Next’s fitting room policy

[Darkwoodfurniture]

Long story short went into Next changing room on the women’s floor and there was a man in there.
I complained onsite to just get ‘oh ok’ so complained to HQ.
Their response was that all their fitting rooms are now unisex (even though store staff said they were women's) even if they are on separate floors I.e women’s or men’s.
I queried with them why they didn’t provide lockable doors etc and provide some level of security other than a curtain, along with some signage.
They escalated my complaint and they got back to me saying they feel their fitting rooms are appropriate as they are and won’t be publicising the unisex nature via signage.
I get it’s a trend to make fitting rooms unisex, but surely letting customers know so that they get to make a decision if they want to use them or not, should be the bare minimum.

Was the man actually doing anything to harm
you or suggest he was going to rip your curtain open? I really can’t see the issue. Obviously it’s fair enough not to use their fitting rooms again now that you no though.

Oddly we were in H&M with DD yesterday and as they are unisex DH stood guard over the unlock-able door when I popped to get her another size. She’s a teen and commented I wouldn’t like that if I was in my own or with friends, anyone can walk in as no real way to tell if it’s free/engaged.

@TeaKitten I’m more annoyed about their lack of transparency. Two fitting rooms, one on women’s floor and one on men’s, but no mention of them being unisex.
I won’t use them now I know, but how many will as they don’t know and Next have decided not to inform their customers.

Wow. Are you actually saying that someone has to be physically and mentally harmed for this policy to not be okay?
If I walk into a room that says 'womens', then that is what I expect to find. It allows me to make a decision based on my situation. I don't want that decision taken away from me.

How the fuck can someone know this until the moment he actually does rip the curtain open, or assault someone?

What a bloody stupid thing to say.

Why so dismissive of women's rights to be safe?

https://womanmeanssomething.com/targetstudy/

@Stompingonlentils to be fair to Next the sign was ‘Fitting room’ but I just assumed it was women’s then when asked it was confirmed by a member of staff.
So obviously corporate policy is confusing for the staff too.

No, I’m saying men being in women’s changing rooms isn’t the end of the world. My opinion is as valid as yours. The responses on this thread are OTT for the non event that occurred. Better raising it on Twitter than mumsnet with Next though if you want to make them change the policy/signage.

So the signing doesn’t indicate it’s women only then?

Also as you can now see the changing room didn’t say women’s, it said fitting room. So you could have still enquired to make a decision, as it says nothing to suggest it’s women only.

@TeaKitten no, but why have two then? One on Men’s floor and one women’s?

@TeaKitten i did enquire and was told yes it was the women’s!

Worth complaining that the staff misinformed you then, although as you said you had already been in the changing room. I assume there’s one on each floor because the building pre dates the policy.

I don't want to use a unisex changing room. But in order to make that decision the retailers need to be clear in their signage that it is infact unisex.

In this particular store the staff also seem to be confused as they told the op it was the woman's changing room.

I just feel like Next are taking the active decision to not inform their customers of their policy.

@TeaKitten at no point did I say your opinion wasn't valid.
Women might just simply not want to share a space with men for a myriad of reasons, not solely because of the risk of attack.
If they want to make their changing rooms unisex then that is their choice but it's fair to let customers know in advance so that they can make an informed choice.

It's a safeguarding failure in which you are complicit

How am I complicit? I don’t work for next. Stupid comment.

If it's unisex then it should be floor to ceiling lockable doors. Anything else isn't ok.

I don't understand how you can be so dismissive of women and girls' safety. It's not about this 'non event' as you describe it.

We are less safe in unisex changing rooms. You might not consider that the 'end of the world', but many of us want shops to take our safeguarding almore seriously than you do.

Another policy that disproportionately effects Muslim, and Jewish women.

At our Next the 'men's' changing room is right next to the click and collect and so I've attempted to use it a few times now out of mischief and I've been redirected to the 'women's' every time.

Why do you want to use specifically the men’s changing room?

Because you uphold it.