M&S on Lordship Lane

[DovertheRoad]

I've just realised. I'm already a customer - seems I have plenty old pairs of St Michael pants in the wardrobe. Do they sell pants as well as prawn sandwiches and overly seasoned ready meals?

[Jeremy]

The M&S at Moorgate - much larger than ED - has only 2 manned tills. Much of the time only one of those is open. They seem to manage OK. As long as there is someone on hand to "approve" your booze purchases, then I don't see the problem.

It underlines the fact that they expect people to go for "basket" shops... occasional items for individual meals rather than large/weekly shops.

[TheCat]

Must say, I enjoyed my Gastropub garlic chicken & herb lattice for dinner last night.

I'm sure the ~92% of Dulwich residents who had M&S for dinner last night did likewise.

Agree with Jeremy here, the place is designed for basket shops (or buggy/pram shops in ED perhaps)...and that will be their bread and butter...

...well...not just any bread and butter.....

[first mate]

Jeremy, don't know if you have been inside but this place seems to offer rather more than items for an occasional meal. I would say they are offer enough to occasion a weekly shop for small families. There is also a very large food storage area at the back.

I never envisaged something this size. I would be simply amazed if people do not drive here to do weekly shops.

[bvpainter]

My wife went at about 10.15, and said it was manic. Only bread samples, and so busy it was impossible to shop. So went to Bromley today to shop in peace.

Anybody would think it was an Aldi!

[Jeremy]

first mate Wrote:

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> Jeremy, don't know if you have been inside but

> this place seems to offer rather more than items

> for an occasional meal

I have not... but predominantly self-scan checkouts would not really seem compatible with lots of "trolley" shoppers. But yeah, I agree that a few people are bound to rock up in their cars for a larger shop.

[DulwichFox]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Foxy did you enter inside today?

>

> It was a double edged sword experience for me. A

> nice environment has been created, and some

> friendly staff. But all the memories of Elsie and

> the Iceland team came flooding back and I still

> miss them all dearly.

>

> Louisa.

No.. I have not ventured inside yet. I suppose I will at some time venture in but not in the slightest bit curious.

For what I've heard and read here, it sounds like an horendous experiance.

One I could do without..

Foxy..

[LondonMix]

I have been inside and I agree with Jeremy's conclusion.

They don't sell nappies, toothpaste, etc nor anything that is not M&S own brand besides the booze. You can't reasonably do a weekly shop there as a family and they aren't expecting people to either based on the set up.

I picked up some figs and soy milk this morning on my way into work. Very convenient. Its for topping up food between shops, picking up last minute food for dinner, ready lunches and picnic / party food.

first mate Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Jeremy, don't know if you have been inside but

> this place seems to offer rather more than items

> for an occasional meal. I would say they are offer

> enough to occasion a weekly shop for small

> families. There is also a very large food storage

> area at the back.

>

> I never envisaged something this size. I would be

> simply amazed if people do not drive here to do

> weekly shops.

[????]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Louisa Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Foxy did you enter inside today?

> >

> > It was a double edged sword experience for me.

> A

> > nice environment has been created, and some

> > friendly staff. But all the memories of Elsie

> and

> > the Iceland team came flooding back and I still

> > miss them all dearly.

> >

> > Louisa.

>

> No.. I have not ventured inside yet. I suppose I

> will at some time venture in but not in the

> slightest bit curious.

> For what I've heard and read here, it sounds like

> an horendous experiance.

>

> One I could do without..

>

> Foxy..

But no doubt one we'll get your opinion on for years and years

[Chief]

Why would they sell nappies and toothpaste? The clue is in the name: Food Hall!

[DulwichFox]

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> DulwichFox Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Louisa Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > Foxy did you enter inside today?

> > >

> > > It was a double edged sword experience for

> me.

> > A

> > > nice environment has been created, and some

> > > friendly staff. But all the memories of Elsie

> > and

> > > the Iceland team came flooding back and I

> still

> > > miss them all dearly.

> > >

> > > Louisa.

> >

> > No.. I have not ventured inside yet. I suppose

> I

> > will at some time venture in but not in the

> > slightest bit curious.

