I recall the days when Comet would take our full page (broadsheet news) adverts in the daily newspapers with no photographs but just lists and lists of all of their stock and a price - want a Hi-Fi seperates, choose the amp from the amp section, then a truntable from the turntable section etc etc etc.

They had one warehouse on Armley Road in Leeds which was literally a warehouse with a "trade counter" style area for the public, you walked in, told them what you wanted having pre-selected it from the newspaper ads which were also posted around their reception area and someone went "out the back" to get it for you - most times the first time you saw what you'd bought was when you got it home

When I got married we didn't have a honeymoon instead we took a day off work and went to Comet in Cowgate in Newcastle, it was another warehouse with a trade counter and a list of stock to choose from but being in Cowgate it was protected like a high security prison, you actually had to knock at the door and wait until they decided whether you were ok to let in, then when you'd bought your goods (cash only) you'd go around the back and wait untilt eh coast was clear and they felt brave enough to open the doors and bring your packages out to your car - we bought a twin tub washing machine with our "honeymoon" money so we wouldn't have got far if we'd wanted to go away anyway

Wasn't it Comet, who a few years ago stopped receiving cash, insisting instead that all transactions be by card or cheque?

Jesus, Comet going into administration is hardly the Government's fault.

When was the last time you bought anything from Comet? I'm not saying you're obliged to shop there, but I'd bet it's a lack of customers that's forced them to take this action, not anything to do with the Government.

I'd put this one down to the shift of the retail environment into the internet age rather than any gov or recession.
Like Game in particular, Woolworths to a large extent and soon very likely the Argos part of HRG, HMV and Waterstones, they did not recognise and react to the effect the internet was to have on retail.

Remember, government = bad, regardless of facts, it's the Sin Bin way at the moment, everything is Thatchers fault (even though Labour had over a decade to fix everything)

Please feel free to point out where she said any such thing

The internet will have had an impact surely, but a more fitting comparison would be to look at Currys/PC World. Quite simply, Currys/PC World modified themselves to put themselves at the forefront of new technologies and accompanying services, and Comet didn't.

You know as well as I do that its more a case of when something bad happens, the government always have to get a shoeing on here from the usual people no matter what their involvement, or not in this case.

I'm still not sure Currys and PC World have been quick enough (better on pricing, quicker updates to stock, more "value add" - better displays, more expertese, collection and delivery options) in-store, and still have a hard time ahead of them.

So, as I said: bad management.

For which the employees will be the ones to suffer.