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Original poster

Marks & Spencer

70 replies

WelshMoth · 27/05/2025 19:53

I know that this has probably been done to death already but is there no end in sight to their cyber-attack?

Im desperately trying to buy a dress and some vests that are never in stock in any store near me so online is my only hope!

First world problem clearly but I’m not a huge shopper so when I see something I like, I just want to get it!

OP posts:
ThePoliteLion · 28/05/2025 07:30

I feel sorry for the company and staff and will buy from M&S whenever I need/can. Walked into its Guildford branch the other day and the red top I’ve been eying up was there in store in my size.

Theunamedcat · 28/05/2025 07:35

Cheffymcchef · 27/05/2025 23:35

i just want some Percy pigs. I think they said it might be July or August before online orders are back. My local marks food is out of everything.

Edited

They shouldn't be? My relative works in food hall they are doing everything on paper so they are getting the stock in

Maybe the manager is bad at your food hall?

LouisCatorze · 28/05/2025 07:47

There is definitely more in-store footfall in our local M&S. But it's not the same as armchair shopping/scrolling for clothes.

I too was thinking that there will soon be a great sale to shift the stock that has been languishing in warehouses since April. It will be a good way to lure customers back to online shopping with them, whenever that may be.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General shopping
KumquatHigh · 28/05/2025 07:48

There’s loads of Percy Pigs in mine. And I got free ones in my ocado at the weekend.

NewStartofSomething · 28/05/2025 08:10

ADHDHDHDHD · 28/05/2025 06:47

I’d say that had probably been stolen!

Show quote history

Very occasionally , (often) , I buy things, they don’t fit, and I haven’t got round to taking them back, as we aren’t near shops really, and it’s a drive to a post office.
So it does happen.

DaisyFayBuchanan · 28/05/2025 08:19

The CEO has said around July for the online operations to be back to normal.

My M&S foodhall is still decently stocked and I have always managed my full weekly shop there and top up shop since the cyber incident.

Hopefully they are rebuilding with a contingency plan so they can future proof as these cyber attacks are becoming more frequent.

Original poster
WelshMoth · 28/05/2025 08:21

vinavine · 28/05/2025 07:18

I feel really bad for them as I felt like they had started to really up their game clothes wise and this will be a huge set back and cost them so much

Yes, this is my thought too. In terms of style and quality, they’ve definitely upped their game, so much so that my 16 year old daughter, me and my Mum would be able to buy clothes there - 3 generations !

Despite my complaining, they won’t lose my custom at all - I’ll wait things out.

Sure I read that this cyber attack is down to a group including teenagers. I’m shocked at how much damage they have caused.

OP posts:
Maaate · 28/05/2025 08:23

Oh, I was hoping that I could go in store and ask them to order stuff in - can you not even do that?

Stepfordian · 28/05/2025 08:26

WhitegreeNcandle · 28/05/2025 07:05

I don’t get how they can’t get more stock from the warehouses into the shops. IT wont be cost effective but they have the staff and the lorries, why aren’t they just doing a man with a van type round and getting as much as they possibly can into stores.

Because they’re not a small store that can just go to the cash and carry, it’s way more complicated than that, don’t you think if they could do that then they would?

PickAChew · 28/05/2025 08:30

allamberedover · 28/05/2025 07:03

How are they managing to keep their food halls stocked ?
Do they have a different IT system?

They're stocked but there are a few things missing from their range and stock control is clearly not fully automated. Our store has a large but not huge food hall so the fruit and veg section tends to have one crate of most of their range, when fully functional. On Sunday they had 4 crates of loose peppers and a glut of tomatoes. They had taken over some of the fruit fridge space which has had big gaps since it all started.

ExtensiveDebating · 28/05/2025 08:31

Our small food shop is still fully stocked, you wouldn't think anything was the matter, I’m trying to do more shopping there than usual at the moment to support them. Our nearest large store seems well stocked too, I bought a top and a load of underwear there last week, but the top was from the sale rail, I haven’t been looking for specific items in specific sizes. They have just announced that they are taking over some empty Homebases for larger food stores so that’s good news.

PickAChew · 28/05/2025 08:32

Maaate · 28/05/2025 08:23

Oh, I was hoping that I could go in store and ask them to order stuff in - can you not even do that?

No, as they can't even see what stock they have because staff can't access the system, either.

YourAzureEagle · 28/05/2025 08:35

I'm in IT and contract to a major retailer, it should serve as a real wake up call - our systems are inherently safer than M&S as all the tilling and internal ordering systems are non PC based and closed loop which makes hackers jobs much harder - plus on the server side we have a complete redundant back up system which is upgraded 1 month behind the active system.

GetMeOutOfHere20 · 28/05/2025 08:54

It’s frustrating we have a huge M&S, food hall, cafe etc I often order gifts etc to the store and collect then head off to the cafe for a quick bite to eat. I don’t have the time to browse the store and it’s so much easier online.

