Stuff you took for granted that no longer exists?

[Confusednbemused]

Was saying to my daughter how I used to go to Boots or Superdrug and take free perfume samples to try at home before deciding what to buy and it occurred to me I've no idea when that stopped and the little strips of paper became a thing!!

What inanimate or service level thing do you miss which you used to take for granted?

I’m with you both on this. Bring back Deltas! There’s nothing quite like them out there.

Spicy beanburgers at Burger King

Halfway honest politicians

Those ladies behind the make up counter in Boots or John Lewis who always looked immaculate. They would recommend what foundation would suit you or what lipstick etc. I even had my makeup done for free once in John Lewis.

Another mourning post for Jenners.

Next in the 1980’s and the Next Directory. Such good quality clothes bank then, bought loads of my work clothes there.

When chocolate tasted like chocolate, not palm oil. The second ingredient listed on a box of Milk Tray is...

palm oil.

Echo bars
chicken legend from mcds
flake snow
having my mum & dad around

Top of the pops and the hype and music videos that went with it. Taping the top 40 on a Sunday.
Today’s teenagers or probably anyone else for that matter have no idea what’s number 1. It was such a big part of our childhood

I'm sat here wistfully looking at some Christmas decorations that I bought from Woolies three thousand years ago. 😟

Yes - have somewhere you could actually buy a nice gift or toys, children's clothes on your local high street. It's actually more notable post COVID as before at least I used to work most days in central London, but now with WFH and the whole high street being grocery shops, barbers, charity shops and bookies, you can't get that kind of thing during the day.

Checkout maths!

”That’ll be £9.70, please!”
”Lovely so if I give you this £10 note and 70p in coppers…”
”… I’ll give you a £1 coin”
”Thank you so much”
”Not at all, have a nice day!”

OMG how I used to slather over the Next Directory! I can still remember the excitement.

Bus conductors!

Star fruit. I have not seen one in years!

So did I, page after page of lovely clothes!

Crikeyalmighty I did an inner cheer when I saw that a department store was opening next year when visiting Bath recently. I really miss our Debenhams store. I used to love browsing and nearly always ended up buying something.

Absolutely this

I’d completely forgotten about those. Used to love them.

Quieter roads
High street banks
Life before smart phones
Telephone customer services

And when this thread is repeated again in however many years time we'll be saying 'cash'... The day that goes, I hope I'm not around anymore.

Reasons for not doing things you’re paid for, not excuses.

me: ‘You didn’t send me this important email I requested five times’
Miss Shit: ’There’s a REASON for that. I went to Barbados for a month.’

Oh, not being able to call shit out.

Teletext.
Getting random relatives turning up on the doorstep unannounced because "visiting" was a legitimate social activity.
Sending and receiving handwritten letters.
High streets full of good shops.
Lonely Hearts ads in magazine and newspapers.

My kid got a Wagon Wheel yesterday, took one bite, and rejected it. Never seen him d that before with any other treats!

I’d bloody love these for Christmas! Such great sweets.
Chocolates now are so boring (and actually disgusting too!)

Yes

Absolutely. I remember going to Woolworths, buying £1 worth of pick and mix and a panda pop before going to the cinema.