> > For what I've heard and read here, it sounds

> like

> > an horendous experiance.

> >

> > One I could do without..

> >

> > Foxy..

>

> But no doubt one we'll get your opinion on for

> years and years

Why is that then.. ? Louisa asked if I had been in and I answered her.. So why don't you mind your own business

and stop your bash the fox trolling..

D.F.

[LondonMix]

It wasn't a criticism. I'm just underlining the fact its not a supermarket. Many posters have suggested people will be driving from all over South London to do their weekly shops at this new store causing parking chaos. My point is that it really isn't that type of store.

Chief Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Why would they sell nappies and toothpaste? The

> clue is in the name: Food Hall!

[*Bob*]

'M&S Lordship Lane'.. I'm intrigued. What will they sell there? What will it be like? I can't wait to find out.

I suppose the only that might come close would be any one of the other 914 M&S stores in the UK.

[Elphinstone's Army]

6.30 - 6.45 Coop type q's, salad and veg section on the left as you enter looked as though a swarm of locusts had been through, and what's with the wine section, red/white/rose, all mixed, if I want a red Chilean I have to search? (just supposing) and trolleys and boxes in the aisles?

How could M&S not realised the surge of interest/ purchasing their long mooted opening would engender and not stock up and no bread? This is the optimum coming home tired and weary time which

we all agreed would be good to collapse into M&S for instant, nutritious, good range to choose from, shopping.

I know it is early days, but v disappointing.

And why only 2 check outs and when paid, have to negotiate the automatic pay machine customers, it'snt exactly streamlined.

This morning three suits stood in the doorway, shop floor staff busy, shop cold, 6.30, shop busy, open until 11.00pm, for what?

I wish M&S had asked a consortium or cross section of locals, as we all can run the shop better than they.

[Bic Basher]

I haven't popped inside yet, but will be in next Tuesday to pick up some clothes ordered online. No more long trips for Click & Collect at Lewisham, Brixton or the Walworth Road.

[BrandNewGuy]

Elphinstone's Army Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> 6.30 - 6.45 Coop type q's, salad and veg section

> on the left as you enter looked as though a swarm

> of locusts had been through, and what's with the

> wine section, red/white/rose, all mixed, if I want

> a red Chilean I have to search? (just supposing)

> and trolleys and boxes in the aisles?

> How could M&S not realised the surge of interest/

> purchasing their long mooted opening would

> engender and not stock up and no bread? This is

> the optimum coming home tired and weary time

> which

> we all agreed would be good to collapse into M&S

> for instant, nutritious, good range to choose

> from, shopping.

>

> I know it is early days, but v disappointing.

>

> And why only 2 check outs and when paid, have to

> negotiate the automatic pay machine customers,

> it'snt exactly streamlined.

> This morning three suits stood in the doorway,

> shop floor staff busy, shop cold, 6.30, shop busy,

> open until 11.00pm, for what?

>

> I wish M&S had asked a consortium or cross section

> of locals, as we all can run the shop better than

> they.

It's been open for one day, tons of locals have been excited for ages and are shopping there at the earliest opportunity. Do you know how to avoid your re-stocking problem and have 'instant' food at your fingeetips in that situation? Have loads of trucks coming and going all day long.

People will settle down, as will M&S's stock.

Bet you a tenner the Co-op will still be crap in a month's time and M&S won't be.

FWIW I'll be going there after everything settles down after this weekend. I suspect I'll be neither ecstatic nor despondent.

[jaywalker]

Elphinstone's Army Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> 6.30 - 6.45 Coop type q's, salad and veg section

> on the left as you enter looked as though a swarm

> of locusts had been through, and what's with the

> wine section, red/white/rose, all mixed, if I want

> a red Chilean I have to search? (just supposing)

> and trolleys and boxes in the aisles?

> How could M&S not realised the surge of interest/

> purchasing their long mooted opening would

> engender and not stock up and no bread? This is

> the optimum coming home tired and weary time

> which

> we all agreed would be good to collapse into M&S

> for instant, nutritious, good range to choose

> from, shopping.

>

> I know it is early days, but v disappointing.

