To no longer enjoy shopping

[HelloBunny]

i used to love shopping. The clothes / products were nice. Good quality. Shops were well presented, enjoyable for a browse. Customer service was so friendly. I could have a nice spree, without breaking the bank. Take myself out for lunch.

Now... The shops are talking to me. Shouting at me. Just shut up! TK Maxx tannoy guy, I’m looking at you... I want to shop in peace. Now, H&M as well, everywhere is at it. The rails are like a jumble sale. Any time I want to just buy something there are questions. They need to see my phone. No simple hello.

Anything decent is so bloody expensive now. And mostly rubbish! Time was you’d get leather shoes & handbags. Wool coats & suits. Silk dresses. Cotton summer clothes. Flattering cuts. Nice detail. Jewellery & accessories that lasted.

I still have really good stuff from the last decade or two. Sometimes I’ll see nice gear from the 90s / Noughties in charity shops & worry that it’s all a bit Trinny & Susannah now. But, no. I won’t part with my wool cardigans or proper winter coats. They’re classics, anyway.

Online shopping just isn’t the same. But, I just don’t think shopping is what it used to be. Read a thread here recently about town centres / high streets dying out. And all of the great shops that are no more... I really miss the experience of shopping. It’s just not fun anymore.

I totally agree with this! I used to love going for a wander but it all seems a bit pointless now. The shops that are left are either virtually empty of stock or have so much crammed in it's ridiculous. Everything is also so expensive!

Because high street shopping is over maybe?

Try Zara, I find most items are good quality and not expensive.

I really enjoy the fashion right now. And the latest fashions are so cheap. The only problem is it’s fast fashion and seen as disposable, and it’s ending up in landfill in developing countries.

I think you’re right, Hfc. I’m harking back to my shopping glory days, in London. When I could while away hours, buying clothes. Yup, that was more than 20 years now!

I’ll check out Zara. Never shopped there before. Thanks for the tip!

I agree OP. I went for an old fashioned wander round our city centre to browse and maybe pick up some summer sandals/shorts/beach cover ups etc. I gave up pretty quickly. It was dire. Hardly anything worth giving a second glance and, if I did, then there was nothing in my size.

Actually, Sainsbury Tu section was better than any of the other shops.

I don't bother going in person much now as I never seem to find anything. I also find online shopping a lot easier as I can just quickly scroll through items and not have to wander around multiple shops at different ends of shopping centres to then find my size isn't there or the one thing I liked online isn't stocked in this particular store.

Also, why do so few shops stock maternity clothing in their stores? I'd have loved to nosey around in early pregnancy and buy clothes in person but even in a large city I was pretty much stuck with the very small, limited choices in H&M or Primark. For something that will be worn for only a few months you don't want to spend loads but a bit of choice would be nice without having to order online and return if it's not good. Definitely a gap in the retail market! (Not pregnant by the way but this always frustrated me when I was)

I went off shopping a long time ago - I build myself up to go, resent paying for parking, get annoyed at the queues, and people letting kids run around, people gossiping in door ways, heavy bags, shops not having the basics let alone ‘must buy!’ Lack I’d like you say decent quality, plastic ill fitting shoes, over fancy one offs, frills, ruffs, sparkles, funny long dresses, too cheap leggings, then the staff looking bored or worse ‘can I have you email’ - no - do you have a loyalty card? No. Would you like a locality card? No. Would you like a bag - Yes , that’s and extra X, we have Y on offer today - oh shut up!

Pop into a cafe for a bite of sub standard cheap sandwiches and oven chips - I’d rather go to M&S and treat myself to decent roll and ham and head home to a hot cup of tea I haven’t had to wait for.

Trudge back to the car and spend my last pennies on parking to trudge home -

Just not worth it!

I have two teen girls who don’t shop unless it’s last minute and they need something.

My partner & I have decided that the fashion industry have run out of ideas, everything just looks like tat. We both have enough clothes to last us until we die so why waste time & money going around boring shops. On the other hand it could just be an age thing. After living a long time there is very little left that is stimulating or even slightly intresting.

I loved old skool department stores, as well. Dickens & Jones was my favourite! Last time I was in Spain, I had a good ramble around El Corte Ingles. I’ll be sad when places like that eventually go...

