to not be surprised Mothercare are in trouble

[moogster1a]

Apparently they're shutting over 100 of their shops.
TBH I'm not surprised people are shunning them. Overpriced compared to tthe same quality in ASDA Tesco etc..

[GetOrfMoiCase]

I loathe Mothercare, a staff member made me cry about a week after dd was born, when I went in there to buy a bigger nursing bra. She muttered to her colleague really sneerily 'there is no way that girl is that size' and I burst into tears outside the shop. I know it was nothing really but I have hated the place ever since.

Oh, and I bought a ghaslty maternity denim pinafore dress from there. It was hideous. They shouldn't sell such ugly clothes to vulnerable pregnant women

It is so old fashioned in there. It has really been taken over by the supermarkets and other shops, not to mention online businesses. I don't know any mother friends who shop there. I think the place is kept in business by grans and MILs, for the older generation it is still a 'destination' shop I think.

[TheProvincialLady]

I went in BabiesRUs once and left with my eyes bleeding as everything was purple plastic. I'm surprised to hear people praising it.

Mothercare in my city is not bad as a shopping experience, but the clothes are mostly horrible for boys. Note to their designers: babies don't need their entire wardrobe to be made of scratchy denim and they definitely don't need 40 pockets to keep their lighters, keys, watch and mobile in. These things look hideous, constrict the baby and make the clothes a bugger to iron. And not every boy is a monster, a devil, a monkey or cheeky. Do you think you could maybe explore the possibility of leaving clothes quite plain, without transfers, patches, badges and horrible applique? And whilst blue is a nice colour, it's not the only one. And it goes with other colours than just brown.

[ChristinaEliopolis]

Oh, yes, I'd forgotten the bras. When I was pregnant with my DS2, I was told off by my midwife because I wore underwire bras, so I bought some MC maternity ones. Christ, they were awful - nasty floppy things with absolutely no support. And enormous: the front had a crossover bit that peeped out over the top of all my outfits. Off to the bin they went and I stuck with the naughty bras.

[Caz10]

Would second most of the negative experiences people have had on here. But it's funny how as a 1st time mum you are somehow conditioned to think you must shop there! DD2 has just arrived and anything we needed to buy has come from elsewhere this time round.

Minor hijack - we have had lots of relatives asking "what do you need for the baby?" - well nothing really, as we have all dd1's stuff, but grannies etc desparate to buy - so we thought we might say Mothercare tokens, as the people who are asking are not the Amazon type etc! But I see someone up the thread saying you can't use the tokens online, is that right? (and how silly if so!).

[jordannarikki]

I've just remembered a member of staff in MOthercare advising me that I could put a NEWBORN in a jumperoo - you know, one of those baby bouncers where they jump up and down, kinda need to be able to hold your head up to do that.

I looked at her like this

[PinkIsMyFavouriteCrayon]

HotchpotchHoney Toys R us next to the Metro Centre. Is friggin horrible!

[MayDayChild]

Agree with provincial lady! Everytime I go shopping for DS 11 months, i come home with clothes for DD 4
Boys clothes are grim! Next are also culprits. I hate anything labelled mummys monster or daddy's hero.

Our Mothercare just moved across town to brand new store! Lovely well stocked and paired with big ELC. Only trouble is, you can't get to it as it's opp the bus station and there's no zebra to cross the WORST most DANGEROUS road in town. Sensible choice of store eh Mothercare? easily accessible for mothers buggies and small children? Not. Bexleyheath if any of you not very good at your job marketing staff are listening.

Mind you I gave up buying anything in there a long time ago.

[BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte]

Their customer service is exceptionally poor. At my local branch I'm constantly getting the impression that they're far too buy to help and have much better things to do than explain anything. And their maternity and baby clothes are unoriginal, unimaginative and overpriced. But other than that, yes, they're OK...

[Iggly]

Mothercare sucks. And I don't understand why I can't use their vouchers online FFS.

The quality of the clothing is shite. DS's vests, for example, have all lost their shape after a few washes - so much ao the necklines look like cowl necks

Someone said Next is just as bad - actually if you look online, they have some lovely stuff (ignore the mummy's monster things!) and it all washes well.

When (if) we have DC2 I'm not buying a thing from mothercare (and I will have to buy new stuff because DS's stuff hasn't lasted)

[saffy85]

Bought loads from MC but only because SIL works for them and lets me use her discount card otherwise I wouldn't bother. Everything they sell can be bought elsewhere, from better stocked suppliers with better customer service.

They never have any stuff in stock- Nothing nice that fits my DD and while I can't judge the boys' clothes as I haven't bought any the girls' stuff is often hideous and the toddler stuff doesn't fit as well as I remember the baby stuff did. The maternity stuff is overpriced and awful- I've only ever looked for a bra in there once and that was enough. Total mess. Their online store however is fine. Never had trouble with deliveries.

