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Which popular shops DON'T you shop in?

146 replies

Bearpawk · 26/12/2023 17:21

Saw some pics of the inevitable Next boring day sale queues in the press today and it struck me that I've never bought anything there. I'm 40 so probably their target demographic ? It's a store I'd never think to go in, these days, it's just not for me.

I guess I buy a lot of H&M, Cos, Uniqlo, Arket and Vinted for LF markey/ Ganni /
toast etc. Undies and thermals from M&S.

OP posts:
Solymoly · 29/12/2023 14:55

Roman do nice big long cardigans that are quite cheap and cheerful for lounging round the house in, I've just bought a couple from Amazon, they probably aren't the sort of thing to go out in but I'm retired so wear at home, it's not a young persons style though.

Thatswhy11 · 29/12/2023 16:02

Blast from the past with French Connection there used to be one in my town. I remember as a kid it always seemed posh and expensive!

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 29/12/2023 16:14

I think the reason the Next sale is so popular is because they don't tend to have the regular 20% off all stock etc that most other stores do.

I use Next online a lot . So easy for delivery and collection and they sell loads of brands too .

Very rarely shop in actual stores now - will have a look in Asda/Tesco when I'm doing my grocery shop and if I am in a shopping centre I will normally pop in M&S or Primark . Otherwise I only tend to go in independent boutiques .

Solymoly · 29/12/2023 16:41

I love shopping at Next online, there is no fannying about with putting in card details and verifying the app, like other stores, I like ease when I am shopping, I use Amazon for the same reason.

EllaPaella · 29/12/2023 18:03

Zara. There isn't one near me and the online returns system is appalling. I do like visiting Zara when abroad though.
I never go in H&M anymore even though it was my go-to shop 15 years ago.
&Otherstories - the clothes don't fit my shape well and look odd on me.
There's probably more I don't buy from than do but there is so much choice these days it's all a bit overwhelming.

HerMammy · 29/12/2023 18:46

Zara abroad is great, better sizes and prices. Just back from Lanzarote with a load from there.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 29/12/2023 18:55

HerMammy · 29/12/2023 18:46

Zara abroad is great, better sizes and prices. Just back from Lanzarote with a load from there.

I have to agree with you, I was in Gran Canaria in 2022 for a holiday and the one in the capital was really good, I got things I don’t think I saw there! A few years back one summer in Malaga at sales time I picked up bargains there too. Same with Mango too.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 29/12/2023 18:57

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea @Solymoly I agree with both of you, Next online is much better than in stores. Even their own label you get more choice than in stores. The other labels you can get there are a bonus too.

MidnightMeltdown · 31/12/2023 00:29

I don't shop at Next either. I think they charge for delivery so I don't even bother to look at their website. I walked through the physical store recently. They had a sale on and it looked like a jumble sale. I could not be arsed to look.

Haven't shopped at Zara or H&M since I was in my early 20s

Never bought from anything from And Other Stories. I ordered from there once and ended up sending the lot back as I didn't like any if it.

Never saw the appeal of Karen Millen, Ted Baker or River Island. Even in my late teens and 20s I thought that everything looked tacky.

French connection is ridiculously overpriced for the quality. Same with All Saints. I did purchase a pair of All Saints boots in the sale last year, but I think that their clothes are mostly crap for the money.

Never shopped at Seasalt or Phase Eight but I don't think I'm their target demographic

Bornonsunday · 31/12/2023 01:01

Next is fab. Millions seem to agree judging by their recent success, compared to the rest of the high street.

Loads of brands, early access to sales, consistent sizing, getting next day delivery all year for £22 with free returns.

The number if times we've been saved for an urgently needed item fir a dance show etc. by that next day delivery!

PieAndLattes · 31/12/2023 09:27

Fat Face. All the clothes look like you’ve given up and gone to live on an Amish farm.

Polis · 31/12/2023 10:49

Loads of brands, early access to sales, consistent sizing, getting next day delivery all year for £22 with free returns

Consistently oversized.

Solymoly · 31/12/2023 13:32

Polis · 31/12/2023 10:49

Loads of brands, early access to sales, consistent sizing, getting next day delivery all year for £22 with free returns

Consistently oversized.

