Marks & Spencer (Shop)

...I thought.

Marks and Spencer’s have been going forever, or so it seems and they are one of the UK's leading retailers of clothes, food and home products. It’s like going home, being back with your mum, it’s familiar and comforting. They have tried to update themselves a bit and now are just “Marks”, but us thirty something’s will always call it “marks and sparks”.

So let me give you a virtual tour of this shop that prides ...
...is BHS. Smack wrists Marks and Sparks!

THOSE AWFUL SELF-SERVE CHECK OUTS:
You are supposed to be able to scan your own products and slip your money through the dispenser and go. What really happens is you scan, you get told you have cocked up by a loud computerised voice and then an assistant comes to check your incorrect work. God help you if you add something to your bag that hasn’t been scanned. Its human error but try telling ... more

I was feeling cheesed off yesterday, this has not been a good week really. So what do I do best when feeling down, well apart from eating chocolate I go shopping. I would have ate for England if my husband wasn’t at home, but he was and he gives me the evil eye each time he’s sees me eat anything other than a salad. So my only outlet was to escape the house and go shopping.

I didn’t really need anything I just wanted to be out on my own, well apart from my daughter in her buggy. My sons were staying at my mum’s so off us girlies went for a bit of retail therapy.

Where did I go? Well it wasn’t anywhere exotic believe me. I went to Uxbridge, my local shopping centre, wow! I managed to find parking, as even on a Sunday it’s manic. I covered The Chimes blowing a few quid on some sale bargains then walked over to The Pavilions, where good old M and S is situated. I had £50 in gift vouchers to blow on something so I was going to enjoy myself, or so I thought.

Marks and Spencer’s have been going forever, or so it seems and they are one of the UK's leading retailers of clothes, food and home products. It’s like going home, being back with your mum, it’s familiar and comforting. They have tried to update themselves a bit and now are just “Marks”, but us thirty something’s will always call it “marks and sparks”.

So let me give you a virtual tour of this shop that prides itself on quality and customer care.

THE ENTRANCES:
There are two entrances to the Uxbridge shop. I prefer the front way as it has automatic doors. They still have the original push doors and these are so damn awkward to get a buggy through. Very rarely has anyone ever held these doors open for me so imagine the relief when they finally installed automatic ones.

There have been countless times when people have just let the doors fall through their fingers without giving us mums a second thought. I have always replied with a two-finger salute. I couldn’t swear, as the children would be listening. I don’t know how disabled customers entered the shop before these doors were introduced, I’m so glad they are there now.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
As the air condition gives you a slap on the face as you walk in, you are greeted with a well-stocked and extremely tidy store. The lower ground is devoted to the ladies and to food. I wonder who was responsible for grouping these two categories together?

On the right as you walk in, is the new trendy range “Per Una”. Its not bad, but I always by pass this bit as its aimed at 20 something’s with a wash board stomach and boobs under their chin. Besides its hard to steer the buggy round such small racks of clothes, they have really crammed them in and if you are more than a size 10, then forget squeezing down there. From what I can see they are very pretty and very flimsy. The prices are not in the league of good old NEW LOOK; everything here starts from £15. In NEW LOOK that would be a complete outfit!
On the left is the range I go for. Denim Skirts with a bit of stretch, cotton tops that fit and don’t pull at the sides, tracky bottoms with so much comfort added it’s a sin, handbags built for shopping and not to hold just one lipstick and a mobile and cardigans that feel like they are giving you a cuddle. Prices start at £10 for a cotton top and cardigans are £40 plus. One thing you are still guaranteed when buying from M and S, is its staying power. They wash and wash and very rarely ever fade. You pay for what you get in this world and the quality here is first rate.

FITTING ROOMS:
These are also on the left just by the elevator. It’s a queue system and you are allowed upto 8 articles in one go. The procedure is to wait until the assistant shows you a cubicle and gives you an appropriate number, which you take with you.
They have one large cubicle at the far end which is ample for a double buggy and still enough room to try on clothes. It’s also big enough for wheel chair access.
This section has recently been revamped which is a bonus as some of the curtains didn’t quite pull across. The lightning has improved and there are more hooks for your clothes. Outside the cubicles is an extra full-length mirror to help you decide on your purchases.
There is also a fresh water dispenser in the changing area and extra seating outside for the tired and weary men.

THE JEWELLREY AND HANDBAGS:
I love the handbags, but blink and you’ll miss it. For tucked away right in the far corner is the bag section. Prices start from £20 and these bags are the good-sized, pack it all in type bags. The girlie pink ones no larger than a thumbnail are scattered around the store.
The jewellery at Christmas is very impressive. They had an excellent well-maintained range during the festive season. So what’s gone wrong?
Yesterday’s display was appalling. The racks were half empty and the selection had been mauled over like a car boot sale. What they did have left was still marked up for £15 and over. I wouldn’t have given 50 pence for any of those articles they were trying to palm off as costume jewellery.
If you do buy fashion jewellery, unlike MATALAN and BHS, they don’t tarnish from M and S. Best not to buy it now, wait until the rack is tidied up a bit.

SHOES AND SLIPPERS:
On the right hand side is the comfort zone for feet. Yes they do sell the three-inch heels that look like a tooth pick, but they also sell soft and padded mules that feel like slippers, trendy and practical boots in a heel that doesn’t give you a nose bleed and slippers that feel like your feet are being seduced by Antonio Banderas. Prices here are a down to earth £20 and up. Slippers are £15. I should know, I bought another pair yesterday!

