Here we go again - M&S woes

can these really be normal old m and s y-fronts?

Why don't I recognise them?

I showed the adverts to DH, who had managed to read 2 national newspapers yesterday without noticing them. He was equally bemused by the adverts. The only people he could think of who would not find the ads off putting were the gay equivalent of men who leer over page 3 women.

Making the assumption that this advertising campaign is aimed at young men, many of whom will be young, unattached and buy their own underwear or possibly their young women partners, where they are attached, is a double page ad in all the national newspapers the best way of reaching this demographic, the vast majority of whom do not read a daily paper?

Sense of déjà vu with these pants. Then I remembered. A little while ago, in a urinal at a motorway service station I found my self unavoidably staring at an advertisement for some very smart pants for men with bladder problems.......

On another note - I was due to 'collect in store' today. Yet again, I received a phone call to say that my item would not be in store until tomorrow .

Firstly, why isn't it 'in store' on the day it is due? No reason given, of course.

Secondly, what is the point in phoning, with a recorded message, on the day of collection - when I have already left to collect it?

This keeps happening lately

WAKE UP M & S !!! There are plenty of other stores out there offering better products and better reliable service

I had the misfortune to have the pants advert emailed to me yesterday. At last I.have remembered to unsubscibe from.their emails. Went to M & S this morning to look.at jumpers. I was dismayed to find that they still havnt used up the job lot of glittery wool they must have bought 3 years ago.

I have stopped looking in M & S. The last time I was visited there wasn't a single thing that I wanted to buy. I used to love the fit of their trousers/jeans, now they seem to be made for either giants or midgets.

I generally agree with all the complaints about M & S. I've got used to the new website (you have to set up a new password if you haven't used it since the new site was launched) but miss the option to save items to a Wish List (I found this useful when there were discounts/I needed something).

I got M & S vouchers for my birthday in June and finally trotted off to the Marble Arch branch a couple of weeks ago, not very hopeful of finding slim black trousers and stretchy trousers for Pilates. I went early and, despite how horrid I always feel when trying on trousers in the very well lit changing rooms, with persistence (and finding out what treggings were + the fact that I need a regular rather than short in some styles even though I'm only 5'2"), I eventually found exactly what I wanted - good fit, good heavy quality material; plus I had a voucher left for a nice soft wool jumper. Yeah - success!

The website is rubbish - also most Impossible to useon the ipad. Service in the shops is no better! We recently stopped at the Havorfordwest branch to pick up something for lunch on our way home from the ferry. DH selected a sandwich and I chose a potentially interesting Harissa chicken salad. Got to the checkout and paid and then asked for a fork and napkin so that I could eat the salad. Not a fork spoon knife or napkin was to be. had. I then had a strop and told them I would grudgingly choose a sandwich DH moaned that he would then have to go back through the queue and checkout,but firmly fixing a stray employee in the eye I assured him that "this lady will sort it all out for us". And she did! I have got so much bolder since I have got older.
Back to quality in M & S.......the only thing I buy there nowadays for myself is knickers and jogging trousers and fleece tops. Sad really as I must have spent a small fortune there in yesteryear.

I haven't used the website for a bit but I do go our local M & S outlet store. To date, I've bought linen trousers for a fiver and some bits and pieces such a maternity dress for my daughter, also a fiver. I reckon that most of the stuff is worth what I have paid for it but at least it hasn't shrunk upwards in the leg.
I go to the main store now and again but rarely see anything that takes my fancy and if I do I usually think it's overpriced! Their trousers (except the baggy ones) rarely fit - as others have said. I'm a size 8 and the hips are always too wide and the waist/hips too tight. At the moment Next gets my vote if I need trousers. I'm not prepared to pay M & S prices and then having to mess about taking stuff in. 100% wool garments I buy online from another supplier and they are OK for the price.
I find the colour palette that M & S use to violent. I'm so fed up with bright pink/blue/green etc.
Wish I could find clothes at reasonable prices that fit and have a little style. I admit I've gone off shopping for clothes altogether.

I got a lovely long tunic in their sale just before my holiday. I pulled it out of my case and there wasn't a wrinkle. I still like M&S but find them expensive compared to my old favourite Bon Marche.

I've given up on M&S. Used to love their pyjamas tops and bottoms but they' re really boring now. Haven't spend any money there for a long time. Bought all my summer things from Next, fit is great and styles are much better

Talking of boring, I went into a Clark's shop last week.

Black, black and more black. Not a colour to be seen except in killer heels.

I had largely given up on M&S clothes too due to the horrible fabrics they now seem to use. However, just this week I found 4 nice things that I actually really like. The variability is amazing though. I`ve discovered that some trousers I bought in the Summer as cheapo holiday things are really the most beautiful fabric and that I would have paid double for (yes really!) Other things have looked OK but felt horrible due to cheap & nasty fabrics being used.
BTW- Confession time- I think we`d starve without the M&S food hall

Black, black and more black. Not a colour to be seen except in killer heels.

I think that bugs me as much as anything else - the drab, dreary colours (usually black, grey or beige); thank goodness for online shopping (mainly La Redoute at the moment).

They still do a brace of excellent iced, spiced sticky buns!

Many years ago it was so easy to buy a 100% woollen cardigan in M&S in a variety of colours without needing sunglasses. Has nobody told the buyers that this country in winter is too cold to wear cotton or acrylic cardigans?

I only buy socks and knickers there now and the occasional jogging trousers which are so thin these days that one needs leggings underneath in winter.

If the quality was improved for a start I think that the "grey pound" may slowly return. The problem is that they do not listen and i am also not too sure who their target audience actually is.

jings just looked at your link and had to hastily 'go back' as DH is approaching and he may think I am looking at porn in my old age.
Well really! not at all M&S

rose You should have seen the video ad on the Daily Mail banner!
That one of jings is tame in comparison!

Perhaps not, Lona! [ blush]

I suppose if rosie wotsername has been all over the press in her undies and losing her clothes in last year's Christmas advert then it is only fair and equal!
I dread to think what they will come up with this year.

Is it me or is it all becoming undignified and rather coarse?

Next don't produce 'soft porn' ads or have celebrities endorsing their brand and they are hammering M & S on sales and profits. What does that tell you M & S.

I went into my nearest town last week and thought it was in mourning. Every shop window and interior was draped in black - then I realised it was the clothes. Nothing but black, black and more black with the occasional dark grey or black and white garment for variety.

Oddly enough the exception to the rule was M&S and they had a lot of warm autumnal colours as did my local Sainsbury's when I visited it.

Mind you as soon as I went up stairs in M&S where the clothes for older women hide, they were black, black and more black as well. Are we expected to act all southern European and wear nothing but black once we are 40?

Im ok with black as I've never graduated from my black goth stage in the 90s. Black goes with anything it doesn't show dirt apart from white cat hairs, black means you can get away with a black bag and black shoes as I do and don't have to match colours. no probs.

So many shops seem to pick a colour for the season, and that's all you can buy. I found a couple of nice tops in Sainsbury's but they were basically navy. There is no navy in my wardrobe and I'm not going to introduce another colour just so I can buy a new top. If I was looking in M&S I would have the same problem, but the colour would probably be vile pink!

There are some horribly ugly colours about. I don't ask for sweetie pastels either, just colours that it is a pleasure to look at instead on ones that look as though someone has produced something mouldy from a rancid food bucket.

Another one here who despairs of M&S (apart from food and bedding). Who are their buyers, to get it so, so wrong? I do hope someone there will have this thread pointed out to them. GNHQ, are you up for it?