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..

Caz10 - always ask for John Lewis vouchers if you're going for vouchers!
Their reputation isn't an accident....

Although I agree that MC is crap, it's the only shop catering for babies in ourtown, and we don't need any more shops closing down (it's bad for business and morale), so I hope ours isn't one of them.

All the Mothercares I've ever been in, ever, have had their customer toilets and baby change area closed owing to vandalism, roof leaking, or just storing stock in it.

Seriously - it's been about a dozen attempts, ds is now nearly 3, and I'm yet to find either available! My mum swore that her Surrey one wouldn't suffer Croydon/London problems, but lo, the loos were buggered there too.

However I don't know of any other shop selling a range of potties, as JL only have about two. Suppose I'll have to go online.

My local mothercare has a breastfeeding sign and a bottle on the door do the ladies' loos. Just to make it clear that is where all babies should be fed

It is also overstocked with utter tat - I've been in often, as it is opposite my nearest supermarket and never bought much. You have to queue if you want to ask staff a question. Unlike say tesco, boots or argos, where there are usually friendly staff members about. Combined with aisles that can't be negotiated with a push chair, it seems like they are not remotely interested in serving the needs of their customers.

The sleepsuits and vests are really good quality, apart from next they are the only ones I have tried that retain their shape and still look good after months of washing/tumble drying. I always wait for special offers or sales though as they are too expensive otherwise.

Our local store is nice enough but do agree about the staff being offhand and chatting to each other.

The buggy around the store shocks me tbh, I worked for mother care when I was at college, we used to make sure we could push a double mirage (mothercare/graco hybrid lol) around all the stands etc. but having been there with a friends wish list everything was poorly located.

My manager was fab, he really cared, kept display models back on case wneeded to loan one to a cust while their buggy was fixed etc.

Never got much that was paid for out of my pocket in there tho, far too expensive lol.

That should be ' having been there recently'

I hate Mother-don't-care with a passion.

I have 2 large ones locally. They never have whatever it is I went for in stock and they can't say when it might be in stock. I went in recently to buy some changing mats - apparently none of their stores have any. Surely every mum will buy one of these at some point.

They measured me incorrectly for maternity bras but never actualluy had any in my, not ususal, size. The maternity range is dire.

The staff seem to have no specialist knowledge. They seem to be old enough to be mums themselves and yet have less knowledge than me.

The baby change rooms on the very rare occassion that they are open are foul.

And it's overpriced.

The worst thing is that ELC has gone downhill since Mothercare bought it.

I'm glad that their taking mums for granted has affected them.

I hate mothercare, but it's the only place on the high st that stocks real nappy stuff - we got our terries and nappy bucket etc from there, and I've never seen anywhere else sell plastic pants to go over terries. so don't want them to go because of that.

"I'm always surprised to read on here how much people hate BHS. Ours is a lovely shop with nice clothes and a fab homeware section. better than m&s."

Usually I find their clothes a bit grannyish, but they have recently pulled their socks up and have some nice clothes for a change. The one in Meadowhall has other concessions instore to make it a more attractive place to visit.

the only thing i will miss is if they close the early learning center in my town the mothercare went to make way for poundland but the early learning center is brilliant especially the bubbles

Mothercare Caerphilly is okay, small shop but the staff are nice. I struggle to push our Quizzy Zapp buggy around through and it turns on a postage stamp! I have got some Mothercare stuff for DD but it's all sale items - the clothes are cheaper in Tesco and as DD is only 21 mo, it doesn't need to last long.

Mothercare world in Cardiff is good though. Was there a couple of weeks ago and the Clarks part had loads of shoes in DD's size (which is more than I can say for the one in my home town) . They had some nice clothes for DD (yes, you do have to be selective, but that is true of anywhere), the changing rooms were clean, they had plenty of stock.

I do agree that the smaller branches can be shit (not enough stock, a bit grubby). The staff were nice, but they could do with more of them.

Not at all surprised as the service is abysmal - however, like a previous poster has said, I would miss the ELC part of it as I do like ELC toys and our ELC shop in town shut down a few months ago. Our Mothercare also has a Clarks in it which is very useful as it is out-of-town so easier to get to.

coincidentally there was a thread on here recently slating mothercare

Our local mothercare world is fantastic. Brilliant nappy change facilities, very helpful staff who always go out of there way to help you. Never had any problems moving the pram around the store either.

