Due to extreme laziness I'm virtually retired from Ciao, although I'll still read and post the odd o...
Due to extreme laziness I'm virtually retired from Ciao, although I'll still read and post the odd op every now and then......
Member since:16.01.2001
Reviews:369
Members who trust:124
I once saw a comedy sketch featuring Alexei Sayle, I think, which had the premise that you know you're getting old when you buy clothes from Marks and Spencers "because you can always take them back if you don't like them", instead of buying from some trendy shop where clothes look "groovy and wild"(sic).
Marks and Spencers have always had a faceless almost clinical image where they supplied products thst were of the highest quality, and you could return them with virtually no questions asked, for a full refund.
Their prices are more expensive than competitors , but you always have to "pay for quality", and this for many years maintained their lead in the market.
In recent years their produce has been undercut by competitors losing them an enormous amount of revenue. Clothes fromhigh street shops are more exciting , cheaper and as good quality as Marks & Spencer. The food department, which where I used to shop if I wanted something special is now not as good as my local Tesco, and Tesco's are cheaper and allow you to shop on line.
Also for years Marks and Spencer had a huge resistance to credit and debit cards, a very British stance that must have cost them a huge part of their customer base , that may well have precipitated their latest crisis.
MArks's and Spencer still provided quality goods and value for money and good service, but their clothes are bland, and their food is not that much better that the high end supermarket ranges. However if they do not modernise , and do more market research into what customers really want , they will eventually disappear.
I now only use them for food when I've missed something off my Tesco's order, and I'm passing the store , whereas I used to frequent them once or twice a week. I probablt spend 5-10 GBP a month there , whereas I used to spend arond 100 GBP. I know I'm a peripheral customer, but if my habits are mirrored by the public, it's no wonder that they have their current crisis, and they're looking at shedding staff.
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I still find them useful for certain items :S but have to agree that their over-all image is deteriorating.
Michael-S 12.04.2001 00:32
M&S had quite a good reputation outside the UK, but now they are closing all their non-UK shops. Take care, Michael.
cheekypixies 10.04.2001 11:02
Marks and Spencers is my least visited shop. It's mainly for snobs who all run round yelling 'Caviar' etc. I reckon the queen would probably shop there if it wasn't for Harrods. :) Good op.
Advantages: Excellent quality goods, friendly staff, freedom to browse, sells everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink. Disadvantages: Relatively expensive, store layout confusing, can be hard to find assistance during busy times.
sallycinnamon78 12.10.2005 (12.10.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
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