Gripe of the day - M & S

[WiltonGal]

Getting a bit of foot pain recently, so thought I would look for firmer trainers. As I was in an M & S thought I would look at their trainers. Saw a few styles that looked promising. But they are all tied together, not with something you can unravel, something you have to cut. Despite this inconvenience (to me the customer, to them very convenient as it keeps them together on the shelf) I tried to try them out. All I could do was a shuffle like a prisoner on a chain gang, there was no way to gauge the correct fit, pressure points, comfort. Needless to say, none were purchased.

I am sick of shops putting customers needs and comfort ahead of their convenience and cost cutting.

Shopping for the customer is such an unnecessary unpleasant experience now. Retailers (major ones) are making no efforts to provide a customer service. I will be trying an independent shop. I will have to pay more but at least I will be able to do more than hobble to try them out.

Am I just expecting too much?

I know what you mean but if I really liked the shoes I would snap the connector so I could try them on properly. On the basis that if they are inconsiderate to my shopping experience I shall return the favour.

I tried to but it was hard elastic encased in a plastic thing. I did put three different pairs back on the completely wrong shelf before I left. I know it is not the individual SAs fault M & S has bad policy, but that action and griping on here are my only outlets!

Well if they were stolen we'd all end up paying, so trying them on at home and then returning is probably better

You misread @luckylavenderthe tie is to keep them together as pairs, not an anti theft thing. It is a convenience thing for the shop.

It is a theft thing, it’s easier to steal one shoe and come back for the other.

People want things cheap so they don’t pay staff to find the other in the pair for you to try on

I am sick of shops putting customers needs and comfort ahead of their convenience and cost cutting.

Think you got that the wrong way round.

I did @Sherararara, thanks for pointing out.

It was only the trainers that were coupled like this. All the other shoes were decoupled. Maybe only the trainers get stolen then.

They've tied them together for years. Granted you can't stride around in them trying them on but shuffling surely lets you know if they fit and are comfortable. I have a bunion so have to know if shoes or trainers are comfortable, never had a problem with trying them on tied together.

Oh come on. M&S are a department store not an independent boutique. Why wouldn’t they tie their runners together?

It’s perfectly possible fo try them on, I’ve often bought from there and it’s fine. But I’m aware I’m buying a mid-price item, if I had particular requirements like yours, I’d accept I need to pay a lot more and go to a different type of shop.

way too much frothing unnecessarily in your post.

This has been the case in many retailers for years. I have never felt this was an inconvenience to me, and clearly not others - if it was, they would have implemented a different solution by now if their profits were truly impacted.

Sounds like you were looking for shoes for a very specific reason, and that reason is not something the majority experiences so if this was an AIBU I’d be saying YABU to think the world needs to adapt to your individual needs.

I don't think you can get a proper feel of what trainers fit like whilst you can't walk quickly around..

Zara do this but they have a little release button you can normally fasten and unfasten.