Page 3 | To think shop changing rooms should be open!

jerrywesterby · 2021-05-02T08:19:46+00:00

What's the reason that they are still closed in some shops? New Look and my independent dept store have all their changing rooms open no problem. I need new bras and jeans, I would usually try on at a dozen pairs before I find the right ones so there's no way I've got the inclination (or money) to shop online for that. I think retail is massively shooting itself in the foot here when they want people in and spending money... Does anyone know of any other shops with open changing rooms?

HunterHearstHelmsley · 02/05/2021 13:35

Loving hearing someone cough in Top Shop... Being as they closed down...

Very frustrating not knowing which ones were and weren't open for me. H&M were closed, it's impossible to know what size to buy from H&M. Same with New Look for the same reasons. I found it was the more expensive shops that had changing rooms open.

It's probably just to do with cleaning. It's an extra staff member needed on shift. The general public aren't exactly known for their cleanliness in changing rooms.

Comefromaway · 02/05/2021 13:35

I was delighted to find Seasalt open yesterday. The lovely assistant kept bringing me more things to try based on what she saw I liked. I ended up buying a dress and a top.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 02/05/2021 13:38

YANBU

RedAzalea · 02/05/2021 13:39

Trying clothes on requires a certain amount of exertion

Maybe stores don’t want the extra sweat and spray as clearly nobody would be trying clothes on wearing a mask to contain it

Comefromaway · 02/05/2021 13:41

I wore a mask bath in Seasalt and Bravissimo.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 02/05/2021 13:41

@ChocOrange1

Because its disgusting? I never want to work in retail if that's what people think is ok 🤢

Binglebong · 02/05/2021 14:40

If they haven't got the changing rooms open they should be forced to do refunds if items don't fit. My mum bought a top and the would only offer vouchers - if she had bought online she would have got a refund. It's like they want to lose customers!

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 02/05/2021 15:50

It's because people try things on then put them back on the shop floor so they don't know what has been tried on and what hasn't. If you have to buy it then return it, its easier to quarantine returns than try to police the fitting rooms. Plus people will then only buy things they actually want instead of taking in an armful of clothes and only buying one thing. Otherwise they'd have no stock, everything would be in quarantine.

IceSwallowCome · 02/05/2021 16:01

"Why is that any different/better? Surely less hygienic as the clothes are more likely to have touched a pissy toilet seat or floor."

You think it's okay that some people literally piss and shit in changing rooms?!

Original poster

jerrywesterby · 02/05/2021 16:48

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut

It's because people try things on then put them back on the shop floor so they don't know what has been tried on and what hasn't. If you have to buy it then return it, its easier to quarantine returns than try to police the fitting rooms. Plus people will then only buy things they actually want instead of taking in an armful of clothes and only buying one thing. Otherwise they'd have no stock, everything would be in quarantine.

Or people will buy nothing? Dont see how that's any better. I've been looking at the gov guidelines actually it looks like it all depends on size of store, layout of changing rooms - so whatever 🙄 HOWEVER M&S say they're not opening their changing rooms due to "administrative issues"! come on they've had months!

OP posts:

ChocOrange1 · 02/05/2021 17:01

[quote HunterHearstHelmsley]@ChocOrange1

Because its disgusting? I never want to work in retail if that's what people think is ok 🤢[/quote]
Oh I see i misread your original post, I thought you said people use the toilet cubicles as changing rooms (because the changing rooms are closed), not the other way round!

RampantIvy · 02/05/2021 17:27

I think stores are shooting themselves in the foot by not opening changing rooms. They will alienate even more shoppers who will then go online and then create even longer queues in shops and post offices when they want to return stuff.

ThePestoTwins · 02/05/2021 17:44

H & M changing rooms are not open in my town.

Topseyt · 02/05/2021 21:44

@Ariannah

They don’t want the hassle of having to quarantine every item you try on.

They don't have to quarantine them. They choose to subject themselves to that hassle. Nobody is forcing them.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 02/05/2021 22:00

Well most stores I know including where I work, are currently putting returned clothes into quarantine for 4 days.

ShakespearesSisters · 02/05/2021 22:12

If you book a bra fitting apt in m&s you will be able to try on, their changing room are open for that so I discovered. I think you get a 15 min slot or something.
I didn't know that before I went so racked up £200 on my credit card and took £140 of it back the next day, luckily its only 5 mins from the kids school so was easy after the school run.

