AIBU to think M&S has had it's day?

[GloGirl]

Poor customer service yesterday when trying to return something and walking through their store yesterday was like walking through a jumble sale.

I think they're only trading off a good name now not adding to it.

I'm their dream customer too Matilda.

They should ask us what to do to put things right!

Their food doesn't excite me much at all tbh, especially now they seem to have stopped making leek and gruyere tarts, which were the only thing I really loved from there.

A lot of the food looks great, well presented etc for example lots of sandwich alternatives for people who have nipped in for a bite of lunch to have at their desk... But then you read the ingredients and sigh, go to Pret instead (or I do at least!).

As someone who is gluten free (and looking for lower carb options too), I see lots of interesting new salads, lunch platters of various kinds that look like they will suit me (fresh, lots of coloured and green veg, not too starchy looking), however usually gluten (that doesn't need to be there) in some form in the sauce or dressing.

It seems to me that they are cutting out a big part of their potential customer base by not understanding that the person who is looking for (example) a bread free lunch option is maybe cutting out wheat/gluten altogether (for whatever reason). Nobody is going to say "I'm not going to buy this tasty looking lunch because there is no gluten in the sauce" but plenty of people won't buy it if there is!

If the tweaked a few of their recipes I would spend much more in store.

I'm very irritated with their shoes and their habit of putting a leather symbol on the insole - but when you read the small print it's only the upper that's leather and they are lined with stinking plastic

Apart from that I think YAB a bit U, I think Autograph is on the whole OK, and the Limited collection in their large stores has some nice stuff. I think on the whole, quality is good too.

I like the food and uniforms. No
i dont think
Its had its day.

I like m&s. I think I must be old (39) but buy quite a bit there. It's good for underwear. I never know what the fuss is with the bra treads, just fit yourself? My favourite bras are from m&s and only £14 for a GG cup (which I realise is a G in say curvy kate) and basic cotton pants.

I've got a few basic pieces as we'll for work and some gorgeous dresses. I always find stuff for DD age 9 and H likes the pants as well.

Uniform is great, doesn't grey or get that washed out looks. Shirts actually come in cotton and not just poly cotton. Cheaper than john Lewis.

The food hall has good offers on. I often buy the 3for £10 or 4 for £12 offers as fab value and the meat much nicer than asda, or even sainsburys and the meal for 2 for £10 is fab value even taking into account buying an additional side as otherwise no veg. Good excuse for a lazy Saturday dinner. Pizza for the dc and a nice meal with a glass or two of wine for H and I.

Please don't go M&S. I really rate your click and collect as well. And those who want to be cutting edge and not 'mumsy' can bog off to topshop!

OUR M&S is closing down next Friday.

Those of you complaining about lack of plain cardigans and t-shirts, are you sure you are in m&s? I have a drawer full of plain cardigans in loads of colours and shapes and the same with the basic t-shirts and vests. All wash really well and handy for wearing to work or at the weekend.
My cardigans wash better than the Boden equivalent.

I quite like their ready meals. If I could actually eat many of them, I'd probably spend more in there. (Multiple food intolerances.) Occasionally I spot one I can eat - it's so nice not to always have to cook from scratch, but eat nice tasting food.

However, as a 28E, there is nothing for me in the bra section.

What RawCoconut said about gluten. Waitrose makes the same mistake

Well, this awkward. They've just emailed me and resolved my problem and been very nice about it. It would have been much better if I didn't have to jump up and down to get good CS in the first place

I love M&S. They are sometimes let down by individual staff but as a company, they do try.

Good prosecco, pants, kids' clothes, flowers, gift hampers, food and basics (inc footwear and nightwear). Sometimes you have to look but my local branches are very well catered and there's loads of choice. I also like the home and beauty sections.

I like it for school uniform and some of their food. Most of it is just microwaveable meals so I don't buy much. I would never buy my clothes from there as it is far too mature and not to my taste.

