TK Maxx - I bloody love it!

[FlatOnTheHill]

Im new so sorry if this has been done before.
Am I the only one that loves this shop?
All of my girlfriends and women work colleagues hate it.
I can spot quality a mile off. And whilst some stuff is not all that I have bought some lovely things in there. Clothes, shoes, home, even Penhaligons perfume, Christy towels, a Chloe coat, Coach shoes down to 40 quid from £145.
The bags I think have gone downhill. I hate labels that show by the way. But I can spend hours in there, luckily the Lakeside Essex branch has a loo and cafe. Do you love it or loathe it?

I love it. I can't be bothered rooting through the women's clothing but get all my bags there, lots of skin/hair products, towels, scarves, socks, pants, gloves, kitchen stuff, and love the baby clothes and baby stuff in general. The adult clothes sections just seem huge and rather daunting and I usually can't face those.

I know nothing about brands or labels so am not attracted by that. I'm also not hung up on sizes. I don't care what size the label says I hold it up and see whether I think it fits. I have clothes from size 10 (dresses) to size 18 (big fluffy cardigan).
I don't browse randomly though. I go with a mission, if I want a jacket then I only look at jackets.
My main temptation in TKMax is the homeware, especially the clearance shelves .

I think we have a good one I got a Merino wool "Kew" sweater for £13:00 on the 23rd of Dec. Can't argue with that.

I adore TKM. Was in there today actually and picked up some amazing make up (Bare minerals set for 20.00GBP instead of 45.ooGBP!)
I am pretty ruthless and can power browse :) Was in there for one hour and spent 47.00 (had a 20.00 voucher) if i paid full price for it all it would easily have been almost 200.00GBP!

I once bought an Osprey bag that has most definitely fake (pleather) and nothing like the real thing (do they do a cheapo diffusion thing for tk Maxx?!)

Clothes crap or wrong size

But have bought great cosmetics and kitchenware there

Love love love T K Maxx. I think they're not as good as they used to be since they expanded rapidly, but you can still get good bargains if you look. I doubt most people are taken in by the RRP on the labels, especially since that documentary a while back. There does seem to be more 'made for outlet' designer stuff (Michael Kors I'm looking at you) rather than genuine last season bargains, but the beauty and homeward sections have improved if anything.

I went last week and got a Miller Harris perfume set for £12 (three bottles), an L'Artisan Parfumer mini set for £9 (four small bottles) and some Lierac face cream for £4. Oh yes, and an Orla Kiely king size duvet set for £50. Can't argue with that .

I was nearly taken in by a colourful set of those French steak knives (the ones with the bees on the handle) at a great low price. Then I looked at the quality and they were definitely NOT the real thing.

It put me right off and I've never been back (my local one is in the ex C&A store and they've done nothing to the premises).

It's a 'hit or miss' kind of place for sure. I've been in at times and it's been utter gash and then other times I've scored bargains eg:
Grobags for DS
Becksondergaard scarves
Fenn Wright Masson cashmere jumper
Crew rugby top for DH
Le creuset pie dish

And I've seen for myself/been told of other bargainous stuff.

I ignore the RRPs generally and can usually spot the shite brands.

I agree that the bags and shoes are not what they used to be. Also I don't bother with the lingerie, being a 28FF!

Love it although the experience is different depending upon which branch I visit, regularly attend 4 different ones. DD has bought some high end make up brands before now, at Christmas I bought crystal champagne flutes and water tumblers for a fiver a box each. They are truly beautiful to drink from.

I prefer Homesense, but do occasionally get candles and le creuset bits in TK. Absolutely hate the clothes section (DH likes it though hardly ever buys anything after he bought himself some slippers that imploded after a couple of months and the Hunter wellies he got me perished/split) and if I want a good rummage I prefer to do it on eBay......although not for clothes as I rarely need anything.

I love it. I was an early adopter and have The Gift in sifting through the tat for the real bargains. And the elusive yellow sticker "final price" wonders.
My faves are Cowshed candles, Dr Bronners soap, GroBags, Scandi kids' brands, Aden and Anais baby stuff, TIGI shampoo... I could go on.
I'm very jealous of the TKM with loos and a cafe. Some shoppers have all the luck.

I hate the place, its a complete mess.

I love tk maxx. My favourite thing to do is to examine my haul by checking the actual prices on tinternet. Last week I bought a anti redness (bright green) skin primer for £4 reduced from £8. It's still on sale for $47 which I think is around £28. I got 50 posh make up wipes for £2 which retail at $9 but my absolute favourite thing is the Ciate advent calendar for £9.99 25 bottles of polish. I'm in heaven. Anyway look on the website for clothes. There's a much larger selection. Got my db some diesel jeans for Christmas £18 in the reduced section. That's right they have a reduced section on the website. I nearly had a fit when I saw my mums fave perfume (in a set) for £12. I never find anything to fit me though. Might be the odd section with 3543 lilac fleeces or floral culottes but that's it. :o

It's good for candles and some accessories like real leather gloves etc..
Clothes shopping can be hard work need to be in the mood to rummage but have got some good stuff like a missioni wool poncho for £35 which I wear a lot.

hate it - paid £30 for birkenstocks and turned out they were knockoffs

Our local TKMaxx carries Boden sale stock. Toy section good for presents and kids Dressup is fantastic! Best princess dresses ever!

Try the online shop. The search function is great. Every couple of years I buy myself a decent leather bag.

I think my local TKMaxx may be similar to (the same as?) yours, WeetabixExpress. I have picked up Boden sale stock that I originally eyed up in the catalogue and the kids dress up section has historically accurate Tudor princess dresses.

I went there today and got a load of beauty stuff (it's my first choice for skin and hair care products) plus a beautiful blue velvet party dress for DD, for 7 quid. I tend not to bother much with the clothes now though, but always have a quick rummage through the children's clothes.

HPsauciness: I need to go to your TKMaxx! I keep looking in there hopefully for a new bag because I don't wear leather and finding no pleather ones at all...the same with 'leather' gloves.

Can always find lovely girls clothes and great toys. We found 2 dolls that were bald (not a baby doll brand a fashion one -the brand name escapes me now. It was a monster high/Bratz type of brand). There were two types and massively reduced which saddened me as I thought the idea was brill. I'd never seen them anywhere before (though my friends dd had a doll with its lower legs amputated and a wheelchair many many years ago). I was so proud of dd. She had her birthday money and always loves to spend half in tk. She picked them up but put one back so there was one left for another child who might like a doll that looked like them.

The clothes in all the ones around here seem to be mostly synthetic tat and the stuff in teen sizes for DS1 is vile.

I did, however, by visiting 3 stores in total, manage to get hold of some lovely big le creuset mugs for £6.99 each, rather than the usual £14 for perfect ones. All turquoise, apart from an extra grey one, which was knocked down to £3 (in the store I visited first, before I found the others)

Love the home stuff! Especially baking accessoris - Got a nordicware Christmas wreath bundt tin for about £10 just before Christmas!

Hate it with a passion.

The ones I have been to have tiny sizes for women's clothes. Never have much other than granny shoes in a size 8. And yy to being like a jumble sale.

My db loves it in there, and finds loads of bargains. He's not small either, so the men's section must be better.

I worked there, my first ever job aged 16 in 2003. I have stories that would put you right off!