Why BUY Bermuda?

[Limerick AKA Roman]

Entitlement is a prevalent attitude in Bermuda, and it clearly seeps into some of the local retailers. The sense that 'I have a business, so by default I'm justified and deserving of your patronage'. Sorry    it doesn't work that way. You earn my business, through a combination of offering the goods I want, and quality service that makes me feel as though you value me as a customer. I deliberately omitted prices because, let's face it, we pay double the price here because of all the factors involved: shipping, customs duty, markup, so on and so forth. So 'good' pricing is never a reason to shop locally. Yes it is true that if you take a 'shopping' trip, the cost of airfare, room and board, transportation,foreign sales tax and local customs duty negates the lower cost of products. But you can be assured of a plethora of choices, and usually customer service that exceeds what we get locally. I shouldn't have to feel as though I'm disturbing your conversation about last night's Young and Restless when I ask for help, or wait till you finished sending that all-important text message.

[Blankman]

... always thought it was for rich white people only!

You got it half right.

[Wassup]

For major purchases, like appliances, etc., I'll Buy Bermuda because if something goes wrong with it, I can call the shop here and know that they can service what they have sold.  I've had relatives buy appliances overseas that they can't get fixed because the repair people here have never dealt with that brand/model before.  I got a great deal from Home Zone when I bought my appliances last year and the customer service was superb!

I would love to Buy Bermuda for clothing, but, the variety and selection of what is offered is appalling.  You can't even get a basic trouser in a long length (I'm tall) and basic tailored shirt without having to take out a second mortgage to afford it (that is, if you can even find it in the first place).  That's why, whenever I go away, I come back with bulging suitcases.  I've tried over and over again to buy clothing here but what's out there hardly ever appeals to my taste and/or budget.  The crap customer service doesn't bother me anymore, I'm so used to it now it doesn't even phase me - though it is a bit of a shock to the system when I go away and someone is coming up to me and offering to help me the minute I step foot into the store!

[Blankman]

Like Wassup I'll buy locally if the price is even comparable to the cost of buying abroad, shipping, duty, etc.

And I agree that there can be an issue getting things serviced (which includes dealers refusing to service goods that they haven't sold).  However, the easy way around that is to wander down to the local dealer, see what they've got in stock and then price the same model on line.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of having it shipped etc. yourself, just call Willie at Pricebusters, tell him what you want, and let him do it.  No hassles.

I've taken that approach with major appliances and it's always worked out well - parts are generally available locally and there are a number of independent service outfits so I don't have to be concerned about a dealer asking where I bought something. 

[Limerick AKA Roman]

I've had relatives buy appliances overseas that they can't get fixed because the repair people here have never dealt with that brand/model before. 

Even worse, your appliance warranty voids the moment it leaves the country of origin( let's say the states). So when you try to get it fixed here and you have the above problem, that's two kicks in the ass. I can vouch for M&M, their prices are reasonable, basically if you tried to price match online a particular tv they're carrying, you'll find no significant savings time you ship it in, and pay customs duty and wharfage. And again, if that tv comes in busted, you're fcuked.

[Blankman]

The issue with M&M is that they won't service anything that you didn't buy from them.   I've got a stereo unit that I bought locally but the dealer isn't around anymore - I did find someone else to service it but M&M is no help.

[devonshire]

compare Reid Street to any shopping street, shopping area or mall oversees.  Reid Street haspotholes, cracks and tripping hazards all over the street, broken curbs, puddles, dying trees, thousands of cars and bikes, container trucks, construction vehicles, dangerous for young children, congested sidewalks, no seating, etc. etc. 

oversees shopping street/areas have quality paving, modern street furniture, organised vehicluar circulation, motor vehicle restirctions, healthy trees, organised and safe environments for pedestrians and vehicles, provisions for elderly and the disabled, street wardens and management, etc, etc.  take picturtes of the next oversees shopping street you visit and take pictures of Reid Street whe you get back (watch out that you don't get run down!)  Cop=mpar the experience.

it is not the outlets in Hamilton that are the problem -- most are of a high standard and not unreasonable priced.  It is the streets that are the problem.  If you can't comfortably go shopping with your children or you elderly parents, or your friend because they have children or elderley parents, or any number of other persons -- of course you will usually opt to wait when you can oversees and shop comfortabley with family or friends.  The streets that have not been updated or improved in my life.  Most of the retail has been and is of a high standard, albiet diminishing in veriety, but because the only people who can safely visitto make special purcahses do so on their own, and after theis single objective is accomplished they try to get out quickly as possible becuase it is not pleasant or safe. 

i usually shop by myself -- and quickly run in for a predetrermined item or 2.  it has been years sice shopping with my wife in Bermuda because one of us stays home with the kids.  it is upleasant to take the kids to a run down place that is onvercongested and dangerous -- at this stage in life (probably for 7 or 8 yeas) we will continue to included a day in every annual holiday for the majority of our shopping away.  we enjoy shopping together because it is fun.

[Limerick AKA Roman]

The issue with M&M is that they won't service anything that you didn't buy from them.   

Yeah I was only vouching for their prices, not this so much. Are they the only local electronic retailer that do that, or is it par for the course here?

[His Holiness the Buddha Bunny]

The issue with M&M is that they won't service anything that you didn't buy from them.   I've got a stereo unit that I bought locally but the dealer isn't around anymore - I did find someone else to service it but M&M is no help.

