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 !!!!!

A bike puncture kit in Home Bargains?

Why not? They have a wide range of stuff and some of it isn't "household", it was worth the poster asking while she was there. A large Tesco, for comparison, carries bike and car consumables.

The point was that the staff member didn't have to quite so be so rude with her reply.

I just couldn't get worked up about that.

I don't see how it was terrible service?

I have shoes in a variety of sizes depending on the fit/style/what socks I'll be wearing with them.

She sounds a bit condescending. But the fact that the shoes didn't fit you is just one of those things, shoe sizes do vary with styles and shops change designs. Shop assistants wouldn't know the detail of that. There's no such thing as a 'true size' anything.

All posters asking if OP has 'simply' tried a smaller size clearly have no idea how tricky it can be to buy small sized adult shoes on the high street. It must be a total PITA to find a previously reliable source of footwear has gone rogue on you. However, PPs are correct to say that shop floor staff have no role in bringing this about.

Depends on the Home Bargains, I worked in a big one where they had a whole aisle of motor/cycling products, including puncture repair kits, lights, bells, bike locks etc.

The assistant does sound a bit too flippant, but was the shoe really two inches too long for you? That's an awful lot on a size 35.5 shoe. I haven't noticed any problems with M&S sizing, but maybe that's because I have wide feet.

Answers from OP
There really was about 2" at the front of the boot between my big toe and the end of the ankle boot and the shoe boots I could get 2 fingers down the back.
I could not try a smaller size this is the smallest adult size they do & M and S are/were 1 of the few who do a 35.5 size which is a true size 3 the size 36 most shops pass as a 3 is actually a 3.5.
I would have expected the staff member to say something along the lines of - ' I am sorry that I can't help in this matter but will pass your comments to management to see if this is a matter others have asked about '
Thank You to those who realise how difficult it is to buy adult shoes in smaller sizes.

Perhaps you can be an 8 or a 10. How the fuck can you be 10 or 16?😂😂😂

My bottom half is usually size 10, occasionally an 8 depending on the fit.

Top half will vary from 10 to 16 and beyond, even then some styles gap. shrugs.

How the fuck can you be 10 or 16?

Easily. Shops vary MASSIVELY on their sizing. There is no universal "size 10" so shops can essentially make up the sizing depending on their customers.

@adaline this is odd. I am the same size (8) in every single store I shop, online as well. It happened maybe once or twice for me to be a 10. With shoes there's a whole different story. I am a size 2/35, so it's a complete joy for me to find and buy shoes. It even happened trying on a size 2 that was BIG. This sucks

Thank You to those who realise how difficult it is to buy adult shoes in smaller sizes.

I’m much smaller than you, OP; I’m a UK size 1. If you’ve been able to buy shoes from M&S (and other high street stores) for years you should count yourself extremely lucky.

The service you received was not even close to being terrible. She doesn’t design the shoes and neither do management.

Most service in shops is pretty hit and miss - I am always polite to staff even if they do make it obvious they would rather I didnt ask them anything! M and S are usually one of the better ones so you were unlucky there I must say! as others said, your lucky to have a local branch, most are going or just going to be food ones only.

I have just decided not to bother with M&S anymore after my experience this afternoon.
I asked for a loaf to be cut and you would have thought I asked for her kidney! Food was literally chucked through at great speed at me, although the previous 2 customers, buying a couple of items took several minutes. I queried the receipt because one of the offers hadn’t come off, and was told to go to customer service. I was then coughed all over by a woman wearing a headscarf, she could have covered her mouth with the scarf but didn’t. Will go Sainsbury’s in future

It’s not what they say but more their appalling attitude to customers

I may be missing the point but, if you have very tiny feet, why not look at children's ranges? I'm a 4 and do it as a matter of course because there's no VAT on them.

YABU, rather than start up another ‘I hate M&S’ thread on Mumsnet, why not report it to her section manager, or store manager, at that point in time, so that something could be done?

But M and S shoes are open shelved , so if the first pair you try comes up big you go down a size, and if they are tight you go up a size. No need to engage the staff in snippy exchange. If none of them suit you go elsewhere. ''Twas ever thus.

Ps, I do know how hard it is to find small adult shoes, my daughter finds a three comes up large, so never even bothers with chain stores. She saves up her money and goes to posh shoe shops whose customers must have dainty feet since they do much smaller sizes.

You can always ask for help while shopping. You should always ask politely, and be mindful that it is highly unusual if the problem you have is anything to do with the person you are asking!
I work in customer services, if you are rude to me, you’ll get minimal help from me if you are rude.
You’d be surprised at what we can agree to/offer if you are pleasant.
I can’t remember who asked and quoted me - but that’s why l checked if op remembered her manners?

I've bought a bike pump before in Home Bargains! It was the way she said it, like I was asking the most absurd question ever 😂