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Original poster

To think Laura Ashley have gone downhill?

45 replies

loveka · 14/05/2018 17:46

I've bought lots of Laura Ashley lights in the past- 18 years ago I bought really solid brass lamps from them which still look great now.

I have just moved to a bigger house, so I bought some wall lights which looked great online and 2 table lamps.

They are utter shit, tinny, lightweight and cheap looking.

I also bought a dressing table mirror that looks like I won it in the fairground.

The wall lights were £45 each. So I have just bought some from Jim Lawrence instead which were £53 and will be loads better.

I think with such awful quality products they can't survive. What the hell has happened to them?

OP posts:
HeyMacWey · 14/05/2018 17:47

I think they'll be the next ones to go bust - constant sales are an indicator that they're struggling.

Laiste · 14/05/2018 18:14

Noooooooooooo. really? That's a shame.

I used to love LA home stuff.

I had a beautiful pair of little bedside table lamps - brass base, pleated palest pink silk shades with a delicate bead fringe. Probably about the same age as your lights OP. Got various sets of curtains which have seen me through a few house moves and still look good as new as well.

I'd be sad to see them go. But i can't say i've exactly been trying to keep them afloat. Haven't been in for a few years.

GloGirl · 14/05/2018 18:15

There was a long running thread on here a couple of years ago about how appalling their furniture has become and their shitty customer service. I wouldn't shop there.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 14/05/2018 18:19

It's a glorified Dunelm now. Used to be good quality but now it's awful.

GrannyGrissle · 14/05/2018 18:32

And their jersey dresses stretch and go saggy after one (gentle) wash. Utter trash now. Such a shame.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 14/05/2018 18:35

Sadly you are right, it's such a shame. I have dry-cleaning only curtains from them, they've been through the washing machine once a year and still immaculate. They can't justify their prices with bad quality if they are going downhill.

Their customer service is awful too.

Polarbearflavour · 14/05/2018 18:48

Didn’t they used to be quite a nice sort of shop? A bit like White Company?

HariboIsMyCrack · 14/05/2018 18:50

This reply has been withdrawn

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FASH84 · 14/05/2018 18:50

I absolutely agree with this, I've been so disappointed with their stuff, their wallpaper is appalling quality these days. Our decorator said he's seen better quality in b and q

AmazingPostVoices · 14/05/2018 18:51

Laura Ashley sadly went down hill a while ago.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 14/05/2018 18:52

I thought they were already gone! The only one I ever passed disappeared in the last year or so.

Back in the late 1990s I used to covet their home stuff, and dreamed of the day when I could buy a flat and decorate it entirely in Laura Ashley and Habitat.

Modwolvesrock · 14/05/2018 18:56

Oh no Sad We've just ordered leather couches from them!

Member · 14/05/2018 19:16

I bought some of their Garret chestnut furniture 7 yrs ago and it still looks good (though I concede it gets light use)but I agree that the quality seems down. I do still love their cushion colours/many places are too bright & have cheap-looking fabrics but I’d never pay full price.

moita · 14/05/2018 19:45

Our local one always has a sale on, sometimes as much as 50%. I like their homeware but the customer service is appalling.

SaltireSaltire · 14/05/2018 19:48

Constant sales is a sure sign they are about to go bust. I ordered several pairs of made to measure curtains and blinds last year, weeks after the order was in they e mailed to tell me the order would take months to complete due to 'difficulties'. Obviously I cancelled the order - they are not long for the High Street I fear.

WitchPlease · 14/05/2018 19:53

Can anyone recommend alternatives to Laura Ashley for nice paint / wallpaper / curtains etc but better quality ? I like the cutesy floral look they used to do so well

ihatethecold · 14/05/2018 19:56

It will be like Debenhams. Always having a sale.
Just shows how overpriced it is if they can sell it for 50% off regularly

SerenDippitty · 14/05/2018 20:00

Bought a coffee table from them, chest type with drawers, not painted, few months back. It’s good quality.

woodhill · 14/05/2018 20:03

My curtains were a totally different colour to the swatch so got my money back- so disappointing

SaltireSaltire · 14/05/2018 20:44

I will miss Laura Ashley wallpaper if the shop goes under.

Babymamaroon · 14/05/2018 20:49

I've recently bought rugs and lighting from them and love them. I really hope they don't go under. They're an institution!

MrsAmaretto · 14/05/2018 21:11

I can’t even shop there anymore as they no longer deliver to the Scottish Islands. Ridiculous.

EllenOlenska · 14/05/2018 21:22

Having worked for them some time back I can tell you they just did a better job back then of masking where their stuff came from so it looked more high end than it was. I spent most of time dealing with p*ssed off customers than anything else and in the majority of cases the complaints were valid. We also had a ridiculous amount of stuff returned or had to replace stuff for customers a lot. I'm actually amazed they are still going tbh.
The one thing positive I will say is that I worked with some really fab people in my time there and from those who stayed long after I left is that they list a lot of really great staff who really knew their stuff so I also think retention of staff has been an issue.

woodhill · 14/05/2018 21:41

I remember in the 89s the delay list was a joke