Whatever happened to...

I have called them M&S for a while but I still call shops Shops. The only one that was a store was the Co.op.

Over 50 years I wrote to Marks & Spencer suggesting they start selling Gift Vouchers. They replied saying they didn't consider they would be popular. I wish I'd kept that reply!! (smile)

I remeber years ago cornering a staff memeber in Marks' food section, lamenting the total lack of a vegetarian dish in the Chinese section - the response was a disgusted "who would want that?!"

He was an archangel but don't know the connection with M&S. My friend used to say that St Michael was the patron saint of their house as M&S was her default choice for most things!

I'm off to a local M&S foodstore later to collect two pairs of jeans I bought online at 20% off. Chances are only one of them will fit (if either!), despite both being labelled as the same size and length. If they ever did bring back the St Michael brand, maybe they'd bring back accurate inside length measurements too, to avoid everyone constantly having to return items because they don't fit. And, hopefully, trousers with a waist that actually comes up to the waist.

My grandma also had a barrow in Leeds market at the same time as M&S were there. Incredible lowly beginnings to what became a household name. Shame their clothes have gone downhill over recent years. Too many ranges, just too much stuff. Always seem to be outdated though bought some uplift jeans this week which definitely improve my low slung bottom.

I'm probably alone in disliking their ready meals. The packaging and description is so tempting .... I'm always disappointed. Yet their food stores flourish so it must be my taste buds ....

*phoenix", my youngest DGD called that special bridge in Bristol the "Clifton Marks & 'Spensive" bridge!

I still get most pg my clothes from m&s but agree its getting more difficult. Ive tried and tried to get stuff from other shops but rarely find anything i like elsewhere.

We used to call it Marks n sparks at home ...most of my school clothes were labelled 'St Margaret' .shopped there a lot, especially the one at Marble Arch ,,,and then online ,but no longer do so because I found the sizing and the quality had gone downhill. For the first time ever last winter I bought some of their 'cashmere feel' (can't afford the proper stuff !) jumpers ...in a size I already had, and that fitted me perfectly, These came up smaller than the previous ones, and the sleeves were not even down to the wrist ! I gave them away to friends to save the hassle of posting them back from here ...then I ordered a couple of linen dresses this Spring ...terrible quality, far too short (athough same size I already have ) and trousers same size and same length ,,,awful ...so had to send them back ...first time ever ! so disappointing ...and we were told we could no longer order from the UK site but had to use the French one ,,,where things tend to be more expensive ,,,so goodbye Marks n sparks !

The clothes in Sainsburys are even grimmer. Mind, our local is not one of their larger ones, maybe they have a bigger range

Don't get me started on M&S! I have finally given up on them having gone in to look at 10 different pairs of jeans found on line and not one available in Oxford St store in my size. If I was super large or super small button average size 14 with long legs forget it! I remember when they were the gold standard for customer service. Not anymore IMHO. I've been advised to try John Lewis.

Yes, sizing has been a problem for some years with M&S, you simply have to try them on, which makes online ordering difficult.
I have only bought one clothes item,a top, from Sainsbury, ( this was last year) nowhere to try on so bought it anyway.....the most bizzare item, as regards fit that I have ever seen, it went straight back.
I have bought a couple of things from M&S this year, but mainly buy from Debenhams now.

I agree about most of the ready meals as well, not a patch on Sainsbury ones.The absolute worst for both quality and quantity are Tesco, never buy a ready meal from them. Sounds as if we live on them but having had a fair bit of illness during the last six months, and now being extremely hot weather, a few times a week it's been easier to throw a salad together and combine with a ready meal.

I don´t understand the policy of M&S. To me, when I was growing up, they were the place where you would get your basics, the white shirt, the well-fitting black trousers, the great underwear. Since they started trying to muscle in onto the so-called fashion market, they have gone downhill. There is practically nothing there made of cotton anymore. I still go in to have a look for old times' sake but haven't bought anything for ages.

I never buy online (or vary rarely) as i always have to try clothes on. For me J Lewis have good quality clthes but the huge increase in price conpared to m&s make it not wirth it. The few things ive bought tgere have never really been right in spite of cost. Ive tried TKMax, Dorothy Perkins and a few other places but rarely find anything i like. They are either trendy clothes for teenagers or okd lady clotges ev edi bugh woollen mill. Its hard to find stylish non frumpy clothes that look dignified! If anyone can recommend other places than m&s Id be grateful!

I hardly ever go into M&S these days. I lose the will to live - the clothes are for anorexic teenage dwarves! I so wish they would go back to the averagely priced, quality, tasteful clothes for the middle-aged, middle sized [or perhaps a bit larger] clothes - not crimplene or mumsy!

M&S is aiming at the wrong demographic, young people will never shop there yet the core customers of 50 plus can't find anything they want there.
I remember fondly the little girls' kilts and our school raincoats. They were passed down families and lasted for years. EVERYBODY bought their pants, bras and socks, pyjamas and jumpers. Now their knitwear goes bobbley before you've even washed them.
They will soon give up on clothes, rather than supply what their customers actually want.

Probably posted this before, but when I was a teenager (70's/80's) you could get size 11 skinny jeans from M&S which I lived in (along with my blue suede Dolcis pixie boots) from the age of 14

We call it 'Markus and Spenserius' after 'Carry on Cleo'. Still think it's funny.

I have been using M&S Outlet in my nearest large town for some time & have had some real bargains.

Only reason I haven't been into large M&S is that when I moved 2 years ago most of my clothes were in storage & I bought lots of new clothes so have had no need to shopping since.

I must say though that I live in jeans & casual tops, smart jeans & blouse/shirt if I'm going out

Their clothes this year are truly dreadful!

And that pink dress! I asked the sales person how many they had sold , she laughed

I always buy trousers from M&S only because they do short lengths, but still a bit too long still now , unless i have shrunk,i am just under 5ft tall
All their clothes seem to be made in Bangladesh, so bought cheap, ,its rare i can find something i really like
I got a lovely dress last year in Dorothy Perkins for half price, but still not worn it,
When i was a child we had a trip to C&A in Leeds for new clothes for Easter and Whitsun, loved going there

Still refer to St Michael but never heard of St Margaret.

I bought a Merino wool jumper last year both side seams from the rib on the bottom came undone. I had to stitch them up and it wasn't because it was too tight.