Marks & Spencer — Local services in London

Still one of the best shops in the UK. In paticular Croydon, as both locally established names and national chains that grew to reach the area, such as Allders, BHS, Woolworths, Beanos (for the music lover), Our Price, Virgin Megastore, Memory Lane, Jumbos (a little sweet shop, once located in the Whitgift, right next to this M&S) and so many other once well loved shops have dissapeared since the 1980s.

Croydon used to be one of my favorite places to shop. However, with it (like many other towns and cities) losing good shops, largley due to online ordering, I no longer go there as often. I still consider myself a regular visitor, but back in the day I would be there once a week, or more. Those days are long gone.

Granted, I wouldn't go as far to call it a ghost town. Indeed, this M&S is possibly the best in the country, even beating the great Derby city centre store I visited recently, as well as trumping over the more nearby Crawley location (which too is a top store).

The clothes selection is excellent and well stocked. The coffee shop is decent. A good large selection of household items, bedding & furniture too. When I go to this shop I am always struck by it's flowing ambience. Indeed, this is one of the shops that is still as good as it always has been.

It is the food hall where this M&S really makes it's mark. Yes, the food hall is a vital component of any M&S. This one has it all & more. From top notch bottles of champers and prime roast beef direct from the butchers, to your quick pick ham sandwich, packet of crisps and bottle of cola for a fast lunch. It's easy to navigate round as well.

Always a delight to visit this branch as a customer & I will...

On attempting to access M&S via the first floor food hall entrance on the 1st floor of the Whitgift Centre I was told that the food hall was closed due to an electrical failure.

I had brought with me a small plastic bag of unrecyclable plastic packaging to deposit in the instore bin, as advised on the food wrapper. I asked if the staff would deposit it in their bin for me  and I was met with an incomprehending blank stare.

My intention had been to visit the menswear department and to drop the unrecylable waste in the M&S bin on the way.

I then entered M&S via the groundfloor entrance and made my way up to the entrance to the food hall on the first floor, thinking that their recycling bins may be situated close to the entrance.

I was advised by a member of staff, in a rather curt and officious way, that the food hall was closed.

I politely asked if the woman would take the small plastic bag of unrecylcable plastic from me to put in the M&S recycling point.

The woman was most unhelpful and would not do this replying to my request by saying "Why don't you just put it in the bin?!"

Despite the fact that M&S, and other supermarkets, suggest that the packaging is returned to them.

A more helpful member of staff pointed out that M&S have  some new recyclibg bins.

The objectionable member of staff proceeded to take the bag from me (it weighed all of approx. 300g) and harumphed "I don't know what I'm supposed to do with this!"

If I had behaved in the same manner as she behaved to me she would probably have claimed that the tone taken amoubted to...

While I was with my wife in the fruit section, my wife was looking at lychees. At that moment, a staff member was moving a heavily loaded apple rack while simultaneously chatting with another customer. She did not notice that the rack was about to collide with my wife’s leg. Out of instinct, I gently pushed the rack aside and pulled my wife away to avoid injury. Shockingly, instead of appreciating that I was preventing an accident, the staff member physically pushed my arm and aggressively questioned why I touched the rack. I politely explained the reason, but she continued to question me in a rude tone and even walked away muttering offensive language. My wife clearly heard the “F-word” directed towards us. I was left standing there in disbelief that such behaviour could happen at M&S. Moments later, the same staff member returned, glaring at me and showing further hostility. She then hurriedly pushed the tall, heavy rack—around two metres high—through the area without regard for the safety of nearby customers. Still shaken, I went to the self-service area to ask for the store manager’s contact details to make a formal complaint. However, the same staff member noticed me, rushed over, and once again verbally confronted and insulted me. I have never seen such horrible customer...