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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

127 replies

GloGirl · 19/09/2015 12:47

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.

OP posts:
Autumnnights1 · 21/09/2015 00:02

Their clothes are and always have been of good quality.

Spectre8 · 21/09/2015 00:08

M&S is a god send for me as I have wide feet and I can at least buy decent ankle boots and shoes that fit! I dared to go into Zara to buy some lovely loafers but they were far too narrow :( that will teach me!

EnthusiasmDisturbed · 21/09/2015 00:11

They have far too many ranges. You used to go to M&S for a good quality basic jumper or polo neck, shirt, classic skirt or trousers a little more expensive than other shops but simple in style and well made now they seem to design for a very middle age beige look and the quality is not as good. Their jumpers are cut differently and have a granny look, skirts too many panels and shirts horrible patterns

DepecheNO · 21/09/2015 01:56

I'm always shocked by how cheap-looking and garish some of their stuff is. I do go to M&S for knickers, though. Don't think I'd chance Sainsbo as I bought myself some men's socks there which fell apart in record time. Where else is good for basics like underwear, especially tights?

DepecheNO · 21/09/2015 01:57

I do buy their ready meals sometimes when they're reduced as close-dated. Nicer than elsewhere but only then approaching a reasonable price.

MissHavishamDreams · 21/09/2015 08:01

YABU.
I think M&S lost its way a bit a few years ago with the clothing styles but they are absolutely bang on trend at the moment and I think people just like jumping on the bandwagon with them.
I was in the other day, their shoes and winter boots selection is great, similar to Boden, FatFace etc and their clothes are great, extremely current. They had some gorgeous shawls with Missoni-esque prints which I'll be going back for.
Add to that their amazing food and their stylish and comfortable Children's clothes at reasonable prices. Oh and the the children's shoes are fantastic!
Don't get the M&S bashing at all.

taxguru · 21/09/2015 10:22

Sizing and quality control is poor these days. I liked the look of some jeans, tried on a couple of pairs to get the right size. Bought the same in another colour, only to get home and try them on, and despite the labels being the same size, the length and waist are a good 2 or 3 inches different.

My OH has been going on about sizing for a while now too. I thought he was just getting fat as he keeps complaining some of his shirts are tight around the waist and neck. The labels show the same size, but I compared some the other day when ironing and yes, definitely a few inches different round the waist. And don't get him started on the arm length - some are so long they make him look like a gorilla - one in particular has a very short body and long arms, body so shirt it hardly tucks into his pants!

We definitely buy a lot more stuff from Debenhams these days. M&S used to be our "first place" to shop, but now we find it very hard to buy anything from them.

PatricianOfAnkhMorpork · 21/09/2015 10:32

MissHavisham Not sure which store you were in but Lakeside was completely rubbish on Saturday.

I had a simple list - a new pair of smart trousers for work, possibly a dress for work, a couple of jumpers, another pair of jeans and a wrap/shawl. Found absolutely nothing that I even wanted to try on let alone buy. Had a quick gander at the shoes and most of them were so frumpy. I was quite prepared to spend a fairly significant sum of money to top up my autumn wardrobe and ended up only spending about £20 on some more tights.

I wasn't the only one either, quite a few other women were commenting that it was poor too.

PatricianOfAnkhMorpork · 21/09/2015 10:34

taxguru I've noticed that too with the sizing. I picked up a couple of linen shirts for himself at the summer that looked identical to some we got a couple of years ago. Except they were at least 4" smaller round the waist. Arm lengths are ridiculous too.

RockinHippy · 21/09/2015 15:13

GoT to admit I've found the sizing pretty rubbish recently too

I bought 1x Per Una dress & 1 x M&S usually range - both size 12, Per Una fits lovely - the other needed swapping for a 16!!

Fashion design/pattern making has been my trade for more years than I care to mention, so I do know my sizing well .- & non way am I a 16!

I noticed today too, I spotted a video advert of the per Una dress that I bought on a model - it's well above the knee on her, had I seen that it would have put me off buying it - it's calf length on me & I'm not particularly short at 5'4.5"

RedRosie · 22/09/2015 07:28

I agree with MissHavisham and said some of this upthread. I think it has lost it's way a bit generally, but there is some great stuff in there for autumn/winter and there has been a general improvement over the last year...

I am very lucky though, in that I live in London and have access to some of the bigger stores... I don't know what it's like so much elsewhere. Perhaps there is a divide between the big cities and the smaller stores where they can't carry so much stock?

Overall, I think its doing ok given where it sits in the marketplace - a tough place to be indeed - and feel supportive.

