overstocks
Just popped into the catalogue clearance warehouse in Corby that is used by Agros to dump stuff they can't clear. It was rammed full of flat screen TVs, TV set top boxes, hard disc recorders, pallets and pallets of the stuff. I know they buy this stuff by the shipload and have probably made their money, but it wouldn't help them if it got out that there are places like this where you can buy a big flatscreen TV (probably stock from 2 Christmasses ago) at about £300.
I mean if people found out that you can buy goods this cheaply from a warehouse they wouldn't need to go into Currys or Comet. It's pot luck, sometimes there's loads, other times nothing, but you can always pick up a handfull of alkaline batteries at 19p each. I use loads in my guitars and effects pedal and resent paying £3 a go, so one less reason to shop in the High Street or retail park. Ten years ago I made the prediction to friends that one day there will only be jobs in call centres, warehouses and for white van men. It's coming true.
Other comments on here point at old stock being a problem. It is. Old stock did for Woolworths and it will be the death of HMV and Waterstones, Argos and the big sheds.
I spent 20 years in retail. The secret of good retailing is not good selling, it's good buying. Buying twice as much as you need in order to get a good price may work for fast moving, high repeat sale products, but most people don't go shopping for a big ticket item like a laptop or computeror flatscreen TV every year. Piling it high and selling it cheap has diminishing returns and the outcome is always the same. You drown in unsold stock.