Our only problem is my 18 month olds fear of the giant tree which is the lift!

Stokke dropped a right clanger in selling their products in mothercare, I sent a couple of people to go and have a look at it and a demonstration, the staff managed to put them off that and the bugaboo by not being able to fold it. If you want anything more technical than a maclaren they haven't a clue in my experience.

Going against the grain, I love mothercare, there's a big one near me and I love going in to look around, it reminds be of the time I was pregnant with my first and looking for baby things. It's also just across the road from DH work so I could pop in to see him at the same time and they had a lovely feeding room. I love their catalogues as well and would spend hours poring over them and still always pick one up.

I could never afford to buy anything in there though and always went to Sainsbury's next door, shame.

I agree with most of the posts on here, I avoid mothercare if I can. The instore experience is rubbish, never enough staff, and the ones that are there don't know enough or don't seem to care, and online I've had at least two instances where I've contacted them with a problem and never even had any form of acknowledgement, let alone a response or resolution, even regarding a faulty babygate. They just don't seem to give a crap.

We must be luckier than most with our Mothercare, they have always stocked a good range of items and staff have always been friendly and very helpful. The babychange room, bf room and toilets are always clean and easily accessible. We also have a large ELC section and a Clarks shoe shop. Agree that some of the items can be on the pricey side, but it always pays to shop around anyway, as there are always offers on of one sort or another on branded items. Have also used the on-line shopping and been more than happy with speed of delivery and quality of product. Think ours must be one of the bigger stores from other comments as we do seem to have lots of choice in all the departments, and it seems to be well used, so doubt ours will be one of the ones to close.

I am soooo not surprised Mothercare is going under. I became a mum last year and went in a couple of times to the Wood Green branch. The first time I asked where the breastfeeding tops were in the womenswear section and was assured by the staff they do not sell that kind of thing. I had to go round and demonstrate to them the tops that have concealed slits so you can feed in public etc. I really couldn't believe they worked there and had no understanding of their product range.
The second time I went in to buy some sleep suits, but had such a bad customer experience that I contacted the manufacturer who sold me the same product cheaper direct so I returned the Mothercare products and got a full refund. The manufacturer was fully aware how bad Mothercare had become.

I got similar type of service from Woolworths just before they went under. To all the staff: If you want to try to save your jobs, you need to change your attitude but I fear it may be far too late now...

My local mothercare is pretty rubbish too. Some of the stock is Ok, but I think that it is overpriced, and the childrens clothes are usually horrible. I do usually buy some of the fleecy sleepsuits for older children that they stock at winter time.

My local babies-r-us/toys-r-us is terrible. The shop is always filthy, and the staff rude. I avoid it unless I have to get birthday presents at short notice.

Rude, incompetent staff, combined with expensive prices - means I hate giving them my money. When DS popped out a few weeks early ( and I hadn't quite got all the bits and pieces together). I sent hubby to get breast pump and bottles as I needed to express so he could assist with feeding - I knew what make I wanted but didn't send explicit instructions for what bottles/ steriliser etc....so DH thought he would ask the staff - who then proceeded to read the boxes on the shelf to him out loud (because as a DR he obviously can't read himself!!!!) and then proceeded to give him the only bottles & steriliser not compatible with the pump!!!! arghhh

But there have been occasions when we have bought stuff from them because of convenience, there aren't a lot of other options round here for some baby stuff and some stuff I want to touch before I buy it so the internet is a no no. I try to generally support our local nursery store but they don't stock that much stuff so needs must.

I prefer babies r us.. the young girl who checked out our car seats in the chester store for two of our children really knew her stuff, what she didn't know about car seats you could put on a stamp!

I think its ridiculous how you people have probably only been in one Mothercare and yet you think all mothercare stores are the same. I happen to work in one of their stores and i can tell you i help every person that comes into the store! I am currently on Maternity leave as i have a 10 week old baby and i still have to go in there to buy items as boots etc dont have them in!