AIBU to think that clothes shopping in person as a plus sized woman is now impossible?

[FatFuckerFrances]

I was in Oxford Street today. Usually I can go into M & S and find clothes in a size 22 to try on. Today, there was one pair of black trousers in a size 24. Everything else was a size 20 or smaller. Mostly smaller. Even ranges like Seasalt, which goes up to size 28, only go up to a 16 or 18 in store. Same for John Lewis. Nothing above size 18.

A few weeks ago, I was in M & S, bought two dresses, a top and pair of jeans, and tried on a load more stuff. Asked a member of staff, who said “you’ll just have to click and collect.” Same in John Lewis, which until a few weeks ago stocked a small amount of one plus sized range, Live Unlimited. They now only do this online.

So now, if I want to buy clothes, I have to go through the faff of click and collect, try them on in the fitting room and then queue up to get a refund on what doesn’t fit. The option of browsing, and trying on clothes like a normal person is no longer available to me. The only shop I can go to is Beige, which is out of my price range. How is this fair? I still need clothes! And there seemed to be plenty of sizes 6 and 8 in stock, so it’s not as if they are only stocking sizes 10-16.

Because by doing it he’s helping to perpetuate it I suppose, and for the reasons set out by the pp I think it’s a crap way to buy clothes and I don’t want it to be the norm. But whether or not I’m reasonable for being slightly annoyed by my DH doing something is really getting off the subject of the thread, although I’ve answered your question anyway.

My local M&S doesnt stock below a 10. I need 8 or 6. I think smaller stores just carry the mid sizes rather than sizes at either extreme.

It is sadly the norm. Shops seem to stock the bare minimum of anything now. Which is a bit daft because many people will not go home and order on the internet. I often don’t. The nuisance of having items delivered or returning things puts me off. Unless I am really confident of a particular brand and how it will fit me I don’t.

And I also agree they don’t seem to grasp that if they have run out of a certain size in store perhaps they are popular and get some more in ?

If your larger ladies are buying up stock never mind your image of size 6 and 6ft tall, cater for your actual customers.

They are a bit hooked on their image and a bit dim. A successful business doesn’t ask itself what money it has made. It asks itself what money it could have made but missed out on.

Shops can't stock multiple items in low-selling sizes; there isn't the space or profit margin. Your size probably represent a very small percentage of the revenue and the store has to put its stock, which costs money, where the £s are. It's ironic that you complained that you can't shop "like a normal person". What would you do if it was your business?