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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to shout at Primark shoppers?

322 replies

baiyu · 22/07/2010 15:41

I mean really, just how many shoppers without a conscience are there? There really is no justification for shopping somewhere that treats its garment workers so badly and has continued to do despite years of campaigning.

Primark are thriving in the economic downturn making workers lives worse and worse as they struggle to keep up with orders. Being poor is no excuse, I can?t afford to buy new clothes but I?d rather my few quid went to Oxfam than ABF and their cruel trading practices. So tell me, why do people shop there? The quality is terrible too, how is it a bargain if an item of clothing lasts ten minutes?

I?m not just reading the Daily Mail by the way, researching things like this is my job, the working conditions have NOT improved and it?s just making me angry! AIBU to think more people should care?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 22/07/2010 21:42

snap, tocc. i have clothes from ASDA, Tesco, Primark, Matalan that are going strong for years. Shoes, too.

scottishmummy · 22/07/2010 21:44

i bought tesco,primark baby stuff washed a treat.lasted well.certainly didn't fall apart.passed on to hv

toccatanfudge · 22/07/2010 21:48

I remember the bullying (and the self esteem issues that stilll haunt me today) that came about from wearing hand-me-downs all the time. And I grew up in the NE of England in the 1980's - so it wasn't like we were the poor family among a load of "flush" ones.

Problem was my parents determination that "well it's not quite bad enough to be used as rags to clean the floor with yet" was a major factor in me going to hell and back at school.

My peers didn't have expensive flashy clothes, they just had cheap clothes from the market and the cheap clothes shops that were around (can't for the life of me remember what their names were..........probably because we rarely went to them) - but they were new - and didn't look like they were going to fall to pieces if you so much as tugged on them

toccatanfudge · 22/07/2010 21:51

DS3 is wearing loads of Matalan stuff that I bought new for DS1 years ago.

I did once buy a top and 2 pairs of jeans from Pumpkin Patch for my DS's. The idea was that they would last for years and be handed down and still look great because they were such better quality.

To be fair the top did well.

The jeans............the knee went through on DS1's within 6 months only pair of Jeans he's ever had a knee hole on.

So much for pay more get better clothes.

scottishmummy · 22/07/2010 21:52

growing up we had barras market and WEWW clothes. couldn't afford anything fancy or branded. there was of course the cool set,all fancy clobber.but overall most of us were market and weww

Original poster
baiyu · 22/07/2010 21:55

SanctiMoanyArse- of course we should be campaigning for disability rights too and for children in need in this country, no one is asking you not to!

pigletmania- I've said lots of times that Primark isn't the only shop with big issues, just currently it's one of the worst and doing very little to change that.

OP posts:
amothersplaceisinthewrong · 22/07/2010 21:55

Actually being short of money is a bloody good excuse to go to somewhere like Primark. Why should the poor only have second hand stuff from skanky charity shops. Good on Primark for making new clothes accessible.

GAP which is quite pricey is just as guilty of shoddy practice. I will bet all the major chains are in some way.

expatinscotland · 22/07/2010 21:57

and what if you are poor and live near no charity shops?

Original poster
baiyu · 22/07/2010 21:58

This is about campaigning for a living wage for Bangladeshi garment workers, it wouldn't hurt for UK companies and people to back it.

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 22/07/2010 21:59

this notion of charity shops full of clean,cheap clobber is daft.oh and what if the charity shop only had primark

TheCrackFox · 22/07/2010 22:00

Toccatanfudge - I too had the same problem at school as my parents were unemployed and some of the clothes I had to wear were shocking. It lead to a lot of bullying and only having one friend. It seems to me that nowadays that only people who shop at Primark (more often than not because that is all they can afford) are they only people expected to have principles.

Original poster
baiyu · 22/07/2010 22:01

GAP used to be terrible but they were caught out and have really cleaned up their act, ditto Next, New Look and Monsoon (according to war on want) Just shows that a bit of people power can make a difference.

OP posts:
DuelingFanjo · 22/07/2010 22:01

YABU.

scottishmummy · 22/07/2010 22:04

opining that the low waged can scrape by 2nd hand,car boot sale,ebay is patronising. primark has a niche market in affordable clothing.primark et al are there for a reason- it meets demand

proudfoot · 22/07/2010 22:09

Haven't read the whole thread but just the first couple of pages.

YABVU, smug, preachy and generally unbearable!

LucyHoneychurch · 22/07/2010 22:11

yanbu.

I hate hate hate Primark. I can't remember the last time I bought myself some clothing we are so skint yet nothing could persuade me to shop there.

toccatanfudge · 22/07/2010 22:13

yes and WOW also says that boycotting isn't a way to achieve the goal.

Before you jump on the Primark shoppers any more - I suggest you look at this report from last year - and scroll down - and make you're not shopping at some of those "respectable" places who scored very badly - Clarkes, John Lewis, House of Fraser, Laura Ashley, Levi, River Island, to name just a few......

who all score lower than Primark.........

thefirstmrsDeVere · 22/07/2010 22:14

I agree that Primark are shady.
But so are the majority of retailers arnt they?

I am not in love with Primark but thank God for it sometimes. I have a 16 year old DS who is over 6 foot tall. He has been wearing men's clothes for years.

He needs clothes. I dont mean he wants loads of new stuff (he probably does but he doesnt get it), he has to be clothed.

We are on a low income. I do go to charity shops but they are full of Primark stuff anyway. I would rather buy cheap crap new than pay the same price (or more!) for it second hand.

At what part of the retail price spectrum do things start getting ethical?

Which companies are trustworthy and accessible?

Not everyone who shops at Primark is a heartless, money grubbing, throwaway fashion fiend.

Some of us have feck all money and great big kids to clothe.

Original poster
baiyu · 22/07/2010 22:14

Oh well, if you care, have a look at this and think about signing this. If not, well, your choice, I've said my piece.

OP posts:
thefirstmrsDeVere · 22/07/2010 22:15

I havent read all the thread baiyu so if you have answered already, sorry.

But do you know the answers to my questions?

kalo12 · 22/07/2010 22:15

yadefinately nbu

scottishmummy · 22/07/2010 22:18

oh the McSmugness of it all.The "i manage it" if only the ammoral shoppers could kick their habit and think of others...."like what i have". oh lets educate primark shoppers with a link,as they are so stoopid

toccatanfudge · 22/07/2010 22:21

baiyu - I signed that ages ago.

now will you fuck the fuck off trying to tell me (and others) I (we) don't care, when you have fuck all idea about what we are involved with, or which products we've chosen (out of a limited budget) to source ethically/fairly traded

And I see none of the "OMG how dare you shop at Primark you uncaring bunch of tossers" have took me up on my challenge of showing me where I could get DS1's small autumn wardrobe replaced for the absolute top budget I'll have...........

TheCrackFox · 22/07/2010 22:21

So in summary middle class people can still shop at Clarks and John Lewis even with their dubious ethical practices but the plebs have to trawl buy second hand Primark clothes from charity shops.

SingleMumAndProud · 22/07/2010 22:22

I have only read part of this thread but I just wanted to say, charity shops arn't actually that cheap anymore! I have lots near me, but everytime I go in I go out empty handed as it is cheaper to buy new in cheap shops.

Yes I am that skint that I can't afford to shop in a charity shop. We actually get most of our stuff from freecycle TBH but if I couldn't, and had a primark near me, I would shop there. I have no spare money.