WH Smith hospital stores overtake rail station sites

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Gone are the days when every commuter bought his morning paper at the station, and almost inevitably that was from WHSmith

From The Scotsman

WH Smith hospital stores overtake rail station sites

Patients and visitors are heading to WH Smith’s hospital stores in record numbers, making them more popular than the newsagent’s train station sites, the company has revealed.

Bosses said hospital stores are now the second largest division in its travel business – after airports – and are helping to keep profits in line with expectations.

[JayMac]

It's understandable that profits are up at WHSmith hospital sites when they sell toothpaste for £7.99 that's available in supermarkets for 99p.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-44084638

Even after saying this was a pricing error the product was still priced at £2.49.

A somewhat captive market means such price gouging. I don't buy the argument about overheads being significantly greater in such locations. Excepting the bribes inducements paid to NHS Trusts by chain retailers to allow them to trade on site.

It's also a shame that many hospital trusts have allowed the likes of WHSmith to trade on site to the detriment of League of Friends shops. At least with the LoF shops you knew you were paying a little more than on the High St for good reason. All profits went back to helping hospital patients.

[grahame]

It's understandable that profits are up at WHSmith hospital sites when they sell toothpaste for £7.99 that's available in supermarkets for 99p.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-44084638

Even after saying this was a pricing error the product was still priced at £2.49. ...

A somewhat captive market means such price gouging. I don't buy the argument about overheads being significantly greater in such locations.

Noting it the original quotation, "Bosses" at WHSmith seem to be more concerned with profit than size of customer base, or the service aspect of being in a medical facility with a captive market:

Bosses said hospital stores are now the second largest division in its travel business – after airports – and are helping to keep profits in line with expectations.

It took my breath when I initially posted it - nice to know I'm not the only one concerned at the slant taken by WHS these days.

[johnneyw]

It's also a shame that many hospital trusts have allowed the likes of WHSmith to trade on site to the detriment of League of Friends shops. At least with the LoF shops you knew you were paying a little more than on the High St for good reason. All profits went back to helping hospital patients.

The question that also needs to be asked is if WHS ultimately contributes more to the hospital funds than the the LoF shops. I know it isn't just the money that matters, although no-one would claim it to be unimportant. I'm somewhat uncomfortable with the arrangement myself but if (and I don't know the answer here) having WHS in the hospitals contributes much more to their coffers than LoF then this has to be taken notice of. Of course, if the difference is minimal, then I know who I would prefer there.

[Celestial]

Excepting the bribes inducements paid to NHS Trusts by chain retailers to allow them to trade on site.

That wording seems to suggest something at best underhand and at worst criminal is behind WH Smith's presence in hospitals and I don't believe that is the case for one moment.  I'm sure the contracts will have been let in a proper manner, and WHS are just willing to pay the most.  The mistake is for the Trusts not to specify that Holby Hospital WHS must sell stuff at the same price as Holby City Centre store.  I expect they would find the rent they are offered would be somewhat lower though, which is why it hasn't happened in the past (but I can imagine it could in future).

Still, at least in Wales the hospital car parks are all free these days, so that's one step forward.