What is up with M & S?

Last time I dragged OH into M and S to try trousers there was a total absence of assistance in the large menswear dept. Quite a bit store. One person on changing room is all. So if you were on your own and wanted a different size, no help. And if you wanted to ask a question like "Can you point me to anything with a flat front, long leg length in charcoal" no chance. How can they sell suits and trousers in this way? A mystery. Last time I looked they were useless at providing t shirts etc for larger chaps. They cut the bigger sizes as if they have the same body proportions as small skinny chaps. Which they don't.

Marks and Spencer clothes! How I wish I could 'walk through' one of their clothing departments with 'the boss' and tell him what's wrong with the majority of the garments. Per Una - who wants to look like an over decorated Christmas tree? Classic - haven't got words to describe it, cotton Tee shirts - how many years have they been churning out the same style? Smock tops - last time I found those appealing was when I was pregnant! When my children were young, I didn't have the money to 'splash' on myself, at that time M&S had an abundance of clothes I wanted, but couldn't afford. Now, my family have 'flown the nest' I have the money to spend, but there is nothing I want to buy. Visiting one of their stores is a depressing experience

I think M & S should decide who they are -- they should not be competing with the young High Street -- others do it cheaper and better now -- they should return to the things they were always good at -- classic, great quality clothes that go on year after year - wash after wash -- with just a nod at the current fashion. Some of the rubbish colours, styles and attempts to be trendy are quite horrendous -- see the Speziale range for some hilarious examples.!

I was there today trying to find chino style trousers. The nearest ones were either bright red or a strange colour that might be best described as puce. I want a neutral colour that isn't black, grey or navy blue! Saw some nice tops in Wallis - with sleeves, would you believe!

They closed our local M&S store a year ago. So sod em.

Can they please start making stuff for ladies with BOOBS? And all those awful smock style print tops which look awful on anyone. I remain loyal to their trousers though, so many styles in different lengths, bound to find a pair to fit perfectly. I love the animal-print mac I bought there a few weeks back - it has certainly had plenty of wear!

M&S Trousers - I have several old M&S pairs (very old, bought in charity shops a long time ago) that have the waistband ON MY WAIST, ie, where my tummy actually goes in a bit where my tummy button is. I need to replace these old worn-out, shiny trousers but all the M&S ones have too short a crotch - the waistband sits below my waistline, just across where my tummy bulges. I think that the Classics elasticated waistbands would probably sit on my waist but, as I say to my daughters, I can still do up zips and fasten buttons so I don't need elasticated.

The bra fitting a couple of years ago was disappointing. Not a good fit. I had a much better fitting at York's family-owned department store - and I was given washing instructions (for the bra, not for me) and it was carefully wrapped up.

M&S has gone steadily downmarket. Their style was never great but their quality was good. Both are now on the floor. We have Primark and BHS for cheap and cheerful so why go to Marks?

I would say they are losing money because

1 Quality is no longer there.
2 Style is absent (I've heard Per Una described as "holiday clothes for Daily Express readers" ....snobby but accurate)
3 Too many different items/too swift changeover...you can never go in and find that 'camel coloured cardigan you saw last month' for example.
4Service is sloppy
5 Sales and offers are poorly displayed
6 It is not an inviting store to enter

I was interested in your comments Grandmama about trousers that actually come up to the waist. I have always shopped for trousers in M&S because I like the 31" leg and a little bit of colour, or at least something different, but the last pair I bought there - unfortunately didn't try them on in the shop, because they are always o.k. - were too tight, short in the crotch and very uncomfortable. I find Cotton Traders now do the length I like, and the quality is good, plus some decent colours. Just because I am getting on a bit doesn't mean I want to dress in dark colours. Incidentally, the fact that the trousers were too tight, had nothing to do with me being a little bigger in the rear area the one's from Cotton Traders fit fine. I do find these days that when I go to M&S it appears to be the mostly very well heeled ladies who are there, perhaps because they are able to shop and buy without counting the pennies,as we do, but then again, perhaps that is just me being envious, although envy is not part of my make up.

Sorry to resurrect this subject again but I am thoroughly p****d off with M&S today

In early May I bought a 70% cotton 30% silk top from said store.It cost about £25.00. Since then I have worn it most weeks and it goes in the wash every 10 days or so. This morning I put the top on, over trousers, and when it was on gently tugged the back to make it even over my bum, when there was a tearing sound and the back 'gave' more than expected. When I looked at my top there was a 4 inch rent in the fabric, of the type you usually get when fabric is very worn and thin. Looking over the top I found another smaller, half inch, rent that I had not previously noted.

My nearest M&S is 15 miles away in a town I rarely visit. Anyway I have no time at present to do a 30 mile round trip to return it so I have done a repair and it should last out the summer. I have never been a regular M&S shopper, it is generally my shop of last resort, but it is noticeable than almost every garment I have bought there since Stuart Rose and his sucessor have been in charge has had to be returned or ditched early because the quality is so poor, sweaters unwearably pilled within six weeks, T shirts transparent when wet, not a pretty sight, and shirts, like this one but including several others, where the fabric has torn or trim has come off within weeks.

