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Original poster

What’s going on with NEXT?

39 replies

RoseGoldEagle · 03/10/2020 04:41

Anyone finding it so much harder to find children’s clothes in Next? The stores don’t seem to stock many sizes, and online seem to either be out of stock or delivery times of 6 weeks plus. I KNOW there’s a pandemic going on! But other shops don’t seem to be having these problems. And I can(and have been) buying elsewhere, but I do like Next kids clothes, my DD is really fussy and they normally have a good range of soft stretchy trousers and soft tops that she likes. Maybe I’ve just been unlucky in what I’ve been looking for. I’m not trying to slate them, I get how hard the situation is and I’d like to keep shopping there, just wondered if anyone else had had a similar experience or whether it’s just me?! Mothercare and NEXT were my go-to places for the basics, with MC gone and Next struggling I’m worried!

OP posts:
ElizabethMainwaring · 03/10/2020 04:53

It's very difficult to get homeware too.
Curtains, sheets etc are sold out.
They completely sold out of paint about six weeks ago.

Newjez · 03/10/2020 05:14

Is there a pandemic?

WhentheDealGoesDown1 · 03/10/2020 05:33

I have found that some of the women's clothes I might have bought online have sold out also the clearance pages are much fewer, I used to get a lot from those in the past also with homeware people are perhaps buying more as they are stuck inside, I bought a couple of things I wouldn't normally have bothered with. People have maybe used the directory as it is usually a good online service, I have never found much in the Next shops anyway. They have probably got less from the suppliers as well.

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Mummyoflittledragon · 03/10/2020 05:42

With regard to homeware, people are upgrading their houses. I’ve recently spent about 5k in the sale. Sofas, bedlinen, ornaments, cushions etc.. The pandemic caused people to stop buying in general. The NEXT website was down for well over a month while they made the site so called Covid secure. Then there was a period of reduced capacity. Everyone needs clothes and therefore demand may still be outstripping supply.

Atthecopacorona · 03/10/2020 06:13

So for a start it WAS made covid secure. Demand is high and getting supplies in a pandemic is tough. Raw materials come from all over the world and the pandemic made it tougher. Stores will be inundated in the next few weeks though.

Tiredmummy2014 · 03/10/2020 06:18

I have found the same with Next. MC are going to be in Boots soon 😃 so keep an eye on their website x

Florencenotflo · 03/10/2020 06:27

Next were the same with their summer stuff earlier in the year. Everything was 'currently unavailable' or 6-7 week delivery. That got better after a few weeks and everything seemed to be in stock. Maybe it's the same with their winter stuff?

I ordered some long sleeve tops for Dd the other day that said 3-4 weeks and they are supposed to be arriving next week, so just over a week for delivery. Maybe they are overestimating their delivery times to avoid disappointment?

Sirzy · 03/10/2020 06:30

I think at the moment some of it is moving seasons, I needed long pjs for ds a few weeks back but they weren’t quite in stock yet so they emailed when they where.

Planning for stock this year must have been a nightmare because there is nothing to model it off

1000mangoesinabirthdaycake · 03/10/2020 06:34

I've had this but I assumed it was because it was the a/w stock coming in.

MsSquiz · 03/10/2020 06:37

During the lockdown, DD has gone from 0-3 months to 9-12 months and I've got the majority of her clothes from next and never really had any issues. A few things were delivered after a week but that's it.

There was the issue of 1 item missing from my order and when I queried the item, they then resent my order but it was still missing the original missing item.

Attictroll · 03/10/2020 06:39

Same here... I ordered some ale bits and bobs late July the last one turned up about a week ago.

Dinnertime22 · 03/10/2020 06:41

I went in to get a winter coat for DD. The staff member said that stock was flying off as soon as she put it out especially with winter items.

HaggieMaggie · 03/10/2020 06:50

It’s not hard to understand, it’s the supply chain.

During COVID goods were stuck in ports in the docks, or on ships in the ocean or never got produced and left China.

All efforts were concentrated on keeping food on the shelves.

Everything is behind, it will take a while to catch up. As soon as stock started filtering through it was summer stuff, that should have been out six months before, so stores could only sell what could be worn in the Autumn.

M&S had bugger all on their shelves for months. It will take a while to catch up, like NHS appointments and jobs and everything else COVID affected.

Flibbitygibbit · 03/10/2020 06:53

Pandemic. By now they'd be filled with Autumn and winter stuff. Website hasn't much either. They obviously are unable to get their stock in due to what's going on all over the world. By now they'll be sourcing their summer range I'd expect if they can, stock is from all over the world likely hit by Covid.

iftherewereahorseyinthehouse · 03/10/2020 07:23

It was like this before lockdown, I'm sure of it. I gave up trying to find things in the right size. I was wondering if they're being very careful about over stocking.

Lockdownseperation · 03/10/2020 07:31

I wonder if they can nolonger get credit from their suppliers? This is what happened to mothercare, they didn’t pay their bills on time and the word got out they were struggling so factories wanted paying upfront for goods which they couldn’t do so they had stock issues so propel had to shop elsewhere. It was a downward spiral for them.

Gwynfluff · 03/10/2020 07:41

My understanding is that Next have remained buoyant as a retailer during lockdown

Modestandatinybitsexy · 03/10/2020 07:42

@Newjez

Is there a pandemic?
Grin
RosieLemonade · 03/10/2020 07:47

I found next always had long delivery times compared to lots of places. Two summers ago I waited six weeks for some jellies to arrive. Summer had passed by then!

Guitarstrings · 03/10/2020 08:00

Tiredmummy2014 what is MC? X

ElizabethMainwaring · 03/10/2020 08:03

@Guitarstrings

Tiredmummy2014 what is MC? X
Mother Care
Sirzy · 03/10/2020 08:07

@RosieLemonade

I found next always had long delivery times compared to lots of places. Two summers ago I waited six weeks for some jellies to arrive. Summer had passed by then!
I find that they are generally very good at making it clear on the site if something isn’t going to be able to be delivered the next day so you can decide if you want to wait
Mintychoc1 · 03/10/2020 08:09

DP works in Next imports. They’re struggling to get stuff into the warehouses due to all the Covid measures (eg physically lifting boxes takes time if workers have to stay 2 metres apart), so containers are stuck at ports waiting to warehouse space.
Financially they’re doing well, no issues with buying. It’s just getting it to warehouses and therefore shops that’s the problem.

MJMG2015 · 03/10/2020 08:27

Plus as your DD gets older (bigger/taller), certain styles will get harder to find as they may well not suit an older child.

Candyfloss99 · 03/10/2020 08:36

You really need to ask this when there's a pandemic going on?