Forum Topic

Ryness

Sorry to see that Ryness will not be returning to PHS. Admittedly no  retailer could survive on my meagre purchases, but the staff were always very helpful when I went with queries about particular lightbulbs and batteries.The notice says the nearest branch will be Kings Rd. Putney used to be so convenient and I guess that will not longer be the case.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 2133d24 Comments

Simon: Funny that - the last time I bought a long fluorescent bulb from PHS Ryness, about 3 years ago, it was a dud.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2130d

I do buy things on Amazon but these are 3ft fine flourescent bulbs and I wouldn't trust them to arrive intact.

Simon Knight ● 2131d

Simon: Don't want to sound pedantic, but when one of my light bulbs goes phut I look at its base, note the brand, wattage and code, then enter those on Amazon. It always works. I note Mr Kapoor's sentiments, and I don't like the trend that he regrets, but it is the reality. Price is a factor, but so is the convenience of ordering online, not having to go to PHS, and getting the product delivered to my door. With factors like that in play, all high streets are at a disadvantage.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2131d

Macleod: I run two Putney businesses (one of them since 1993 & the other Retail shop for over 5 years) & an online business. I think I have a good insight in to the market. I am also actively involved with Putney Bid - Perhaps this makes me overly passionate about saving our High Street. It is not just about nostalgia. It is about keeping our community thriving & full of a variety of different independent retailers.. In recent years our businesses (& some of our neighbours) have seen an upsurge in support for small businesses & I think this will continue, especially after lockdown is properly over. I do understand where you are coming from, I just hope you are not right. All the best.

Deepak Kapoor ● 2131d

I agree Alexander, but in the case of my hard-to-source lightbulbs it was good to go into Ryness with one in hand and say: "I want one of these please", and the guy would scuttle around and produce it.Was I paying over the odds?...probably but so what?

Simon Knight ● 2131d

I agree, Alexander. This trend was happening long before Lockdown/ Covid. Of course Amazon has greatly increased it’s profits as people are now buying on line items which they previously would have gone to shops for.

Jane Carter ● 2131d

Kapoor: You don't appear to see what is happening in the market. I'm not saying it's a welcome trend, but the ability of Amazon etc to outbid small retailers is the reality, and no amount of nostalgia will change that situation. Ryness PHS have obviously read the writing on the wall and have caved in. By all means yearn for small retailers, and if you wish stand  ready to pay over the odds for face to face transactions, but, just as the internal combustion engine pushed the horse and cart to the sidelines, online shopping is putting small retailers under unrelenting pressure.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2131d

I still miss, miss, Maplins, great products, really lovely and super-helpful staff.

Bunny Payne ● 2132d

A MacLeod. You should re-read my post. Supermarkets & Amazon are putting the small guys out of business by having an unfair advantage.I always found Ryness to be a well very stocked shop with very well informed service. Yes, they were a bit more expensive but that is to be expected.

Deepak Kapoor ● 2132d

I didn't say Ryness were onto a good thing. Rather the contrary. Maybe their error was to charge too much. Anyway they are gone. Nostalgia about High Street businesses sounds fine and is understandable, but in our kind of economy firms have to hack it to survive. It looks as though the C virus tipped the balance against Ryness. I suspect others in PHS and thereabouts will follow them.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2132d

If Ryness are onto such a good thing in Putney High Street, then why are they shutting up shop there?

David Ainsworth ● 2132d

D Kapoor. You are misinformed: I used the word "gouged" advisedly. I have consistently found that Ryness light bulbs are twice as expensive as in supermarkets, and three times as expensive compared with Amazon-supplied online. On four occasions I was obliged to buy from PHS Ryness, and on two of those occasions the bulbs were dud and had to be replaced.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2132d

D Kapoor. Pathetic? You are sadly uninformed: I used the word "gouged" advisedly. I have consistently found that Ryness light bulbs are roughly twice as expensive as in supermarkets, and up to three times as expensive compared with Amazon-supplied online. On four occasions I was obliged to buy from PHS Ryness, and on two of those occasions the bulbs were dud and had to be replaced. I am not surprised they have decided to pack it in.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2132d

Sorry to read they're not re-opening. Good shop with knowledgable staff. Will have to shlepp to Kings Rd for my hard-to-find bulbs.

Simon Knight ● 2132d

The problem with Ryness and the idea that they price gouged is a simple one. Unlike other shops, they didn't match online prices with High Street ones. Their website was often half the price of their shops which meant one never subsidised the other. They literally undercut their own shops. They might have tried to sell on service and knowledge in the shops, but we all know that wages and prices haven't matched for over a decade, which inevitably has led to a cost first situation. Bye bye Ryness, but you are another casualty of the times we live in.

James Morris ● 2132d

I also shop(ped) at Ryness and am sorry to see it go. Walking down the HIgh Street yesterday other than the closed shops (more than one  will not reopen again) I was most aware of  the pollution again. After a few weeks of relatively clean air, it stank again.

Lucille Grant ● 2132d

But at least the branch at 343 King's Road survives, easily reached on the 22 bus. But not as convenient as PHS, it's true.

Richard Carter ● 2133d

As forum posters probably know, being pretty immobile I do virtually all shopping online.  However with Ryness I used to make a happy exception.  They always had time for me to explain and advise, and staff so friendly, and my home has many things in it bearing credence to that fact.Truly sorry to see them go.

Barbara Shillabeer ● 2133d

"Gouged on prices" What a pathetic comment. If the high street wasn't such a difficult place to trade then maybe they wouldn't have to charge so much to survive. Forget the current problems we face with businesses with Cornovirus, the high street was dying long, long before. Greedy landlords, a pathetic Business Rates system, online companies not paying taxes (making it an unfair playing field) are just a few reason why many small shops will not return. We'll all have to get used to paying a bit more for a real person to serve us if we want the our high-streets to return. The alternative is Lockdown Shopping.

Deepak Kapoor ● 2133d

"gouged"? Is there some way that a shop on a high street could sell at the same price or cheaper than a not-a-shop can?

David Ainsworth ● 2133d

On particular items, online purchase was always cheaper than Ryness. Yes, they were helpful, but they gouged on prices.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2133d

Oh such a shame!!  Maybe it's the people's fault, but online shopping becomes more and more attractive, although I'd much rather go to the shop.

Bunny Payne ● 2133d

Sad to hear this. A very useful shop and always helpful too.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2133d

That really is a shame, they are very useful and we'll be sorry they've gone. But thanks for posting the news, Elizabeth.

Richard Carter ● 2133d