To think John Lewis should stock my size?

[29herzie]

Should I expect John Lewis to stock the new winter coat I want in a size 18? DH thinks I should just stop going on about it but I am peeved that I made a special trip into town to buy the coat ( which goes up to a 20 on the brand website) to find that JL only sell it up to a 16. I would by it direct but I have lots of JL vouchers for my birthday and I also wanted to try it on. There has also been a history of deliveries going missing from our doorstep which makes me reluctant to buy online. I would like to fit the 16 but I'm only 2 weeks post baby and need room for enormous boobs! ( well and huge tummy/bum - oops)

I'm 5'5 and have never tried trousers or jeans on that are too long so I very much doubt that in general clothes are designed for 5'8 height.
It's unfortunate they didn't have your size OP but as others have said, anyone could go to a shop and find they didn't have their size stocked in a particular item. I would just order online and use the vouchers for something else

Average - 50th percentile is on growth charts in childs red book at about 5'4 and a bit. 5'8 is more like 98th or 99th percentile so 1/100 or so are taller.
I agree it feels short.
I wonder if its the heels people wear. Or that it really means 75% of overall population is taller (as almost all men will also be. And if people are shorter its not much

You can use JL vouchers online.

If you think buying clothes in size 18 is difficult, try buying them when you are 4" 10"!!

You can't do anythning about being only 4'10" because that is an accident of birth. And seeing as the vast vast majority of women are much taller there are few other very short women so the choice is very limited.

OTOH, you can do something about being size 18.

I'm 5'2. Feeling really short now!

OP,I agree with you. Size 18 is not an unusual size, so ought to be stocked.

I run a clothing shop, and we have very occasionally been challenged on customers about why we don't stock plus sizes. The simple fact is we are here to make money, and in the first year of business it was the biggest sizes that went in the sale every season, so we stopped buying them!

This is a different situation - a large department store serves a different customer than a small independent boutique - but the principle is the same. They will stock what makes them the most money.

Shops will only stock what they think will sell well. It makes no business sense to stock things which are unlikely to sell, especially more expensive things.

I am 5ft 2, used to be a size 18/20 and buying clothes that fitted well was a nightmare! Most petite brands didn't go big enough.

I have now lost a lot of weight and I am a 32e bra size. Makes buying bras interesting, especially when I don't want to spend a fortune, but I can understand why the likes of asda don't stock them because they aren't going to sell enough.

98th percentile in the red book is 5'9.5, which bis exactly what I am.

I think yabu op, buying clothes if you are tall is harder these days than finding a size 18. There are loads of nice trousers/dresses I can't wear that's life.

This must be one of the weirdest threads I've ever seen.

FGS OP no shop is obliged to stock anything. They stock what will sell according to their customers' needs. They won't buy in size 18s if they think they are going to stay on the hangers.

M&S for example do bras in loads of sizes online but when I've traipsed to their flagship store in Marble Arch they are usually sold out so then I have to order online.

Also OP if your deliveries go missing from your doorstep, that's your fault for not being at home to receive them. If people are stealing goods left on the doorstep contact the police or better still arrange for the goods to be left with a neighbour or at your post office. Why would you expect something to be left on your doorstep- and not possibly be nicked?

As a 4'11" woman I am at the idea of 5'4" being short. As others have said that's roughly the uk average height for women. My sister is 5'8" and she is definitely taller than average. I have a colleague who is 5'10" and she struggles to get clothes and shoes that fit her.

Oops forgot to answer the OP. YANBU... I can't see any reason why you shouldn't at least be able to order a size 18 online from JL.

They're a shop not a public service

They'll be basing their stock on a whole lot of information they've got about what sells, where and when. They're not making a comment on the acceptability of size, just simple economics

I am 5'8 and can assure you that clothes are definitely not designed with me in mind. I always have to buy the long version of any trousers or jeans.

My impression is that JL mainly cater for a slim to average demographic. Just like M&S only cater for women with average/wide/very wide feet. Not a single pair of shoes or boots in their offering fits my slim heels and ankles (size 4.5). And don't get me started about size 30D/DD bras. But that's fine, it's their decision what they want to sell.

You could buy it and get it delivered to john Lewis, go and collect it and try it on in store. If you like it get a refund and buy it again there and then with your vouchers

Miz10 JL don't sell size 18 online or in store, even though the coat exists in size 18. OP will have to buy elsewhere.

John Lewis sell loads of stuff in a size 18 (or certainly used to...). No idea why they wouldn't for one brand. Seems v odd.

Also OP if your deliveries go missing from your doorstep, that's your fault for not being at home to receive them.

Really?? I'd say it was the postman's fault for leaving them on the doorstep. If someone tries to deliver a parcel to my house when I'm out, then I'd expect the parcel to taken back to the delivery depot (or left with a neighbour if we didn't have one of those "don't leave our parcels with a neighbour" stickers up)

Daschund whilst I perfectly understand why you don't stock plus sizes I think it is part of a bit of a widerspread chicken and egg situation.

You probably didn't sell many plus sizes as most small boutique places don't stock them, so I personally never look in independent shops for clothes as I don't want to find something I like to then be disappointed they don't go to my size.

So you were probably left with loads as plus size ladies don't think you will cater for them so don't come in to look. Nothing at all personal about you/your business just based probably on past experience.

OP I agree with previous suggestion - buy direct from supplier, and then use the JL vouchers for christmas presents or a waitrose shop.

There are millions of coats in the shops. If a shop does not stock what you want go to another shop. A shop has no duty to stock a particular brand, size, colour or anything.

By the way, they also don't stock all the colours of Le Creuset kitchenware in their shop - should I make a fuss?

JL are one of the few shops where you can get good quality, good customer service and a fair price - yet because of that people seem to expect them to be something akin to a public service. I can't imagine the OP saying something like this about Top Shop or Harvey Nicks or Primark or the little local boutique.

Good advice about post-baby weight loss though. Good luck OP

Maybe it's because they have good customer service etc that people expect more of them than other shops?

Bond usually- but agree not always- couriers text to say a parcel is due for delivery. A postman is unlikely to deliver a bit parcel like clothing. Ours don't. They usually come via DPD, or Yodel, or Hermes. I always get an email and text or follow Track My Parcel. If I am going to be ought I leave instructions for them either online or with a note on the door. So yes, a postman ought not to leave a parcel on the step and if it happens complain to Royal Mail and the police.

Awake I find M*S and JL have a good selection of 30D/ 30DD bras- in fact I am wearing one now!

Awake- M&s sell hardly anything to fit my wide feet. What they do have is so pointy in the toe or grannified as to be unsuitable, anyhow.