In all fairness Blanks, having worked for companies that have had service departments, keeping spares on hand is a zoo.  It's bad enough having the parts for items that you sold, it's impossible to stock for the world.  I would maintain that very same policy as M & M, if it were my company. It's just not practical.

[Blankman]

Who said anything about keeping spares on hand?  I recognize the issues with inventory and wouldn't be the least bit upset if parts were special order and I had to wait and pay shipping charges to get them here.

[Limerick AKA Roman]

compare Reid Street to any shopping street, shopping area or mall oversees.  Reid Street haspotholes, cracks and tripping hazards all over the street, broken curbs, puddles, dying trees, thousands of cars and bikes, container trucks, construction vehicles, dangerous for young children, congested sidewalks, no seating, etc. etc. 

oversees shopping street/areas have quality paving, modern street furniture, organised vehicluar circulation, motor vehicle restirctions, healthy trees, organised and safe environments for pedestrians and vehicles, provisions for elderly and the disabled, street wardens and management, etc, etc.  take picturtes of the next oversees shopping street you visit and take pictures of Reid Street whe you get back (watch out that you don't get run down!)  Cop=mpar the experience.

it is not the outlets in Hamilton that are the problem -- most are of a high standard and not unreasonable priced.  It is the streets that are the problem.  If you can't comfortably go shopping with your children or you elderly parents, or your friend because they have children or elderley parents, or any number of other persons -- of course you will usually opt to wait when you can oversees and shop comfortabley with family or friends.  The streets that have not been updated or improved in my life.  Most of the retail has been and is of a high standard, albiet diminishing in veriety, but because the only people who can safely visitto make special purcahses do so on their own, and after theis single objective is accomplished they try to get out quickly as possible becuase it is not pleasant or safe. 

i usually shop by myself -- and quickly run in for a predetrermined item or 2.  it has been years sice shopping with my wife in Bermuda because one of us stays home with the kids.  it is upleasant to take the kids to a run down place that is onvercongested and dangerous -- at this stage in life (probably for 7 or 8 yeas) we will continue to included a day in every annual holiday for the majority of our shopping away.  we enjoy shopping together because it is fun.

Perhaps parking is part of the equation as well? As in, the malls and shopping complexes overseas provide huge parking lots free to the public. So you can take your time and shop all day, without having to think about driving all around the city trying to find parking, and having to worry about putting more time in the meter or rushing to your car to fill out a new parking voucher. Maybe or maybe not a serious deal, personally I find that I spend so much time trying to find parking, and having to race to avoid getting tickets that I simply can't be bothered half the time. I think Reid Street would greatly benefit from pedastrian-only on Saturday.....

[Tryangle]

Good points, devonshire. Of course there's little that the retailers in town can do about that - they've floated the idea of blocking off traffic along lower Reid Street, for example. Maybe if that was put in place, combined with a proper resurfacing of the street to make it look like a desirable area to wander around and go into all the shops.

You mentioned high standard and maybe this is true for several of the shops. But as Wassup said, there's simply not the selection available as far as clothing is concerned. If you're not a 5'8" size 4 female, it's harder to find the things that you'd be interested in buying. So you're forced to go into Gibbons Company, which looks like a clothing abyss at the best of times (since they decided to just pack everything so tight there's no room to maneuver) and hope for the best, I'm guessing.

As far as furniture is concerned, we just went to Pricebusters for everything. The local retailers didn't have the selection that we liked, and the ones that we did, the price just seemed to high.

Roman makes a great point about the parking situation too. Maybe CoH could consider promoting parking at Bulls' Head in conjuction with offering a shuttle service to certain stops along Front or Reid Street. They'd have to figure out the best route, of course. Worth a discussion, at the very least.

[Limerick AKA Roman]

Roman makes a great point about the parking situation too. Maybe CoH could consider promoting parking at Bulls' Head in conjuction with offering a shuttle service to certain stops along Front or Reid Street.

Maybe a shuttle from Bullshead on the hour to the Front Street flagpole( or pick a spot). Question is, is the Corporation likely to give up the revenue from Bulls head by offering Saturday free parking? Not likely.... it's gonna take a joint effort from different entities to make Hamilton a desirable place to shop. To be blunt, I simply hate driving through Hamilton and shopping. It's just not worth the hassle, particularly when you don't find what you want. Most of my 'buying Bermuda' tends to be places outside the main part of Hamilton: Gorhams, Masters, etc or outside of the city completely like Baptist Builder Supply or Sargosso's opposite PHC. I don't even bother with clothes shopping here, the selections are poor for 30 somethings. Not to mention extremely expensive. Why is that when clothing is what, 6.5% customs duty imported?

You can count on one hand the amount of times I've walked along Reid Street in the past 6 months, and that's not an exaggeration.

[mrsbda]

Here's another question.  Why, when we live on an Island, is there such a dearth of stores selling swimwear, particularly ladies swimwear???  Calypso is about it when it comes to a selection of ladies swimwear, there's Cecile's of course, if you don't  mind spending $200 on a swimsuit, and that's it!  Making Waves only sells bikini's and I'm afraid my bikini days are long gone! 

[drew]

Question is, is the Corporation likely to give up the revenue from Bulls head by offering Saturday free parking?

If I'm not mistaken, parking at Bulls Head on weekends is already free. But maybe somebody else can confirm this?