Another M&S rant...

When single and in possession of a decent amount of spare cash I often used to shop in the Pantheon M and S (close to Bond Street station) and the clothes there were truly lovely; they had sample lines and I have bought clothes that drew appreciative comments. M and S clothes also lasted for years - they were disposed of for boredom reasons, not because they had worn out. However, as a slow, slow process the clothes seem to have gone horribly downhill over the years The sizing is nothing short of laughable - a week or so ago I picked up two pairs of jeans in my usual size, same design but different shades of blue, and neither fitted but for different reasons.
Also the fabrics are horrible. I read a few years ago that they were going to use more natural fibres, but I saw tops and shirts in the summer that looked like nylon - I thought that nasty fabric had died a death may years ago - always referred to in our family as 'sweaty material' and avoided like the plague.
M and S should give up on trying to capture the young market - have they not realised yet that no teenager is going to shop there? However, all of this has been said a million times already so I think we have the answer as to whether they are listening!

M&S lost its way when Greenbury took over. Since then it has been its food that has kept it going simply because we liked what was on offer and were then seduced by something we saw in the clothes sections on our way out. Now I hear that even the food is losing its appeal.

My wife complained to M&S many years ago about the unreliability of their sizing. The reply she had told us all we needed to know about what was wrong in their HQ. The letter stated "....... we have to allow for 2 inches either side ( of any stated size ) ......". So a spread of 4 inches is in our view ridiculous and explains why we have so much difficulty finding the correct size.

The buyers at M&S need a lesson in style and design. We see some materials made into nasty clothes but which could have been used differently in a good design. Then we see some materials that are dire. Occasionally we see something good whereas we ought to be seeing good stuff all the time,

If Archie Norman cannot get it right then M&S will surely fail.

Bathsheba and Jane10 I must be frumpy too. I have tried shopping elsewhere but have never found anything satisfactory except in m&s!

I hate shopping for clothes in M&S nowadays. Nothing fits or suits me and you can't find "normal" clothes any more. Everything has "fashion features". Why can't they leave things alone! If I do find something I like, they won't have any left in my size.

I used to find that M&S trousers and jeans fitted like no other make.

First whinge. 2 yrs ago I bought a pair of Per Una Jeggings, wonderfully comfortable looked fairly good under the circumstances, now they don't make them. My friend having the same whinge.

2nd Whinge. For years I bought a number of pairs of M&S black wool/wool mix black trousers. Fitted, comfortable, good quality, washed brilliantly and didn't need ironing. Recent years, bad cut, poor quality fabric and didn't fit apart from a poly/jersey cheap pair which is fine for around and about but not for smart wear.

3rd Whinge. I went to Bluewater recently determined to the Battle of the Jeans. Didn't get off the starting blocks. Not one pair of jeans of any cut in my size. Drifted to the cords. Found one pair of quite nice dark grey ones - only pair of any cords in my size (which is fairly average) and then I had to cut loads off the bottom.

They must be losing so much money, no wonder they are cutting back. Although I did see something in the Guardian yesterday with photos of a new collection which actually looks rather nice. Here's hoping.

Is there 20 % off this weekend does anyone know? Do you just need a Sparks card or are there other qualifying criteria? Thanjs in advamce!

I used to buy some of my clothes there when they had a reasonable amount of Petite clothes in their stores, but now they seem to have stopped stocking them in the stores and they can only be bought online. They also seem to think every petite person only wants to buy in black, white or grey as they rarely do anything colourful in their Petite range and on the odd occasion they do it's usually hideous.

I do buy my dressing gowns and underwear in there, I like the silk bras they sell, although they don't last very long

I must add that though I do buy M & S thing there are lots of things I dont like and I agree the sizing is very unreliable.

sad;y I hjave to agree with all the negative comments people have made. I had a 20% voucher, valid from today for 4 days, so went to my local M & S. Could not find one single item I wanted to purchase. In the past I have bought loads of things there.............. I particularly wanted to get some more of my favourite shoes (have had several pairs in the past) and there were loads of 'party' shoes- very high heels, glittery etc. No use whatsoever to the likes of me...........

I find some good M &S stuff, in thrift shops, jeans that don't give you a muffin top, sweaters and skirts made from real wool, all dated of course and not the latest fashion but suits me, bit of old time M&S quality.

I think my big moan is about the materials of most of their clothes. Lots of polyester / man made fabrics with a horrible feel to it. Also the current fad to add frills to everything and so many high necks / long fitted sleeves. I long for scooped necks and elbow length sleeves - I can always add a scarf / jacket when I'm out, but in the house I don't need to feel bundled up.

Witzend. I have just been to M & S as they have sent me 20% of vouchers for this weekend. Found the needlecord jeans I had decided to treat myself to. They must be the same ones.nBUTTONS instead of a zip! Why?.

You are not alone Witzend (as all the comments show! I've more or less given up on M&S expect for knickers!

Try Lands End for jeans - a bit pricier but they will hem to any length for no extra charge; Woolovers do some nice sweaters in various fabrics (I find lambswool too itchy) such as cotton & cashmere and cashmere at reasonable prices. TKMaxx is always a good hunting ground too! I'm sometimes surprised by things in the Tu range at Sainsbury's (makes for an expensive weekly shop sometimes too!)

I heard someone from M&S on the radio a few years ago saying that Per Una was aimed at the 50-something woman and found myself shouting at the radio "Not this one it doesn't!" Too fussy and frilly for my taste!

