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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that Marks & Spencers closing their dressing rooms is absurd

181 replies

paulaplumpbottom · 30/12/2009 11:03

I was in Marks & Spencers yestaerday and saw a couple of really cute dresses so I took them to the dressing rooms to try them on. The dressing rooms were closed. The sales assisant then told me that they now close them during the sales. I explained to her that yesterday was a rare day when I didn't have my very young son screaming his head off and that returning it would be a hassle. She rudely refused me even though i'm a really good customer and shop their daily. I don't understand how this policy benefits their customers. I felt really angry. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Original poster
paulaplumpbottom · 30/12/2009 12:20

Trust me not much gets wasted at our house.I'm pretty anal about it

OP posts:
Paolosgirl · 30/12/2009 12:25

No, I remember Marks not having any changing rooms - but fortunately we live in enlightened(ish) times, and they provide them now.

It is annoying that they don't have them open during the sales, but I'd rather have the assistants on the tills keeping the queues down there.

Now, what REALLY bugs me is that our local Marks (admittedly it's an outlet) shuts it's changing rooms 15 minutes before the shop shuts - why, for heaven's sake?

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 30/12/2009 12:26

So that they are not waiting for people to get dressed when they want to close..

PrincessToadstool · 30/12/2009 12:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ruddynorah · 30/12/2009 12:39

why?! er because you get folks tramping up at 5 mins to closing with a trolley full of stuff to try on.

Awassailinglookingforanswers · 30/12/2009 12:44

shopping every day IS more expensive, I find it quite amusing that you think it's cheaper

mayorquimby · 30/12/2009 12:45

"Now, what REALLY bugs me is that our local Marks (admittedly it's an outlet) shuts it's changing rooms 15 minutes before the shop shuts - why, for heaven's sake?"

Can you really not see the reason for this?

Paolosgirl · 30/12/2009 12:46

No, I can't see a reason - given that other shops seem to manage it perfectly well.

Original poster
paulaplumpbottom · 30/12/2009 12:47

Ok maybe its more expensive for you. For me its cheaper and less wasteful. We all shop diffrently

OP posts:
Original poster
paulaplumpbottom · 30/12/2009 12:50

They shut them early to convience themselves not the customer. I used to work in a grocery store at home and if a customer walked in one minute to closing and wanted to shop for an hour they could. They were allowed to because serving the customers was the priority.

OP posts:
Original poster
paulaplumpbottom · 30/12/2009 12:52

differently

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Paolosgirl · 30/12/2009 12:52

There speaks the voice of reason - thank you Paula.

OrmIrian · 30/12/2009 12:54

ivy - shows how long it is since I'vv shopped for clothes in M&S. I thought it was still the case that there were no changing rooms. You used to have to pay for them then try them on in the nearets public loo

merrycompo · 30/12/2009 12:55

they always close the Next dressing rooms in the aale too

it is very annoying

mayorquimby · 30/12/2009 12:59

ok well if the shop closes at 10 and they leave the changing rooms open till 10 then there will quite regularly be a situation where by someone is either still trying something on at 9.59 or 10 and will then have to spend time changing back into their own clothes. Further time will be lost if they then want to buy the clothes after the they've tried them on and even further time will be lost if the staff didn't realise another purchase was to be made and they have to explain to the customer that the tills have been cashed up so they can't sell them the item and the customer complaining about this.
All in all it most certainly means that the shop won't be able to lock it's doors at 10 on the dot regulalry and the staff will be forced to wait around for customers and not being paid for this additional work.
Of course this wouldn't be a problem if all customers gave some thought towards shop staff or were a little bit coutious, but the problem with the general public is a lot of them aren't and so the shop will have inevitably come up with this system not pre-emptively because they thought the customers would take the piss,but more likely they are reacting to a problem that occured due to some customers not having any sort of cop on.

Shinyshoegirl · 30/12/2009 13:00

YANBU about wanting to try things on in a sale. It seems like shops are cutting their own costs at the expense of the convenience of the customer. It's often a real pain to return goods and loads of people don't get round to it. By scrapping changing rooms, the shop saves on staffing costs and gets a load of sales they might not otherwise make.

Awassailinglookingforanswers · 30/12/2009 13:01

paula - believe me I am CERTAIN that I couldn't feed the 5 of us for £50-60 a week, including nappies and cleaning stuff if I shopped every day - infact I know I can't

Morloth · 30/12/2009 13:03

If I got taken to M&S every day I would probably want to scream and bang my head on things as well.

We went to the shops yesterday. I lasted about 10 minutes before I turned around and walked away. I have no idea how people tolerate it.

Original poster
paulaplumpbottom · 30/12/2009 13:03

Well I certainly don't have a grocery bill that low but it still works out cheaper for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
paulaplumpbottom · 30/12/2009 13:05

I usually go right after I drop my DS at school. She starts at 8:30 so i'm usually there for 9. Its rarely very busy that time of the morning

OP posts:
Paolosgirl · 30/12/2009 13:06

Yes, Mayor, that's what happens when you happens when you own a shop - you run it for the benefit of the customers.

I remember working in shops and restaurants when I was a teenager and a student - we didn't close the doors early, stop serving food before the place shut, or stop bringing shoes or clothes out for customers to try on. If a customer came in 5 minutes before closing time and wanted to try on 10 pairs of shoes, you did it! Of course, you hoped they wouldn't but they had every right to - you didn't turn round and tell them that if they tried on these shoes you wouldn't be able to cash up in time, and wouldn't get away on time!

clam · 30/12/2009 13:10

I think Marks pretty much sets the standard still for making the customer the priority. But they have to draw a line somewhere. And I think it's perfectly reasonable for them to shut the changing rooms in time for the store to close.

clam · 30/12/2009 13:15

And anyway, PPB, if you have a small child with you who clearly hates shopping, surely it would suit you better to take the clothes home to try on, and then nip back (early in the morning, after the school run, when it's quieter) and exchange them if necessary, rather than put your DS (and yourself) throuh the angst of hanging about during sale-time, trying stuff on in the store.

Know which I'd choose!

Original poster
paulaplumpbottom · 30/12/2009 13:16

If you'll read my post you'll see that yesterday I didn't have DS with me.

OP posts:
Paolosgirl · 30/12/2009 13:16

I'm not sure that Marks set the standard - there are others that I can think of which provide much better customer service, and which still manage to operate changing rooms up until closing time.

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