To think the M&S cyber attack has shown up how awful the shops are?

I'm tall and have never been able to buy in store in any shop, I can look at the normal length trousers in store then order the long size online, it has been like this for years in all shops

Shops nowadays are more like showrooms though, they have a couple of sizes so you can see what they are like and feel the fabric but you are then meant to order it online, there are notices saying as much in stores, this isn't just M&S, it is most stores. Our store though seems to be as stocked as it ever was

Having seen the impact of a cyber attack on a local business, don't underestimate how long M&S will take to recover from this, if they can fully recover. It impacts every department and every process for months on end, even after the attack ends.

I agree with this. I would love it if when I check out as a guest, which I often do, the company then deletes my name and address from their order date after 30 days.

This may have been affected by the cyber attack of course but you raise a very valid point.

I was in a large mountain warehouse shop and saw a rain coat I liked, it was not on sale, it was a new line they were clearly pushing. They had loads of them but none in a size 12 which is what I wanted, there were loads of small and very large sizes and nothing in between. I know this will be driven by the fact the they are maybe ordered as sets (a selection of different sizes are bundled together as one SKU) but it is annoying. I asked the shop and they said you can order it online or we can do that now for you. But that isn’t the point I wanted to try it on first size not order multiple sizes to try and return the ones that don’t fit and I wanted to support a real shop.

I had the same in Debenhams once where I went back multiple times over a 2 week period to check if they had a dress in my size and no the size I wanted never came in so I ordered it online.

If this carries on there will be no where to look at anything or try anything on as we will all be online shopping.

I am 5ft 1 so finding trousers in the right leg length and size is hard. I hardly ever find what I need in the shops, last time it was all sold out online too (pair of white, short leg trousers in a 10). So yes, literally pointless going to the shops.

Our local m&S (in a city centre) never has any size 10s and hasn't for years. It's like size 10 just doesn't exist.

I work in one of the shops recently been affected by cyber attacks. It’s surprising the number of people who have heard all about the cyber attacks….yet haven’t figured out that’s why we have little to no stock!

I was in my nearest large M&S the other day and it was really well stocked and had lots of choice. I was surprised as was expecting more issues with stock availability.

I agree with the OP. They never have any jeans in an 8 or 10 long in the 2 branches closest to me. Always the same answer when I enquire 'you will have to order online'.
M&S should never have been this vulnerable. I have been getting emails for weeks from M&S about mystery prizes, treats, hampers etc. I have obviously deleted without opening but I am annoyed M&S have been so careless with my data.

They are rebuilding their systems from scratch. Most likely due to not paying the ransom and rightly so. The amount they are losing daily combined with the fines they will receive from the ICO will be catastrophic for the business. Many businesses would not survive this.

I really like M&S. I don’t buy their adult clothes much as I don’t really buy much for myself but often see things it like.

Their kids and homeward ate good quality and i enjoy the higher quality food that M&S Food offers.

I was in there today, I bought some apple sunglasses for my little girl that were really cute for £6 which I also thought was pretty good.

All of DH’s suits are M&S. I really hope they survive this as I think they’ve made a really effort to stay current.

I think that’s a quote from the ‘minimum’ at the beginning of the situation.

but still, feel for them massively.

we all want the high street to survive right?

Aldi have Leo The Lion, their own version of Percy Pigs 😉

As for M&S, the stock selection in my local store is poor at the best of times. I’ve not been in since the cyber attack.

Their stock levels have been affected in store too. Co-op having the same problem.

M&S is usually well stocked

I'm surprised it's only a 5 million loss,it's been a moth off line!

I think people have to give them a bit of leniency- estimated losses from this is 5 million pounds plus.

Hopefully people remain loyal customers. This could happen to anyone and any business.

First world problems and all that.

You are lucky to get an 18. Fat Face, Jack Wills only stock 16 in their shop. It's the fat tax, we have to pay postage because they can't charge for the extra fabric

I have so much stuff in my M&S basket waiting to be able to checkout; my local one does not stock any long length trousers, only short and regular, and I’m in desperate need of summer trousers!

Actually it's shown how awful teenagers can be if they lose touch with decency and morals, sit behind a computer screen and think that this level of disruption is all a game.

As for M&S, if I can't buy Percy Pigs for a while, I'll have to struggle on with Colin Caterpillars instead. Happy to remain loyal.

I’ve cut from OP to now: ‘awful’? Really?

I went into my.local one before I know for the cyber attack probably 24hrs after it happened, lots of shelves empty and they continue to be. Staff said oh people who came during the day bought it all..I did think that odd until I got home and saw news about it. Obviously staff weren't going to say cyber attack but it's definitely affecting stock levels. It's been week or so now and they still continue to have empty shelves and this isn't normal, noone is buying up all the food unless it's pandemic times. So yeah it's the cyber attack causing problems.

Depending on bad it is they might have to rebuild alot of their systems again from scratch or buy new software which takes time and in the meantime revet back to work arounds so it must be a logistical nightmare.

I can never find size 8 in store at any time!

Oh OP...

Surely you realise the cyber attack wasn't just on the online shopping part? Wait until you visit the Co-op, you'll be stunned!