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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to expect changing rooms in M&S kidswear?

43 replies

nicola101 · 16/08/2014 16:13

I went to my local (Nottingham) M&S store today to buy school uniform for my son (with him and 3 year old daughter in tow). The kidswear is located on the lower ground floor next to the food (odd in itself - used to be on the first floor). I chose to go into the store as I knew he'd need to try things on and we needed to go to Clarks for shoes and I thought it would be easier than to buy online and do returns. How wrong i was! Firstly they were pretty much out of size 7-8 in grey school trousers but I managed to find 3 styles to try on plus PE shorts, then when I looked for the changing rooms I was told I would have to go to the first floor! Remember I'm on the lower ground and to get to the first floor I would have had to walk through the food, go up an escalator, walk through ladies wear either to get to another escalator to the first floor and across lingerie to get to the first floor changing or across ladieswear in another direction to get to the ground floor changing rooms. I challenged the staff member and he said they had complained but to no avail. So, we ended up hiding in a corner to try things on. On my way out I saw 4 members of 'management' and I asked them why there were no changing rooms - I was told that specific kids changing rooms had been removed as a business initiative as an 'incident' had taken place in a different store and therefore all changing rooms had been removed. The actions of one affecting the majority - surely it's worse that I had to undress my son on the shop floor (obviously my liability!). The staff were very apologetic and said they were campaigning as their store layout was unique in not having any changing rooms on the floor - I suspect there are many people in head office wondering why people are going to John Lewis instead, well I'll add this to the many reasons why I do normally and will do next time! (And worse still, I was so stressed I forgot to use my 20% off voucher!)

OP posts:
PureMorning · 16/08/2014 16:16

You didnt have to fo it on the shop floor.

Just go to the changing rooms. Its up an escalator not in another county

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 16/08/2014 16:19

Jeez get a grip you lazy sod! Honestly it's a bit of a faff but hardly the end of the world having to go up an escalator.

JimmyCorkhill · 16/08/2014 16:20

Bit harsh. Clothes shopping with kids in tow is not always easy. Having to trek around the store might use up the last of their cooperation. I don't ever go with my DD. I'd rather walk to and from town twice (one visit to buy and one to return items) rather than have her with me!

itiswhatitiswhatitis · 16/08/2014 16:22

Plus if you managed to find 3 styles of trouser to try on they were not 'pretty much out of 7-8 trousers'

LadyLuck10 · 16/08/2014 16:22

Fgs what did you want staff to do about it. You probably spent more energy 'challenging' everyone than if you had not been lazy and went up one escalator Hmm

SilentBob · 16/08/2014 16:23

I am astounded that you 'expect' children's change rooms at all tbh. I have never though "oh, no, that's far too far from the school uniforms, I'll change my child here in the store"- I have looked for change rooms, walked to them and not given it a second thought.

It's a few metres walk, not a long haul flight.

dawnlight · 16/08/2014 16:26

YANBU. I took my 8 yr old ds to M&S to buy a suit for a wedding. They had just what we wanted but were unsure of size. He needed to try several pairs of trousers and 2 shirts. Couldn't believe that there wasn't a childrens changing room. I had to literally drag ds into the women's changing room as he now considers himself too grown up for that and was insisting on using the men's on his own.
Also, the changing room was two flights up at the other end of the shop, so not convenient to nip out and get other items if we needed to.

TheFairyCaravan · 16/08/2014 16:29

FFS M&S Nottingham is not that big!

I manage to bimble around in my crutches and don't mither about having to go upstairs to buy ladies clothes/undies. I even managed it when I had two kids in tow!

Panzee · 16/08/2014 16:31

I never knew people went to the fuss of trying clothes on kids. Just hold it up to their body, you can see straight away if it fits.

dawnlight · 16/08/2014 16:31

jimmycorkhill That's exactly what did happen. Ds has a tolerance of an hour at most for shopping, and it was all used up with finding the women's changing rooms, queuing for the women's changing rooms and then getting him in the women's changing rooms.

TheFairyCaravan · 16/08/2014 16:33

Panzee I used to think they finished school in X size, I'll buy The next size up and ordered of the internet. I rarely had to send them back and was much easier than dragging them round the shop!

dawnlight · 16/08/2014 16:34

Normally I don't panzee but I'd already bought and returned several outfits and had to take them back due to poor fit. He's tall and skinny, and I wanted him to look smart.

WooWooOwl · 16/08/2014 16:39

Do they always have the children's wear so far away from the changing rooms, or is it just a seasonal thing while they have all the 'back to school' stuff out?

Either way, I don't think it's that big a deal. It's a minor irritation, that's all.

ilovesooty · 16/08/2014 16:47

I was so stressed I forgot to use my 20% off voucher!

Really? I would imagine 20% off is a big deal for a lot of people and they'd remember to use it unless they were traumatised.

PenisesAreNotPink · 16/08/2014 16:50

I am shocked anyone tries anything on kids unless it's a coat. I'd have just bought it and then taken it back or ordered a different size.

In ten children I've never taken any of them shopping. I don't really view shopping as a leisure activity though.

Sounds like a whole heap of stress to me, I just order everything online.

Sirzy · 16/08/2014 16:53

I thought that Panzee. I have never considered trying anything on DS, check its adjustable waist, hold it against him. Job done.

I don't expect changing rooms on every floor either, if I want to try something on I will happily walk to where the closest one is if that is upstairs then thats fine

micah · 16/08/2014 16:53

Does anybody remember the days when M&s didn't have changing rooms at all?

They had and amazing returns/refund policy instead.

You took it home, tried it on, returned it if it didn't fit...

dawnlight · 16/08/2014 16:55

I don't think anyone here has described buying kids clothes a leisure activity. Hmm

HeySoulSister · 16/08/2014 16:56

What w big fuss about nothing much!

HeySoulSister · 16/08/2014 16:57

It's another to add to the list from the other thread!

Children now need changing rooms within metres of the clothes rails! Poor precious little darlings cannot do without!

dawnlight · 16/08/2014 16:58

It's not always practical or possible to spend 2 trips buying and returning, or ordering online and then return. (And then presumably have to do that all over again.

Easier and less wasteful for me to:
Take child
Try on
Buy
Go home.

cosikitty · 16/08/2014 17:02

Well. it's a slight inconvenience to go up a floor to the changing room, but not the end of the world, better than changing in a corner of the store. You sound bone idle.

dawnlight · 16/08/2014 17:02

I don't think it's too much to ask, considering the profit M&S makes on clothes, to have accessible changing rooms for everyone on each floor.

LittleG69 · 16/08/2014 17:02

It's more likely that when they moved the children's clogging to the lower ground (and it is a bit odd having it down there with food) they didn't want the expense of having to put in changing rooms.

Mind you, the queues at the M and S changing rooms are usually so lengthy in the Nottingham store that I just try on at home and bring back if not suitable.

northlight · 16/08/2014 17:03

A set of free standing 'saloon door' type cubicals would do the job. Older kids would have privacy and parents can keep an eye out.

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