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YorkieHusband needs your help and opinions

112 replies

YorkieHusband · 08/10/2004 10:47

Hello Mumsnet
YorkieHusband here. This is the first time I have been on here, although I have heard about it from my wife, Yorkiegirl.
For those of you that know, I was made redundant over the summer, and have just got a job at Marks and Spencers. Before I start my training next week, I have to do a bit of research on M&S. I am sure there will be some of you who hate M&S with a passion, but it would be helpful to me if we could try and keep this as positive as possible. No slanging matches if you please!
Anyway, I need to know what your favourite M&S product is and why. I hope lots of you reply to this and help me out!
Thank you very much
YorkieHusband

OP posts:
Clayhead · 08/10/2004 10:49

Chocolate mousse. Delicious.

(does food count?)

Twinkie · 08/10/2004 10:52

Thier bags of ice - greatest idea ever as that Polar Ice stuff they sell in off licences and cop ops is awful and has a funny smell to it - the M&S ice is yummy, from an irish spring somewhere and I probably get through a bag a night!! (Yorkie Husbadn I have to explain I am 8 months pregnant and have this massive urge to sit and crunch bags of it!!) - anyway thank them on my behalf and DD loves their lollies (ice ones funnily enough) and so do I as they don't have all the yucky additives that most do so are quite good for her!!

golds · 08/10/2004 10:52

Knickers - never buy them from anywhere else
Food - percy pigs, well practicaly all their food, but a bit to expensive to do all the time

Chuffed · 08/10/2004 10:54

agree on food - they do have fantastic food albeait a bit too expensive to buy everything there.

Bagpuss30 · 08/10/2004 10:56

All their food ......yummmmmm
oh and knickers!

beansmum · 08/10/2004 10:57

twinkie - i had massive cravings for ice when i was pg! had 4 ice cube trays in the freezer at all times!

yorkiehusband - knickers, so many different kinds now. I always buy my undies from m&s, not too keen on the bras though. there used to be a carrot and ginger juice which was yummy, not sure if they still do it? all the food really, sandwiches and percy pigs, yum.

mothernature · 08/10/2004 10:58

Another vote for food & knickers / I also love shopping for christmas gifts in there, although it is a tad expensive!

PicadillyCircus · 08/10/2004 11:00

Favourite thing is the Dairy Milk Liquorice Gums - I think they're called that. I have a very sweet tooth.

And the pasta salads are good, but only as a treat .

I think I've always found M&S things lovely for a treat. Have to admit I don't buy any clothes in there - not really sure why.

Hope your research goes well and also the new job.

Twinkie · 08/10/2004 11:00

Oooohhhh yes percy pigs - don't like the ones that have been infected with sheep and cows though!!

DP loves their trifles as does DD and I love their cheese and chive low fat chrinkle cut crisps.

Was sad that they stopped selling maternity clothes though without ever havnig a big selection or giving it that much time!!

Marina · 08/10/2004 11:02

Knickers.
In food I also rate their low fat organic vanilla yogurt and their mocha smoothie.
Best of luck with the new job YorkieHusband and congratulations on getting it!

Bagpuss30 · 08/10/2004 11:02

Actually also like their baby clothes 0-36 months but sadly do dislike David Beckham Football range for boys (but that is a whole other thread).

Also, they used to make a lovely butternut squash soup - where has that gone? and cheese and apple sandwiches on walnut bread!

Tissy · 08/10/2004 11:03

My cat LOVES their cat food!!! I think it is the high "real fish" level. And before I get slagged off for spoiling my cat, she only gets a small tin a day, and tops up with biscuits. When we were feeding her cheap food (including Whiskas!) she would leave half of it and the house would stink and money would go down the drain!

Knickers of course- M+S age 18-24 month pants are the only ones that fit my very skinny nearly 3 year old!

I do like my "Per Una" 3/4 length sleeve tops with beady trim- they look smart, are comfy, and are machine washable/ tumble-driable, and don't need ironing. I wish I had one for every day of the week.

I have to say, though, that I don't find much in the way of clothing for me that I would buy in M+S at the moment. I am a 41 year-old professional with a toddler, who is petite. I would love a range of smart, not too juvenile, but not too old, machine washable clothes, that fit me. Is that too much to ask

Blackduck · 08/10/2004 11:08

Food - ds loves their pasta/cheese salad!, their veg keeps for ever - thou' it is expensive
Knickers, thick winter tights....
Trousers - when I can find a style I like they fit!
(agree about the maternity range - I saw it before I was pregnant and when I was pregnant went back to buy it and it wasn't there! _ they did a five piece set of stuff very reasonably priced and great if, like me, you have to look professional for work...)