Well, they have now lost my custom completely.

Flickety interestingly they are now losing serious money on the clothing ranges. I just ordered a swinsuit on line and it was see-through before it was wet, no suppport form the padded cups and the supposed tummy control absent.

I am noticing a real deterioration in the quality of things I buy regularly from M&S - like their bras, which are now made of a much flimsier fabric than before (AND if you're not watchful will have the strap adjusters at the back.) Even the knickers are harsh cotton now.

I also wear the black jogging bottoms for pottering about in - they are still just under £10 but again, the quality is now poorer.

I don't buy much clothing there anymore, to be honest. I don't like the colours, or the styles. Still like the fruit and veg., though!

Such a pity.

To generalise my complaint about M&S. In recent years chain clothing stores have been racing each other downhill in quality in order to be cheapest.

Skirts and trousers no longer have pockets, the fabric trousers are made from is stuffed full of filler so that they feel fine when you buy them but as soon as you wash them they go as limp as a rag, bright colours wash out and tone down in weeks.

I live in a rural area, my nearest town is 15 miles away, I'm retired. I simply do not have time to constantly give up whole days to visiting a shopping town to comb all the shops, big and small, looking for garments I like that are of a decent quality. I would happily pay more for better quality clothes. It would work out cheaper because I would not have to keep replacing cheap shoddy clothing that is only fit to be used as a duster after only a few months.

Online shopping is no use because the clothes are just as shoddy and you have all the trouble of parcelling them up and sending them back if not satisfactory.

I agree with what you say about M&S clothes, FlicketyB, but I have to say I prefer skirts and trousers without pockets. I never use them anyway, and they spoil the line.

flickety, do have a look at Land's End. Don't know if their stuff is the type of thing you are after, but up to now their quality has been superb.
Good service too.

Johanna, I agree Landsend is one sparkling exception, but recently I ordered jeans from them in my normal size and the fit was dreadful, my shape not their fault and I then had to go through all the palaver of sending them back, which means it takes weeks from the decision to purchase a garment to finally being able to wear it, assuming you dont have to get your money back and start again.

I am just nostalgic for the days when clothes shopping meant a quick visit to your local High Street where there would be a variety of shops, chain and independent, with a good range of good quality clothing. Now High Streets are dominated by chain stores selling shoddy and the independent stores and small chains are banished to the back streets and small towns so finding them and visiting them is time consuming .

Anagram, many years ago I attended a talk on personal safety and the police officer giving it advised us never to put our house and car keys in our handbags. That way you didnt have to worry about not being able to get into your home and having to replace all the locks etc etc if your bag is stolen. I was very grateful for that advice a few years later when my bag was stolen but my keys were in my pocket.

Ever since middle DD was mugged at knifepoint in London a few years ago, losing her flat keys, passport, cash and credit cards, phone, filofax with all her business contacts , etc I have often though about how stuck I would be and resolved that if I felt it necessary (as in St Petersburg on holiday also some years ago) I would have a small "body bag" under my outer clothes with the really important stuff and only have in my handbag things I could afford to lose. Youngest DD was also advised when travelling round the world to carry a small amount of money on cash (any denomination) which she could throw at/to potential muggers and gain time while they gathered it up. Would my library ticket serve the same purpose?

Never mind trousers - whatever has happened to skirts? I visited a number of high street stores today (not M&S but they're just as bad) and there were hardly any skirts available, though numerous trousers in various styles. I know I wear trousers most of the time, but I do like to have a choice.

Probably not, gracesmum. Perhaps some Monopoly money?

All they'd be likely to get from me!
I am realising that I am more and more wearing clothes I have had for years, partly because I no longer need the sort of work clothes I used to buy, partly because I can't afford to "splurge" but mostly because they are so much better made. Trouble is, nothing lasts for ever and when my favourites do give up the ghost - what is there to take their place?

Thank you, gracesmum, now I know what to do with the Hong Kong dollars that have been languishing in my drawer for several years!

You are right gracesmum , there is nothing to take their place!
Even the " designer " clothes are mostly made in China.

I remember makes like Ballantynes, Pringles, Munrospun, Lyle &Scott, etc.
.
All Scottish , and they screamed quality.

I agree, M and S not really worth going into now as styles and quality bad.Brora is good and Scottish but expensive. Sales good though as are Toast. Both makes great quality and last for ages. Some White Stuff clothes good too but many too 'young ' for me ie no sleeves. Having just thrown out lots of clothes , as part of attempts to clear house of things I'm trying not to buy more. Also stuck on sofa with knee doesn't seem to matter much what I wear. Window cleaner did look startled at 4 today to see me in pyjamas. Don't think DH notices.

Bring back St.Michael!

having discovered M&S on line a couple of years ago I went back to buying from them and opened an account. Since then Per Una and Autograph have gone steadily younger, slimmer and shorter in style. Ok if you're size 12 but not a chunky 16.
And I'm with numberplease. Bring back St Michael and a bit of quality!