I do wish they would focus more on good basics, natural fabrics and 'made in Britain' all of which I'm happy to pay a premium for.

mummytime · 22/09/2015 07:33

Their food is great - and expanding massively (Petrol Stations and Motorway service stations).

My local store is obviously a bit of a flagship - as I noticed last time I went in - it has been reorganised again, and looks quite good. The two "out of town one" closest are always a bit rubbish, and jumble saley. They need to either re-organise or get rid of them, they do the brand no good.

Scremersford · 22/09/2015 10:02

The "jumble sale" description - that is what I think of when I think about M&S clothing. They need to revamp their store layout and concentrate on a far smaller range but really hit the note with key items, so they sell quickly and people clamour to buy them. But instead they are stuck offering a vast range to cover everyone. I remember (because I don't bother going in now) that the clothes looked nice on hangers, good range, colours, etc. but the tailoring and shape were awful/practically missing and just seemed to be a random shape going up all the sizes.

The shoes are awful and frumpy, plasticy and hard. As with the clothes, I don't know why you would buy them there and not in a proper shoe shop with better range.

The underwear seems a bit cheap and thin material.

The furniture is good but always seems to be on the miniature side, and is expensive.

The food is good but I've noticed some items are getting to be a bit poor quality. But unlike with the food, they do concentrate on key items and some of them just make you want to go into M&S to get them.

WoodleyPixie · 22/09/2015 12:41

Maybe I am just lucky with the stores near me then? I went into the Reading town centre store first thing this morning (had a 9.30 appointment and m&s opens at 9 whereas everything else is 9.30), had a browse and saw a fair few nice things, everything laid out well. Good grouping of colour palettes and to the front of the store is Autograph and the other side Per Una. Lots of plain knitwear and decent thickness of cotton plain t-shirts, assortment of necklines and sleeve lengths.

My only complaint this morning was that I couldn't find the older girls nightwear.

Other store near me is a huge superstore at Camberley. That's always handy as its next door to a huge next as well, so can guarantee if one doesn't have it the other does. Also a Tesco but I hate Tesco so avoid where possible.

Alexjoy · 22/09/2015 13:00

They should stick to food.

GeorginaWorsley · 22/09/2015 14:38

I agree with people who say it has improved recently.
I have had numerous pairs of shoes and boots, some great Limited Collection tees and vests, jeans,Autograph tops and tees in slouchy shapes and great material and that's in past few months.
Oh and a navy biker jacket .
I rarely buy anything in Next and I really don't like the Primark.
John lewis though. ..I could move inGrin

Wearyheadedlady · 22/09/2015 15:40

Georgina. That is why John Lewis is often referred to as "The Mother Ship"

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 22/09/2015 16:43

Woodley, the Camberley one used to be my nearest one and I could get easily to Guildford too. They seem to have far fewer staff on the floor these days.

I was told that the discrepancy in sizing comes from having different manufacturers. I tried to buy trousers and the same size but different styles were massively different.

GeorginaWorsley · 22/09/2015 19:23

Smileweary

FiftyShadesOfSporn · 22/09/2015 19:31

My very aged mother went to her local M&S on the bus the other day. Her bus pass was in in her wallet, and somehow she must have dropped it without noticing. She trotted round M&S all unaware until she came to pay for her groceries - and couldn't. She had no cash money at all with her.

The M&S lady went off for a conflab in the back and came out with a fiver for her bus fare, and told her to take the groceries with her.

That's why M&S is still part of our national DNA

Pleasemrstweedie · 22/09/2015 19:33

Thermal t shirts and chicken jalfrezi and cotton nighties. Otherwise I don't bother. Horrible colours and saggy knickers. They just don't seem to be able to get it right.

GeorginaWorsley · 22/09/2015 19:34

fifty
What a fantastic story.
Marks should be proud.
That wouldn't happen in Primark Wink

Heelsdown · 22/09/2015 20:03

I use the Kingston Branch of M&S regularly. I go in one side and walk straight through the middle and out to the main road on the other side.

I occasionally glance around as I take this regular short cut and wonder who the hell wears their awful frumpy clothes, and I'm retired.

Original poster
GloGirl · 22/09/2015 20:04

Ahh fifty that's so lovely

OP posts:
Redcrayons · 22/09/2015 21:21

Ah Fifty, what a lovely story.

I went to my local one last Christmas. When I went to the till I realised I had expired vouchers in my purse rather than the current ones (which I left at home). The lovely man on the till gave me the discount anyway. I didn't even have the M&s credit card with me, and the vouchers belong to my husband!

Customer service is the best!