To not want to ‘order it online’ FFS?

[JetRocket]

Apologies for the grumble but I’m in desperate need of a new wardrobe and every effort just gets me nowhere!

Why do you even keep these massive stores operating (Next I’m especially looking at you here) if you never have popular ranges available in sizes 10/12/14?
They’re never on the shelf, you never have them in the back. There’s always a queue of women jumping on one singular staff member for sizes and all being told ‘we don’t have it but you can order online’ people didn’t come to the store to buy online.

I hate spending £xxx online then it not fitting or suiting and having to wait 3-5 working days for a refund not everyone has a huge surplus in their account to spend that way. People who go to shops generally want to try on, buy what’s right and take it home.

Maybe if you did actually have these (obviously very popular) sizes then the high street wouldn’t be dying so quickly. You’re quite literally just turning customers away.

@Fizbosshoes most banking apps actually let you deposit cheques on the app now. It's a really good system and really easy to do.

Yes, shopping in person is really disappointing. I have been looking for shoes for 2 older DC recently. They have an idea of what they want ( all black Nike trainers and cheaper Dr martens look a likes) and I can find nothing in store at all. And it's so frustrating to drive somewhere, drag the DC with me and there's nothing, or not the right sizes. So I order online after visiting numerous websites, but of course everything is 1/2 size off, too narrow, not comfortable. I've returned so many shoes recently. Shops must be losing money on free returns!

Clarks do this, they also offer to order the shoes in for me....so I can waste more parking money coming to collect them no thanks. I'll just go somewhere else or order my own shoes online thanks.

Retail worker here as well....major major disruption to deliveries right now every single day there is an issue.

The problem of tying up the money can be solved by using a credit card. Use that to pay and you don't have to touch the money in your bank account and in most cases the returned items will be credited to your account before the bill becomes due.

YABNU about not wanting to order online and the lack of sizes 10 to 14 though, but shops have decided that bricks and mortar retail is uneconomic, so if you want to buy clothes, you just have to make the best of what is available.

I have a similar issue with the likes of Next, they stock plus sizes but not in store so I can never try them on. Trust me they get very nervous when I ask them (in a fairly loud voice) why they discriminate against plus size women and that it's clear that they don't want 'fat' women to be able to go into the store and shop in the same way slimmer women can. Never changes though.

@Fizbosshoesmost banking apps actually let you deposit cheques on the app now. It's a really good system and really easy to do.

Thank you I do use apps for paying in cheques, and much prefer to do that way, but there is a limit on the value of the cheque (which business cheques sometimes exceed) and the barclays app in particular is incredibly temperamental and often doesn't work (for cheques within the limit)

Maybe arrive at opening time when fresh stock has been put out.

I personally find no matter what shop I go in I never see 18/20 (my size) but see loads 10-16 sizes (that includes Next)

All stores have limited storage, they can't fill it all just for your size, they need to cater for everyone.

Just order online to be delivered to the store (I do this). I try them on before leaving the store and return anything that doesn't work for me whilst I'm there. I can cope waiting a couple of days for a refund

@ithoughtisawapuddycat it's not the retail workers fault that they don't have your size in store though is it....it's out of their hands so why ask them 'in a very loud voice' and make them nervous about giving you a response?

Oops took the wardrobe literally! 😂I agree with you though, I’m putting off buying shoes for this very reason. I don’t know whether to buy early before they sell out or wait for all the new stock to come in.
With Clothes you can often alter them to make them fit but shoes have to fit properly. It’s too risky to order them online.

I have never seen a shortage of 10/12/14 size clothing in store. Never.

Same here. It’s the sizes I want that never seem to be in stock.

@CeeceeBloomingdale

Next sizes are so vanity inspired you'd probably fit in a 8 there. I don't shop there anymore as I hate their method of picking special people to get into their online sales early or expecting people to queue at stupid o'clock for the shop sales. The website is awful to browse at the best of times and in the sale they remove all useful product information. I find the quality is below average, the styles are meh and the sizing is diabolical. I have no idea how they are still in business.

Really, Next is the only shop I find that sizes are pretty accurate.

I get you on the VIP sales, but basically from how I understand it, if you use next pay for your purchases you get a VIP slot. I don't spend much in next but use next pay card and always get a VIP slot.

As for queuing for sales, surely a individual chooses to do that, I've never seen any store (not just next) ask or demand their customers queue up just for a sale.

I dont think I would mind so much if the store offered to order it in for you on their money. Now it's all YOU can order it online and pay for delivery and returns.
No thanks I'll shop elsewhere or pay to have it delivered to my house.

10/12/14 clothing and size 5/6 shoes!

Really, Next is the only shop I find that sizes are pretty accurate.

My experience is that the clothes are at least one size bigger than the size on the label. I given up shopping there. It’s just frustrating.

I dont think I would mind so much if the shop ordered it for you on their money

^^true! And they used to it was something they’d normally have in, but just didn’t have your size

Yanbu I stopped shopping in Next as older children’s clothes were only available on line.

I can black cat that. House of Fraser, didn’t have my size “no we can’t order it in, go home and order it in”. Ordered in for delivery to store and went to pick it up.

Tried it on, way too small in spite of being my usual size and brand. They made me pay postage back to the warehouse (I declined their in-house return fee of £5).

This was at least 6 months pre COVID and I haven’t bought anything there since, despite the loss of the local Debenhams.

@TowelStripes

You can order all the sizes to collect from the store, try them on in the dressing room and then return there and then if they don't fit. Doesn't completely solve your issue of being able to browse but makes returns easier

This is genius! Thanks!

Maybe arrive at opening time when fresh stock has been put out.

I worked in clothing retail for years and our deliveries never arrived first thing in the morning. They could technically arrive anytime during our opening hours but normally it was late morning - 11am ish. The latest was 5.55pm when we closed at six, lol.

It also took several hours to get stuff from the delivery out on to the shop floor, so actually the best time to go was generally late afternoon. Deliveries had to be checked in, unpacked, hung and priced (and in our store, steamed) before they could go on the shop floor.

Another thing to note is a delivery being in the shop isn't the same as it being available. Items in deliveries didn't show as being in stock/ready to sell until the delivery was physically checked off by staff and inputted on the system.

Also, using next pay and returning to the store means no money out if your account at all. I received credit to my nextpay account immediately.

Doesn’t solve the problem of a lack of stock, though. I really worry about what is going to happen to all our shops/high streets/ shopping centres.

@MonicaGellerBing

Try being plus size. Online is our only option as no shops whatsoever stock larger sizes.

I have to admit that as a 'niche' size (ie short and fat) I have been consigned to online shopping for at least the last decade.

Maybe I'm just used to it by now. But I don't understand why people get in such a fuss about shopping online.

With Next in particular, get a directory or Next pay account. Order it all online to be delivered instore, which is free to do. IME most will allow you to try the stuff you've ordered in their changing rooms. (If not just grab a random item off the rack and take it in with you). Try it all on and return it in store if you need to, again which is free. Sorted.

I should say, I have a credit card that I use sorely for shopping online, so all of the various purchases and returns can be done on that without going through my bank account.

I thought this was a sort of business model nowadays?
So stores stock one of an item so you can see colours fabric etc then they want you to order your size online. Then they keep everything central and cut store size.