Uniqlo -No trying on coats in the changing room?

[Mosaic123]

I went to my local Uniqlo shop in Stratford (Westfield recently). I wanted to try on a few coats and one of their lightweight padded sleeveless tops.

I carried two coats and one of those sleeveless tops to the changing room. There was no queue but the assistant manning the changing room said unfortunately it was not permitted to try on coats in the changing room. This had to be done in the shop. It was mid week and not at all busy.

The thing was, I was carrying a handbag, a couple of carrier bags of purchases and wearing a rather lovely leather jacket. I was on my own and thought it wouldn't be safe to put all this stuff down on the floor in the middle of the shop whilst trying on coats.

I did explain this to the assistant but she wasn't interested (didn't offer to look after my jacket or carriers for example).

I left my possible purchases with her and walked out.

Is this a strange policy or normal? I've never come across it before.

That’s strange, when I worked in clothing retail we preferred people to try on coats and other items in the changing room so we could redress the items properly afterwards.

I thought it was strange too. I could understand it if they were really busy.

I had this at a branch of Outfit a few years ago, had a bunch of stuff to try on but wasn't permitted to take a coat in. Seemed a bit weird but I thought maybe they think it's the type of item that's easily stolen by casually wearing it back out again without staff picking up on it?🤷‍♀️

But yeah if they're not busy it would be noticeable if you were doing that!!

It's fine having a policy of not trying on coats in the changing room but her lack of customer service skills should be complained about.

She did say sorry. I just thought it was daft.

It's absolutely not safe to put your handbag/leather jacket/newly purchased items down if you are on your own in a big shop. I'm a middle aged Londoner. I know this to be correct!

I've definitely tried on coats at Uniqlo in Shepherd's Bush Westfield- must be a Stratford thing!

Westfield is posher in Shepherd's Bush.

I tried on coats in two branches of uniqlo yesterday in the changing rooms with no issue. Sounds like it's a store-specific policy so presumably they've had issues there

Stratford Westfield definitely feels a tad 'edgier' than Shepherd's Bush...

I had this years ago in (I think) TK Maxx. I really wanted to try a couple of coats in without feeling self conscious and make sure I got one I suited as I rarely went shopping. I just felt really silly as if I didn’t know changing room etiquette and went away without trying anything on. The assistant said there was no need to use a changing room for a coat.

Probably an in store policy. Maybe they have had a lot of theft of coats?

I had a better experience at that branch a while ago. While I was in the changing rooms, a mum was trying clothes on while her small child waited with her friend. Suddenly the small child vomited everywhere. The mum had already bought some clothes for the child elsewhere, so she dressed him in those and a Uniqlo T shirt. The staff were very kind, cleaned everything up (although mum offered) and took socks and plimsolls off a child mannequin and gave them to him.

At the time I thought of writing to Uniqlo to praise them, but having read on here about how some retail workers are treated, I wondered if they would get in trouble for giving away the socks and plimsolls.

I used to work in clothing shops and people would try to steal coats. Trying it on in the shop rather than the changing rooms makes it more obvious iyswim.

I'll probably go back, with a friend to keep an eye on my stuff, as I did like one of the coats. But I'm still annoyed.