MatildaTheCat staff do put clothes in size order and then customers come and just dump clothes back wherever they like, whether it is sale items or not
I love limited collection.
I've bought clothes from there since i was 19 up to my early 30's.
I haven't been very impressed with their latest offerings though.
Plus some of it is overpriced.
I love their bras though. Fit me like a glove.
Their staff are mostly lovely. Always pleasant and helpful.
Management ( well one certain store, can't judge for other places) terrible.
To much time away from the floor, never helping their staff, obvious bullying that everyone can see on shopfloor that nothing is done about, too much work put on the workers. They wonder why they constantly have staff leaving.
Then there's always horrendous queues.
It is a shame as the name meant something years ago.

I've lived in the US for the last three years and I always stock up at M&S when I'm in the UK. Compared with some of the shops here, the quality is amazing! I was at the Marble Arch store last month and and spent £200 on children's clothing to bring back with me - much of it cheaper than US prices now too. An assistant saw me with armfuls of clothes and offered to bring me a trolley and then helped me find the school uniform bits I wanted. The lifts weren't working properly, which was annoying, and I was put out that a nightie I'd bought for DD was polyester, when the matching pajama set was 100% cotton, but aside from that, I was happy. Great service and good value. International shipping is free every so often and only usually takes a week to reach us.

Food - always missed, especially as we had an M&S Simply Food on our high street in London. Driving around the UK visiting relatives, it's always nice to find an M&S Simply Food at motorway services (only beaten by Waitrose with their mini lunch bags for kids). Again, my options here are limited - unless you want McDonald's. I think it's easy to knock somewhere like M&S but many people would miss it if it weren't there!

It has definitely lost its way as far as clothing is concerned, (shop does look like a jumble sale) and customer service is poor now, which it never used to be.

Too many refits and rebrandings, and get rid of Mark Bolland, who thinks the way to improve sales is to make good design into limited editions, restricting amounts made,
'otherwise everyone would buy it.'
???

Another expat here. Was in NI on holiday this summer and spent at least 2 hours walking round Belfast with 30w bump desperately trying to locate the M&S to satisfy my need for a) decent trousers for short dh and b) a carrot and Wensleydale sandwich. God, the food. Stuff of my homesick dreams.

I buy most of dh's work clothes there - he has a job where it would be intimidating to the people he deals with were he too formally dressed, but obviously needs IMO to look decent, and Germany really doesn't do short blokes, so the shorter leg lengths are a godsend. And he likes very plain stuff so I can usually find him something. They lost me as a customer for my clothes, though, when they stopped letting me order from the UK site because they had introduced a German one - which didn't have half the range or choice. No black leggings in petite, for instance. It may be better now, but I haven't been back. I was finding it increasingly hard to find nice, decently priced clothes anyway. Boden lets me order from their UK site, which works out at slightly better value than the German one depending on exchange rate.

I love M&S! Just wish I could afford to shop there!

I'm another one who is always annoyed by how few M and S lunch options are gluten free. I like crayfish salad, but it's expensive and I don't want it to be about the only thing I can eat if I need to buy lunch when away from home!

Not sure where my mum would shop if it went. Definitely still go to shop for the over 60s IMO.

They're great for basics. Most of my trousers and jeans are from there, not just because of the short length, but because they actually accommodate my bottom rather than running out of crotch half way.

Underwear again, although I would love to own matching underwear as apparently slim women with small bras aren't allowed to have pretty pants which can store a CS overhang and mum tum. Not that anyone else is catering for that need either.

DS has been kitted out with uniform from there, and is looking very smart in his slim fit polo shirt, and age 2-3 trousers (I can adjust the hem for growing room). Much nicer than yoinking in the waist of age 3-4 and looking like he's wearing a potato sack.

They struggle with fashion. Basics work well. A size 6 would be a good move as their 8 is overly generous compared to other brands, and I've learned not to buy tops or shirts there as they're overwhelming. (Monsoon also take note, your clothes are gorgeous but uselessly big so I can't buy your things).

Getting the basics right so that people can always return for reliable things like work trousers is a way to.stay distinct from the high fashion and quick fashion stores.

I'm late thirties. I go in and I'm just not sure which section is for/aimed at me. I agree too many really bright, gaudy patterns.

The baby and children's clothes I really like though. They have some lovely prints in the baby section.

M&S opened up again in Paris about 4 years ago and I have had a local M&S for 3 years. It's a godsend tbh. The value for money is excellent compared to French supermarkets.

I love their food, knickers & children's clothing.