M&S still haven't found the plot they lost....

Diggidoris I have a lovely navy blue cardigan from Boden, quite pricy initially but look out for their 20% off sales, the quality is excellent. If I am every given M & S vouchers I spend them on food ( and wine), never on clothes. I don't even buy underwear from there anymore.

GillT57 I agree, I also spend vouchers on food and wine. It is years since I bought underwear there but I still buy trousers on line and pick up the parcel at my local Food Store. The trousers are now so thin I am sure that I would have to wear leggings underneath when winter arrives. The seams split so easily and that never happened years ago.

Took my mother to M&S today. She hoped to buy jumpers, "ordinary" type blouses and a lightweight jacket. There was absolutely nothing in a mid-priced reasonable quality. The colours were awful, mustard yellow, garish prints, and the quality was poor.

Totally agree, went into the local one today and Christmas stuff is coming in, tinsel round the neckline, baubles on the sleeves-I just wanted a wooly jumper to keep me we warm!
Food hall is good though

I nipped into our small local branch M & S at lunchtime and there were still thousands of items ladies clothes at ridiculously reduced prices. I tried on a lightweight sweater that buttoned up the back, reduced from £27.99 to £2.80. I hadn't noticed the knitted frills around the cuffs and they were so heavy, in comparison to the sweater fabric itself, that they pulled the sleeves down from the shoulders. Plus, you could see my underwear through the fabric, it was so thin. Even at £2.80 it was a waste of money. But what will they do with all these garish, badly made, glittery, frilly clothes that no one seems to want to buy? They must have millions of them. Landfill?

I don’t know Chewbacca good question, what on earth happens to all these unwanted clothes, charity shops maybe?

They do have 'outlets', don't they? Perhaps their unsold stuff goes there. We seem to be mostly in agreement about the poor design and poor quality of MnS clothes. Does anyone know who the top woman/man of MnS is? I think we should all write paper and ink letters to her/him as she/he obviously does not read customer feedback on the websites.

To write to the 'head man' all that needs to be done is a google search for the CEO M & S. It usually provides the email.

A few days ago I had appalling service in Curry's and came home and did just such a search. I sent an email to their CEO at 4.10 pm. The next morning I received an email at 9.20am saying that as I'd not provided my phone number would I send it, or ring and they'd ring back, so as to discuss the matter.

M & S CEO is Steve Rowe

[email protected]

Thank you. Let's all e-mail him then. Go!

I have had several M&S jumpers for quite a few years that are still as good as new. But they weren't new when I bought them, they came from charity shops so must be quite old. The quality was far higher all those years ago. A red cardigan bought recently and worn only a few times looks tatty already.

Thanks Coolgran, I've just sent an email to their CEO. I'll report back if I receive any response.

Nice one Chewbacca.
Last year I sent my M&S card back to them and told them to stick it, I haven't bought anything there since.
How about some journalist pinching this story off GN and printing it in the DM.

did you get a reply last year harrigran? An apology perhaps? An enquiry as to why you were so miffed?

'I wouldn't be seen dead at a pig fair in that.'

Somerville and Ross, recording an over-heard Irishwoman's opinion of another's clothing, or it may have been hat.

May not be quoting it perfectly as it's from memory, but I think of it a lot when looking at clothes in general and especially M&S these days! God spare me poor old minces.

I'm such a moany, sentimental old 'fings ain't wot they useter be' bag but oh, what a treasure Marks and Sparks of blessed memory was. And how unnecessary that that has to be in the past tense. I know it's ridiculous but I feel a bit Pa Larkin-ish when I see what they've done. It's like losing another little bit of something that was part of us. I know ... daft. But still - oh for the days of the lovely green bags with something sensible, wonderful, economical, and practically everlasting in them!

Thank heaven I've still got lots of my old things from them. Many still look like new even after thirty or forty years. Completely timeless. There's a lot to be said for hoarding sensibly holding onto beloved and useful objects!

If I need something and charity shops don't turn anything up I look on e-bay or Etsy under 'vintage Marks and Spencer!' Have found some splendid things quite cheap.

If cringing were a sport I'd have medals, honestly. The fabrics, the designs, the colours, the horror! It's not just M&S - it's mainly what passes for clothing today - but it's somehow just ~worse~ that they're taking the biscuit. From their own food halls, no doubt!

I'm dreadful about remembering who posted what but yes, it did begin with the cheap imports. And whoever said they seem to be on a mission to self-destruct was spot on!

Brilliant, brilliant Coolgran - thank you! I love the idea of all of us GN'ers giving them pieces of our highly redoubtable minds.

Hope the link works ... I'm a bit of a Jonah with this sort of thing, but ... just for fun and by way of apology for always being such a grumbletonian!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv-q7Pdqyoy

Sorry everyone, it was meant to link to Victoria Wood's brilliant 'Shopping' song!

The video's on Youtube, if you search 'Victoria Wood Shopping' ... something about me just encourages bloody-mindedness in computers.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v-q7PdqyoY

Think that last one got it; ignore previous attempt at youthful technological enterprise!

annsixty,quite agree with you about M&S hate polyester sweaty nasty material, but viscose is made from wood pulp and actually breathes.It does vary though in its creasability, I have quite a few clothes in it.

No Chewbacca I did not get a reply from M&S regarding return of card, I was hoping they would then I coud moan discuss at length my grievances. My message on FB went unanswered too although they say messages, typically, answered immediately.

As many M&S would-be shoppers are obviously GNetters how do we get M&S to read our site. Surely this is the sort of market research they pay £1000's for- here it is for free!

haporthrosie thanks for reminding about the Somerville and Ross books, over thirty years since I read them, must try and find them online ( or library) wonder if they are still in print? The tv adaptation was nothing like as good as the books.?

Bought a lovely viscose top in M&S yesterday.

I like viscose too - cool, soft and comfortable and more "natural" than polyester. Good quality fabrics are important.
I live in M&S jeggings in the winter plus their linen trousers for the rest of the year.
But the clothes look very uninspiring this year. I haven't bought anything there for several months which is unusual for me.
Our age group (over50s) must be their main market. They do need to take note of what we are saying.