R2OK!

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

"By Popular Demand"... "Giving the customers a helping hand"

So saying, Marks and Sparks announce they're going to stage another 20% off bunfight tomorrow, and Debenhams a three-day 25% event Wednesday to Friday, which will probably be extended through the weekend.

The tactic was flagged by the Sunday papers, so M&S stores have been very quiet this week. I cannot help but feel that if they can afford to do that, with all the extra staff and security costs which must be incurred in keeping the stores open from 7am until midnight, they could well afford to drop their prices by 20% in normal business so that they, and some of us, could avoid the unseemly scrum.
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Ron

gfloyd · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject: Re: Another Bad Sale Day

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Doesn't work with me.

I hate crowds.
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Ron

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

Surely these "20% off" days are counter-productive? I was in Marks the other day, and I thought "hang on - I'll wait until Thursday". I'm sure that's replicated across the country, hence their sales are well down on other days!
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MiS

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

You would think so. It works like that even more in some of the other stores. The number of staff hanging around in our House of Fraser outnumbers customers at least three days of the week (like those old-fashioned stores featured in Richard Macer's series on BBC4) because people know they invariably run some discount promotion at the end of the week.
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Ron

Rachel · Guest

The problem with M & S is not lack of customers, it's lack of quality in what they are selling - it really is cheap tat, imported from China. It's much the same in other stores though. They end up competing for the same customers - so they end up selling cheaper and cheaper stuff to try and win custom- so eventually; and that eventually has arrived:- all the shops are selling the same lowest level cheap nasty junk that very few people actually want.

I went to Debenhams, looked at some things :- hand cream, in a little wire basket:- reduced from £6:50 ish to £5.30 ish .... in Superdrug, same hand cream- same basket , slightly different packaging .... £2.50....... in the pound shop ... same hand cream- same basket ... no packaging ... £1...... all made in China........ The big stores are just an illusion in a fancy box.

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:39 am Post subject:

I think that's a bit harsh on M & S Rachel - one thing you can say about a lot of their stuff is it doesn't lack quality. Of course you have to be selective, but on the whole you can be sure you won't get tat.
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MiS

Rachel · Guest

Not really MIS, M & S spend a bit more money presenting and marketing the stuff but when you get down to the product it's not really any better quality than other places. M & S food is marginally better than other places but not a great deal. None of these people are your friend- all they want is your money.

Tescos for example, would rather buy a really cheap piece of meat, then spend almost the same as it cost them, to make it look like a nice piece of meat - presented in a gas-tight fancy box filled with a special gas to make the meat look red and lean, and then charge you just the same or slightly more, in most cases, than you could get a proper piece of meat from a proper butcher in the high street. People have become far too trusting of big chain stores - they all, and I include M & S in that, stand on the shoulders of a reputation they earned in a bygone age, but they can't get away with selling tat in a fur coat for much longer. Disappointment leads only to disapproval and rejection.

( Harsh? That's twice in two days ... Sad

not harsh just realistic )

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

My wife's company had some visitors from Germany this week and they expressed an interest in seeing the German Christmas Market in town, so she took them one afternoon. After quaffing four or five mulled wines they went into the nearby Primark and came out loaded and marvelling at the range and price of clothes there (not that Primark don't have shops in Germany).
The only thing my wife bought was a pair of 100% cotton pyjamas with a cute doggy motif for £4.89, which rather throws into relief the similar pair I had bought earlier from M&S (and had hidden as a surprise Christmas present) and which cost £19.50.
I think I might take them back and get a refund, only not today, because I'll get 20% less!!
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Ron

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Briant · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:56 am Post subject: A star poster!

Congratulations on your 3000th post here Ron! Very Happy

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject:

Well done Ron!

Just don't agree about M&S, their food IS better, obviously you have to pick and choose but much of it is top notch.

I wouldn't buy socks and undies anywhere else either! I did try some time ago but they just aren't as good. I guess we must agree to differ!
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MiS

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

Yes well done Ron! Smile

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject:

Went to our little Marks this morning - it was like the first day of Harrods sale!! Got fed up with being shoved about and queueing, so only bought a couple of pairs of socks - but I did get 20% off Very Happy

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MiS

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Our M&S wasn't nearly as busy this time, but the ground (ladieswear) floor looked as though an army had rampaged through, thrown everything in the air and then put stuff back on the rails haphazardly. There was a conspicuous absence of stuff in the "middle" sizes (medium/large, 12,14,16).

The Christmas gift selection IS a load of tat - nothing there I would wish to give anybody. And it is nearly all marked Made In China. M&S once had a proud slogan - 99% of goods sold are made in Britain - I wonder what percentage (excluding food) are now made in the People's Republic?
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Ron

MadeinSurrey · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:23 pm Post subject:

One man's tat is another man's treat!
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MiS