M&S closures

The Stevenage M & S closed some time ago. The quality of their products had gone so far downhill that I really wasn't surprised. What I find more surprising is that they are still trading when they are still presumably selling such rubbish. Maybe it's a regional thing.

When I'm in Gibraltar I always make a beeline for the Marks there. It's an Aladins cave of goodies.

I used to like M and S far more, but some of the clothes are terrible now and when they turn up on the reduced rail you can see why. I think they diversified too much, books, toys etc. instead of concentrating on good garment design and classics, which they used to do so well.

Back in the 1980s I worked in a city near to one of their flagship stores. I could pretty much dress myself entirely from M&S; from underwear to smart work suits, summer dresses to make-up, scarfs and leather belts, even some of their costume jewellery! They really were fantastic for me back then. Nowadays - not so much.

But, I do still buy from M&S, like others here I find their cotton t-shirts good, with a good range of colours and necklines. And I don't think I've bought my knickers from anywhere else in decades.

But - and I can see I am part of the problem - I usually buy online. I live quite near a medium-sized store, and I do wander in and have a look from time to time; but rather than go hunting through the racks to see if they have the particular item in stock, in my size, in the colour I want - I order it online to be delivered to the store, where I go to collect it next day.

They were talking about this on Radio 4 (Mary Portas was being asked for her opinion) and apparently 20% of sales are now online. But I wonder how many of those sales are like mine, prompted by something I've seen in-store but ordered online? If I didn't have an in-store to visit, would I be prompted to order? Possibly not. So if they close stores, might some of their online sales just not happen?

I picked up a black pair of trousers tried them on reasonable fit, in a rush, came out picked up a navy as well, got them home two completely different fits on the same thing, very reluctant to buy on line. I like natural fabrics and buy a lot of Sealsalt or Monsoon tops and dresses for the Summer. There is so much choice now, very nice check blouse from Primark the other day £6.99 I think will last the season and some I bet.

I have been waiting for M&S to provide online food shopping. I order from Waitrose and Morrison, but if M&S were online I would order from them.
In regard to clothes, many of us are not exactly slim, and their ranges always sell out of large sizes and they always seem to be designed for Twiggy.

They have lost their way so many times over the years that the current news is hardly surprising. I finally gave up on them when I could no longer buy my much loved jeans and also my husband's jeans. Clearly changed supplier but just weren't the same. So I wondered into Next and will now not be returning to M&S apart from their Dine in for £10 deals. M&S just haven't listened to their customers for a very long time and so I'm afraid they're paying the consequence. Sadly it will be the staff who suffer.

M and S should-
get rid of the Sparks Card
get rid of per una
concentrate on good quality basics in good quality fabrics no acrylic or polyester , take a look at uniqglo - a range of linen shirts in lots of colours, good quality cotton t shirts in lots of colours, a few styles of trouser and jeans, a wide range of age groups shop there.
stop trying to appeal to teenagers- they aren't going to shop there
do online food
get someone else to design the website

I took part in the McCarthy Stone overnight stay and was given £50 of M&S vouchers for this. I just haven't seen anything that I want to buy with these vouchers. The fit, the quality and 'style' is just appalling. Even their undies aren't good any more.

In the past, when I went into Per Una there were so many items that I adored. Nowadays I walk through wondering what happened to the brand.
Haven't bought at M&S for a very long time.

I agree with lots of the responses on here. The clothes are now cheaply made in cheap, synthetic fabrics. The cut is poor, so they rarely hang right, and if you do find something that fits, it will look tatty after a couple of washes. The sizing is all over the place. The shops are a jumble sale with random racks of stuff all over the place. I know they are in “collections” but it doesn’t make it easy (as a shopper) when you only want a blouse. I don’t want skinny cut trousers, cropped tops and masses of tacky glittery embellishment, and judging by the stuff on the sale racks, I’m not alone.

Like many of you I have often tackled departmental managers about their fashions, but it all fell on stony ground! ‘Madam, we try to cater for everyone’.
They have spent too long trying to attract a younger market , but they just don’t seem to ‘get ‘ that young people don’t want M&S versions of fashion.
Sad, but they should have listened to their customers!

