Another M&S rant...

I live in Perth, W.Australia, and until recently always bought my shoes/boots on line from M & S in UK - I have wide feet and the Foxglove range suit me perfectly. However, when I tried to order some ankle boots recently, I couldn't find them on the Australian website, so I e-mailed M & S and was told the only way for me to get them was for someone to buy them for me in the UK and post them to me in Perth! Great customer service - not.

Sorry lazigirl. I am obsessed by how dreadful their clothes are. My nearest M&S is 15 miles away in a town I do not shop in so I tend to forget they sell food as well.

I went into M&S yesterday and bought a beautiful pair of ankle boots. I did also see a lovely wrap dress, not that I would buy it as I have no need of it, but it was the only nice one there! Even DH comments on how awful some of the things are, he has said even his mother wouldn’t have worn them.

Well I'm just back from our M&S. I was expecting the worst having read all the moans here. I have to say that you should all come to our branch! I saw umpteen things I liked and would have bought if I hadn't been shopping for others and saving up for Christmas!

I was in the M&S outlet yesterday and there were some lovely outfits for Christmas.
My friend who is always very elegant got two pairs of Per Una jeans and a beautiful purple lace blouse for £75.
However, there were also some horrendous frumpy clothes that I wouldn't be seen dead in.
The store was very busy and just about everyone in the store was over 50.

Saw some attractive Christmas decorations in a feature in an expensive magazine, looked for them in my local store, sorry, only available in selected stores, ie, not for peasants like you.
Found a plain grey jersey type skirt, just what I wanted, available in short, medium and long: twenty-one inches!

So frustrated with m & s at the moment, in the last three days I have been backwards and forwards three times, I've bought five pair of trousers and jeans plus a jumper, only one pair fit, I haven't changed shape, but their clothes certainly have !

For me it's the store I love to hate. No denying their quality and design is a shadow of what used to be. Per Una jeans are my biggest bugbear, the ones I used to buy several years ago were made in Egypt and fitted and kept their shape well. Now made elsewhere, not doubt they are cheaper to produce but inferior quality and sizes inconsistent. I do pick up items in their sales/outlets which I like but definitely wouldn't pay the original retail price for. I can't fault their food and think it is much better and a better price than Waitrose.

Having had a detailed perusal of the M&S near to me, I can report that there wasn’t a single top, shirt or jumper/ cardigan or dress that I wanted to buy.The jeans and trousers and undies are fine.
Tons of lurex, sewn on pearls, and frankly strange colours and patterns.

I bet there is a lot left for the Christmas sales.

I think all the sequins and glittery tops must have been shipped south!

I understand from my niece who works in another very popular high street retailer that companies monitor when they are mentioned on chat forums so hopefully the new M and S CEO is getting feedback on our conversation.

PLEASE DON'T IGNORE WHAT IS/SHOULD BE YOUR CORE MARKET.

I can usually predict what will end up un the local outlet! There is a very ugly khaki shapeless dress will no doubt appear there soon.

lilypollen I shouldn't hold your breath, their have been anti-M&S threads on GN regularly ever since it started and we are always making the same criticisms, so not much has changed in over 5 years.

So I registered for M&S in touch community, took an hour instead of the few minutes they promised. The postings on the threads are just the same as on here and none of the complaints appear to be addressed.

Shouldn't be surprised as the customer is no longer 'king' and when you complain these days you get a non-committal response. I should add that I am also happy to praise good service or products. GWR and Pets' Corner have been recent recipients!

M&S do some things right, and I always manage to find jeans and trousers ( although the sizing is iffy, no two identical pairs are alike).
Jane10 yes, maybe all the glitter has come Southwards!
Plenty to choose from for The Argy Bargy Christmas Party, I shall be head to toe dazzle mode.

I have found some nice tops in M&S for wearing over Christmas, but a problem is the slithery nylony material they are making a lot of patterned womens tops out of. They are uncomfortable and unrealistic for women over 50.

Their food is lovely.

Sparks - I have over 20,000 points and the offers I get always are for the wrong categories or at the wrong time financially.

Given up shopping for clothes in M&S - just by-pass their stores these days. Not just frumpy clothes but very poor customer service, disinterested staff and long queues at tills (so someone must be buying!!)

But do love their small food stores and those that staff them are very helpful and friendly.