Aibu to really dislike Primark?

[Nomoet]

Tbh i tend to steer away from these discussions with my friends as I'm very much in the minority and well if people want to do what they want to do and you're not going to change their mind then what's the point?

But I was having a chat with a friend this evening about Primark who loves it and it's made me feel so uncomfortable. I think the main reason I dislike it so much is because it's ultra cheap fashion and I just don't buy that you can get stuff made that cheaply without huge compromises on standards of how people are treated in factories - whether it's child labour or working hours and working conditions or pay.

And what makes me feel cross is how many people buy willy nilly stuff from there all the time just because they can just because it's cheap when really they could go without it or get it from somewhere else and it wouldn't hurt them or certainly not as much as the person making their clothes is being hurt by these practises.

I need a drink to go in there unless it's first thing in the morning. Super stressful - I can see the appeal esp for kid clothes. I tend to save for stuff that will last for ages (no kids so able to do that) but find the odd decent thing in the home section. Got socks once for H but he said they stank quickly. Maybe him though (!)

I do shop at Primark for things but not v often (I have young DC who ruin the experience for me!). I agree with PP that other stores will have unethical production etc albeit with a higher mark-up so it’s not fair to single Primark out for this.

I do get your point though that it’s so easy to just go in and buy loads of crap you don’t need just because it’s cheap, encouraging people to replace and throw away just because they can.

YANBU. It is an awful place. Cheap dye and cheap labour. Nasty.

OP if you think no one understands a word you are saying then maybe you should actually explain more. Or is it just because no one agrees with your views? Everyone has the right to shop where they want, and like I and previous posters have said, go and do something about how unethical primark seems to be to you.

The stench of cheap dye is like nowhere else.

Boe - I have explained numerous times. As I said people refuse to engage with the points and trot out the same it's just got a smaller mark up and it's all I can afford. I've actually addressed all those points and a few others.

Is it the dye that smells then? Their clothes always smell like burning plastic to me.

When I was in dire straits, charity shops and eBay did it for me for clothes. And occasionally Peacocks. Primark stuff literally smelled bad.

I agree with you OP. charity shops /FB bundles / clothes swaps and hand me downs are all better alternatives for people on a tight budget. We'd better hope Primark never goes bust or there'll apparently be a lot of people going naked

OP, you're showing a fundamental misunderstanding of economics. Either you are a believer in supply-side economics (trickle down theory), or a believer in demand-side economics. Whichever side you're on, you should be able to accept that decreased demand for products, decreased spending across the broader economy, and the fluctuating position of any major company, can (and often does) cause contractions in the economy.

So again, it's all well and good to say that people should boycott x company, or should limit what they buy, but you should at least inform yourself as to the consequences if that sort of mentality is widespread.

Environ
Entally, a contracting economy is a good thing.

Gauche How so? Curious as to how you've reached that position.

Perhaps primark smells of poor people. How horrid. Nothing like burying you nose in some nice Harris Tweed to mask the smell I always say.

no the special smell is not 'poor people', oh chippy one, it is cheap fabric stored too long and cheap dyes.
There is a similar smell in Shoe Zone.

Perhaps primark smells of poor people.

Is that what it is? I admit I have wondered. Whenever I walk into Primark it smells of burning plastic. And yeah, Shoe Zone has a similar smell.

Superbeagle i do think you may be misunderstanding economics. If you look at the trend of economics in western countries it is not going to be low wage jobs like Primark that keep people going. A universal living salary (unrelated to jobs as they become more widely mechanised) is probably where we will end up heading.

Primak isn’t one wash chuck it tat.my kids wear primark.lasts years,washes well
This is about means and what’s available in ones budget
As I said I read/hear no complaints about avocado,jackfruit flown in to met demand. People furiously making smoothies out of veggies flown across world, chosing avocado on toast
As I said I read/hear no complaints about Mc Kids driven to their various enriching activities/tutors. Mc families flying off in short breaks, holidays,etc
But shopping at primark is morally reprehensible?
Yea,really?

I went out tonight:yesterday wearing a fabulous primark tunic dress and primark tights ❤️ the dress tights slightly annoying

Good point lipstick The MC are very good at turning a blind eye when it comes to their own responsibilities. They'd much rather be pointing the finger at others.
Primark doesn't smell different to any other high street shop.

I think Peacocks is far worse than Primark.

Primark doesn't smell different to any other high street shop.

It really, really does. I know it's not just my local, I've been to Primarks in several cities and they all smell of burnt plastic. Shoe Zone has a similar smell but it's not quite as potent. When I was pregnant it nearly made me heave.

I've been in several Primarks and several other shops too you know. It does not smell any different to me. These things are subjective.
While we're at it, those of you claiming that primark uses a different dye to every other shop therefore making it smell completely different, please can you post a link which shows which dyes are used by which manufacturers?
What goes on in your smell receptors is to evidence enough I'm afraid.

I'm honestly amazed that other people can't smell it. I don't know what it is - another poster suggested it was the dye and the way the fabric is stored, could be for all I know - but it is definitely there. It's pretty strong and I don't have a very sensitive nose.

If others can't smell it, they can't smell it, but I'm honestly surprised. It's really potent.

If it was a few years ago it may have been Formaldehyde on the jeans and similar fabrics before it was phased out. (H&M we’re the worst for me for this).

If it’s recently than the smell will simply be other agents on the clothes that prevent mould or damage in transit. The reas N you may notice it more in Primark is a) a much higher volume of fabric around you or b) that Primark don’t use those horrible scent emitters like M&S, Next and other larger clothing stores.

I had no idea anyone put formaldehyde on clothing ever. I wonder how many embalmed skirts I've worn in my life. Maybe that's why a lot of posters find their Primark stuff lasts well. Although I haven't set foot in H&M for years, I hate their stuff almost as much as it hates me.

As for the other explanation, that would make sense. As I said, I don't know what the smell is, but it's always been enough to put me off. Between the two, I think I'd prefer the room freshener.