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AIBU?

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Original poster

Never going to Primark again or am I a snob

157 replies

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 08/10/2011 23:39

Went into Primark for first time today. Awful just awful. Full of cheap tat would rather shop at a jumble sale.

OP posts:
hairymonkey · 09/10/2011 11:04

I'm a student, my partner's a student. Ebay, or I weave a smock out of fairtrade hemp and yeo valley organic yogurt. I also like wearing sack cloth and ashes if I'm off somewhere poshe. I think Boden is rank.

VivaLeBeaver · 09/10/2011 11:07

I love Primark PJs and knickers. I get nice accessories in there, scarves, hair clips, etc. I got a lovely handbag from there once but admit its not the best quality as its beginning to get very scuffed round the edges and I've hardly used it.

Its good to get stuff for DD from, the more fashiony things that she won't wear very often. I can get her a party dress and not be bothered if she only wears it once.

I also get cheap vest tops for running in from Primark.

TheOriginalNutcracker · 09/10/2011 11:21

I love Primark for the pj's and underwear, bed linen, cushions and throws but haven't bought anything else from there for ages. My nearest one is the Birmingham one though and it is always a mess.

babycham42 · 09/10/2011 11:22

I got one of my favourite coats in a pile of rubbish at the side of the road.It's a little bit nibbled by mice but not in a bit that shows.It washed up LOVELY. (and no it definately wasn't mistakenly took from a charity pile - trust me).

I have 4 other jackets,all from charity shops.Total cost about £15-20 I suppose.

Shopping in Primark/Peacocks is a veritable treat......Grin

HappyMummyOfOne · 09/10/2011 12:02

Its an awful shop, everything very cheap (so concerns over what workers are paid) and the quality is horrendous. Went once when it first opened to see what the fuss was about and never again. Most things look like they wont even survive the first wash.

Far better economy to buy in the sales at shops where you know you will get a few years wear out of items.

MrsvWoolf · 09/10/2011 12:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Birdsgottafly · 09/10/2011 12:14

I don't get the snobbery over manufactures. If you buy anything other than fairtrade; coffee, tea and chocolate (to name some) you support child labour and exploitation.

I buy the pj's, underwear and bits for my teenage DD's. The jeggings etc in other high street shops are not any better quality, triple the price and every now and again it is shown that they use child labour. I have never found anything for myself in there, except the fab reindeers that they do every Christmas.

Child labour is the only choice in some countries, if you stop them working in factories they have to turn to prostitution, there has to be an alternative, first.

babycham42 · 09/10/2011 12:19

I've given this some thought.

Good quality hand me downs is the way to go.Recycling in it's finest form.

I think my kids look great - clean,ironed,trendy.I very rarely buy new (even Peacocks/Primark etc) except underwear,tights etc.And I dread the big Autumn 'tights buy'.......

Charity shops suit my eclectic style......

beatenbyayellowskull · 09/10/2011 12:29

Hmmm. So if I buy clothes that are ethically made, by adults, under good working conditions, I may actually be supporting child prostitution?

I've never thought of it that way Hmm

pointydog · 09/10/2011 12:34

If you don't like primark, don't shop there. I wouldn't care if I was thought a snob about where Ido and don't shop.

DMCWelshCakes · 09/10/2011 12:46

Have just looked at the Primark website to see what they say about their ethical trading. Interesting stuff...

www.primark-ethicaltrading.co.uk/

Slightly scared by the statistic that they share 95% of their factories with other high street retailers, who are presumably charging lots more for the same stuff.

RoxyRobin · 09/10/2011 13:17

The first time I ever went into a Primark store I got punched in the mouth by another customer (she actually drew blood!). I stood there looking stunned (gobsmacked, even!) whereupon she declared, "Ee, I'm sorry, love, I didn't mean to hit you!".

It did put me off the Primark shopping experience for a while, but I was glad I did return. It's one of these places where a lot of the stuff looks unappealing and tatty but then you'll find a real gem. I bought an 80% wool coat for £18 there four years ago which almost everyone I came across - even random strangers - admired. They couldn't believe it when I said it was from Primark. And it's still in good nick after all this time.

