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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the hatred for Next is just backlash against the popular and successful?

297 replies

cosikitty · 09/04/2014 22:18

I don't get it, they stock such a wide range of products and styles how can everyone on here hate them? Whatever you find in other shops, you can generally find in Next too.

It's just bandwagonning isn't it? It's popular so it's cool to say you hate them isn't it?

In my eyes, if I want nice kids clothes Next has it- from cute and girly, to hooker style, to nautical, to traditional, whatever you want they have it!

They have women's stuff in formal, casual, tarty, frumpy, maternity, everything under the sun.

I shop in loads of places, including Next, but all the Next hatred puzzles me.

OP posts:
yegodsandlittlefishes · 10/04/2014 08:04

I've never liked the way Next do sales though. I can't see the attraction of a jumble sale with hangers, not unless they really are jumble sale prices, which they never are.

Sirzy · 10/04/2014 08:20

I would rather a sale like next whereby you actually get a decent amount off things than the way other places do it where they have a 'sale' with just pence off the normal price!

lessonsintightropes · 10/04/2014 08:23

Clothing poor quality and doesn't fit me. Homewear not my taste.

LEMmingaround · 10/04/2014 08:24

I wasn't aware next was hated but it has really gone downhill lately. It used to be my goto shop for dd's basics but now I avoid. Badly fitting cheap tat at high prices and wtf is hooker style? Please tell me its a rugby reference

vitaminC · 10/04/2014 08:26

Not aware of a hate campaign, but lots of posters have stated recently (and I agree wholeheartedly) that in recent years their prices have gone way up and the quality way down! Sad

LEMmingaround · 10/04/2014 08:26

Sirzy you will never see theit normal stuff reduced its just shit made for the sale. Monsoon have a brilliant sale. Can't afford full price but the sale kits my dd out.

Madamecastafiore · 10/04/2014 08:31

I do buy some of their brandef goods and an awful lot of gym kit from there but compared to when they first started out are really unimaginative.

I prefer Hush, All Saints, baulken and Gap.

Primark are a lot better than next for basics like vests for under shirts too

Grennie · 10/04/2014 08:32

Next used to be aspirational. It wasn't cheap, but you could find some amazing stuff in there. I used to see it as the best designed clothes with good quality that you could buy, without buying designer wear. It lost that edge a long time ago.

So maybe it isn't so bad, and just another okay clothes shop. But it has fallen so far.

Georgina1975 · 10/04/2014 08:33

I can remember Next being viewed as quite high-end high street when I was at school (25 years ago). I like it for baby/kids stuff.

I think the style and quality of the women's clothes are pretty awful - I ordered somebody stuff about 6 months ago and it all felt cheap. I have a particular dislike for Lipsy though. I think it looks like a bunch of toddlers have gone mad with cheap fabrics, sequins and glitter sticks.

BlueberryWoods · 10/04/2014 08:35

I'm surprised a few posters have said it's frumpy and too old for them. I always thought it was a young person's shop. When I first started work it was where everyone went.
DH gets his shirts there - they do a good 'slim fit' that fit him better than other shops.

MaryWestmacott · 10/04/2014 08:39

I don't hate Next, but it's been years since I've bought anything in there, despite it being one of those shops I often will pop in to as there's one in a small shopping area I go to.

I am surprised they aren't in more trouble though. I do wonder who is keeping them afloat!

The woman's clothes are made of cheap materials that often look cheap from a distance, yet are priced higher than New Look, Top Shop, H&M - and aren't as fashionable as those shops. I wonder why anyone will pay that for crappy materials, Next used to make decent stuff! i can't remember the last time I saw a pair of shoes in there I liked and there were leather, it's always fake crap.

Their underwear isn't as good as M&S - but priced about the same. Their t-shirts and jumpers aren't as good as gap but priced about the same. Their dresses and 'going out' clothes aren't as good as Topshop but priced about the same. Their casual clothes aren't as good as New Look or H&M but priced about the same. Their work clothes look cheap and aren't as good as Oasis, but priced about the same. See the theme? There's always somewhere else selling smarter/more fashionable, better quality clothes for roughly the same price or cheaper. So I really don't understand why they haven't gone under - I wonder if it's just some people don't have the time/energy to look elsewhere...

