Marks and Spencer's

[Daisy03]

I don't want to get into the whole debate of whether lockdown is right or wrong!

But aren't M&S taking the piss and bending the rules by keeping stores fully open.
I understand yes the food hall, but most of these are in separate rooms or floors and could be easily split off.
I understand they're struggling but to me it's a bit of a kick in the teeth to those smaller and independent shops that are also struggling but following the rules. What's to stop some of them selling something essential so they can open, and then why bother closing any retail or claiming to be in lockdown at all?

Here we go again ...

I can’t get worked up about them selling some socks and jumpers, no. I was very grateful for them having these departments open during the first lockdown as my kids needed clothes.

The issue is them closing ‘non essential’ retail. It almost certainly isn’t necessary, there’s precious little evidence of it as a driver of infection.

The same applies to every shop such as Tesco’s and garden centres.You are being unreasonable singling out M&S as they are not doing anything wrong. Blame the government

If people cared as much about poverty, or racism or women’s rights as they do about what frigging shops are open, the world would be infinitely better.

Actually I’ve just seen that Tesco and Sainsbury’s are going to shut down non-essential sections of the shop which I think is stupid. Just like well there’s going to be a huge backlash. This is stupid.

It does seem a bit odd that you can sell clothes if the shop also sells food.

Perhaps Top Shop, Primark etc should put some bread, crisps and apples in their stores and then they'd be able to stay open too?

I've seen that independent shops are getting very angry and vocal (rightfully) about the fact that large shops are selling everything so we can go and buy x in M&S but not x in a small shop specialising in x.
I see their point.

I’m tired of governments telling me what’s essential and what isn’t anyway. Booze could hardly be described as essential, yet I notice no calls for those sections to close.

I went to m and s last night. Upstairs was out of bounds but they had brought some mens stuff to ground level.
It is only same as tesco and asda selling clothes though.
I was surprised B and M and poundland were open yesterday.

Honestly give over, there are so many other things to worry about.

@AlwaysCheddar I thought they were only closing mezzanine floors that only had non essential items and staff would collect items people wanted from them.

There is no requirement for shops selling both essential and non essential items to only sell essentials.

But B&M and Poundland sell food so are allowed to open.

Plus if they had to close, poorer people would lose out because they're cheaper than supermarkets for a lot of items.

I haven't been into m and s so far this lockdown. But last time, the big m and s nearest to me opened their food hall, and had a small amount of things like clothes in their food hall. All other sections were closed.

Yesterday our local Tesco and marks and Spencer’s had their up stair sections closed.

All shops should be opened.

If people cared as much about poverty, or racism or women’s rights as they do about what frigging shops are open

Like most things, this issue isn’t unrelated to women’s rights. I’m in Ireland where booze and power tools have been categorised as essential, but not children’s clothes. It’s clear men are predominately making these decisions.

I was surprised B and M and poundland were open yesterday.

Why? B and m has loads of food, cleaning stuff, diy stuff and pet care.

I love b and m.

I was surprised B and M and poundland were open yesterday.

B and M near me stayed open during the first lockdown. I doubt if the massive queue that always formed outside was for their small stock of non-perishable food what with Lidl and Aldi less than 5 minutes walk away. During first lockdown our M&S did exactly as spiders said bring a mixture of stock to ground floor and closing the upper level,

Yes that makes sense. It was just I went to my local retail park to visit boots and every shop was open so it's no different than before lockdown.
Morrisons, boots, greggs, jollyes, poundland, poundstretcher, B and M and Aldi all open and busy.

Idoubt if the massive queue that always formed outside was for their small stock of non-perishable food what with Lidl and Aldi less than 5 minutes walk away

The b and m near me has three aisles of non perishables, plus an aisle of bread and fresh cakes, a massive freezer section and refrigerated cabinets with dairy, veg etc.

M&S are closing clothing only floors unless they are needed for access. Not any difference to the supermarket (and think it's what they did last time)

Alcohol is non-essential. Socks and warm jumpers (especially for growing kids) are more essential than alcohol.

Where is the call for shops to stop selling alcohol?

My Asda have been very crafty. They have a big grocery store and right opposite a George clothing store too.

The George shop is closed but they have shifted loads of stock including lots of clothing into the main store.

I got a gorgeous Christmas jumper yesterday whilst I was buying "essentials"

Shoot me!

M and S in Ireland are not selling anything except food !

Alcohol is non-essential.

Alcohol is very much essential to heavy drinking alcoholics. Stopping drinking suddenly can be fatal.

So if you go to the food hall for your groceries you can't also pick up a pair of jogging bottoms because your son's PE ones split and he has PE tomorrow? I'd have been stuck without that.