Aibu to wonder how marks and spencer has not closed down yet??!

[Olaf4fuxache]

Last time I bought an item of clothing in there was 2005.I go in there regularly just to have a laugh at their clothes now! EVERYTHING is covered in lace,sequins,buttons,applique or some such shitty garnish.Nothing whatsoever one would want to buy.Cheap crap you could buy in primark for a quarter of the price,flimsy fabrics.Who the hell are their fashion buyers? Are they blind?Even my mother and grandmother think their clothes are frumpy and do not shop there anymore.How much longer do they think they can get away with the garbage they stock?The shops look like ghost towns,staff are unmotivated.They have no idea who they are targeting.Sainsburys Tu,or Tesco F&F have better clothing than they do.They understand their target buyers may not have rake thin toned upper arms,may have big tummys and crepey chests and have clothes to suit. FFS M&S!!!!Get your act together or you will go the same way as BHS,Woolies etc....And you know what?We wouldnt even care!!!

Indigo was lovely. I asked where the Autumn range was the other day and was told it was no longer available.
"So you're just concentrating on the over 80s then?"
The assistant gave me a sick smile in response. ......

Jemima wonder if you live near me - new M&S and as footbridge to Wait rose.

My grandmother thinks the M&S Classic Collection is excellent

Years ago I bought everything I wore from there, all clothes from my underwear outwards. Even my purse, bag, shoes and jewellery. I have only bought food and towels for ages. Their clothes are just awful and the quality of their underwear is shocking.

I regularly shop there. I like it.

I love their homeware and kitchenware. My last two settees have been from them and have been so hardwearing and good value. I like their body and makeup range - I love that they don't test on animals. I like their underwear and shoes, I've had some good coats, hats and scarves from them. I buy a good few t shirts and shirts from them and basic black trousers. I've had a few tops from them.

I'm bored of their food. It hasn't really seemed to change for years. The only time I really food shop there is at Xmas or for fruit, veg, bread or milk when driving home and on the motorway.

Couple of years back I bought a white bikini with a coloured rope trim.

First time I wore it chucked it in my bag and the colour from the rope bled onto the white. No receipt they refunded me without question.

That's why I want them to succeed: Because when stuff (rarely) doesn't work out they resolve it.

Android You must live near me, I'm often seen trotting across that bridge

I'm often seen in the Waitrose cafe.

YY bigbluebus. The holy grail that is the lesser spotted 12L, also the slightly more common but still rare 14L. Availability in 12/14 is hopeless. It must be a niche size .

14L is very rare, especially in any plain Per Una jeans and trousers. Tops are always a no no as always very short.

I don't find their underwear shocking quality. We must wear completely different ranges.

I still think their food is lovely, although I rarely buy it as we tend not to eat ready meals in our house.

Lovely food.
Nice baby clothes especially basics.
Lovely maternity clothes - basic and durable.
Usual adult clothing range on a frumpy side.
Excellent quality of flowers - an M&S bunch of roses will look awesome for days on end

But where M&S really wins for me is: BEST opaque tights in town. Smooth, great coverage, breathable, good sizing and fab value.

I do like their Dine In for a tenner.

You sound weirdly angry at M&S. What I think you really want is a glass of wine, a space bar and a chill pill!

Their skinny jeans are great

i go in there for their veggie percy pigs and colin the caterpillar cakes. clothes are given a wide berth.

M&S Belgian Chocolate biscuits in the gold tin or box are on special offer 2 boxes for £7. They have become the equivalent of Quality Street in our house at Christmas.

I wasn't particularly sad when Woolies disappeared, I certainly wasn't bothered when BHS went (although I was massively sad at how badly treated their employees were) but if M&S went I would genuinely be heartbroken .

I'm 22 and have bought a fair few nice bits for myself from the autograph range over the last few years, leather leggings, a pink velvet suit, cashmere jumpers. The children's/babies clothes are gorgeous too, the girls stuff isn't too pink and girly but fairly traditional styling which I like.

Hands off M&S. I just went there this morning and found exactly the clothes I needed, in a Rather Large size, at not too heinous a price - including underwear of reasonable quality IMO. I hope they carry on for ever, or at least as long as I am of an age and condition to buy my own clothes. If you don't like 'em you don't have to shop there.

This is an example of what I mean. These are limited edition and still in the shops. I wear them once or twice a week, wash as silk with Woolite.The seam has come apart on the pants and the fabric itself has worn through on the bra. I once managed to put my thumb through the fabric of a vest top with internal bra and I have no nails at all.
I'm old enough to remember the days when a pair of M&S knickers lasted many years.

I have to say the sleep cream is really good. It's the first night cream I've ever bought that I feel makes a difference.

Love their food, especially the assemble it yourself stir fry: pick a protein, a bag of veg and a sauce, delicious and easy. Hadn't bought any clothes there, other than brown opaque tights (only tend to be available in autumn and even then only in the larger branches which get so busy), for ages

Recently a friend introduced me to their slim bootcut jeans, which really are prefect, but not many stores seem to have them (or the other really good things, like brown opaques) The collect in store option has been transformational for me, Use their web site, which has lots of helpful filters, to find things that might be suitable. Order them in the range of colours and sizes you would like to try on and have them delivered to any store convenient to you. You have seven days from the delivery date you specify, to rock up, pick them up from the collection point and try them on. Return any you don't want to keep for immediate refund back to your card.

Unlike JL, you only have to give your family name for your order to be found, no pfaffing with bar codes in texts.

This means i can do all the searching online, but without the tracking down and chasing parcels, then having to return loads and being too lazy to parcel it all up again and end up not taking it back after all, that comes with online deliveries.

Its like having your own personal store which only carries things in you size and colour choice. I,m sure others would find this useful, too.

Skitless I'm angry at posters who pop up on threads like these and try to tell the little, complaining ladies

• that M & S is some kind of charity, not a business (this is not true: it is a business; exploitative like any other; its aim is to make money for its shareholders)
• any sort of criticism is a call to sack workers (this is not the first time this has been said - you should look at previous M and S threads: it's a virtual meme)
• equating criticism of stock on-line with criticism of staff in the shop (again, this is a meme).

It is amazing, isn't it, that here, on Mumsnet - an important social media space - there isn;t anyone from M & S

Have a little look at the thread on bloggers in Style and Beauty at the moment. It's interesting and a salutary reminder that we're not all chatting around the dinner table with our best friends.

couldWouldadidn't my son worked in Marks over the summer, he said they were very good and nice employees. Best job he's had, so far. I'm hoping his branch stays open, because they've promised he can go back whenever they need relief staff.
Can't say I ever really shop in marks myself, I used to buy their underwear but I can't afford it now. Sainsburys is just as good.
Regarding the clothes, fashion has been really shit this year, and I can imagine quite a lot of high street stores struggling in this department.
The food is a matter of taste. My kids never liked it because it was too rich for them. I bought some houmous the other day and there was too much olive oil in it for my taste. I don't like the taste of olive oil and don't consider it a luxury ingredient. The fruit and veg always does look lovely and fresh though.