M&S frets about customers' feelings re Mother's Day

[Abitofalark]

Amanda Platell writes that M&S asked shoppers if they'd prefer not to be reminded of Mother's Day:

"M&S seems to be tying it itself in PC knots by fretting over the feelings of women unable to have children — or is it attempting to placate those in the trans lobby for whom ‘mother’ may be an offensive word?

Whatever, the email we loyal shoppers received asking us if we’d prefer not to be reminded of Mother’s Day was absurd — not least because it managed to remind us of Mother’s Day anyway."

@Ionlydomassiveones as I said above

For me it's been easier to opt in Jan/fen than dealing with loads of emails come March. It's not uncommon for the closer you get to a particular date for things to get harder

That's why, for me, I am glad for it.

And as pp said, getting an email asking you if you want to opt out, is far easier to deal with then 'show you mum how much she means to you' etc emails you get closer to the day.

I agree it's not about caring. It's an act to increase brand loyalty. Doesn't mean its not helpful and useful. But also, very get acta of kindness are done entirely selflessly. I don't expect a business to be any different.

I think M&S and other companies asking if customers want to opt out is considerate. I lost my wonderful, like a mum to me, MIL 6mths ago, I don’t want to be reminded that it’s Mother’s Day, I just want to treat the day as a usual Sunday. I don’t have anyone to buy for this year and that feels so strange after +30 years.

Totally missing the point OP.

I emailed Lakeland to say that while their gesture was good being asked every year defeated the object. They agreed. If you don't want all the advertising one year the chances are you don't want it any year.

I was glad to get the email too - from Sainsburys.
I don’t need reminded that some people are lucky to have normal loving, supportive mums. I don’t and it really hurts.

One of the things wrong with this world is some people seeking to take offence at everything and anything

@SunshineCake1

Totally missing the point OP.

I emailed Lakeland to say that while their gesture was good being asked every year defeated the object. They agreed. If you don't want all the advertising one year the chances are you don't want it any year.

True - it’s like The Game (sorry). All they need to do is send out a general ‘manage your preferences’ mailer that gives people the option to ‘opt out’ of specific campaigns.

Of course that opens them up to the usual ‘I hate summer/cats/oranges… so don’t send me mailers including these things’

[quote DontLikeCrumpets]@AlsoNotAGirl

Why didn't M&S show that level of kindness when they instituted their trans-inclusive changing room policy and when they doubled down on it?
If they are so concerned with customers being upset why would they not sought women views and have offered women a way to opt out of having their privacy compromised?[/quote]
I don’t know exactly why not. Although the emails are an easy thing to do with little downside for them and their trans inclusive policies come from someone senior buying into supporting trans ideology over womens rights and dignity. But these are two separate things and I can dislike their view on one without thinking everything they do is related to their trans inclusive policies.

I personally have stopped buying clothes at M&S after they allowed the frankly grim reviews on women/teen girl’s clothes on their website so the emails will make no difference to whether I buy from them and I didn’t actually see theirs as I’ve opted out of any emails from them. I did see similar emails from other retailers.

Also women who have had their children taken into care. When I worked in women's prisons Mother's Day was a really difficult day.

@Random789, there is a universal opt out button for marketing emails, it's the unsubscribe button. PITA to do it for each company that e mails you but I did a few in a sitting once a week for a while and it has cut it right back.

Codicil to this thread - I have just had an email offering the opportunity to opt out of Fathers' Day marketing emails.