To think shops should stock what customers want!

It is farcical isn't it? They would presumably like you to re equip fully - lots of new towels, bath mats etc etc. typical.

Maybe to sell the less popular colors?

Spent ages in M&S yesterday trying on jeans; eventually found some that fit me except I needed 'short' in that size/style and they didn't have any. Was told I would have to order them via the internet [although they could do that for me] but that, when Per Una stock was gone it was gone. I said that I didn't think I was an unusual shape/size but that M&S never seemed to have what I needed in stock, and that I'd prefer to try them on in store as length size seems to vary and I didn't want the bother of having to return them if they didn't fit. I also overheard some staff talking the other week about how understaffed they were [something I'd been told at a branch in another town]. I've heard that their sales are down again. You'd think they'd get the message. I did find some suitable jeans in the end; John Rocha in Debenhams. I'll be going there in future.

It's so you have to restock all over again.

With M&S you would think by now that they knew there are always tons of size 10 things left over and also long and medium lengths, but that larger sizes ie over 12 all vanished quickly and so did short lengths. we are a nation of short arses ( women our age) but that fact has passed them by!

Regarding your problem Twice as Nice, it is typical that firms do this, and do it rather smugly usually.The demand is there so......... Let's not do it anymore.A stinging letter or email to the company HQ is in order.

My grandson starts school this autumn. He is mad about fire engines. Cath Kidston had some lovely fire engine pencil cases last year. They no longer stock them as they have changed the range to sports related patterns. When I asked about them in store the assistant told me that the fire engine range had been really popular, and sold out quickly, but as has been stated above about bathroom accessories, they like to change the range to keep things fresh. I cannot find another pencil case with fire engines on it, only cartoon fire trucks from USA.

What!! M&S never have the long lengths I want. Its always full of short trousers. We must compare notes and go to each other's branches rosesared!

Hope you are not up in Scotland?

I agree Jane10! I am not a short-arse either, and whenever I visit my local M&S in search of trousers or jeans the 'long' lengths are in very short supply, and nearly never available in my size!

I buy most of my M&S stuff online now, although even then it's not guaranteed that they've got what I want in stock.

It must take careful planning to send all the long ones to where the short people live, and the short ones to where the tall people are.

But they manage it so well that their sales are falling drastically!

It must be a cunning plan...

Just what I was thinking Elegran, it's a fiendish plot ( could the M&S Boss be a Tory? it would be just like them to deny working people their correct sizes.)

Ooh roses- you are awful (but I like you!)

I wonder when or if they,ll ever get the message the customer is in the right. I'm glad in a way other people are finding them difficult its obviously not just me. It's crazy I would have bought far more if I'd been able too, they deserve to be down on their profits they just aren't listening are they?

I actually sent a second email rosesarered telling them I was very annoyed and where was their business sense. Funnily enough I never got an answer to that question!

But what's even more annoying (and both M&S and Next are guilty of this) when after chasing round their websites, deciding on the size, style, colour, etc you want and sending it to your 'basket' is when you get to checkout, the item which was previously 'in stock' is suddenly 'out of stock'

Grrrrr...

Went to M and S in Kingston today and the sale stock seemed to consist entirely of sizes 6 and 22. Trousers were all short. Does this mean that Surrey is full of tall medium width women? Or are M and S just out to get me?

If I have a gripe with M&S I usually voice it on their FB page, boy does it get a fast reply

Interesting Harrigran might give that a go!

Companies purchase many items (like towels) as a large single order from a manufacturer. They may order many 10s of thousands to get a competitive price, once that stock is gone, it's gone. To continue to supply the items would mean another large order, they would have to be certain of selling the item. Also when dyes etc are involved, colour matching another batch is a lottery (hence codes on wall paper etc). Have you noticed how often companies like Nikon, Canon etc update their cameras etc ?. They plan for a set production run and once that number has been sold they re-tool and update the product regardless of it's current popularity.
This is how we get many products at low prices, if you want continuity you may have to pay for the privilege and purchase high end branded products, even then I doubt the same product will be available in a years time.
We buy only white crockery now (someone keeps breaking them), but even then we can see mismatches in colour in apparently identical items.

Is it you that breaks crockery in our house too Pompa?Because it sure isn't me and Mr Roses denies all knowledge of it.