To think John Lewis should stock my size?

[29herzie]

Should I expect John Lewis to stock the new winter coat I want in a size 18? DH thinks I should just stop going on about it but I am peeved that I made a special trip into town to buy the coat ( which goes up to a 20 on the brand website) to find that JL only sell it up to a 16. I would by it direct but I have lots of JL vouchers for my birthday and I also wanted to try it on. There has also been a history of deliveries going missing from our doorstep which makes me reluctant to buy online. I would like to fit the 16 but I'm only 2 weeks post baby and need room for enormous boobs! ( well and huge tummy/bum - oops)

[PeterParkerSays]

YANBU - size 16 seems very small to be the maximum size to stock in store. I know you mentioned trying ti on, but did they give you the option of ordering the size 18 to arrive in store?

[Naty1]

If its your first you may be surprised and find the weight drops off.
Im a bit surprised they dont stock the size. But them im also surprised all trousers seem so long (when im an average height of 5'4)
They must find they dont sell many/much in that size.

[scarlets]

They think there's no local demand for size 18+ in that style I guess. I'm sure they'll order it in for you, JL customer service is pretty good.

[29herzie]

Thank you for your replies. Unfortunately it seems to be a national policy. (In the shops and online) Apparently they don't have a contract for anything bigger than a 16 so can't order one in. It is the principal that is bugging me; that the manufacturer feels a need to make the bigger sizes and JL doesn't want to sell stuff to bigger customers. Thanks for your optimism Naty but I need something that will do up now and while I hope to loose some soon I would like the extra space for warm layers.

[twofingerstoGideon]

Order from JL and collect from Waitrose? No missing deliveries and you can try on at home.

[PennyHasNoSurname]

Buy all your Christmas Gifts from JL up to the value of the vouchers and use the cash equivalent to buy the 18 direct from the brand?

[MadameRanevskaya]

This is something that really annoys me about John Lewis too. I also find that size 16 can be hard to find in store and the rails are always full of size 10 and 12. I have complained in the past but I think JL does not want to cater for larger customers. I tend to window shop in JL and then buy elsewhere.

[hiccupgirl]

Yanbu - if the item is made up to a size 20 and JL stock it, they should have sizes 18 and 20 available somewhere.

I'm a 16-18 and it does my head in that my local, quite large, M&S rarely has anything above a size 14 in jeans so I have to order them into the store. I'm not convinced by lack of demand arguments as there is always loads of size 10s and 12s left over and when they do have larger sizes, they disappear within days.

[CMOTDibbler]

You can use JL vouchers online, and if you click and collect you can try it on instore and return it straightaway (I've done this with M&S)

[BrendaandEddie]

oh fgs buy it online and stop whingeing

[LittleRedSparke]

bit harsh Brenda...

[OnlyHereForTheCamping]

Is it a seasalt coat?

[BrendaandEddie]

they offer it for sale fgs

you could be a size ten, go there and its out of stock. You would just then order it in like a normal person

if you are 2 weeks post baby you are at home, a LOT, surely a home delivery way preferable?

[OnlyHereForTheCamping]

Brenda, they are only selling up to 16 at John Lewis even online

[moab]

Brenda op says they don't sell it above a 16 in JL and she wanted to use up some JL Vouchers

[Marynary]

I don't think that a shop is obliged to provide anything or any size. It is a business not a public service.

I always buy JL clothes online and have them delivered to waitrose. If it doesn't fit I take it back. It doesn't cost anything to do that.

[Marynary]

Oh I see that the brand goes up to size 16 but not John Lewis. I still think it is up to them though. I assume they would stock larger sizes if they thought they would sell.

[BrendaandEddie]

oh sorry - mis read

[DinosaursRoar]

I really wouldn't buy an expensive coat 2 weeks post baby! Most woman do drop a lot of weight in the first 2-3 months, by January it'll probably be swamping you.

Get something very cheap to keep you going, reassess in the January sales.

[Dungandbother]

They annoy me with Bra's as well. They don't stock smaller than a 32 back either but their website sells them.

I agree for a large department store they should stock the largest possible range in store as people tend to travel far and wide to them.

[Fluffyears]

Naty 5'4" is not average it's short. Clothes are designed for 5'8" women in general but at 5'9" with a 35" inside leg (same length as my 6'3" brother) I have trouble finding long enough trousers. My friend was a perfect size 10 and 5'8" her clothes always look great as they fit well.

[Scremersford]

I agree for a large department store they should stock the largest possible range in store as people tend to travel far and wide to them.

I don't really agree, having just found my size out of stock and having ordered it online instead. Popular sizes also sell out quickly.

The size I had to order online? A 12.

[TriJo]

^ Same problem here. Size 10 and 12 always seem to go quickly in the stores around here. Really hate shops that don't stock below a 32 band in bras too...

[SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed]

Fluffyears The average height of Uk women is 5' 3"

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11534042

I'm also 5' 9", and a 10-12. On the whole, clothes are not designed for a woman an inch shorter than me. I struggle to buy trousers that aren't 2-3 inches too short, shirts with sleeves that don't end mid arm, or knee length boots that don't end mid-calf. If your tall, thin friend is finding clothes to fit her it may be because she's shopping at places that cater for women outside the average.

Oddly, one of those is Primark.