Madam, we try to cater for everyone’.

Thereby lies the problem! Or at least one of them!

I emailed the Big Boss a couple of times a few months ago and provided him with links to the M & S threads on GN. Received very nice replies, but doubt whether things will change

Years ago they were top quality and clothes and bedding would last for years. Now their items are much the same as any chain store and quite often inferior to supermarket. But they still charge top prices so this is bound to happen.

A lot of their clothes have the same countries of manufacture as Primark etc who sell them at a reasonable price. Per Una jeans were fantastic, now they stop looking good within 6 months. Am going to try TU next time.

Another one here very disappointed with M&S. In trying to attract a younger market, who wouldn't be seen dead in there, they've alienated their core customer. A few years ago they were criticised for not having dresses with sleeves for us older customers. They didn't listen and continued to try to cater for teens and young adults. I very rarely find anything suitable there for work or functions. And their website is a mess and the models look uninterested and uninspired. Wake up M&S and sort it out.

Hmmmmm. I'm sitting here dressed literally from head to foot including underwear and slippers in M&S clothes!! It's all cotton, good quality and fits well. I've got 3 tops on order via their website and will collect them next time I'm in!
PS I just finished my M&S supper - was yummy.
I'd buy shares but they've gone up since their results were published yesterday. Interesting...

I am sorry my local Outlet Store is closing as I've had many good bargains in there & it's always busy. I am fortunate that I have 2 large M & S Stores about equidistance from my home. One of the Stores is handy for collecting on-line orders as my DD lives very close.

I love M & S clothes & still find their jeans to be a great fit & good quality. I buy t-shirts, underwear & nightwear along with shirts/blouses, my biggest complaint is that I find what I like but not in my size (I'm a plus size) so I end up ordering on-line.

I would not shop in Primark but have bought from ASDA, Tesco (occasionally), must go back to Matalan for a look. Next is hopeless, last time I looked there was nothing I would wear. I also have M & S Food in my local BP Garage but I prefer the larger Stores with a bigger range.

I agree that M&S is much poorer quality than they used to be but surely this is the trend for most high street shops. They are all competing on price and I wonder how many garments end up in landfill after very little wear. Clothing would not be as cheap either if workers in places like Bangladesh had decent conditions with a living wage. I have resolved to buy less and spend more on quality, but has anyone any tips on which clothing retailers they consider sell genuinely quality clothing?

East used to - but they have gone bust. Shoppers prefer to pay lower prices and hang the quality . However M&Co clothes are usually good quality and also Sainsbury's, although DD says quality and style has dropped this summer. I haven't checked as I have to make a special journey to visit a Sainsbury's with a good clothes section and didn't need any new clothes this summer so didn't make the journey

Ah that explains why the East store near us has closed Monica.

Returned a pair of crop jeans yesterday as legs were of different lengths. Picked up a pair of peg trousers (linen rich). I have a pair that I have almost worn out but have had probs replacing them. Same size and length were too small. Went up a size and they were too short. Have tried a different length but now too long. Our local M&S closed recently and initially I was really disappointed but after a visit to a large out of town store, with vouchers burning a hole in my pocket, I came away with nothing and started to understand why.

M&S have lost the plot. I do like their knickers and their boots and sandals ( not usually their shoes funny enough fit is not as good) However their clothes leave a lot to be desired. I used to like their T shirts but hate these sleeves that go to the elbow who wants that in the summer. They did three quarter sleeve tops in nice colours for the Autumn , not any more! Trousers were just right now they've changed the lengths and one is too short the other too long so don't buy any more. Someone else said the same about trousers try Cotton Traders their trousers/jeans have multiple lengths to choose from. If Marks listened to our age group they'd still be in profit, and don't get me started on the website which is just awful

I've experienced the exact same garment in a different colour not being the same fit. Apparently it's because different colours are made on different sites.

Some time ago I bought some black trousers which were not very special but comfortable for everyday wear so I sent off for two more pairs - same style, colour, size and medium length. The ones I got were a good two inches longer although still labelled medium length.