M&S and their ‘offers’ - why online only!?

[Autumnchilling]

I saw a coat on the website last night with 20% off. Didn’t spot the online only restriction on the offer and thought that as I’d be passing a large M&S today I would pop in and try it on first. This was partly down to the reviews saying it came up big so I wasn’t sure what size to order.

Sure enough, despite normally wearing a size 12, it was the size 8 that fitted 🙄

i couldn’t see the 20% reduction applied and when I asked at the till was told I’d need to order it online and get it delivered to my home or collect from a store. I couldn’t just order it online and take the one from the store I was in though. Apparently the 20% off coats is online only as the offer in store is for 20% off knitwear.

What on earth is the thinking behind this? It wouldn’t be so bad if their sizing was reliable - if I’d ordered my normal size online I’d have had to send it straight back.

I miss the days of the old sparks card and the 20% off offers that were both online and in store. They’re just over complicating things now and I can’t for the life of me work out who thinks this is a sensible business model.

Needed to get all that off my chest!

I'm sure there's some sort of logistical reason for it, but I hear you OP. Shopping seems to be so complicated these days, I sometimes miss the era where you went out, bought something and took it home. Job done.

Same for me. Tried it on in store but had to order online. Not sure if it’s me but every time I order on line the clothes are packed into the tiniest bags and all creased . This is my fear for my lovely coat. Probably going to be badly creased unlike the one in store

Boots do this too. I currently have an offer online for x% off but not in store and their delivery service is terrible so.i don’t like to use it.

I’d genuinely love to understand the business model. If I’d ordered the coat without trying on it’d have been too big and I’d have returned it. The 20% offer would have ended by then and I wouldn’t buy it at full price because it’s not something I’ll wear on a frequent basis.