W H Smith

I’ve just stop going into WH Smith as often as I used to, because of the insane prices, I still go in there but only on very rare occasions.

I love books and, as Leeds isn’t well blessed with a variety of book shops, I often end up in Smiths. I have to be honest and say I never enjoy the experience, it’s too much ‘conveyor belt literature. I understand that Smiths have to compete with cut price supermarkets and amazon but I suppose I’d like to see them do this by catering to dedicated readers rather than the ‘one book a year’ people. I have found the staff quite unknowledgable and at times unhelpful.

WH Smith on Lands lane is spread over a couple of floors and has a wide choice of specialist magazines, books and office accessories. They sell anything from presentation folders to coloured felt tips.
I thought the magazine selection was fairly good but my friend was disappointed as they didnt stock her favourite F1 magazine. They were happy to order it in for her though if she wanted it regularly.
I managed to buy an A3 presentation folder for my university work at a good price, cheaper than I’d seen them elsewhere in Leeds.
The shop is a bit dreary and depressing but hey… WH Smith isn’t really a shop that needs to dress itself up to the nines.

WHSmith in Leeds is located right in the city centre and is one of only a handful of stationers and bookshops. It sells papers and magazines, books, sweets and snacks, drinks, seasonal items, greetings cards, toys, mostly educational, and a range of computer accessories, stationery items and CDs and DVDs. I have to say I don’t shop in here often as I do find it is consistently overpriced on all items. Occasionally I will pop in for a paper however I buy very little else in there unless they have a book on offer. The service is good and the staff are very helpful but I can find most items cheaper — books in the Book People and stationery in Wilkinsons or Rymans. I would say have a look but be prepared to shop around.

I have my grievances with this store, I have let the staff know before as well. They have an escalator to get up stairs which is where stationary, dvd’s, cd’s and wedding items are kept, however they only have normal stairs to go back downstairs, which is where the exit is. So that means if you are in a wheelchair or have a pushchair with you your buggered and can only look around downstairs which is where the magazines and most of the books are. All very well and good but they actually sell some great stationary and I know that their pukka pads have been really popular with my friends at college.