>

> And why only 2 check outs and when paid, have to

> negotiate the automatic pay machine customers,

> it'snt exactly streamlined.

> This morning three suits stood in the doorway,

> shop floor staff busy, shop cold, 6.30, shop busy,

> open until 11.00pm, for what?

>

> I wish M&S had asked a consortium or cross section

> of locals, as we all can run the shop better than

> they.

I think they need to consider Waterloo-station style staffed checkouts (at least 5 could be put where the two conveyor belts are now, more if they got rid of the greeting card area. They do not always have to be staffed; but they are clearly currently operating beyond capacity with no flexibility to increase should the men standing around in suits think they might like to help (manager excepted - he was doing the right thing helping stacking shelves on my visit). No danger of excessive middle management in uk plc companies :-). Definitely think they should revise their customer estimates: I think they may be surprised by large numbers, particularly on Saturdays. Mind you, my navigational problems today were caused by people standing in groups in the aisles talking about how wonderful the store is and by one enterprising individual who went to do her shopping whilst her child kept her place in the queue.

[Sue]

Elphinstone's Army Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> what's with the

> wine section, red/white/rose, all mixed, if I want

> a red Chilean I have to search?

The main wine section is divided by red/white/rose.

There is a much smaller section in another part of the store which isn't.

I was confused as well until I came across the main bit!

[????]

I've not been there yet but aren't an M&S foodhall and a CO-OP store different retail offers? Though obviously with some overlap. Packaged branded goods not available in the M&S in any significance for eg I presume?

[Penguin68]

Packaged branded goods not available in the M&S in any significance for eg I presume?

They did have some branded cereals and condiments (Heinz ketchup, Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire sauce etc.) - which is more than they used to. But mainly own brand, or at least own labelling.

[TheCat]

Its truly astounding how many pages of discussion, 'analysis' and dissection can go into debating the relative offerings at two shops (co-op and M&S) who already have extensive, long established businesses across the country.

I find it hard to believe that there are so many people on here carping on about how they've 'never been to an M&S' and 'Its just like co-op with, fancy packaging'...like they've just discovered One Eyed Willie's treasure....

Perhaps each day for the next few weeks, we should have a new,separate thread each day to make sure we don't miss any key breaking news...

M&S East Dulwich Live: Day 3:......9:45am: Scandal strikes as local mum of 3, Debbie, claims the M&S Bananas look a similar yellow to those found elsewhere....

[DadOf4]

haven't been yet but my Mrs went yesterday and managed to spend ?25 on some ham, bread rolls,fruit, coleslaw and percey pigs

she wasn't happy when I pointed out, with the exception of percey, she could have got that all in co-op, cheaper and wouldn't have walked so far

However, she did seem to think that it all tasted better. I disagreed

I've always missed the "thing" about M&S food. If one doenst buy ready meals, then to me they seem to offer nothing better than any other small supermarkets. I'm please that so many people are excited about it and have no objection to them being on LL - I just don't get all the fuss

[Jeremy]

The meat (especially steak) is definitely better than Tesco, Sainsbury's, etc. It will come in handy when the butcher is shut. Fruit tends to be pretty good too.

[Penguin68]

In general M&S has prided itself that the premium you pay on (some) of their own brand items and fresh foods is justified by the quality. This is a perfectly proper marketing trade-off. In a 'perfect' world it would have been the Co-op which closed and was replaced by M&S with Iceland continuing its offer (assuming its sales were holding up). This would have given us a clearer choice. Whilst many might like to see Waitrose coming into the Co-op site (including I must admit me) - this would reduce the range of offer in LL - with two premium high quality outlets and no consistent budget-end supplier. The Co-op's consistency (and value-for-money quality) is conspicuous by its absence.

[Jeremy]

Penguin68 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> In a 'perfect' world it would have been the Co-op which

> closed and was replaced by M&S with Iceland

> continuing its offer

A Lidl and a Waitrose would have been an excellent combo! But I'm OK with M&S too. Iceland... I stand by my opinion that they specialise in revolting, nasty, processed rubbish - however I do concede that they are cheap and do sell some actual proper food too.