'the fall from grace for John Lewis has been "spectacular" '

[NotAGirl]

I suspect we've all seen the news that JL partnership bonuses are much reduced this year. This bbc article implies whilst things have been bad JL has had a particularly bad few months www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51750252 Waitrose profits have not been hit in the same way. As always there's a number of causes but I haven't been in my local JL store for months now, basically not since the unisex changing room news. I have kept going to Waitrose as it's been the only supermarket within easy reach

I think this might be a good time to get in contact with JL customer services to explain why we no longer want to use their stores. For many of us they will now be able to see the change in our purchasing record at an individual level.

I've no wish to see the partnership go out of business but I'm struggling to get past the 'ick' factor of not knowing who might be in the cubicle beside me and what they might be doing and I don't want to do business with companies who show contempt for my viewpoint

As the article says, the key to JLP success is its customer service. People travel miles out of their way to go to JL because they feel welcomed and valued by its staff.

I don't shop in there because I can't afford the prices it's just like any other mc store, when money is tight for the majority they don't pay over the top for something they can get for half as much somewhere else.

Good plan OP, I will send an email.

(God I'm so busy being GC my family might have to fend for themselves.)

I'm sure the back story is complicated but obviously when John Lewis tell women customers that their privacy and safety is no longer a concern compared to the demands of men wishing to access women's changing rooms and effectively to piss off if they want sex segregated changing rooms, then they shouldn't be surprised when many women do precisely that.

Will be interesting to see if there's any coverage in the summer when mothers choose to buy school uniforms elsewhere, looking at you too m&s. They aren't cheap, surely going to be another big cut in profits then.

Referencing the bonus scheme - If you take away part of their remuneration then your customer levels are likely to be impacted
Did they really say that? Implying that lower bonus payments will result in disgruntled staff on the shop floor??
They’re not getting the link between the announcement that their ladies changing rooms and toilets are now open to all men and his dog - just before the Christmas spending period - and the fall in said bonuses at all, so they (and presumably the customer service levels!) will continue to fall simultaneously.
Shame, it was a fabulous shop in it’s day, but the woke shit has probably been it’s death knell.

Isn’t this just part of a general trend?

Sadly I think not that many customers will even know re the changing rooms etc.

Enough to have an impact, I would say. Not the only thing, but significant enough.

I suspect the actual number of people boycotting JL due to their transgender policy is so small that it will make no difference whatsoever.

There's undoubtedly other factors, no one here has ever suggested otherwise. But it's interesting that they appear to have suffered more than other shops in exactly the same time period as some members of their core customer base have been declaring they won't shop somewhere that won't listen to their concerns.

All we can do is flag our concerns again and if JL continue to ignore them I'll continue to shop elsewhere. If the boycott is too small to affect them thats fine I'll still continue to avoid places and situations where I feel unsafe.

There are plenty of factors, of course there are. But it’s interesting that Marks and Spencer’s also had “disappointing” (read disastrous) profits over the Christmas period.
They too, were imprudent enough to start the whole ‘women’s knickers are for the men too, so why shouldn’t they try them on in the women’s changing rooms?‘ debacle in the preceding months.
I sense a pattern here.

I was last in there before any of this gender crap started for JLP, bought a few big items, and mentally eyed up future purchases.
But now, I won't go back. Loyalty from a customer is so easily lost, and I've been going to this branch of John Lewis since I was a young girl, buying my first fancy sewing supplies or an occasional nice uniform item etc.
But I'll never go back now. Seeing how quickly they threw my safety, dignity and trust away.

My local JL no longer sticks any clothes over a size 18 and there aren’t even many of those, although there are some on the website if time and money (to buy several to try to select one) are not an issue.
They’re cutting out a massive group of traditional core customers - not least because as people get older they can often go up a size or two, and lots of older customers won’t do the internet.

Thing is - the HoF and Debenhams here have also gone down the same route and a couple of the larger size stores have also closed down so there are a lot of people here that would like to use the shop but can’t - before they start to think about dressing rooms.

The younger people aren’t particularly using JL as it’s seen more as somewhere for older people and the older people can’t find anything to buy as the clothes are too small or trying too hard to be young and trendy - result everyone unhappy.

You’re deluded if you think this is why Jlp is struggling.

John Lewis are deluded if they think it isn’t.

No, really..nobody even knows about this. As has been said already it’s a general trend.

I'm sure it isn't a major factor - but it sure has been interesting to see how quickly JL & M & S were so quick to alienate so many of their women customers. Especially as we know that no women anywhere are demanding to try on bras / undress alongside men. Yet one suggestion from Stonewall and the wishes of men who don't respect boundaries were immediately pandered to.

*Nobody even knows about this”. How big is your sample size?

I would like to think its a factor - but I don't think it is.

I think JL and M and S just represent the lower middle class shopper who are feeling squeezed....

Sure DameXanaduBumble no one reads the Daily mail www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7693141/John-Lewis-tells-customers-use-whichever-fitting-room-makes-feels-comfortable.html or the metro or any of the other papers that reported it, and women don't visit the FWR board on MN or talk to each other either

In difficult trading conditions it's never a good plan to piss off your core customer base but there's nothing stopping companies from doing just that.

I would like to think its a factor - but I don't think it is.

Correct.

Correct?? 🤣. The arrogance...

Arrogant but not stupid....

I have to say if it wasn't for Mumsnet I wouldn't know about any of this. It's not been in the mainstream media and if it has it's not been massively publicised.

They are cutting out their core sustainers and the high street is dying and that is why they are failing.

I haven't had an sps payment for two years, JLP not getting one or not getting much doesn't tug on the heart strings.

Wow - profits down by 25% . That's some crash. Just listening to a talking head commenting on the importance of customer service...... The irony....