To think that Debenhams is actually shit?

[Selks]

I sallied forth to Debenhams this afternoon as I have a gift voucher to spend and wanted a new work bag. No bag to be had; what was there was plasticky and overpriced. OK, slippers then. Virtually no slippers to be had because - as the sales assistant snottily informed me - it's not Christmas. Right.
Meander through the lingerie section. Not one bra in my size. Enquire about the possibility of one to fit me and am met with a look of shock and horror. Slink off feeling decidedly downcast by now to the coffee shop where I am sat now. So far I have been told off by one of the waitresses for sitting down at a table of my choice rather than one they led me to, and I have been waiting 20 minutes for my coffee to arrive while the staff stand around chatting.

Meh. Don't mind me. I hate shopping. And I have found nothing to spend my voucher on.

And what is with the whole glammed up to go shopping thing? (Penny drops as to why I have been regarded with such disdain......)

I feel for you OP - anyone giving me Debenhams vouchers would be thanked with a heartfelt "Oh, you really shouldn't have". How about waiting until they have a blue cross sale and getting some slightly reduced Le Creuset?

And I think they stock some decent shoes - you could try show department.

Hate it too. My aunt is 90 and for some reason loves eating there, I think it must have been posh in her day. Once a fortnight I am subjected to a horrible, overpriced lunch, anything vaguely edibile is always unavailable, only accompanyment is chips, and it is a staggering 1.90 for less than 200mls of drink.

My DD was also injured when tiny as none of their highchairs are at the correct level for their tables and she banged her head on the edge of the table. They did offer to fetch a first aider, but in a 'please get her to stop crying as she is disturbing everyone' way.

I really hate Debenhams, I'm glad I'm not alone

I don't really trust the pricing in Debenhams. I bought my ds a pair of boots in Debenhams on sale at £19 (original price £27). Two weeks later i saw the same pair of boots (non sale price ) in Asda for £8.

Very, very, variable.
Some times I do really well in Debenhams, but generally when I'm not particularly looking.
Nice top while looking for a present for DD1, sale shirts for DH. Dress for a wedding ages before I needed it. If I'd been in a rush there would have been nothing.

I bought a throw for the sofa from there 4 years ago. I'm still getting the red fluff off the cream carpet. And for this, I spent £80.

ooh can I add my Debenhams whinge? It is REALLY difficult to spend gift vouchers on their online shop - last time I tried you could only do it if you had a single gift voucher that was worth more than the product that you wanted to buy.

So, I couldn't put 2 x £20 vouchers together to pay for something that was £39, or even put one of my £20 vouchers towards it and pay the rest by card. Gah, its like they don't want you to spend the vouchers... hang on... maybe it is actually their plan to keep the money without giving up any goods?

As for getting dressed up to go shopping though, I always try to put some makeup on and nice clothes/best knickers . In my defence, when most things look hideous on you and you hate trying on stuff cos you're built for comfort and not for Karen Millen, you need all the help with those changing room mirrors that you can get!

I have no idea how it turns a profit. Everything is overpriced and rather rubbish.

My Debenhams ishoo is that their delivery service is shit. Once I ordered stuff for going on holiday, which got delayed. I repeatedly got in touch to ask them to cancel the order, they didn't, and then it all turned up when I was away.

The next time I ordered stuff it was a set of pyjamas. I sat in all day to wait for it and they delivered a top in a different size from the bottoms. I got in touch with them to ask for a redelivery and for the delivery charge to be cancelled. The girl on the phone refused so I asked for their head office contact, who eventually agreed to a refund.

I gave up ordering anything from them after that.

OP, do you know anyone who likes Debenhams who might swap the voucher for cash?

Oh I love the annual Debenhams is shit thread.
Yes. Yes it is. absolutely without doubt. *

• I actually like some of the kids stuff.

um, I LOVE my local debenhams.

Spend the equivalent in cash on yourself somewhere you love, put the voucher in your purse for when you do your christmas shopping. Crap as the shop is, they usually have a relatively good christmas/gifty bit in nearer the god awful festive period.

but have to admit to always being disappointed whenever I go into a store elsewhere.

Agree with overpriced and rubbish.

DH went in there yesterday and bought 2 pairs of trousers and a pair of shoes for work. £104 later...

I love Debenhams. I have some great bra and knicker sets which were cheap, I love Manta Ray, John ROcha and Betty Jackson. THe perfume and makeup counters have all the choice I could possibly want. My local Debenhams is small, so if I can do well there...I think you may have hit it on an off day/day you didn't like anything (I have those).

It's mostly rubbish and always too hot.

But their trousers always fit me and dd likes the butterfly t shirts so not a complete loss.

I buy their

• kids clothes (some reasonably priced and normal (hurrah!) boys stuff
• kitchen stuff like non stick tefal pans
• some bedding (100% cotton) and towels in the sale

The rest is rubbish.

Staff in my local one are actually extremely very nice.

i like ours as it has the smashbox counter, also the menswear stuff is great

I like Debenhams and buy quite a lot of stuff in there. Kitchenware, towels, kids clothes and clothes for me.

They stock a lot of the same brands as John Lewis. I don't understand all vitriol

They have great sales and a nice cafe

Our local Debenhams is in a lovely grand building but let down by the tat inside and indifferent staff. Also the signage is really cheap-looking. I never go in now.

Debenhams is dire - dirty, shabby, dusty stock, looks like a jumble sale.

Would echo advice about using your voucher on some nice Le Creuset or similar. Or some make-up from the counters?

Funny how everyone seems to hate Debenhams (including me!), but other people love to give gift vouchers from there...! Any chance of giving the giver the vouchers back as they obviously like Debenhams by venturing in there in the first place.....!

I was in Debenhams the other week and was enquiring about a pair of knickers on the clerance rail. I was also buying something. In anycase whether what I asked about the knickers got lost in translation or not I do not know but I got a dirty look and little laugh of derision for my trouble. Which could happen anywhere.
Any how. Bought a bra in a local department store reduced to eighteen pound something in Debenhams it's full price. In terms of the sizes (bras again) they don't seem to get a hugh range of sizes or order more stock etc. It's Clinique bonus time there at the moment if that helps.

HOw long have the vouchers got to go? Can you "regift" them or swap them with someone who you know likes shopping there?

YANBU - Debenhams is a shithole.