Who on earth manages stock levels in M&S??

[Candleseason]

Whoever it is, I honestly can’t believe how hopeless they are.

this morning I had a hour or two to kill in our nearest city and thought it was an ideal chance to go into the large M&S and stock up on some things for autumn. I fancied a couple of their merino jumpers, possibly a cashmere one and also to try on their loose fitting cashmere cardigan. Having budgeted for £200 - £300, I left empty handed. The main reason being the lack of any sizes other than 18 and upwards. I appreciate that sizes 10 -14 will likely be the most popular but why not order in more of these?

Surely it isn’t rocket science to work out that as their merino wool is well priced,it is likely to be popular and getting enough stock in both the shops and online would be sensible.

This isn’t a new thing, I’ve often thought that if you are a size 8 or 20/22 then M&S will always have your size in stock, it’s just everything else that seems to be impossible.

Your not wrong, im suprised how some shops keep going. It's not just those sizes, I'm size 6 petite (have to order extra short jeans) they no longer sell them in store, rarely online availability. I end up setting up an email alert but then get an email saying still not in stock so wont send another email. If they can see people are requesting/waiting for certain sizes why aren't they producing them?

I had similar. Different store. Not my size in 5 different garments.

"We can order them online for you".

It's probably the same numpty responsible for quality control, particularly sizing.

I often get an item, decide I like it, and go to get a different colour but same size label, and then it turns out to be too big, too small, too narrow, too wide, etc.

Happened again at the weekend. Got some blue jeans a few weeks ago, perfect fit. Got the exact same pair in black, and the legs are clearly longer and narrower - lay one pair on top of the other and it's clear there's a different of a couple of inches in length and at least an inch in leg width. I checked the labels, and, yes, supposed to be same fit, same size, same length, etc. I checked them online, and the codes are right for just different colours of exactly the same item.

I just don't think that they care about anything really.

It will be head office bigwigs and the number crunchers. Neither listen to their shop managers, employees or customers. It's a stupid and short sighted way to run things.

EDITED to add - it's becoming systemic throughout multiple businesses, maximum profit and don't care if the business dies.

It's the same where I live. There is a small M&S in town (food + clothes) and a large one in a retail park outside town. The number of times though that I've gone to one of them to physically buy an item (and see it in the flesh, try it on, etc) and they've told me I can order it online is ridiculous. Now, I barely bother to go the shops for clothes - I just order online and return if it isn't right. They're killing their own stores with lack of stock.

I have been shopping with my adult DD this morning. She has a pair of jeans in black that are a size 10R and decided she wanted the same style in blue. I encouraged to try them on as the sizing varies so much. She tried on the 10R in light blue, mid blue and indigo blue. The only ones that fitted right were the light blue. The mid blue were too short and she could not even fasten the indigo blue! But all size 10R. The variation in sizing for the same style is ridiculous.

just been in a large M&S in a retail park.
Their autumn stock is horrible, drab, shapeless and old fashioned.
Mind you, H&M, New Look and River Island weren’t much better!
Hopefully they’ll get more stock in later.

I was in a 2 storey M&S in a large, retail pack this week. I asked where the 'big and tall' section was, to be told they don't have it instore anymore, and to order online! DH is 6ft3. Yes, he is taller than average, but not a giant that needs specialist clothing made! For such a large store, I too expected them to have more sizes available.

M&S has driven me mad about this for years. It was guaranteed back in the days when my DDs needed woolly winter tights for school that I'd only be able to get tights for one of them.

I went looking at trousers recently. Found a cut and style I really liked that were a good fit, but they didn't have the colour I liked in the length I needed. I came home thinking I might order it on line, got busy and forgot, have forgotten style and size now. They have lost a sale. Bloody stupid and short-sighted.

And as a PP says, it's not an issue if you're an 8 or an 18+. I asked years ago why they always ran out of 10/12/14 sizes and got some answer about it being what they got sent. With modern tills, they should have an automated system that picks up which sizes sell or are selling and bloody well send some more. Or 😲 supply more than one each of the popular sizes from the off.🤯🤯

I think that they largely rely on people to buy online these days.

Yes on the jeans sizing! I have a pair in my wardrobe that are too long but I’ve exceed the time for returns. I’d stupidly assumed they’d be fine as I have another pair from the same range just in a different colour 🙄

I find this too, it's infuriating. Either size 8 or size 22+ available. (I'm size 10-12)

I love the M&S in the City. Everyone who works in the City is a stick insect so there are always loads of size 12 on the rails. Suits me perfectly!

It's not reasonable to tell people to shop online when their sizing is so variable. If they choose to have no quality control in that respect then they need to ensure that customers can try on the item in the specified colour/size/length in store.

Our big M&S is the same. You need to try on a size up and down to be sure, but there are hardly any 10-14s.

I often plan to buy 3 of something that I love in different colourways and walk away empty handed.

I'm not going to buy multiple sizes online and doing returns. If I could be sure of consistent sizing then I would buy online.

Yes same here, it's so annoying and they definitely miss out on impulse purchasing.

I was in a massive one and the only pair of size 6 shoes I could find were bright pink platforms. I wanted some black ankle boots 😁 same problem in giant Next and giant New Look. Primark manages to have size 6 shoes, size 12 clothes etc so it is possible.

I agree with all the above comments. I never go in the stores now and order online but I’ve got a food hall near me so I can pick up and return for free. I wouldn’t bother otherwise as the sizing is so variable. They are bad for running out of popular items online too. Sometimes by the time I’ve seen something every single size and length is out of stock.

Its not M&S it seems like every store is the same.

My city store was quite good today for clothes but (totally off topic), I bought a chip shop deal and the pie advertised online isn't the pie actually on the deal in store. The manager 'solved' my problem by getting me the 'correct' item. Which we don't like and I didn't want.

I agree, and it’s been like this for years. You’d think they’d have sussed it out by now.

In our local one it's Dd's 17yo BF I am not surprised it isn't done well TBH

Its just as bad online, specially the petite section

This is why I just order from Next on line now. I got fed up of shops not having my size in, so I order and it’s delivered to my door. If stuff needs to go back it’s not a problem.

My local M&S only stock sizes up to 20 so would be interested to know where people go for anything bigger!I like jumpers/ tops to number long and baggy in the winter.

Even if you do want to shop online they don't have the stock and their sizing is so inconsistent