to ask what, exactly, is the problem with Primark?

[waltermittymissus]

Seems that it's a dirty word on mumsnet lately.

In Ireland it's called Penneys and people love it (I think!)

Anway, just wondered if you think it's awful why is it awful?

I went to a Primark once. Didn't like it. In fact, I hated it. I hated feeling claustrophobic, I hated the piled up clothes, I hated the queues and I hated the forlornness of the place. I also hated every item I clapped eyes on. I'm perfectly prepared that if you are prepared to sweat, and I do mean sweat, for an hour or so, you might possibly come up with something wearable. But then again you might not and it's an hour of your life that you'll loathe and never get back. So why bother?

Not much from Primark here simply because Matlan is nearer.

Lots of Matlan Pjs and DD2 has a lovely long T shirt they have all been washed and washed. DD1s pjs have had a very unfortunate teen age girl life. They are still going strong despite soaking in hydrogen peroxide more than once.

Meanwhile the quality of next girls leggings is a disgrace.

However top of my moan list are £35 jasper conran coloured jeans. The back pockets are falling off. It's a horrible bit of sewing to do neatly as I need to relate the top stiching

Our local one is like the 7th circle of hell.

I bought two dresses from Primark last year. One black shift dress and one grey shift dress. Both are lined, fit me perfectly, go in the piggin' washing machine; do not need ironing and when I tell people that they come from Primark they do not believe me. Oh and they cost 10.00 pong each!!

I have not found anything better - I would say that my only complaint is as usual the design this year has changed so cannot get similar in different colours

can I just boast
I got some pj's for my teen dd
in peacocks, £2,50 a pair instead of £9
she is now well stocked up

Repair,

I'd like to relate my displeasure to debenham's but DD1 loves them and won't let me take them back.

Because some people might view working up a sweat as a fair payment in exchange for clothes they've not really got the spare cash to pay for.

It's packed full because more people have got less at the min.

My last post was to ladylaz.

My local Primark has mahoosive queues for the till and I always think it's going to take fucking ages.

But they always have at least 10 or 12 tills open so the queue really moves quite fast.

I love Primark! And H&M too whilst we're talking budget shops! I buy Primark vest tops, jewellery, jeans (they're doing great patterned ones lately), bikinis, cardigans, kids nightwear, jeans for DS, the list goes on

Some clothes haven't lasted well, but others have lasted for ages.

Primark is great for pyjamas and lounge around the house stuff. I find their women's wear is awful, occasionally I might see something worth buying. The fabrics they use always seems to have the worst designs on them. They always look really shoddy.

I did buy some towels and bedding though and the towels are still going strong.

I love the pjs Im wearing the tracksuit kind now and they have lasted better than any others ones I have bought. They make great christmas gifts too as do their dressing gowns with all the christmassy motifs. Not all the stuff is good quality but then what kind of quality is a £200 pair of shoes? They still wear down same as any other. Justify that? I find the trousers too long but overall usually manage to spend a small fortune.

I love Pradamark

Primarni is very hit and miss. Had some stuff from there that's lasted for ages and others have fell to bits pretty quickly. You take pot luck really.
Am I the only one who thinks its not particularly cheap anymore for the fact your clothes may last a couple of washes?
IMO you can't beat store twenty one.

I've never 'got' Primark, Yes, it's cheap and cheerful. It's also cheap and nasty material though, sorry.
Now I'm all for a bargain, and boak at stupid prices. I'm more of a supermarket range girl myself (George at Asda has lovely quality clothing )
Primark though - after a few washes I find it's gone all bobbly, and generally crap. You're better forking out on better material.

Futtheshuckup - nope, not just you - it DOES fall to bits pretty quickly, and in my experience the material has been crap and rough (I have shocking skin and can feel the difference. )
It's poor quality clothes in my opinion.

People who are on a low income know they're poor quality clothes chardonnay, and know other people might well judge them/treat them differently because of their lack of options, and that's the problem.

Primark is used in the same way as MaccyDs or fruitshoots are used as a shortcut to judgy hoiking and superiority.

I have reserves because of the child labour aspect. On the other hand it is the only shop I know of that gives priority to disabled customers.

And I think we should be more critical of a place selling jeans for £100+ using child labour and making £95 profit.

Primark =socks, pjs and bras (if you are flat chested like me... their padded ones are ace)

I detest the women's clothes.. nylon and tacky generally, but the men's have surprisingly decent t shirts, shorts and tops..and their underwear washes and lasts. DS1 who is 19 LOVES their thermal tight fitting t shirts.. and at £4 I'm not complaining!

I'm not a clothes snob ..I wear my Barbour and Hunters with Primark and H+M quite happily as long as the clothes do the job!

See the Primark you're all describing: well I've never actually found Penneys to be like that! Sometimes it's very busy yes, but all the swearing, sweating, claustrophobia? Not at all!

Plus the clothes last IMO. I dress my children in Penneys, head to toe and they wear the stuff till they outgrow it!

I bought some clothes from Primark last year, including PJ's. I was having a major operation - kidney removal and I knew I was going to be very sore and swollen. I also got some stuff from H&M. I didn't want to spend a fortune and I wanted stretchy, soft, loose clothes.

I have to say that the PJ's and a couple of tops from Primark are still going strong, as is the stuff from H&M. Tbh I've bought more expensive clothes from Topshop and Warehouse and the quality was awful. I paid £60 for a dress from warehouse and £50 for a jumper from Topshop and they didn't wash well and they only lasted for a few washes. I bought a dress from Primark over 2 years ago and it's only just got a hole in it. People would always compliment me on it.

I personally reall like H&M, although I find people also look down on it. I've had clothes from there that have lasted for years. Admittedly some of them have not been as good. I can't afford clothes from places like Boden, can't really justify the expense and I don't really like them anyway.

I love Warehouse & Oasis clothes, but the quality is shit when you consider how much they cost.

I don't look down on Primark, some of their stuff is good, especially PJ's and socks, and the odd thing is nice and lasts well. Generally I don't tend to like the quality and I've noticed that some of the stuff in there is falling apart on the hangers in the shop! If you something in there why not buy it though?

I love Primark, but we don't have one where I live (Jersey), so it's quite coveted. At work whenever someone goes to the UK they get sent with a huge list of stuff to buy!

I used to shop there when I was at Uni, but haven't managed to get there since buying our house, or having the DC, so I feel cheated that I never checked out all the kiddies and homeware stuff

I lived in their leggings and yoga pants when pregnant - never bought any maternity wear.

There are 2 Primarks near me. One is a bit jumble sale ish, but the other is no different to M&S in terms of layout and tidiness.

Those of you saying the fabrics are cheap and nasty, have you shopped in any of the high st shops recently? All the fabrics are awful at the moment because of the price of cotton.

I don't like Primark as I don't agree with throwaway fashion. If I want something I save up/buy something decent that will last me a while, which I can then pass on to the charity shop in good nick.
I did used to shop in Primark when it was decent quality (I have 2 dresses & some underwear which is 10yrs old & still looks decent, bought a tshirt in there 2 years ago and it was unwearable after a month or 2).

M&S are probably worse quality than Primark.
Lesely, you're not missing out not buying Boden, it's awful quality.