[Caz10]

Thanks stewiegriffithsmum! Well that is just daft isn't it, talk about not

keeping up. So much easier to be able to shop from home, we would have hopefully bought something quite big too like a BabyBjorn so their loss!

I have also been pleasantly surprised with Next kids stuff - MIL is an addict and I don't rate their adult stuff, but all DDs most practical, lasting and suitable (ie non-slutty for a toddler) (MK anyone?!) has been from Next kids. Or H&M.

[fiveisanawfullybignumber]

USP...... unique selling point, by the way.
Our 2 local stores couldn't be more different.
Cambridge, rude monosylabic staff, but they probably get their customer service skills from their arrogant manageress. And she almost gloated when telling me that all high st stores were closing their feeding rooms to make more room for ELC stock. Shame, as her rudeness combined with them no longer offering support and a room for BF (and FF) mums, means I have not set foot in that store since, and I used to spend at least £25 each time I went in (2 or 3 times a month) on breast pads, socks and tights for my DD's etc.
Stevenage, friendly helpful staff. Nothing is too much trouble for them.
I hope, like in my husbands company when they close stores, they have a good shake up of retail management and retain the good managers and loose the terrible ones. No matter whether their store is closing or staying open, Senior management might just save the company that way.

[Lunabelly]

I'm not surprised, because that shop is a bunch of cock. The only thing that would upset me is when I manage the get that bastard I married to impregnate me again should I have another baby, I do like their self sterlising bottles.

[nethunsreject]

The staff in the Ayr shop are lovely.

However, it is totally over priced and out of date, yep.

I rarely buy anything there and certainly no big ticket items.

[80sbabe]

I am going to be in the minority here but Mothercare were better than brilliant with my DH when I gave birth 100 miles away from home at 24 weeks and we had none of the essentials.

He was sent off with a list by a nurse at the hospital (I was far too drugged up due to almost dying to know what day of the week it was) and they advised him and helped him to get everything we needed.

They even steered him away from unnecessary purchases such as baby clothes which we would not need for some time (dd weighed 2lbs) and made sure he bought decent nightwear and underwear for me, that he had plenty of pads (both sorts) and advised him on the best breast pump amongst other items.

I have to admit though that I haven't been in a Mothercare store for some time because our nearest one isn't that convenient to get to, but I do use them online quite frequently.

[Liliesandveuve]

I am very surprised that people don't like it, i really like it.
Mainly liked their maternity clothes, I love a lot of their kids clothes, and I think they are ok priced and good quality, wash well.
And I like their bedding too.

[Ladyface]

I am not at all surprised to hear they are not doing well. I once asked a member of staff if they had any more stock of an item as there was only the display one out - I was told "Well, if we did they would be there wouldn't they?"
I went to buy some stuff for my hospital bag a few weeks ago and they had nothing in stock in store, and it was not a tiny store. Even online most items were out of stock. What is the point of producing a catalogue when you don't even have the items in stock?!
The maternity clothes are so hideously frumpy - they need to sack their designers and have a look at what Asos are doing.

[JumpJockey]

five - is that the reason? I was in the Cambridge one today only because I have a refund card from unsuitable presents, didn't notice that the feeding room was gone. The staff are unutterably rubbish and the stock levels dismal. I wanted to buy a nursing bra in a not very unusual size, they only had (near enough) 32A and 42GG, nothing in between, and when I asked about trying them on the staff girl said they could order one in, would take a week. When I pointed out I'd need her to get in about 6 different sizes in order to make sure of a decent fit, she just said "I can order them in for you, we don't have any stock". Much the same for nursing tops, only in 8 or 18. Grrr. I wrote an angry email to the head office explaining that better stock control systems might be a good idea, never heard back.

[sparkle101]

Another one not surprised at all, staff are always rude at mine, when you can find one to speak to that is, also annoyed that everything is not priced! Some have shelf tickets, some sticky labels and most have nothing. We went in there to buy next size up car seat, apparently their seats are split into different colour zones but nothing was coloured to say which was which! They need need need to have consistent service and standards!

This being said I do like their sleeping bags a lot.

[NestaFiesta]

My local one is two storeys, overstocked and has no lift! All the stuff like buggies, bathing, big toys, car seats, is upstairs. Can I get the buggy up there? No.

Of all the shops not to have a lift- it beggars belief.

[LIZS]

Not surprised, had thought the elc takeover was probably a step too far. If our local one closes it will be yet another empty unit in an already sad looking precinct/shopping centre - since Sussex Stationers, Woolworths, Gamleys, Tchibo, Barretts, Burger King even finally Shoefayre have gone - largely full of pound stores, charity shops and travel agents.

[moaningminniewhingesagain]

Not surprised at all. Our local one is very poor, grubby, half the time there is no price on the shelf, and the staff tend to chat to each other and ignore
you.

And the nursing bras there are terrible, boobs fall out if you lean forward slightly. I avoid. Did think the babygrows were better quality/softer cuddlier fabric than Asda ones but £££ ouch, way overpriced.