M&S Blue Leopard Print dress - big campaign banner but online only and sold out?!

[BakeOffRewatch]

I rarely go into M&S (that is more than a food hall anyway) and saw a big banner of this dress and thought “ooh!”. Not on the shop floor,

Go home, look online and it’s online only and completely sold out!

What’s the point? The other dresses in store were not nicely shaped or trendy so not like I made a similar buy by being drawn in.

www.marksandspencer.com/animal-print-belted-midi-column-dress/p/clp60542188

This happens so often with M&S! They had a big campaign on social media earlier this spring with lots of their influencers sharing a specific trench coat. I really liked it but just wanted to wait two days until pay day before ordering - boom, the next day it was reduced 50% off and instantly sold out in every size. 😭Really couldn't believe how unlucky the timing was with so much hype around it.

That's what they do. Facebook adverts - nothing to buy. Mannequins in their shops - nothing to buy. They seem completely incapable of having any stock that people want.

They always have plenty of AA bras though.

I've got this dress @BakeOffRewatch it's so much better in real life - there's a few sizes available online but it's sold out in all stores🙄

I don't think it is sold out. I think they say it is "sold out", create hype, then when it "comes back in stock" people rush to order it.

FYI The dress is nothing special.

My nighties have more style and colour than that,

Oh really @RaaRaaOhhhLaaaLaaa , if they do this intentionally it doesn’t make sense, people won’t go into store and see other stuff?

I really like the dress, it’s £40 and similar to a Whistles one I saw that is much more £, £179. Couldn’t justify the cost. This colour suits me too. I’m Eid dress shopping so being in stock later is of no use to me. www.whistles.com/product/181316.html

Maybe I’ll just get the whistles one for the occasion.

Have you seen it IRL @duvetdayforeveryone ? I’ve seen the whistles one in real life so know it’s nice.

Oh I definitely prefer the Whistles one - far more classic, so less to date. I know it's 4 times the price, but I think I'd rather have one dress I totally love, rather than 4 others that are just okay.

Thanks @Rina66 , really appreciate your opinion. The whistles one is polyester, which I always feel isn’t worth the money. If I see it in the shops tomorrow I’ll consider it though. I’ve left it all a bit late, I ordered a maxi dress from Boden, one I own 2 of already so was sure would be good. But the new print doesn’t suit me. And then they launched it in light blue this week! Not enough time to order it.

@RedDiamond it's certainly a fashion paradigm change that I haven't got my head round yet either. You're not alone!

No, I don't think they do it on purpose. They just seem to be unable to control their stock. I get the feeling their IT systems in general are not up to the job. The website has a worse search function than Mumsnet!

The colour of the M&S one is lovely. I really like floral midi dresses. Sorry unhelpful.

The M&S dress is polyester too? Or are you overlooking that because it's cheap? I agree the Whistles dress does appear nicer. Not sure I'd pay £180 for a polyester dress though, or even £40 TBH.

The colour is lovely isn’t it @Penguinsaregreat . This is the Boden one, I wish I’d just ordered it next day when I saw it earlier in the week, I get a lot of wear out of these (have two of the previous prints) as they’re lined, warm and breathable. But the week is so busy! www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/notch-neck-cotton-maxi-dress-bluebell-passion-bloom/sty-w0778-blu

I’m looking at long sleeve cotton dresses on John Lewis, this Somerset by Temperley one is nice and £89. Fingers crossed it’s in stock in the shop. www.johnlewis.com/somerset-by-alice-temperley-cloud-print-tie-neck-maxi-dress-blue/p6112448

@EatSleepReplete overlooking because it’s cheap, need something new to wear on Eid day tomorrow/Monday and I resell on eBay.

Tbh I created the thread less about the dress (I didn’t know it was polyester in the shop and probably wouldn’t have bought it), more about why a shop would spend money on a huge banner which is the first thing you see when you walk in (we went for homeware) and then just not have it in store at all.

You're completely right @BakeOffRewatch . I know when I've seen a top under a jacket that M&S is selling and I scan through every single shirt, t-shirt, blouse, tunic etc. that it'll either be from a previous season (why do they do that) or not yet available (again, why do that) and I'm not interested in the jacket, but I do like the top!

So frustrating.

They did it in the past when they first launched with Ghost. It's very very frustrating!!!!!!

One of the reviews says this "Didn't feel great quality. And definitely nothing like the influencer images I saw on Instagram!". That's why it's sold out - the influencer effect🙄. If the quality is poor they'll have lots in stock when people start returning them.

Nobody's Child tends to have a good collection of dresses.

Well obviously the dress wasn't out of stock when the posters went up in store. It's oos because like you people have responded to the marketing and bought it. If you scroll down to regular and long lengths it's still available in 10, 12, 14 though showing as low stock

The Whistles one is so much nicer but overpriced. Silk Fred had similar last year at around £50 but not sure if they would still have them now

It's ghastly. Like a duvet cover in a second rate B&B.

I've just had a quick look at Silk Fred. They have quite a few blue leopard print dresses that are similar (but nicer) to the M&S one. They're all around the £50 mark

It's not just M&S, companies produce these, people think that's nice and order it. Thus it sells out. I had the same experience with a cost from, if all people, Damart.

Another example from M&S today:

Supposedly 'new' stock but they only have a Size 12 in it left???

I find that new stock often says it's not available - but then it gets added to the site, often with different sizes becoming available at different times. The clue is whether there are any reviews - if there aren't stock is probably going to be added and if there are, it's probably sold out. M&S could be more helpful by putting "coming soon" or "sold out" next to the sizes in the list.