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

[1stDecember]

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?

I love Debenhams!

Just bought some amazing 100% silk pyjama top and long johns for £22.50 each, some lovely 200 thread cotton brushed cotton bedding, ecco velcro trainers, Regatta base layers for running, all half price. I'll miss it a lot 😫

Oh about 30 years ago..!! Mum may have dragged me in there...I never bought anything !

I've never been to a store or bought anything from them

A couple of years ago just to have a browse. Didn't but anything as everything seemed tired and not to my taste.

Searching for something about 7 years ago, can't remember if it was a scarf, jeans or wooly hat or what. I like Debenham's stuff, but I rarely buy any new clothes, I have much too many clothes so trying not to buy anything for ... foresseable next 5-15 years, actually.

The better question is when is the last time did you go inside and actually buy something?

I think the last time I went inside was to kill time in the warmth or use the toilet.

The last time I bought something would have been click and collect - probably a few years back. The last time I found something in store by looking that I wanted to buy - maybe another year on top of that.

Trying to get on the website now. After being in a queue, I managed to order some bedlinen.....clicked to continue shopping and keep being put in the queue, then my queue number gets rejected......and back I go in the queue.....

In the Oxford Street one there was a cafe called "Dee's Diner" on the top floor. I really liked it but I think it went a few years ago.

I used to spend a fortune in Debenhams, but about 7-8 years ago found the quality and service just dropped off a cliff.
We went to the Lincoln store in September and the customer service was absolutely shocking, same in the Nottingham store about a year ago.

If some retail staff treat customers like a real inconvenience then they shouldn't be surprised when those customers vote with their feet.

@AWholeLottaRosie

I used to spend a fortune in Debenhams, but about 7-8 years ago found the quality and service just dropped off a cliff. We went to the Lincoln store in September and the customer service was absolutely shocking, same in the Nottingham store about a year ago.

If some retail staff treat customers like a real inconvenience then they shouldn't be surprised when those customers vote with their feet.

This really. I don't entirely blame the staff for their own misery but if you do venture into a department store, it's because you want more than the online experience offers. If you get less service and more hassle, you're not going to do it again. We expect swift checkout now - we're used to it from our online experience. If it's (inevitably) going to be slower, it needs to be a pleasant experience. I'm not talking Rowan Atkinson in Love Actually levels but some care & attention.

My problem with high street retail shopping now is that I don't know where sells stuff anymore. So many of the smaller shops that sell "stuff" have gone so if I go into town, I'm only offered M&S and the clothes shops I can get online anyway.
We're all voting with our feet.

About 18 months ago looking for a posh long dress without luck. The woman on the ester Lauder counter then sold me the wrong colour of foundation so all in all it was a bit of a duff trip.

About a year ago. It was awful. Nobody seeming to want to help serve. Several of the makeup counters unmanned...

I bought a coat, two dresses and a cardigan from our local one last December. It closed down a couple of months ago.
I went to the Nottingham one with my DD when I dropped her off at university.
It is a shocker. Dark and grim looking with very little stock.
She did get a bra for £1.25 reduced from around £40. She is a tiny thing, size 4/6 and 5 feet on a good day. She has 28F bosoms though.

Half the Nottingham store seemed to be held together with duct tape last time I went in. The fitting rooms were filthy, dust and hair all over the floor. Plenty of staff in there, probably more staff than customers, but apparently none willing to get a dustpan and brush out.

Late last year I think. I always bought bras there, they had the best selection

Not been in any clothing stores this year, don't see the point if I can't try things on. Hate online shopping for the same reason, so just hoping my clothes will survive relatively hole-free till the vaccine rolls out.

Um, when l took 2 year old dd in to share a piece of carrot cake. She’s 14 now...

Can’t remember going in at all.

Five years ago, when I went in looking for maternity clothes as I wrongly assumed a big department store would have options to try on instead of having to buy them all online.

Didn't buy a thing, they had about four maternity items in the whole shop (Oxford). It was generally run down, jumble sale like. Clothes either ratty and cheap or vastly overpriced. Nothing like the smart, polished shop that I used to go to frequently ten years previously.

At one point about 10 years ago, quite a lot. It was always very tidy and sparkly, and felt fairly up to date, though not bang on trend exactly. Then I didn't visit that particular one for a while, and when I went back it was like a jumble sale, just these huge rows of messy polyester sale items.

I have a Debenhams store card and I had one locally so I used to go all the time. I loved their kids clothes and Mantaray line. Then I moved area but would still go for one big Xmas shopping day.
Last Xmas I loved my Xmas shopping day there and I was surprised it wasn’t heaving like John Lewis next door. The staff were really helpful and efficient. I told myself I’d shop there more often but then Covid happened and I haven’t been shopping anywhere. Although I did a summer clothes online shop and have just done a large Xmas shop- like £600.

I went in the Chester one just before the latest lockdown to buy makeup. I am sad to see the stores closing.

It's been years now. We've got one in our city and I did go in there looking for something a year or so ago, but the choice was abysmal. About 15 to 20 years ago I would shop there all the time, but gradually there was less and less that I wanted in there and other places were far more appealing. We have other shops that are either specialist, like kitchen shops or much nicer department stores. Our Debenhams is too small with not enough interest in each department. It just became irrelevant.

4 years ago for their lovely cheap breakfast.
If I still lived near one I'd have carried on doing that. I did regularly buy dresses from the mantaray range until a couple of years ago.

I was frustrated that the designers at Debenhams all seemed to stop doing decent work wear at the same time.

About 5 years ago it was shit. Not sure when the demise set in, we used to shop there loads though about 30-40 years ago, it was one of my go to places for clothes and household. DH still has a hoodie that he bought there in the late 80s and it's still wearing well.

I went in to buy a red Mac lipstick about four years ago. The make-up counter staff we’re snooty so I never returned.

I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything else from Debenhams, it’s a bit old fashioned.

Also ours is a fairly new build store, so not falling apart or grim in any way. It still managed to look old fashioned and uninspiring. I do worry about who will fill that store though if Debenhams does go. We live in a very touristy city and a large empty store will not look good.