Oh and I'm sure their children's clothes are great, but there's not much of a range in our local one - so I wouldn't know to comment on them.

poorincashrichinlove · 10/04/2014 08:39

Over priced tat. I would rather buy second hand high end than spend my money on trashy, unimaginitive, mass produced, inferior quality stuff.

FloatMyBoat · 10/04/2014 08:40

I always feel the odd one out as everyone around me loves Next Kids clothes but i don't like their kids collection at all! To me it's all wishy washy colours and over priced for what it is. I much prefer H&M and Gap.

yegodsandlittlefishes · 10/04/2014 08:43

I would rather a sale where if I see a few great garments I cannot afford, I can wait for the sales and get some of them out of season at a reduced price. Or, I go to a shopping village and try there. I've never seen any clothes I like in Next sales.

HappyMummyOfOne · 10/04/2014 08:48

I love Next for children's wear, practically everything DS had as a baby came from there as it washes so well. Now we buy the bulk from there with some George bits. Next do slim fitting and adjustable waists which is great.

Ladies wise, I love some things and not others but never found a shop I like everything in so no different. Hate Primark with a passion but Matalan has odd nice thing but is a bit frumpy recently.

poorincashrichinlove · 10/04/2014 08:50

And forgot to mention - (I have no personal experience of this) aren't Next rubbish employers? Offer mostly part time minimum wage or zero hours/seasonal contracts that do nothing to help people get off benefits and improve quality of life. Greedy corporate fat cats, ew. Not jealous of success, just opposed to success at the expense of human well being (most of their 'goods' are made in 3rd world).
Aahhh rant over

SinisterBuggyMonth · 10/04/2014 08:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

formerbabe · 10/04/2014 08:51

I love their children's clothes!

I am not a fan of the women's stuff...I find it extremely bland.

FutTheShuckUp · 10/04/2014 08:52

Cosikitty wtf are you so bothered if people think next is crap? Talk about over invested ffs

Nancy66 · 10/04/2014 08:54

it's just not a shop I ever consider.

their more formal 'office' clothes all look like the Halifax staff uniform and their casual stuff is cheaply made and naff

People who miss Christmas with their families to camp out and get slightly cheaper towels on Boxing Day absolutely baffle me.

Twattyzombiebollocks · 10/04/2014 08:57

I like their kids clothes, it's no more expensive than most and is usually pretty or funky, and has adjustable waist, useful as I have 2 skinny noodles and a chubby little chunk.
Women's clothing I love the fact that they do long length pjs, after years of having to wear pjs that look like I've grown out of them, having warm ankles and wrists is a revelation.
Like the fact that they do tall range but it pisses me off that the range of colours in the tall basics is basically black grey or white, unlike the petite.
Quality is indifferent I find for the money, but hey, I'd rather it fits and lasts 6 months than last 5 years and not fit properly!

FutTheShuckUp · 10/04/2014 08:57

Snorrrrtt at 'Halifax staff uniform'

Chocotrekkie · 10/04/2014 09:00

I don't like their customer service - bought some chairs online and I had a £20 off voucher

Delivered the wrong colour - their mistake but they tried to charge me for returns

Then the correct colour arrives and they have refused to honor the voucher.

Many many phone calls later it got sorted. It should only have taken 1.

Then a few weeks later they send me a bill for a catalogue I hadn't even had - I had been looking for it as my dd would have spent ages cutting it up and sticking onto paper.

Again took about 3 phone calls to sort out.

Havent used them since - but wouldn't say I hate them.

Their clothes say not to tumble dry them so won't buy them for that reason.

Pobblewhohasnotoes · 10/04/2014 09:03

I get most of DS's clothes from sainsburys (we've got a big one nearby), they're boys stuff is great.

Next men's stuff is ok, DH has a lovely slim fit suit from there which he wears to weddings. I totally do not get the fuss over the Next sale. It's full of stuff that looks like it's been out the back for years.

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 10/04/2014 09:07

Ive just taken the OP's 'Next' challenge and looked at their dresses.
Most of them I would exclude on the basis:

Knee length
Flared
Boxy bustlines
Loosely cut around the waist.

I also saw cap sleeves and frills (shudder)

I would call that 'mumsy' - I don't wear knee length items, I like tightfitted clothing and I like prints and styling to be edgier/harder. yes I am mutton dressed as lamb and proud

Also I am 5' 8" and their waistlines come under my bust.