Skate · 08/10/2004 11:10

Underwear!

Agree with Twinkie re: maternity wear. I got a lovely outfit when I was having ds1 in 2001 but by the time I got to ds2 in 2002 they'd stopped doing it and I was really disappointed.

I buy a few clothes from there - just plain t-shirts though and plain v-neck wool jumpers or a couple of bits from Per Una. Also bought PJs from there - stripey bottoms with vest top type ones.

I think the kids clothes are crap (oops, sorry, couldn't resist!).

Oh, another good thing - cards and wrapping paper is quite good in there - you can get a pack with the paper and tag for £1 which is really good. They do nice birth announcement cards too.

Also vases and picture frames are good.

Hey, I sound like a right fan and I've not been in for ages!!!

Good luck with the job - what are you doing? I worked in M&S inbetween finishing uni and getting first 'vocational' job. Worked on lingerie and was a qualified bra fitter!!

prettybird · 08/10/2004 11:11

The 8 pack of all-butter Croissants. They're actually better than the bigger and more expensive ones sold in twos or fours - although they don't look as pretty (just "rolled" in a straight line, as opposed to into a crescent shape). £1.79 for 8 I think is very good value.

The new Limited Collection clothes are good - I'm sitting here in nice black and white tweedy trousers and the biker jacket/cardigan - smart but a little bit trendy (for once! )

The M& S flowers are also great - a good selection and they usually last really well. If they don't (eg if the rose heads dropp despite careful attention), they're very good at replacing them under the 7 day guarantee.

The knickers aren't as good as they used to be - the cotton isn't as substantial, and whover washes knickers on 40 degree delicates wash?!

CookieMonster · 08/10/2004 11:11

Another vote for the knickers from me - loads of choice and good value too.
I also love the food hall but only really shop there when we are treating ourselves.
All the best with the new job ...

Tissy · 08/10/2004 11:13

don't wash my knickers on delicates cycle, and they haven't fallen to bits yet!

Twinkie · 08/10/2004 11:15

Ooohhhh and bras - if you try and take them back if the wire comes out they say they won't cause you were supposed to handwash them - sorry but I just don't have the time and they don't get as clean as being in the machine!!

Glad when they started taking Credit Cards too but disappointed that they are doing away withtheit rule where you can take stuff back whenever and replacing it with 28 days - thats just not M&S.

Agree that PJs, mens and womens are great.

Sorry love M&S and my chargecard - deffo need to cut it up!!

SoupDragon · 08/10/2004 11:18

Knickers! Well, all underwear really.

I a lso used to like them a lot because they were pretty much the only high street store to offer long length trousers, skirts and dresses. Other stores have caught on to this a bit now.

Tissy · 08/10/2004 11:18

Doing away with returns????

Agree with Twinkie- that would really be a retrograde step. Dd has been given loads of ill-fitting/ inappropriate clthes as presents by various people around the UK. I've been able to return them and get something I like/ that fits. D

Aero · 08/10/2004 11:18

knicker, bras and pasta salad!

prettybird · 08/10/2004 11:19

Tissy - I don't either, and to be fair, they've not fallen to bits either! But it it does annoy me that that is waht is on the Care instructions. And the cotton IS much thinner than before - I bought a coouple of pink "shorts" knickers to match a bra and i'm not sure if they will alst me longer than a year, the cotton is so thin! And I had to take back a multi pack of black knickers, as my finger went through the edge (beside the elastic) of a couple of pairs which had only been washed once (I hadn't even used all the knickers in the pack yet). They replaced them without question - but it would have been better to have the quaility right in the first place.

prettybird · 08/10/2004 11:21

I don't think they are doing away with returns as drastically as that. At the moment you can take stuff back forever - ie even if you bought it over a year ago and never got round to wearing it. I believe they are going to put a limit of 3 months on to accepting no-quibble returns.

secur · 08/10/2004 11:22

Message withdrawn

jampot · 08/10/2004 11:23

Fave products at M&S:

All of Limited Collection
mashed potato
Teacakes
Knickers

Room for improvement IMO:

Childrens wear for older kids that don't want to look "cute"

Better range of "larger" bras please