r/MarksAndSpencer

Popped into the local M&S Food and the cheese selection is huge and very impressive. After watching a Sorted Food segment my wife and I have been looking out for cheeses from Caws Cenarth.

Today we found they stock three of the cheeses we were looking for and … wow!

Golden Cenarth - a washed-rind cheese reminiscent of a mild Epoisses.

Perl Wen - a nice, brie-like cheese with more substance.

Perl Lâs - a creamy, mild blue. Very lightly blue.

I wanted some nice bread but I had bad memories of M&S bread being more like US bread these days with a long shelf life and texture like loft insulation. The lovely lady at the bakery directed me to their “only x ingredient” range. No mystery carcinogenic ingredients labelled as “flour additive” or “preservative”.

If you’ve noticed breads getting less like food and more like a toy food for children to play with but not eat, the additives are why. They hide them with seeds and fruits but the breads are potentially dangerous (but more profitable).

I blame the 2024 regulations introduced to replace EU standards that the UK abandoned after 2023.

I waited 6 months before applying again, after getting rejected in september last year, and finally a position at my local shop came up.

I felt better applying this time because since then I have done some online courses and have some new qualifications on my CV in customer service. I applied and wrote a cover letter but because they keep your online assessment for a year and won't let you retake it unless you withdraw your application.

Anyway, because I couldn't retake the assessment meant I got "regretted" instantly and now can't apply again until November or December.

Fuck you M&S.

My local M&S always plays great music, I’m always singing along puts me in a great mood, well it does me for me. Me and daughter even dance sometimes in the aisles why not 😊

I went in to Poundland last week and they were playing that hideous cover music where they pay shit singers to cover songs cos they don’t want to pay PRS. I asked the lady how do you put up with this all day, she said omg is absolutely horrible and actually there’s times I wanted to walk out….its that bad.

Also last week I went into Cex exchange and they were playing that weird goth music the rave style stuff it was absolutely dreadful, I was in the queue and it making me feel ill. I’m sure the goth people love it who work there but all the customers?

I know sound / music isn’t a problem for many people but I do think it’s something that retailers should think about, for customers and for staff!

Hi i just signed my contract to work at M&S as a customer assistant full time. My contract states that I start on the 17th May but on the phone, I was told my induction starts on the 24th of May. I assume the induction is a week long or so but the store im planning to join opens mid July. Does anyone know if during that period in June if I'll be working elsewhere? For example a different store? Or would they just make me wait till the official store opening?

Any help would be great!

i’ve lived near a small m&s and frequent them a bit here and there. but this past couple weeks i’ve been eating a lot of pre-made things from m&s: m&s pizzas, sweet bakery items, regular dips like hummus, the chicken shawarma dip…. and i actually can’t think of any other supermarkets that compare, even waitrose imo.

apologies, this is a bit of a stoned rant that has been caused by the m&s blond pistachio chocolate bar….like…. how do they do it.
i say it’s a rant, might i say ..Epiphany

I find it interesting how M&S are pushing the ‘Sparks’ relaunch, with in-store flyers, Tube ads etc.

I’m fully aware they don’t owe customers a loyalty scheme. But I'd argue that if M&S are going above and beyond to position it as a meaningful upgrade, it should actually feel like one from the customer side. Which from my perspective, it doesn't.

At the moment, opening the app and seeing that the way to “earn” is by spending more, often on things I wouldn’t otherwise buy, doesn’t really land as an improvement. If anything, it feels like the same idea with more steps.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I’m curious how others are finding it?

Hello, I interviewed for the bakery on Friday, and I think it went well. They asked about my availability and whether I’d be able to get to the training centre etc.

For anyone who received an offer, how long after your interview did you hear back, and was it by phone or email?

i turn 18 tmr so i’ll be able to approve alcohol without calling a manager every 2 seconds (so happy about this lol) do i need to tell my manager im like 18 now or shall i just start approving like it’s normal?

Hi I’ve recently been offered a job 4 days a week in the cafe - does anyone have any tips/ advice/ experiences for the role that they can share esp as I’ve never worked in hospitality before + will be working peak weekend hrs😊

I've never bought one before so would really appreciate any information on when it might be released online. I'm assuming it's not as simple as it appearing at 12am?

Thank you in advance!

I applied to M&S and on the application thing it says right to work requested and I haven’t been sent anything to send my stuff to??

Has anyone had this?

Genuinely so sad to hear about the closing of Stoneywood. Hope all colleagues from there are coping and manage to find other jobs. Scary news for the future of the company.

as i indulge in my pistachio chunked n loaded cookie i think about how delicious it is (as well as the many other cookies from the shop bakery), what is your favourite? mine is the salted caramel and pretzel one!

So for context I usually work in the cafe and have never worked in retail before. I was sent to help on SCOTs in the foodhall for the first time (with minimal training on the spot). When I IDed a customer who looks around 25 years old they said they are 28 and don’t have ID on them. I felt bad and I took a closer look at them and thought they do look above 25 and allowed sale. Should I have refused sale instead? Just can’t stop thinking about it cuz I am not used to IDing people and am not sure if that’s allowed or not.

what are reasons why time off is denied?
i’ve requested time off for a weekend in august and it has been denied but i REALLY need that time off
how can i go about this?

Hey, I’m not really sure what to do in this situation, maybe I’m just being an idiot, but I feel something has to be done as this situation isn’t right.

A few months back there was a new DSM for womenswear and as time has passed, she has genuinely changed the whole mood of the floor, leading to several people leaving.

For privacy reasons I won’t specify who something happened to me so will generalise. Here are a few instances she has borderline pushed people over the edge:
- Told off 2 colleagues for having a conversation with a customer (despite the fact she advocates for going up to customers to help)
-Made people look around the store for 30 mins+ for a Honeywell despite her knowing very well we have a shortage and we can use our mobile phones to complete that service
-Been observed sitting in footwear for up to 20 mins doing online shopping
-Told somebody off for leaving their area to assist a DISABLED customer
-Told both staff and line managers to “use their brains” or “common sense when met with a request
-Gossip about other colleagues in a negative manner
-Contradicted a manager’s planning and made colleagues do circles round the floor, and tells them to smile despite being stressed
-Made a colleague feel slightly put down because of sexuality when asking to put on a jacket due to being cold
-Talks to everyone in a very demeaning and infantilising tone

These are a few instances, and there are much more, though I want to keep it general right now.

Several people have left because of this nonsense, and the stress is clear on the face of all staff. This is also a very busy store in a VERY busy city so you can imagine how overwhelming it can become.

The sad part is I genuinely thought this was a great place to work before, but now I’m not sure if anything can be done, or if I should just leave?

Thanks everyone for reading.

During my interview I told them about my two prebooked holidays I had, and reaffirmed this on my first day - I was told they would be booked off for me
but it isnt showing up on the app so I asked my manager and they said to book it through the app
My holiday has been denied
What do I do? My holiday is in 3 weeks and has been fully paid etc

I haven't posted on Reddit before but I thought it was my only hope to get some answers and opinions.

There's a brand new M&S opening up where I live and out of me and my 3 friends only I got an interview.

I had my interview last Thursday and it's obviously just been the bank holiday weekend but I'm still waiting to hear back to them about whether I got the job.

I interviewed for another job today (though I'd much rather work at the M&S) and they're going to get back to me (at the latest) tomorrow.

I've tried to get in contact with M&S but have failed and I don't know what to do

Does anyone have any advice on how to get in contact with M&S and also what should I do if I get the other job?

it’s so bad