received multiple notes under his wiperblades to the tune of "Hey Yank, when you go back to the States and don't wish to haul this back, I'll but it off you - call me..."
Amazing. I've heard of some guys buying classic American cars that need work and hauling it to the UK for gearheads to buy and fix up... seemed to be quite a few in Yorkshire in any case.
Also - Taco Bell *did* try to get into the UK market and failed... they are making a 2nd try last I knew.
That would be good - that was one of the things I really missed while I was there - Mexican food.
I don't think Ford exports the Mustang to the UK. I looked at the UK site, and it all crap. Focus? Fiesta? Girl shit.
I also don't think Dodge exports the Charger and Challenger.
Funniest car I saw in the UK was a Hummer H2 or H3. Laughed my ass off.
Yeah, I only saw a tiny handful of classic US cars - part of the reason there's a market for them.
That would be a kickass retirement gig... importing collector cars into the UK.
I remember seeing an old, early 80s or so Chevy S-10 (or Ford Ranger) pickup in Oban Scotland, with steering wheel on the left, complete with an old early 80s Vancouver Canucks bumper sticker. I thought it was the oddest vehicle to see there...
Quote from: Martinus on September 21, 2011, 06:19:56 AM
Starbucks has relatively good coffee and they are a good employer. I think people shit on them mainly because it's "trendy" but they are one of the good guys in the corporate world, imo.
American Apparel are one of the good guys in the corporate world, doesn't mean I like them.
With Starbucks I think their coffee's not very tasty more than anything else.
QuoteAlso - Taco Bell *did* try to get into the UK market and failed... they are making a 2nd try last I knew.
That would be good - that was one of the things I really missed while I was there - Mexican food.
I wonder if they've missed the chance because there's now a couple of chains of Mexican fast food opening all over London.
Quote from: Grey Fox on September 21, 2011, 07:35:19 AM
Quote from: Neil on September 21, 2011, 07:23:04 AM
Quote from: Ideologue on September 21, 2011, 01:17:13 AM
I like Taco Bell because you can substitute beans for any meat in any given product. You can't do that at, say, McDonald's.
So you're willing to tolerate their horrid food because of your faggot veggie ways?
It's well documented that Ide is the worse eater of this forum.
Nonsense. I eat fine.
I once ate 20 bowls of chili on a dare.
Coffee without sugar and milk or cream tastes awful. I don't know how people stand it.
I used to like to fill big glasses full of coffee and Hershey's syrup. That was good stuff. Honestly, I must've been burning 4000 calories a day at that job.
Quote from: Ed Anger on September 21, 2011, 04:49:10 PM
I once ate 20 bowls of chili on a dare.
Did you survive?
Quote from: Neil on September 21, 2011, 07:48:33 AM
Quote from: Martinus on September 21, 2011, 06:19:56 AM
Starbucks has relatively good coffee and they are a good employer. I think people shit on them mainly because it's "trendy" but they are one of the good guys in the corporate world, imo.
And don't forget the part about having to wade through a sea of fags trying to show off their Apple products just to get to the counter.
lulz, Marti reference.
Quote from: AnchorClanker on September 21, 2011, 03:53:44 PM
Vaguely related - A buddy of mine brought his blue Ford Mustang over to the UK... in a town loaded with expensive cars (lots of Leeds lawyers and accountants live in Harrogate) - he received multiple notes under his wiperblades to the tune of "Hey Yank, when you go back to the States and don't wish to haul this back, I'll but it off you - call me..."
Amazing. I've heard of some guys buying classic American cars that need work and hauling it to the UK for gearheads to buy and fix up... seemed to be quite a few in Yorkshire in any case.
Yeah, there's a little outfit near the Port of Baltimore, nothing fancy, just a couple trailers; for months I'd pass by, see the occasional muscle car or classic in their lot of various quality--Mustangs, Caddys, Lincolns, Camaros, Plymouth muscle that need some work, etc.--so one day I stopped when I saw a lovely Lincoln convertible from the '60s to see if it was for sale. Nope, they said; they're an exporter to the UK and the continent for individuals looking for classic American cars, muscle cars, etc. That's all they do, get them on the ships with the right paperwork.