Terrible Service at Marks and Spencer ??

[allmycats]

AIBU to consider that the service I received at my local M and S store last week was terrible.

Tried on 2 pairs of ankle boots in size 35.5 (bearing in mind I am a true size 35), over the last donkeys years I have been able to wear a 35.5 from M and S by putting a couple of insoles in.

Took along a set of new in soles and tried on 2 pairs - they were not just a bit too big but 1 pair - shoe boots, was nearly 2 centimetres too big and the other pair I had about 2 inches of space between my toes ending and the tips of the boots.

Asked a staff member (who reluctantly stopped chatting and giggling with a group of her friends) about if they have had a change in sizings to be told ' well when you buy clothes you can be a size 10 or a 16 depending on the fit, it's the same with shoes you know '.

No bloody wonder M and S are going down the pan !!!!!

She could have been more polite but don't think it is terrible

I have no idea why this is terrible?
Shoes didn't fit. She said sometimes they come up big. So what?

Shoe fit can very a lot depending on style. I'm usually a 5 but have wide feet so I often end up with a 6 and an insole or my toes get squished. I do have a pair of trainers from M&S in a 4 though so I guess it's just different suppliers etc.

She did sound a bit off hand though. I guess it's an unusual question to ask and she was a bit taken aback.

I still love M&S and always find the staff in my one to be ultra courteous. It's one that is going to be changed to food only, sadly.

YANBU. I think the certain M&S worker must be on here going by Arethereanyleftall's comment.
Also How the fuck can something size 10 fit size 16. It's 60 lbs heavier ffs

I am finding more and more with M&S that their shoes are for wide fit only and not in standard size.
So annoying!

It was poor service - I wouldn't go so far as to say terrible. Chatting with friends is fine but when you asked about the sizing, she should have offered to help you find a pair in a different style that might fit.

No, I don’t think that was terrible service. She was telling you the truth, which is apparently not what you wanted to hear.

What answer were you looking for?

fatted
“Old bat”
That’s ageist.
Your story would have worked without the old bit.

op
The sales assistant was misinformed, not that rude really though.
More dismissive.
Did you ask politely or with a can l speak to the manager type vibe?

I've just had an email expecting me to rush to M&S Food Hall in a slaver of expectation thanks to made up PR fluff detailed analysis from 'celebrity food tasters' Amanda Holden and Paddy McGuinness about the new ready meals. Because M&S customers would love to see cash being spunked on pointless celebrity endorsements instead of invested in designers, shop fitting and proper staff.

Now that's poor service. (See also, Waitrose's 'celebrity sommelier' Phillip Schofield.)

What answer did you actually expect? She works the floor she doesn't design the shoes. Do you think they get sent memos 'this week we've changed our shoe sizes to upset our customers'? I think you were rude, maybe she was sick of the 100th smarmy-arsed questions she'd received that day hence the curt reply.

What an unpleasant person you sound Fatted

What’s terrible about it? You asked a question and she gave you an answer. I am often different by as much as a size and a half depending on the style and brand of the shoe so she’s right.

As for her giggling with her friends, she’s only human. Unless you’ve never had a laugh with a colleague in your life you should cut her some slack.

My foot size had changed in adulthood, mainly when I've gained or lost weight (or had pregnancies) but the odd occasion I find myself going up or down a size and yes I agree M&S have great quality shoes but a bit wide for my liking! Fine if you wear boots but if it's pumps you get little pebbles in your shoes as you walk

I had similar in a M&S store a while ago.

Very young assistant - so neither an old nor young bat - who was putting out stock and seemed to be the only person on the shop floor. I asked her where I could find a certain item I was looking for. She seemed completely uninterested and tbh completely clueless about the stock. I'm guessing she was new to the job and untrained.

I admit I was a bit impatient with her over her reply, which was pretty much, I don't know and don't care, as I'd been wandering round the store for some time looking for the product I wanted or a member of staff to help me. She neither offered to look for me or find a member of staff who might be able to help me.

I considered that bad service and I left the stores. Don't use M&S much now. And I think their food is over rated.

Doesn't sound like terrible service to me. You asked a question. She answered. What did you expect?

I don't think these compare to my recent experience at Home Bargains when I asked the sale assistant if they sell bike puncture repair kits and she replied "What in this shop?" and yes she was most definitely staff.

I do not bother with the clothes it is just not good quality anymore and if I wanted to dress like my great grandmother I would shop there. We just do our weekly shop at their foodhall nowadays. But most of the staff in the clothes hall are a bit up themselves.

First world problems.

Well, at least you still have a M&S!

Am I missing something?

What was terrible about all this?

I find most of their clothes are poorly fitting, including shoes. They vary soooo much, even when trying what is ostensibly the same size. And don't even get me started on their lingerie!

I do buy food there, as it's handy to my office for plenty of fruit and nuts and milk, and the odd ready meal etc. But I try and avoid clothes if at all possible.

I had 2 vouchers for buy one get one free on a specific range of bras a few months ago and was getting 2 for me and 2 for DD. I asked "it says on the voucher these are 1 per customer, can I use 2 in 2 separate transactions?"
A simple "no, you can't" would have been sufficient but I got a serious telling off including the line "You can't expect me to be party to corporate fraud"
When she'd finished DH paid for DD's bras, using the voucher (she was FURIOUS and refused to let him use the voucher as "You are clearly together" until a manager came over. Completely bizarre reaction but her colleagues all studiously ignored the situation so it mustn't have ben anything new!

I won't be going back.

Did you ask politely or with a can l speak to the manager type vibe?

Why are so many MNers squeamish about complaining about bad service? It’s as if we have to put a hair shirt on and bow and scrape to anyone in the service industry if we dare to expect them to DO anything.