IneedAbetterNickname · 09/10/2011 13:24

I love Primark, for me and DC, and actually have stuff from there that has lasted longer than more expensive things from Next. However, not everthing in there fits well, its a bit hit and miss. I have 2 pairs of jeans, same style, same size, different colour. One only just does up, one practically falls off!! But then this has also happened with supermarket brands!

salvadory · 09/10/2011 13:44

I bought socks for DD in Primark about a year ago and this summer saw the same exact socks for 3 x the price in Marks and Spencer.
Shopping there isn't the nicest experience and the quality of the product isn't always high but where is?
The child exploitation argument always gets me angry when it's linked solely to Primark, if you wear Nike running shoes or have any plastic toys or in fact use anything from most of the high street (and a large proportion of labelled goods) you'll find they are made in China/Bangladesh by workers in conditions that we would find unacceptable. All manufacturers use cheap labour (unless they're only supplying British made products) it's just that some don't pass on as much of the savings to the customer as Primark.
ps having just come back from a Boden clearance sale yesterday I didn't notice much difference between the chaos there and that in Primark on a Saturday.

fastweb · 09/10/2011 14:04

I don't have a dog in the hunt, since there is no Primark in Italy. (so I have to pay top euro for any clothes, shite or otherwise)

Here is a guardian article naming the high street shops who were found to be well dogdy ethics wise (John Lewis included) and at the end it names Primark and M&S getting credit for their efforts, the pair of them scoring three out of five.

Has something radically changed since the article was written or is it the price that is leading people to make an assumption that low cost is always completely tied to ethics free ?

www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/07/retailers-factory-workers-asia

fastweb · 09/10/2011 14:04

bollocks, again

www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/07/retailers-factory-workers-asia

chunkythighs · 09/10/2011 14:26

Ok, a lot of people here have brought up the ethical issues with buying from Primark, and I DO agree that the world would be a better place if every child had access to a food, healthcare, education etc. but the fact is some people live in horrific conditions. As a result, children don't have the childhood that they are due. They must work in order for the family to survive. It could be said that the likes of Primark are providing income for these poor families to live.

I would like to state for the record that I don't think that child labour is a good idea. I just wanted to provide an alternative view to be evil.

Miggsie · 09/10/2011 14:43

I hate Primark and don't go anywhere near the place.
However, this also applies to 99% of the other clothes stores in my local town, so it's not saying much really.

I hate clothes shopping and am not the slightest bit fashionable...which you may have guessed.

ExcitedElectrons · 09/10/2011 14:58

If everyone was to stop buying from primark, the children in these LEDC's wouldn't have to make the clothes and would be out of work - therefore no/even less money.

I love Primarni.

Fatshionista · 09/10/2011 15:01

I love Primark.

stepawayfromtheecclescakes · 09/10/2011 15:05

until recent redundancy I was earning well and most of my wardrobe is George io Primarni (asda and primark) tons of bags and jewellry from both as well as undies I'm a bit big so not many of Primarks clothes will fit but George do big sizes and as I love clothes I prefer buying lots cheaply than having a few expensive. No one seems to notice as I am often complimented on what I wear, think its how you wear stuff IYKWIM as my Sil buys expensive stuff and always manages to look a mess Smile. ethically speaking I had thought that after some revelations a few years ago Primark had changed their policy and I am hoping when I go back and read the links on here that I won't be Shock each to ones own I say but can't be doing with the snobbery around where anyone chooses to shop for whatever reason. Peacocks is good too.

PureBloodMuggle · 09/10/2011 15:20

iis primark a slightly mental shopping experience to penneys!

As far as i,m aware penneys is primark and it' jsut a different trading name for ireland.

Either way shopping in penneys is no different to shopping in m&s really. Certainly doubt i'd ever risk being accidentally punched in the face

as for BU or not shopping there. Depends why not if it's because you donlt want to bee seen in the place or wearing the clothesfor some reason such as you think you are bettter than that then YABU if itls because you can afford differently and you prefer longer lasting items then YANBU

MittzyTheVixen · 09/10/2011 15:27

I don't often shop at Primark.. I am not keen on the mass produced volume of stuff, but the main things is what seems to be the mind set of the customers, who (in our nearest one) will ravage the displays without a care for the garments.
So if I want to, I go in first thing in the morning!
Can usually tell how long an item will last, and I'd rather shop there than Next which IMO is appalling quality for the prices.

But then I have two All Saints cardis that practically fell apart after a few wears so Hmm (they cost me an arm and three legs!)

HengshanRoad · 09/10/2011 15:31

I can't believe that people are justifying child labour in the textile industry by saying that it's a better option than prostitution!

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 09/10/2011 15:56

Even Boden's stuff is made in China now... Angry

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