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Original poster

When's the last time you went in an actual Debenham's store?

259 replies

1stDecember · 01/12/2020 18:07

It was half a decade ago for me. I don't buy from them online either.

They don't seem to have moved with the times?

OP posts:
TheySeeHerRowling · 01/12/2020 21:40

I have to admit, though, every big city Debenhams I've been in recently has been horrible (apart from Oxford Street)

Ffsnosexallowed · 01/12/2020 21:41

Last weekend, for new bra. Need to take one back.

MeringueCloud · 01/12/2020 21:42

It's really popular today. I am number 512348 in the queue.

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Original poster
1stDecember · 01/12/2020 21:44

As a PP said, be careful buying from Debenhams online. It will be chaos behind the scenes, they will take your money and you'll have no guarantee you'll get the goods, and once they've gone bust legally you won't be getting your money back.

OP posts:
MondeoFan · 01/12/2020 21:48

About 4 years ago. I found it really off putting as a security guard was following me around, I'm guessing as I had a 2 year old in a pram. Probably thought all women pushing prams are shoplifters.
I used to buy a lot of the Ted Baker wear for my eldest DD when she was younger

tectonicplates · 01/12/2020 21:50

@1stDecember

As a PP said, be careful buying from Debenhams online. It will be chaos behind the scenes, they will take your money and you'll have no guarantee you'll get the goods, and once they've gone bust legally you won't be getting your money back.
What happens if we pay by credit card or Paypal? Is there still the insurance there, or would they say it's our responsibility as we knew the company was closing down?
tectonicplates · 01/12/2020 21:51

@MeringueCloud

It's really popular today. I am number 512348 in the queue.
Waiting for all the sale items to turn up on Ebay at twice the price in 3, 2, 1...
MustDust · 01/12/2020 21:53

July. Most of my bras are from there. I must be one of a few who will really miss it.

Bingowin · 01/12/2020 21:57

I have always loved Debenhams!

But the only decent one these days is the one on Oxford Street.

Msfoxy17 · 01/12/2020 22:03

In response to PP who mentioned the big one at Clapham Junction - use to go in there regularly- to use the loo or keep warm while waiting for a train! Think I did buy the odd thing but not often. So must have been around 2012/2013!

itchychin · 01/12/2020 22:04

Very sad. I often bought stuff from there. Luggage, odd bits of clothes. Used to buy DD clothes before she decided she was too cool (prob about age 10). Last time I bought something was probably pre lockdown. They opened a brand new one near me about a year 1/2 ago, I thought that was a bit optimistic.

BikeRunSki · 01/12/2020 22:05

@Msfoxy17

In response to PP who mentioned the big one at Clapham Junction - use to go in there regularly- to use the loo or keep warm while waiting for a train! Think I did buy the odd thing but not often. So must have been around 2012/2013!
Arding and Hobbs!
SunshineYello · 01/12/2020 22:06

I love their make up counter and went regularly pre-pandemic. I think, like a lot of shops, they don't understand their target audience so just kind of scattergunned for everyone, and the usual fruitless attempt to prioritise the youth market (who predominantly choose boohoo/asks etc). Found it so frustrating that their core audience, ladies like my mum, were pushed to some sad looking rails at the back of the store. Literally makes no sense- that's your section of the market that actually has money to spend if you bothered to work out how to appeal to them!

emilybrontescorsett · 01/12/2020 22:11

I went in quite recently and bought some beautiful shoes in the sale.
I've also ordered a new coat from there saving myself quite a lot of money. I used to like the cafe too. Nice and spacious with plenty of seating and offers on cakes!
It's such a shame. Feel for all the staff.

RaininSummer · 01/12/2020 22:18

I order online about twice a year and usually pop in to return something. I will miss them as we have no other large stores in my city apart from the super expensive house of fraser.

popshops · 01/12/2020 22:21

About 20 years ago with my pensioner mother. I couldn't tell you where the nearest one is to me, all they sell are style free dresses for older women who had blue rinses and wore flowery polyester. That or outdated designs like Eastex and Jaeger.

icebearforpresident · 01/12/2020 22:25

I go in the cafe of my nearest store frequently, the kids like the lunch boxes and the jacket potatoes are always massive. The toilets are also handy and (most importantly) clean!

Thinking about it though the last time I bought something to wear, or for the house, was probably at least a year ago, a dress for my DD to wear to a wedding.

I’ll be sad to see it go, my nearest store was pretty small but had a good range, especially for kids. The website was terrible though.

FedUpAtHomeTroels · 01/12/2020 22:26

I went into out local one after the Welsh lockdown ended, Christmas shopping.

Zenithbear · 01/12/2020 22:29

A few months ago. Shocking prices. Even the lindt advent calendars were a lot more than other shops. There was more staff than shoppers.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 01/12/2020 22:30

I love Debenhams...i bought 2 tops from the Oasis concession in March just before the 1st lockdown...this was the Ipswich store....my nearest store is Bury St Edmunds and its a lovely one...im gutted.

Toomuchleopard · 01/12/2020 22:30

I live in a small town with not that many decent shops so the concessions were handy. I buy loads of kids clothes from there and stuff like school coats and holy communion dresses! All my luggage is from there. I will miss it.

TeaOneSugar · 01/12/2020 22:30

I've bought Christmas presents from them online in the last couple of weeks, haven't been into the shop since pre covid, but I haven't been in many shops this year.

wishywashywoowoo70 · 01/12/2020 22:31

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

As a customer- a decade? Minimum. As a handy cut through from the big carpark to the rest of the shops? Maybe last year.
Our local store has that too. Big multi story that is attached to Debenhams
Twobrews · 01/12/2020 22:32

All the time for coffee, and bought some perfume and make up for gifts last week.

CoffeeChocolateGin · 01/12/2020 22:32

Their cafes & toilets are always great especially if you have young children with you. The staff have always been so helpful when I've used the cafe and had a pram with me.
I last went in just before 2nd lockdown to go to the eyebrow bar. To be fair, that's the only thing which I go for. I will look for sale items online however I have found that the items in their kids brand BlueZoo cannot be tumble dried which is a massive flaw!!
I do feel like Debenhams should have had an open chat like this forum many yrs ago in order to gauge their customers opinions.