Will M&S ever learn?

Our local M&S has had a refit too, but there seems to be less stock! There's a whole section with a rail of individual items you can try on and then order online via a machine instore - no one was looking, never mind ordering!

I was looking for a lightweight jacket, but the ones on offer looked cheap (although they weren't) with very little colour choice. I ended up in Debenhams and bought a much classier-looking jacket for less money - although I, too, have M&S vouchers from Christmas...

I visited M & S a few weeks back and it seemed to have had a refit. I thought I'd walked into a rummage sale! There was so much stuff and I began to feel claustrophobic. My DH buys the odd - ordinary, I should say! - pair of trousers / jeans there but none of my children would be seen dead in there. The homeware section is OK though but prefer Next - except that Next goes for pink and blue in the children's department!!!! I thought that went out with the ark.

I like that idea ariadne and if we all wrote on the same day that would get noticed surely. It's not that we want to knock M&S but it has the potential to be the first port of call when you're looking for everyday clothes but now it's dropping down the list, fast. I had £50 worth of M&S vouchers given to me a Christmas and I'm still looking fir something I'd actually consider buying.
What a waste.

What a good idea . Mine of course would be a fan letter .

When we had the last thread on M&S I actually e mailed them, mentioning GN, its demographic and saying they should take notice. No reply, no acknowledgement, no change. Maybe if we ALL wrote...??

I have shopped in M&S for clothers since my teens, but am beginning to lose faith. Trouble is, where else does a short, dumpy (very) Senior citizen on a limited budget go?
The redeeming features have, until recently, been that I could depend on finding trousers that don't trail behind me like a royal train, and dresses that aren't ballgown length on me. Admittedly I have similar problems to other conrtibutors in that often the waist is too large in proportion to the size needed for tummy. As for their habit - particularly in Per Una - of designing sleeves that flare out at the lower arm ........ when you have short arms you look for a ribbed/tightish sleeve that you can push up and rely on it staying up - rather than it drooping over hands and continually getting wet every time you go near water!
But now either I'm shrinking or the so called 'short length' trousers are getting longer. And why do M&S insist on using so many revolting patterned fabrics? I want far more plain or very discreetly patterned clothes which can then be accessorised in different ways and can be teamed up much more easily with each other.
As for the quality - I'm wearing a simple cotton top at the moment, but already the bottom inch is very creased from being rumpled whilst I have been sitting down. The fabric is so flimsy that it doesn't hang out when vertical - it just rides up in a series of parallel creases.
Come on M&S, like Mamie suggests, face some of your best customers and LISTEN!

I do find it extraordinary that in two years of Gransnet nobody from M and S has been in to do a proper webchat (I don't count the Twiggy questions). I would love to ask them why the French website doesn't have all the things on the UK one, when it all comes from England anyway.
Always visit when in the UK though, to check if it has got better. Dull, frumpy clothes, dreadful colours, over-crowded stores and seemingly completely uninterested in one of their largest customer basis.

And the lack of staff ariadne ?

*Ariadne DH is always complaining about the different shades of beige in the menswear dept.

Well those clothes are not going to set the world alight are they? The M and S style person does not look remotely stylish - just boring.
Last winter I wanted to buy someone a nice plain cashmere jumper. Went to M and S. Got depressed at the dingy colours and styles. Went to JL, lovely colours there. They got the biz. M and S have never "got" colour.
I have no idea how on earth M and S manage to stay in business, making a profit (presumably) out of all those acres of women's clothing when there is so much competition.

Zara is the shop for me - imagination and a bit of originality but avoiding the "what's in the UK high street" clone clothes.

Some of the stores in smaller towns do a big line in beige....

The Crewe branch of M+S is diabolical and the Hanley store isn't much better.

I always buy M&S undies in the same style every time, simply because they fit!! I like their trousers too because they understand that women have a shape. I have one style of cotton trousers in all the colours. I do not stick to one M&S brand, just browse for what I like and, more importantly, fits well.
I agree that all the clothes in the article are horrible. I did like the look of the red ankle boots until I saw the price...over £100.. NOT IN M&S!!

Remind me to stay clear of M&S next time we visit Manchester!!!

I do hate those bows on the front of a lot of their bras, too, I always cut them off!

I find that it depends hugely on where you live as to what you can buy in an M&S. I have moved around a lot, and expected to find thing I like in stores and want to buy again, only to find that the buyer in that area doesn't share my taste.

Many years ago I was so disgusted with what was available in my own local M&S after having seen what was available in another that i asked to have the buyer pointed out to me. I was directed to an elderly asian gentleman wearing a toupe. That explained a lot.

I have hated the underwear lately, I want cotton-rich discreet underwear that will last for more than a few months before it disintegrates without any bows that spoil the line of my clothes, and there is so little choice in that now.

Hideous, everything.

I didn't think the clothes were too bad - not sure I would buy them, though. Actually M & S clothes usually, to me at least, seem better in the summer than the winter. I can normally find things in there I like at this time of the year, but have trouble in the autumn.

Glad to think that I normally look a lot smarter than Liz Jones - even if I do wear 90% Per Una. What an awful selection of clothes! Why is Liz still lusting after black trouser suits that are soooo old hat? Personally I've always thought that one thing M&S do well is jackets. I've got some very nice ones, carefully picked out in the sales, all very well made with nice linings. I had nearly fallen out of love with Per Una - some of the colours have been vile and the fabrics cheap and nasty - but last week I found a very nice white top, plain cotton with just a little Per Una touch to make it look different.

Everything is made in China and I am not the slender, short Chinese female. I have given up buying shirts as I would have to buy at least 2-3 sizes larger before I could attempt to button them up.
Underwear is still good value.

I was in a large store today and did buy a couple of pairs of linen trousers, a couple of tops and a long stripey shirt. There seemed to be way too many 'outstanding value' items, ie cheap and poor quality. M & S used to be great for plain, good quality separates which could be dressed up with items from more exclusive ranges.

The shoes are dire. Underwear is still good value. They have such a loyal customer base, desperate for them to offer the clothes that they will buy. My children wouldn't dream of shopping there for clothes, they need to concentrate on that loyal customer base - there's massive competition for cheap clothes, M & S should position themselves outside of that market and go back to quality.

I thjink I do , any way how is hubby? you guys keep rockin".

Take care , thinking of you , keep in touch ! x

Do you mean Betty Jackson Black, nonu?? I like her stuff as well as Phase 8, CC, Viyella and the "independents" Like Denny Andrews, Wall, Sahara, Grizas etc.

Cheaper than others ,ie c.c , windsmor , planet . betty black , et al ..

Wish I could add more but in this neck of the woods , choice is somewhat limited .

Doesn't look like Liz Jones - too much airbrushing there!

Pink coat looks nice and a good price; who would pay 159 pounds for a dull grey dress from M&S?

Tuxedo outfit is boring.

And as for the waffle dress!