I was in M&S yesterday. Their jewellery was nice but I didn't indulge. I bought three pairs of pants which were buy three, pay for two. For once I didn't look at the bras.
What annoyed me a little was that when the girl on the till called me forward from the queue there was another assistant next to her in a suit who asked me if I'd like an M&S credit card. "No, I don't believe in easy credit," I replied so she smiled politely and did something useful like put my purchases in my bag. I prefer to just pay for something without the hard sell, don't we all?

Agree M & S has gone down the tubes ...the last things I bought there I had to send back ....having some years ago bought some really really nicely cut, well fitting things from them via the UK online site (never buy from the French site ...hopeless ! ...then was told sorry, you cannot order from the UK any longer ....ok, end of !....BUT I ordered just before that, some trousers, jumpers and dresses ...having as I said, already bought some that still fitted, just needing a refresh in my wardrober ....linen, really good ...so was looking forward to their arrival ...bear in mind, I ordered the same sizes I already had which were good fits ...dresses first, quality nothing like those I bought before, but more expensive ....far too short for a 70 year old at 5'9 ...jumpers ...good, lovely and soft... sleeves way too short ,,,hate sleeves that end before your wrist ...trousers, extra long length ...now also too short and quality not as good ...SO they all went back and that was the last time I ever ordered from them ! Just read this weekend in the financial pages that the new person in charge has said she wants M & S to do more to appeal to the young !!!!! What about loyal customers who used to rely on M & S for good quality, well cut and with a nod to fashion sometimes ......glad I am not a shareholder !

I agree with so many of the comments on here. I do sometimes find something nice in their reduced retail outlet. Best thing I've had recently was their no VPL knickers. (Bridget Jones style) but so so comfy!
Ps. I would feel like a turkey ready for the oven in that green shiny dress!

I think I bought a pair of those, Witzend, on line. They are a WEIRD shape...(perhaps it's me?) the buttons are a fiddle when you urgently need to pee and my usual length is now too short. The clothes are frumpy and even my grannie wouldn't have worn some of the styles. What HAS gone wrong with "Markies"? I now get lovely clothes from Bonmarche

Looked M&S today Saturday, got a royal blue cotton long sleeved top for £6.50. I know the bottom will go baggy though but I do like them. Haven’t been in Asda’s for a while will have a look and I quite like Tesco’s
Best place for Wool jumpers is cotton traders.

I regularly visit an M & S Outlet Centre and often find something suitable. Nightdresses and jogger bottoms for the house.

Also find that the Indigo range (can sometimes be a bit hippy) of jumpers can be good, not too fussy.

Pam Dixon I have usually found the wide fitting footglove shoes very good and bought a pair of flatties there recently. I agree there are a lot of shoes that are not to my taste too, and I couldn't get my feet in many of them. I would feel like the ugly sisters trying to get my foot into the glass slipper!

Have just been round our large M and S this afternoon and even with a 20% discount couldn’t find one item I couldn’t live without. Just bought some food,which I do still like ,but not cheap!

Who is their buyer - some of the stuff is truly awful for the young, middle-aged and elderly. I am retired I have a little disposal and like to look nice but casual. They should be able to sell me something every time I go in - they can't. Employ me I'd love to buy for them.

Also all but given up on MS apart from food. Never have anything in my size - I thought 14 was average - and always got told "But you can order it on line." I would also agree that some staple clothes have changed in actual size. I did pop in this week to get a particular pair of slippers. They were available in every size apart from 7 They really need to get their buying sorted out. At the end of every season there are always masses of small or larger sizes. This should tell them something but clearly not as it's been the same for many years. Rant over. Glad it's not just me

I supply m ands
Have worked with them for years
Believe me it’s not easy .for suppliers customers or buying teams..!
I wouldn’t expect the average consumer to understand the workings of a big corporation and what the process is form concept to the shop floor ..how the product is manipulated and changed for a myriad of reasons ..cost quality concept sales response strategy.. and, believe me they start off with
lovely designs..but they have lost their way which they will never regain... they are only as good as their buyers and executives ..and not everybody wants to work there or can fit in..they have chopped and changed customer profile and product identity so many times ..over the years .but they are truly trying to address the criticisms ..the flared sleeves are fashion, they cannot sell a sea of identical product ..glitter is fashion...any store has good and bad product otherwise the sales would not exist with markdowns..manmade fabrics and polyesters are price driven and they are what the mid market retailer sells...there is cotton in the summer ..they can’t sell all silk and wool.prices would soar ..the viscose and polyesters they sell are not bottom of the range fabrics ..they are rigorously tested..
A soup eating sleeve on a top is not the criteria for product design..although it’s aconsideration in the range as a whole .. I will defend them to an extent as I think it’s an impossible task to satisfy the broad spectrum of customers.and nobody says what they do want ..only what they hate ..!
If you look you will find nice things ..not everything..but there are some nice pieces ..look on line ..get an overview ..the stores are depressing and not a stimulating environment I agree.the staff are dull ..sorry staff ! .the challenge for any big street retailer is to get the customer in the store..make it inviting and interesting...that’s the biggest challenge and Archie Norman says he needs to get more online sales..when the general trend for retail is to get people back in stores and make it a pleasant personal experience..

Thanks for the heads-up, Hm999. I'll have a look.