Retailers you used to frequent or really like but now hardly buy from

[PoodlesRUs]

For me it's Amazon, Etsy, Next and Fat Face. Amazon and Etsy are filled with so much poor quality crap, stuff that bends or breaks after a few uses or electrical items without certifications and cosmetic and cleaning products without labels. I'm never sure if I'm buying 10 year old stock of a well-known brand, a fake or the real deal. Their pricing and "discounts" are wild too and so rarely are they as they appear. When it comes to Etsy it is swimming with mass-produced crap being resold by small businesses. Or should that be "small businesses". Handmade must be one of the most frequent mislabellings on that site. It's a shame because it used to have interesting products

Next is often way down my list of places to check when I'm searching for something as their prices have increased whilst their quality has dropped. They always had somewhat inconsistent sizing but now it's even worse. Boden and Fat Face are no longer high on my list of places to shop for the same reasons.

Which places have you moved on from?

ASOS

Boden. Used to buy lots of kids clothes and a few things for myself. Kid has grown out of Boden now (teenager) and I might like the odd item but just find it too expensive.

To my surprise, I realised I haven’t ordered from Hobbycraft for some time now, despite being a regular customer in the past. My daughter even mentioned it today.

I’m not sure quite why I haven’t, but maybe it’s more to do with the fact my crafting addiction is focused on crocheting at this moment in time!

Another retailer is Lakeland. Used to love ordering from them/buying from their shops, but much of the unusual things they sell can be found in various other shops, and for a much cheaper price. Lakeland is overpriced, in my opinion.

Boden - gone off their stuff
Jigsaw - prices gone silly

Next is so overpriced!! And £5 for delivery

This is exactly why I don't use Next website any more.

I also no longer shop in Boden. I don't know if I changed or if they did but I used to spend a fortune every time their catalogue dropped through my letterbox. I don't even look at the website now.

I gave up on Boohoo after the years membership with free shipping stopped signing in halfway through and have never ordered again.

On the flip side, I don't think there has been a single stage of my life when I've not really liked M&S clothes.

Oliver Bonas. Ten years ago it felt fresh and a little bit different. Now it doesn't.

There's definitely a gap for something new or for a bit of a sea change.

Agree wholeheartedly with declining standards of service at John Lewis.

I think the way I shop has completely changed. I used to go shopping on a Saturday, with a budget in mind and see what caught my eye in the likes of jigsaw, whistles, monsoon and flick through the Boden catalogue and order a few things. I’d always come back with a few bags. Now I think ‘I need a navy cashmere jumper with xx shape’ and I search online till I find one (and then I look for it discounted!). I also look through the sales stuff more as those prices seem more sensible! If I go into town I start in John Lewis as they have many brands under one roof, but often return empty handed.

White Stuff. I used to love their dresses but they went all old fashioned.

NEXT and Boden for me. NEXT is just an outlet for brands with mostly poor quality clothing and Boden charges a fortune for stuff made in China.

Boden clothes used to be made in the UK, then changed to mainland Europe and now it's China/India. I won't support that and the clothes are just strange now anyway so no loss.

Spot on about Next!!

Years ago, River Island. It used to be my go to as a teen to mid twenties adult. Now it's shocking. Poor quality and just awful designs. Really cheap looking, but not that cheap.

Seasalt - I still rate their coats, but haven’t bought anything else in ages. The designs and sizing went really weird (well, the sizing was always off but it used to be predictably off)

Unlike PP I’m actually buying more from FatFace these days but agree some of the quality is questionable.

I don't even know where to shop anymore, I'm 45 and tend to wear more casual clothes...I've got about 10 pairs of levi jeans, loads of black leggings and several hoodies.

I like M&M direct for basics, and they sometimes have nice French Connection things, although the sizing is crazy, need to buy 14 whereas I'm normally a 10!

I live near the Metrocentre, once upon a time I could spend the whole day there, Warehouse, Oasis, Topshop etc, now there's barely anything, it's more a leisure destination than shopping. I know online shopping has obliterated a lot of retail but it's so disappointing

Edited to add, River Island, was my go to at one point but haven't bought anything for years!

Sainsburys

I used to live in their pyjamas-I'd buy at least one pair a week

I'd built up quite the collection,when I nipped in one day on my way to work and they'd changed everything

The sizes used to be 8-10,12-14,16-18 etc but now it's all s,m,l,xl which is now good to me-im not sure what size I'm meant to be

Plus it all seems to be that awful fake silky fabric that feels like your wearing a bin bag (not all pairs,i admit-but enough)

Plus,all their other clothes seem to stop at a size 18 (and I'm fatter than that at a size 22)

I tried m&s but that's a real trek out of my way (id have to walk past work to get there) and they seemed the same

Back to buying them on vinted which is a pain

Joe browns,I used to save up for their clothes and would drool over their stuff

Ditto that nothing seems to be over a size 18 (could be different online,ive not really looked) and the few bits I have taken a shine to either fit weirdly (dp bought me a dress but the waist seemed to start under my boobs),fade after one wash (a £40 dress i wore once) or fall to bits after a few cool washes (a dress I wore three times-the petticoat came away,I sewed it back and the next wash,the skirt came away and the hem came apart)

I gave up with them

A pair of pyjamas a week? Do you not wash your clothes?

Boden white stuff fat face Benetton hobbs

I used to buy a ton of stuff at Dorothy Perkins; I was a ‘Dorothy Perkins’ shape so everything fitted really well. Not bought anything for ages now.
Amazon - tons of absolute crap on there now and more expensive than other retailers.
Get a load of stuff from Argos now.

Wallis and Principles. At one stage I only shopped there. The quality and prices were good for corporate wear, coats and casual stuff. I've still got a lot of their jackets skirts and trousers but live in yoga pants and t shirts and sweatshirts these days.

A new pair of pyjamas a week seems shockingly wasteful.

Ditto.

Appalling customer service. I use AO now and it's fab

Boden…and seemingly so have many others.

can’t comment on quality becuse it has been so long since I have ordered from them but I don’t like their patterns. busy colorful prints that just seem like I’m in a costume.

Boden for me too-too much polyester and too many zany prints.

Lush. Too political for bath bombs.

Sea salt is generally very reliable for my shape (hourglass) but small shoulders and I did recently buy a lovely viscose dress and matching cardigan from there but other stuff like basic stripy tops have gone large and a great cotton shirt dress was best for tiny of nork, curvy of arse which was a shame but will be good for someone!

I used to love Monsoon but it has gone both tatty and mother of the bride ish.

I never bother with Next these days. They used to be amazing in the 90s for tailored suits. Joules and Crew are getting crappy. Crew are doing dresses all in same stretchy fabric and crap prints and Joules is specialising in shapeless sacks. Crew last summer was ace as well.

Whistles and All Saints. Far too expensive for polyester, although I will concede All Saints use cotton and cashmere in their knitwear.
Next. Middle aged, destined for landfill blandness with absolutely rubbish customer service. Weirdly the kids have started buying vintage Next tops on Vinted and the difference in sizing and quality is stark!
I wish the high street had an Oasis or Warehouse equivalent these days. Oliver Bonas maybe for accessories. Or Other Stories?