VegCheeseandCrackers · 02/05/2021 22:19

I think it all depends on staffing. Because if they have a changing room open then they need someone on hand to sanitise right after it's used. However I totally get it. Jeans, bras, fitted dressed etc are all so hard to judge by eye and you really do need to try on.

Tumbleweed101 · 02/05/2021 22:19

I work in a nursery where children suck, chew and dribble on the same toys all day (yes, we clean what we can but don't catch everything). Not a single case of covid. I can't see that I'm more at risk trying on some clothes someone may have touched.

I got shouted at for letting my daughter try on shoes in a supermarket during the first lockdown. Even then it seemed crazy that I could buy them, take them home, try them, bring them back and repeat. Surely it would have been no different to try them, put them in a quarantine box (if they had such a thing) and try next pair? Couldn't understand how it would be different from us buying, taking outside to car, trying on, taking back to customer service, getting next pair and repeat. I live a 20 mile round trip to our local town and can't afford to buy several pairs and then take the unwanted ones back.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 03/05/2021 12:34

@Tumbleweed101

I think the difference is people are a bit more careful if they have to pay, take them home and return them. If you are trying them on in the shop you could well try on 5 or 6 different items before deciding. If you are buying without trying you maybe would spend more time thinking about it and be more selective, meaning less clothing having to go into quarantine.

Laiste · 03/05/2021 12:58

I think shops are riding on the wave of everyone being a bit desperate to get out there into real world and buy things even if the service/facilities and under par.

Once this initial excitement dies down a bit people are going to start picking and choosing a bit more. Those businesses trying to save money by having poor staffing levels/facilities and blaming covid for it will find themselves going out of business.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 04/05/2021 08:23

If they're not opening changing rooms because of having to quarantine, how does it work when you have an armful of stuff, realise the changing room is closed and hand it back to staff/put it on the rails? Surely that would have to be quarantined? More than would have to be if it had been tried on because something would likely have been bought. If it doesn't need to be quarantined, why does it need to be if tried on?

Sparklingbrook · 04/05/2021 09:25

But if you worked in a shop would you be volunteering to man the changing rooms at the moment? I wouldn't. Think of how many people you would be in contact with trying to hand you stuff and asking you to go and get them other sizes.

I still think the not opening changing rooms is down to wishing to get shoppers in and out as quickly as possible (especially id they are counting people in and out) and keeping staff safe.

RunnerDuck2020 · 04/05/2021 10:07

It kind of defeats the point of actually going into the shop if you can’t try anything on, though I can understand why they have the changing rooms closed at the moment.

I always bought my clothes online even pre-pandemic, it’s so much easier! You can order in different sizes, try on in the comfort of your own home and return what doesn’t fit / doesn’t suit etc.

With a lot of places you can even book for them to pick up your returns from your home - seems like a no brainier to me 🤷‍♀️ I know M&S and H&M offer this, amongst others.

Comefromaway · 04/05/2021 10:10

@Sparklingbrook

But if you worked in a shop would you be volunteering to man the changing rooms at the moment? I wouldn't. Think of how many people you would be in contact with trying to hand you stuff and asking you to go and get them other sizes.

I still think the not opening changing rooms is down to wishing to get shoppers in and out as quickly as possible (especially id they are counting people in and out) and keeping staff safe.

When I went into Seasalt at the weekend it was close to closing time but they seemed determined to keep me in as long as possible. I'd narrowed my choice down to 3 (was choosing two) then she bought me something else to try and 3 minutes to 5!

If I worked in retail then I'd see mannign the changing room as part of my job the same way as dh sees being in a class with 20-30 young adults as part of his job.

Sparklingbrook · 04/05/2021 10:22

If I worked in retail then I'd see mannign the changing room as part of my job

It can be part of the job, but I it's not a permanent daily role like teaching would be. Retail assistants could be manning the tills, replenishing stock etc so the changing room manning means someone is 'chosen' IYKWIM? I would rather be on the till behind the screen than doing the changing room shift personally as far as customer contact goes.
I don't work in retail but know a few people that do and wouldn't blame them for not wanting to be that person.