To think shops should stock what customers want!

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I know the thread has been about clothes but may I add food please? I used to buy chicken breasts on the bone from A... They didn't always have them in stock so, when they were, I used to buy them up and freeze them. I don't like chicken legs so this suited me fine. All I can find now is chicken fillets and they won't roast properly. Am I on my own here or does anyone agree? Can anyone tell me if there is a supermarket that stocks them please?

Hilda On Penny Royal website, there are a few Cath Kidston fire engine supplies. Not the one you wanted but they do do a pencil holder tin, and a rubber and pencil sharpener, all in the fire engine design.

Let me know if they are any good or if not, I will try to look harder for you for the right thing. I like to help out if I can.

Hilda I don't know if anyone else has said but on both Amazon and Ebay there are pencil cases with fire engines on which can be personalised.

My grip with M&S is that the same style and size may have a different fit when it is in a different colour. And I bought two packets of their knickers (5 in a packet) same size according to the labelon the packet and inside the garments but one set of five is deffinatly a size smaller

One of my DGSs is partially colour blind, so I look forward with some interest to what will happen when he is allowed to choose his own clothes. It won't be long now as he is 10 next month.
My ex brother-in-law was totally colour-blind and this resulted in some strange choices of socks and ties.

Pot luck is my style, actually managed to match a yellow shirt with a yellow jumper yesterday, but I was trying hard to impress Pitcity.

Pompa, are you one of those men who look as if they have got dressed in the dark?

I didn't suggest it made it better, it's just the reason why it's that way.
I suspect a lot of reduced and sale items are to get rid of the end of stock lines that will not be repeated. I never have a problem, I have zero colour co-ordination.

It might makes sense Pompa but it doesn't make it any better does it? I still can't get my bath mats, oh well back to washing and drying them in one day. Thanks for all your comments it's amusing to see others have been cross with various aspects of M&S as well.

Ah, that makes sense pompa.

Oh yes, M&S bras!

They used to stock a good selection of 34DD total support bras, but now there's only one which meets my requirements and it isn't particularly attractive...

I also only shop on line nowdays for M&S trousers and you have guessed it, I also take a long size. The few times I have popped in to my local there has either been none or short sizes.

Bras are another minefield so again I am shopping on line or buying elsewhere. I am not a size 32AA or a 46DD, so it is easier for somebody else to find what I want.

They are not much better with food. I like the jars of coffee they sell so when I go to my local Food Store, if they have any on the shelf, I empty it.

But wouldn't it make you feel good if "voting with our feet" made the retailers shake in their shoes the slightest difference? I am reminded of Audrey fforbes -Hamilton sweeping out of her local Spar (where she hadn't paid her bill anyway.

Top tip, Phoenix!

harrigran I use Facebook to contact various companies, M&S included.

If you go to the companies own website and use the "contact us" facility, comments/complaints etc are only seen by staff, but put it on facebook and the whole world can see it!

I have also used Facebook to praise products or good customer service. Sometimes I have received a voucher to use on my next purchase!

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.

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.

Interesting Harrigran might give that a go!

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

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?

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...

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!

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?

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