Failed Consumer Frenzy: My hate-on for Marks & Spencers Continues Unabated

[inulro]

Instead of the customary book tokens, the in-laws sent us £50 worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers for Christmas. Seeing as we need a few things around the house, that seemed like a good idea. The M&S in town has a laughable homes section, and given that I have to work all week, we decided to brave the crowds and go up to the Mall to the big one today.

After fighting our way through the crowds, they had nothing we want. The kitchen stuff looked like it was trying to be Ikea, but with M&S price tags. I didn't like any of it enough to purchase it even with free money. We needed a new sheet as one in the current rotation is getting a bit threadbare. A fitted king size sheet in dark blue, purple or black shouldn't be too tall an order, but it was. The only suitable color did not appear to come in the size & style we require. Being M&S, there was of course no staff around to ask. And then I looked at the price and wasn't paying that much, even with free money, for a sheet I didn't really like.

We ended up spending half of it on a big fluffy bath towel for Jason and lots of tights for me. I get to buy work clothes with the rest of it, but at the shop in town and not at such a frenzied time. So much for getting stuff for both of us!

Wandered into John Lewis. This is not something I do often as the only one in Bristol is out at the Mall, where we go approximately every two years. If only we'd had John Lewis vouchers! They not only had the exact sheet I wanted, it was £10 less than the one in M&S. The kitchen stuff was all beautiful things that I'd gladly pay too much money for (£200 for a pink cappucino maker anyone?). I had a quick look at sofas (we need one soon), and they are in the same price rangs as DFS and all those awful furniture places, but much nicer. If I don't get a cheap Ikea sofa, John Lewis will definitely be the way to go.

We decided, on balance, it's a good thing we don't go to John Lewis often, because we'd be very poor. But have a house full of very nice stuff.

Comments

[medusa.livejournal.com]

I spend a fortune in the John Lewis in the Mall every time we go there. I just can't resist their kitchen department though and the plates with shoes on and the pink kitchen apparatus. :(

[girfan.livejournal.com]

John Lewis does rock...especially for house stuff. The only place that comes close in Bristol is Habitat, who has some nice stuff right now (hopefully on sale).

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to Habitat since I stopped working up in Cotham, which is just as well as I don't think I can afford anything there even in the sale. When I worked near it I wandered around it regularly.

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

John Lewis is also a worker's co-operative, so you can feel good about shopping there.

I'm glad my nearest is in Britsol, it's a very dangerous shop for the wallet.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I couldn't believe it when I found out it's a workers' co-op. It's full of the poshest Stuff(TM) in the world. But yeah, it's so cool you can buy beautiful stuff at a workers' co-op.