Incongruous retail juxtapositions

[Pete]

M&S Simply Foods has their bleach next to canned foods.

Surely selling bleach in a store called "Simply Foods" is an incongruous retail juxtaposition in itself.

Their absurdly large range of clothing is much more annoying. I can understand having a kitchen based non-foods area (stuff like the plates and pans) but not a massive lingerie section when there is sod all in the tins/cans bit

[all new Phil]

It always annoys me how supermarkets have aisles labelled "deodrant", containing solely feminine deodrants, and then they have a "men's toiletries" aisle. Many a time I've stood there staring at the deodrant aisle looking for Lynx, and *almost* had to settle for Impulse.

Is this relevent to the thread? Who knows.

[Nick Harvey]

We have an M&S Simply Foods here in Devizes, but I've never set foot in the place, so didn't realise they're not quite sure what food is.

The last time I went into an M&S (of any size) was best part of ten years ago.

I picked lots of clothes I wanted (about £500 worth), she ran it all through the till, folded everything nicely and bagged everything up, then refused my Access card because M&S only accept an M&S credit card.

I told her she could stick the stuff back on the fitmants herself, walked out of the place and bought similar stuff from Burtons, who DO have the common business sense to accept any credit card.

Have never been back in an M&S and never will.

[DAS]

Goodness me... Access.

Memories of endless calls on my old 0702 phone number because their Lost Cards number was very similar. Particularly for people with large fingers it seemed.

[Nick Harvey]

Hehe.

It still gives 01702 278270 on the back of the card, as an alternative to ringing them on a "premium rate" 0870 number.

[Pete]

I picked lots of clothes I wanted (about £500 worth), she ran it all through the till, folded everything nicely and bagged everything up, then refused my Access card because M&S only accept an M&S credit card.

I never did understand why M&S took so long to accept all the different types of creidt card. The transformation of the company in recent years has been amazing though. The new style shops look amazing - especially if they have had the full blown refit - and the whole place feels modern and bright. I used to ahte going in there because it was so old fashioned and claustrophobic but now I adore it.

I would suggest paying a store a visit at some point, if not for the clothing, just for the food. All rather lovely. Yum.

[MattM]

All rather expensive too. You are right though, most of it is good stuff. I'd never buy lunch there though. You can end up paying £6 for a damp sandwich, drink, crisps and chocalate mousse. As a comparison, I bought a massive baguette filled with salad, ham and cheese, a bottle of ice tea, and a strawberry tart for around £3.50 in Paris a week ago. Mmmmm! The best bit about french filled baguettes is that the tend to spread a bit of dijon mayonaisse in them. Man, how I could do with one right now.

[rob]

My local shop used to sell Mars Bars next to Tampons.

[Finn]

Speculations on Metropol members' identities...

Nostalgic credit card references...

Humour and scathing wit from some of Metropol's finest...


This is not just an Incongruous retail juxtapositions topic, this is an M&S Incongruous retail juxtapositions topic.

[Spencer For Hire]

All rather expensive too. You are right though, most of it is good stuff. I'd never buy lunch there though. You can end up paying £6 for a damp sandwich, drink, crisps and chocalate mousse. As a comparison, I bought a massive baguette filled with salad, ham and cheese, a bottle of ice tea, and a strawberry tart for around £3.50 in Paris a week ago. Mmmmm! The best bit about french filled baguettes is that the tend to spread a bit of dijon mayonaisse in them. Man, how I could do with one right now.

I generally find Marks & Sparks a more convenient option for a sandwich than Paris though.

[MattM]

All rather expensive too. You are right though, most of it is good stuff. I'd never buy lunch there though. You can end up paying £6 for a damp sandwich, drink, crisps and chocalate mousse. As a comparison, I bought a massive baguette filled with salad, ham and cheese, a bottle of ice tea, and a strawberry tart for around £3.50 in Paris a week ago. Mmmmm! The best bit about french filled baguettes is that the tend to spread a bit of dijon mayonaisse in them. Man, how I could do with one right now.

I generally find Marks & Sparks a more convenient option for a sandwich than Paris though.

I wish I could say the opposite of that and it be true.