Matalan changing rooms.

[TotalShash]

So, my local Matalan has gone 'unisex' in their changing rooms, and this will be company policy in all stores when they get 'refreshed'.

Doors are not floor to ceiling, and the whole 'changing village' is behind a heavy fire door, so, whole changing area is in another section of the store. I don't think I could summons help if I were attacked. The area is unstaffed.

Men will have unfettered access to changing rooms they know women will use, meaning I will now have the hidden camera paranoia to deal with, not to mention voyeurism and phone pests.

I asked about single sex changing, there was none, but the lady seemed sympathetic to a woman wanting to try on bras needing actual privacy, and showed me the mother and baby room with full length doors, but this isn't a solution in the long run.

I'm going to follow up my in-store complaint, nothing will change, but at least I tried.

I’m quite sure they won’t give a flying fuck about women and children’s safety :(

But they might think twice if they thought they’d get sued.

Sad isn’t it?

Could there be a hashtag in this? So, photos of changing rooms, under a #. Then the rating too?

#pervertsparadise at so-and-so shop
Photo of unisex assault chamber, I mean, changing village
9\10 chance of being a victim here.

The only thing the business concerned care about is money.
Upset customers and negative publicity will mean less money- so letters to them, tweets, Facebook should at least make them think.

This is a disgrace
I'm actually getting sick of reading these things lately regarding transgender and unisex toilets and changing rooms. But I doubt anything can be changed about it.

Now hes probably as embarassed as me (each time this has happened its seems so) but thats not the point.

It definitely is A point - men don't want mixed changing either. They don't want to stand in queues of people with armfuls of bras. They don't want to try on trousers with only flimsy curtains to provide them with privacy. They also lose out through these cack-handed arrangements

It’s not just Matalan. My local White Stuff has unisex changing rooms with no attendant, and big gaps around above and below the doors.

Sorry, I confused myself there. I meant FatFace. White Stuff is also unisex, no attendant and curtains instead of doors. I don’t bother with any of them now. I just get stuff delivered.

I started this thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3496257-MN-High-Street-Changing-Rooms-Marking-System?watched=1

I've emailed Matalan, will update with response.

Oops, they had replied, I missed it;

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your email,

In response to your query regarding your recent visit to our store at Norwich, I am sorry that you were disappointed and that the Unisex changing rooms failed to meet your expectations.

Please be assured that there are a number of reasons for the introductions of Unisex fitting rooms into the stores. They allow us to offer better service in this area by having a colleague focus on one area. All unisex fitting room areas have doors with locks for privacy and none have curtains. However I have passed your concerns onto the store manager for you.

Although they cannot provide a chaperone to assist you they have advised our refund and exchange policy, which is in addition to customers statutory rights, entitles customers to return any unwanted goods for an exchange or full refund on proof of purchase within 14 days of the date of purchase of the item in question. The goods must be in the same condition as purchased and include all labels and packaging.

Once again, thank you for contacting Matalan customer services. If you require any further assistance regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Kind Regards

Julie Webster
Matalan Customer Care Team

So, my issues about phone voyeurs were ignored, as well as hidden cameras. Typical.

I can remember when M&S had a 'no changing rooms' policy; you had to try everything on at home and then return it if it didn't fit.

Which wasn't too bad if you lived in the same town as the shop, but not so good if you lived further away. I didn't buy their stuff for years due to the inconvenience.

High street stores only have themselves to blame if they adopt these policies and sales suffer; I suggest we just shop elsewhere if we find changing rooms we aren't comfortable in. I now look at them all with a suspicion I never had before.

Totally agree, TimeLady, we are powerful, we have money which we spend. If I don't like a shop's policy, I won't shop there and will refuse to feel sorry for them when they go under, OK, I will feel for the staff losing jobs, but otherwise no. They're bringing it on themselves.

I did wonder if it was to encourage people to buy the clothes and try them on at home, this must actually be profitable for the companies if people don't remember /cba to return items for a refund.

I went into matalan last night thinking about it I had some confusion as to what changing room I was actually supposed to be in there was two options both saying "changing room" so I walked into one found an empty cubical shut the curtain behind me tried on four pair of jeans liked them and then I bought them.

(Didn't finish there sorry)

Now I'm glad I've found this thread because I'm rather annoyed, one being I was very confused at the time, two I already felt uncomfortable because I couldn't find that lady or man who hands out the little plastic thing with the number of how many items you have, I always have a fear that I'm going to be accused of stealing (anxiety issues) and then the curtain has a large gap either side. Somebody walked past I didn't see if it was a man or woman.

Why on earth is this happening.

Remember the communal changing rooms beloved by 'trendy' clothing shops in the 70s and 80s? They didn't last either. Many people don't want to strip off in front of strangers, even those of the same sex.

I am sadly going to have to boycott Matalan now. And, that store was my only reason to visit that retail park, so, that's a few other shops who will miss out.

Why do they have to have this area behind a fire door.
Every branch of Matalan I have visited has a central area open to shop floor with male and female changing areas off opposite sides.
Their email implies this area will be staffed but that does not seem to be the case.

I was in Marks recently in changing area off the lingerie dept and a bloke wandered in, looking for his female partner. The staff were very quick to usher him out despite him insisting he wanted to pass on items to her.
Good for them.

I wonder if Mary Portas would be interested. If retailers insist on having mixed sex changing rooms, they should do it properly with attendants and floor to ceiling walls and doors.