ShiftySquirrel · 28/05/2025 09:20

I want M&S to be ok . They'd upped their game and the food is good.

It was the correct decision not to pay the hackers. There's no guarantee they'd have regained access, they'd still have to repair/rebuild their IT systems presumably as they were proven to be vulnerable to attack.

It's one thing if a company goes under because they're not keeping up to date and sales drop. It's a completely different thing when tens of thousands of ordinary working people's jobs are put on the line by malicious hackers and blackmailers.

Let's hope we have an Indian summer so all their stock can get sold.

colonialwomanonthewing · 28/05/2025 09:58

YourAzureEagle · 28/05/2025 08:35

I'm in IT and contract to a major retailer, it should serve as a real wake up call - our systems are inherently safer than M&S as all the tilling and internal ordering systems are non PC based and closed loop which makes hackers jobs much harder - plus on the server side we have a complete redundant back up system which is upgraded 1 month behind the active system.

Genuine question, can I ask about your career? On various threads I've seen you say:

  • You're in IT
  • 'I've been an electrician for 25 years, as yet I still don't use a computer for anything business related' - how do you work in IT but not use a computer for work? Do you do everything on a tablet?
  • You're a deputy head
  • You're a builder
  • You've designed mammography machines
  • You're a male schoolteacher (and have been a teacher for over 20 years)
  • You've never been on PAYE
  • You're a contractor to the NHS

Is this what they call a 'portfolio career'? Do you do some days as a teacher, some as an electrician? Genuinely interested!

vinavine · 28/05/2025 10:01

Lots of side hustles 😆

Toootss · 28/05/2025 10:14

Ooooh maybe we’ll go back to real shops where you hand over cash for things and staff are on the floor to answer questions and there are security mooching around so no one nicks stuff -we’d have to pay more - as sales levels would plummet but you could have an afternoon at the shops once in a while.

KIlliePieMyOhMy · 28/05/2025 10:18

WelshMoth · 27/05/2025 22:42

So frustrating.

I’m more than prepared to to a buy and swap if I see something that someone desperately wants, if they’re prepared to do the same for me in return!

We can’t even phone stores to check stock.

Frustrating indeed. Come July, the website will crash again with desperate buyers.

The situation is hardly as simple as a 'website crash'.
Whilst I appreciate you want your items imagine being staff going in there and being moaned at every day. This was a major cyberattack. M and S are doing all they can to get back online and have said this will happen in July.

colonialwomanonthewing · 28/05/2025 10:28

YourAzureEagle · 28/05/2025 08:35

I'm in IT and contract to a major retailer, it should serve as a real wake up call - our systems are inherently safer than M&S as all the tilling and internal ordering systems are non PC based and closed loop which makes hackers jobs much harder - plus on the server side we have a complete redundant back up system which is upgraded 1 month behind the active system.

Also:

  • You don't have a degree, just an HND
  • You have a PhD in physics
  • You're an accountant
Bjorkdidit · 28/05/2025 11:19

I've just seen on another thread she's 45 so has either packed quite a lot into her life up to now.

Seagullsandsausagerolls · 28/05/2025 11:24

I'm having a nightmare getting decent quality trousers for mum. Shes got very short legs and has cancer and lost so much weight. The trousers there fit her so much better with her catheter etc. Can't find similar in quality, cut or length anywhere and no available in store in her size.

SmokyWood · 28/05/2025 12:00

I'm really missing it but feel for the staff, it must be a nightmare working at the moment.

YourAzureEagle · 28/05/2025 14:04

colonialwomanonthewing · 28/05/2025 09:58

Genuine question, can I ask about your career? On various threads I've seen you say:

  • You're in IT
  • 'I've been an electrician for 25 years, as yet I still don't use a computer for anything business related' - how do you work in IT but not use a computer for work? Do you do everything on a tablet?
  • You're a deputy head
  • You're a builder
  • You've designed mammography machines
  • You're a male schoolteacher (and have been a teacher for over 20 years)
  • You've never been on PAYE
  • You're a contractor to the NHS

Is this what they call a 'portfolio career'? Do you do some days as a teacher, some as an electrician? Genuinely interested!

Show quote history

Yep, absolutely that, teach 3 days a week, the rest on the tools, done that since 2008

Trained as an electrical engineer, into electro medical technology - then teaching, first in FE, the secondary, did the Part1, Part 2 and AM2 at night school finishing off with the then 17th edition in 2008, went PT teaching took over the long established family business (1932) and merged with another that specialises in IT support. We don't use IT in our business systems, more as tradition than anything, the IT side does, but that's a separate operation.

I still keep a hand in consulting to a friends business that produces x ray technology, but the bulk of the business is electrical & IT support to business, full time cover these days with a handful of staff