And - Lack of independent shops, same shops different location - just dull

Yeah, I’ve always liked small boutiques. I gravitate towards those now, when I find one. Supporting a small business & finding something different. That & charity shops, now.

Tania64, good point. I have loads of nice clothes! Maybe I’ve seen it all... Especially things coming back into fashion that I owned first time around. Got a good book recently about the fast fashion cycle, waste & repairing / keeping clothes. It makes a whole lot of sense!

Its depends where you shop. I do agree i dint enjoying that much shop in fast fashion (zara, h&m) anymore. Now i rather save money and shop in more better shop (reiss, moonson, jigsaw, lk bennet). They offer the same stress free environment shopping and i really like the quality of the clothes there.

Recently did a trip to Meadowhall, thought I'd enjoy having all the shops in one place etc

HATED IT. I don't enjoy it anymore 🤷‍♀️

I'm too old really but the last time I decided to have a good mooch round the shops I only found one thing I wanted to take off the rack. T'internet has proper killed it.

That one thing was in & Other Stories - I'd still go there, and John Lewis, and I still like buying lingerie in M&S. We also have a proper second hand dress agency locally which i absolutely love.

Completely agree. There was a time if you had somewhere nice to go, you could pop into a shop or two and pick up a really nice outfit (without it costing a lung!!!) Now its just all ✨️blah!✨️ Ugly shapes, fabric, slung on hangers, 'fast fashion' and costing so much more than its really worth. Its not just adult clothes/shopping experiences either; childrens shopping is even worse! I don't want my 8yr old DD in cropped tops and leggings/joggers or sparkly unicorn bleeding trainers thank you! Blah.

Put that spending money into a pot and go back when there is a bit more of it. If you can be bothered/afford it, stop shopping on the High St and move up a price bracket and you might feel more inspired. Easier said than done, but better than keeping spending on stuff that isn’t right and trekking around places that you aren’t in to.

Oh God I love shopping 😂 someone needs to take my cards away dh I'm looking at you 😂

I drop my kids off at school. Catch the bus into the centre at the bottom of the road. I always sit on the top level and plug my ear phones in and listen to music or a podcast.

Get into town, head straight to Starbucks for a caramel frappe. Then go and do the usual rounds of my fave shops (Zara, m&s, homesense, selfridges). If I have time I might grab some lunch from the food markets, if I'm feeling particularly brave I'll pop into primark but only if it's nice and early to avoid the queues.

I love the city centre and always enjoy going there, it's never dull. But then again I am easily pleased so maybe that's something to consider 😂

Sounds like heaven, ofHardey. That’s the sort of day I’d enjoy.

I think it’s a combination of missing the way shops were merchandised / presented. There was so much more creativity! Me getting older, and linking different things. I’ve always bought quality items. But maybe I need to change up my brands. I do enjoy a day out at an outlet place, so saving myself for a nice experience like that is best now.

I also love a bit of shopping on holiday, as I’ll find something different.

I can't remember the last time I went on a shopping spree and came back with bags and bags of stuff. This used to happen frequently in my teens and twenties, I would find so much I liked I would come back with so many carrier bags! It was such a buzz bringing all your new clothes home and showing your mates or mum what you bought. Now shopping is chore because I know it will be 90% rubbish and then I will still end up going home empty handed and having to go online for it.

@HelloBunny yes do it! Taking your car into the centre is a massive hassle. This way you can pretend to be a student again for the day 😂

Also definitely try out Zara.

Our nearest big shopping centres are Manchester or the trafford centre. The arndale is dire & the TC doesn't really have any shops that I like (I'm 43)

I do like new look & H&M. I do most of my shopping online as there's more selection. I also like independent boutiques. There's a few online which are good...style attic & studio12 by Sue. Studio 12 are on Instagram as well. She has some lovely bits.

YUP! What shops are left have sod all range and everything is just so expensive now. I used to love a mooch around the shops. Cant even get cheap toiletries in Superdrug anymore!
I remember back in the 90s/early 2000s being able to take birthday or christmas money round the sales and coming back with loads of bags. Now I come back with food from m and s instead!

I've always hated shopping

I feel exactly the same, I think we had reached the peak in the 90s and it’s been downhill ever since.
i agree about saving money and buying fewer well made things.