What, every brand oversized, surely not

Polis · 31/12/2023 15:34

What, every brand oversized, surely not

I was moaning about Next branded clothing, but if they aren’t then the sizing isn’t consistent.

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 31/12/2023 17:51

Top Shop - there hasn't been one in my town for years, but last time there was, they didn't do size 16, so I only ever bought things like shoes there and have never bothered to check out branches in other places.

Uniqlo - none in my town or whole region as far as I'm aware, I've only been on one once in my entire life (at least 20 years ago in London) and didn't see anything I liked.

Mint Velvet - I like their stuff, there's one in a town I go to fairly often, but somehow I've never quite found anything I could justify buying.

I've never shopped at Karen Millen, Mango, Oliver Bonas or Reiss for no particular reason, just didn't find the stuff in the windows all that appealing. (Although I had a second-hand Oliver Bonas bag, which didn't last all that well.)

Not a shop but a brand - I don't buy Made In Italy any more, because I heard something sad about their working conditions and pay. I like that style though, and would consider buying similar looking but higher quality brands like Grizas and Oska second-hand or at affordable sale prices.

Shops I do like:

Charity shops and TKMaxx most of all, also River Island, FatFace (especially for jeans), H&M, New Look (good for basics, but I don't like their more individual stuff as much as I used to), M&S, Tu at Sainsburys, those brands like Apricot and Izabel that you often get in department stores, and I miss Mantaray and Principles at Debenhams. If I had an unlimited clothes budget, I'd buy Grizas and Oska as mentioned above, and also Marimekko.

canyon2000 · 31/12/2023 18:03

getting next day delivery all year for £22 with free returns

Only instore returns are free, which is the same with any brand. Courier returns are £2.50.

MaloneMeadow · 31/12/2023 19:04

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 31/12/2023 17:51

Top Shop - there hasn't been one in my town for years, but last time there was, they didn't do size 16, so I only ever bought things like shoes there and have never bothered to check out branches in other places.

Uniqlo - none in my town or whole region as far as I'm aware, I've only been on one once in my entire life (at least 20 years ago in London) and didn't see anything I liked.

Mint Velvet - I like their stuff, there's one in a town I go to fairly often, but somehow I've never quite found anything I could justify buying.

I've never shopped at Karen Millen, Mango, Oliver Bonas or Reiss for no particular reason, just didn't find the stuff in the windows all that appealing. (Although I had a second-hand Oliver Bonas bag, which didn't last all that well.)

Not a shop but a brand - I don't buy Made In Italy any more, because I heard something sad about their working conditions and pay. I like that style though, and would consider buying similar looking but higher quality brands like Grizas and Oska second-hand or at affordable sale prices.

Shops I do like:

Charity shops and TKMaxx most of all, also River Island, FatFace (especially for jeans), H&M, New Look (good for basics, but I don't like their more individual stuff as much as I used to), M&S, Tu at Sainsburys, those brands like Apricot and Izabel that you often get in department stores, and I miss Mantaray and Principles at Debenhams. If I had an unlimited clothes budget, I'd buy Grizas and Oska as mentioned above, and also Marimekko.

Topshop went out of business years ago now!

enchantedsquirrelwood · 31/12/2023 19:20

I used to buy Next clothes all the time - I concur with the pp who said the last time she'd bought something there was about 2010.

Also concur with the cafe, though in my case it's an Italian restaurant. Everyone raves about it, I wonder if we are talking about the same place.

I tend to get most things at Fatface and Seasalt. Also Lazy Jacks. M&S for knickers, Figleaves.com for bras but now they are no more :(

enchantedsquirrelwood · 31/12/2023 19:21

PieAndLattes · 31/12/2023 09:27

Fat Face. All the clothes look like you’ve given up and gone to live on an Amish farm.

Grin
OnlyCorrect · 31/12/2023 19:27

PiesandLattes that's unfair, the Amish have a considered, coherent colour palette.

Same age as OP and agree wholeheartedly re Next. I don't know why 'stocks a gazillion brands' is supposed to be a pro for Next. It's a con for me, when it's just more samey shit to sift through. The physical shops are also both large and cluttered, so I have never willingly set foot in one.

Solymoly · 31/12/2023 20:06

Primark is very popular but I have never bought anything from there apart from some cheap sheets to cover the furniture for decorating.

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