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......)

DEBENHAM'S - ARE YOU READING THIS?

YABU, I LOVE Debenhams!

The Benefit counter girls recognise me now

YABU I love debenhams too - ALWAYS find something. Today I bought this from the wallis in our local debenhams. If no clothes there's always makeup/perfume that I can drool over

I agree it's not that great anymore, it's just a bit dated I think.

However, BHS is WAY worse. I had to swap some hideous baby clothes my Gran had bought after Christmas. It was hot, stuffy, too much carpet, too much stuff packed on to the rails and too many rails.

John Lewis is lovely and fresh and they have some really cheap baby clothes in the sale and they price match. By comparission JL is far superior.

As someone said how long will Debenhams be able to last?

Debenhams used to be good. It's completely and utterly lost it's way. Overpriced and dingy, poorly laid out sales floors.

The concessions can have good stuff but will invariably be badly displayed and more expensive.

i hate shopping anyway and often find Debenhams "mumsy", BUT last week in the throes of serching for a dress suitable for a family occasion,and failing in other shops, Iasked an assistant on the floor for help.

She was polite and engaged, and disappeared with my teenager for 3 minutes gathering up likely frocks,got her into a cubicle,and we hit lucky. She was so engaging and actually listened to us that we walked out with a dress, a trench coat and matching shoes. I was really happy and teenage dd couldnt beleive her luck!

I was just thrilled that this assistant was a red hot "undercover"personal shopper.

YANBU. Debenhams is shit.

But for the fact that my local one has an Illamasqua counter, I would never set foot in it.

DO NOT shop online with them, they are useless! And if you ever call the callcentre be warned, the bill could be more than the purchase....!

Has anyone else notices that the staff put your change on the counter-actually passing your open palm ?

Pisses me right off does that.

Oh god. This is so embarrasing.

I was so determined to buy SOMETHING with my voucher that I ended up dithering around in the kitchenware dept for like an hour....

....and came home with an electric pepper mill.

That is what I spent my voucher on. A pepper mill. And a pack of batteries.

My life is over. I am officially a boring old giffer.

I am never going in a Debenhams again.

Still, I came home and spent the evening in the pub with a mate, so the day wasn't a total dead loss! . (And I do quite like my pepper mill....)

I hope it's massive OP

Our local one chucked a lady out for breastfeeding. Nice.

Last time I looked you could only use one voucher at a time on their website, which was most frustrating as I had a load with which I was trying to buy a handbag!

Our local one is messy. I like the beauty counters though.

BHS. Now that's a vile shop. How that is surviving the recession is beyond me.

Selks you have successfully managed to describe my typical shopping days. Utter empathy here for you.

(you have a gorgeous writing style)

My friends who're getting married next month have asked for Debenhams vouchers as gifts. They've invited around 100 people, so are probably going to end up with a couple of grand's worth. WTF are they going to spend them on?!

Actually the 2 Debenhams close to us are alright - usually good for nightwear & lingerie and branded concessions (coast, phase eight, wallis), some of their own brands Rocha etc
BUT I have been in some of their stores elsewhere and they are dire.
So I guess it's the luck of your local store

Ugh, Debenhams is the store of Satan and I work in one. Well, for a concession inside a Debenhams, but still...

It's vile. Dingy, dated and overpriced. I honestly cannot believe some of the shite people spend their money on in there. I feel like saying to them, "you do realise you can buy this at a fraction of the price in Sainsbury's/Boots/H&M?" It's cack. Really cack. Practically everything in their Red Herring range is Primark-quality polyester crap. If I wanted to spend the sort of money that Debenhams want you to spend on stuff, I'd do it in nicer surroundings i.e John Lewis.

I saw the Red Herring bags, Bupcakes...I'd seen one on the website and it looked quite OK but I was amazed by how cheap and nasty it was in reality.

I used to HATE Debenhams but now like it. I really think it depends on what store you go to - the one in Cheltenham is in a new shopping centre and is an absolute pile of kack, it's really cramped and dingy. Plus, there is no point going to Debenhams in Cheltenham where there is a huge (and brilliant) House of Fraser down the road.

But I like the one in Gloucester - it is the only shop in the city worth going in apart from H&M, and it is rather large and laid out really well. I don't really buy that many clothes from there but they have bargains in the kitchen goods, the shoe section is brilliant, the make up counters are staffed by HUMAN BEINGS and the cafe is lovely.

Plus for the past 2 years I have got loads of christmas presents for pennies by shopping there late on Chrostmas Eve when they have reduced loads of stuff.

YABU to even expect Debenhams to be naice nice. Our local store smells of gravy - bleugh

I go to ones in Leeds and they seem ok. I only buy baby clothes and toddler clothes from there though and when they are in a sale.

I won't pay full price for anything from there

Their childrens clothes are really nice - bought some stuff for my nieces for christmas (in the sale natch) and they seem a lot better than Next, Mothercare etc for about the same price.