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD . . . . . . . . and house plants
The houseplant bit, well that’s ok, very inter flora if you know what I mean. Prices are from £5 upwards and they make good thank you gifts. A real bugger to try and get back to the car without it resembling a weed by the time you make it there. It’s nothing to get over excited about and if you are intending to give flowers as a gift, M and S have their own delivery service. Check out www.marksand spencers.com or pick up a leaflet in store for prices and delivery dates.
Now onto the best bit, FOOD! I love everything about their range, it’s so delicious and I feel like a kid in a sweet shop. Why oh why don’t M and S run their own delivery service to your home? The Uxbridge store do hold you’re shopping for you until you bring the car down to a receiving point where you can unload your bags. It would still be a lot easier if they delivered like Tesco and Ocado. My hubby would disagree on that point, as he knows it would bankrupt us if I bought our weekly shop there, but boy would it be tasty!
I feel the sandwich range needs a mention. I could eat a sarni for breakfast, dinner and tea and never tire of it. The roast chicken, mayo and sweetcorn is a must try. The chicken is pure breast meat with no horrible little greasy or rubbery bits. The sweetcorn is crunchy and not watery and soggy. So the cals are over 300 but it’s worth every bit.
The count on us range is for diet conscious individuals. I adore the tiramisu pudding and the strawberry yoghurt. Both are under 150 cals and prices start from £0.75p. A bit more than your Muller Lights but well worth it. Also try the chicken casserole and dumplings; it’s a diet meal that fills you up, that’s a first.
Everything here is so clean and tidy. The fresh veg and fruit are fresh, no black bananas that Sainsburys try to sell off at the end of the day.
However, there is one small gripe, that is the cake section. Yes they are baked fresh but they are not covered up and are open to germs and little wandering fingers. My boys always ask for a cake or biscuit but I refuse, they are not clean enough in my eyes. The only other place I know that displays the cakes in such an unhygienic manner is BHS. Smack wrists Marks and Sparks!

THOSE AWFUL SELF-SERVE CHECK OUTS:
You are supposed to be able to scan your own products and slip your money through the dispenser and go. What really happens is you scan, you get told you have cocked up by a loud computerised voice and then an assistant comes to check your incorrect work. God help you if you add something to your bag that hasn’t been scanned. Its human error but try telling that to security!
I prefer the normal route of paying.

GOING UP:
This elevator needs some work, I hate it, its dangerous and scares the life out of me. I have no other option than to take the lift if I have the kids and buggy with me.
The lift is next to the changing room.
Be warned the doors close to quick. I’ll give you proof of this.
Last Christmas I was out with all my brood as it was the Santa Parade in the High Street. I needed to go upstairs and select a gift or two in the men’s sections. I pressed the lift button and down it came.
My six year old walks in. I reach round to grab my 4 year old and push the buggy through and the lift takes off. Yes that’s right, without me, my hubby or my other kids, just Ryan on his own.
I tried ramming the doors with my buggy, but they didn’t open. As I yelled for my son to open the door, some inpatient soul upstairs had summoned the lift and up goes Ryan screaming his heart out. Fortunately I had my hubby with me and he ran up the stairs like a blot of lightning to greet Ryan at the other end. I stayed by the lift.
I screamed and began crying too at this stage and not one assistant from M and S came over to see me, the shop wasn’t even that full. I gathered enough attention from the customers though as by now I was hysterical and angry. They were sympathetic, M and S couldn’t have given a toss.
My hubby brought Ryan back to me and I thank God he was there. What would I have done with the three sprogs on my own if this had happened?
I wrote to head office and complained. I complained to Uxbridge who passed the buck. Head office replied eventually. They said the elevator has passed stringent tests and the time delay was satisfactory. I think it isn’t and I’ll leave it upto you to judge on that one. Even now, it’s a tad slower but you still have to get in quick. Please be careful if you use this store.

FIRST FLOOR:
Here’s where you’ll find the clothes for kids, for your man, your underwear and the returns department. This section used to be over in the far precinct but TK MAX has now moved in there and M and S crammed the lot into the top floor.
It is cramped up there and the aisles and narrow and hard to get through.
The seating for kids to try on shoes is non-existent and there are too many manikins around which can knocked down easily and cause an accident. Clothes are bit expensive, but they last.
Knickers and bras are right at the back and tucked away in the corner is the make up and reduced section. Don’t get excited, the reduced section means bottles without caps, lippies that have been tried on, and only half filled moisturisers. Not worth a look really.
The men’s side is dull and boring at the moment. There is nothing there for under 30’s, is very dated and too practical. This needs a revamp I think. Remember M and S there are a younger market you can grab. You have tried with Per Una Range so what about young men? They wont wear tweed jackets and brown elasticated slippers.
The home section is very small, not much to view here. Best to go online or browse through the catalogue.
There really isn’t that much I cant write about the first floor. It is cramped and claustrophobic, I don’t venture up there very often. If I do then I know I have to contemplate that awful lift down again. The stairs are too dangerous to carry a pushchair down so my options are limited.

THEN OUT THE BACK WE GO:
That’s it folks, my Uxbridge store in a nutshell. You can get out at the back door if you so wish, this brings you out to face Tchibo coffee shop and Thorntons. Hope you enjoyed the tour.

OPENING TIMES:
Mon to Wed – 9am till 5.00
Thurs 9 am till 8 pm
Fri 9 am till 6 pm
Sat 9am till 6 pm
Sun 11 am till 5 pm

Check out the website for more details on the stores. www.marksand spencers.com

 

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