Don't get me started on the furniture from M&S. 5 years ago when the Kew store sold furniture there was a leather sofa in store which I coveted. It was the most comfortable sofa and it was just the right height (yes I even measured it); Finally I succumbed and paid over £2000 for said sofa altough it was the sofabed version. What a palaver to have it delivered because it was felt it may not come through the front door, I arranged to have it delivered onto a flatbed lorry strategically placed under my balcony so that it could be lifted up and in through the French doors (not by M&S deliverymen but by members of my family). As soon as it was in and in situ I could see it was wrong. It was about 3 inches lower than the one in Kew (which of course when you are getting older makes it harder to get off) not only that, it is without doubt the most uncomfortable piece of furniture I have ever had the misfortune to own.An expert came to examine it and agreed it was nothing like the one in the store in Kew however, how could they get it out of my flat? Their drivers would not get involved in the up and over the balcony technique and I was not about to recruit miscellaneous nephews again. The best they could come up with was a refund of, I think, £300. It was pretty much a fait acomplis and I am stuck with the worst and most uncomfortable piece of furniture you can imagine. I once spent a night on the "bed" and would have been more comfortable on the floor and this is supposed to be the deluxe version for regular use God knows what the bed on the cheaper one would have been like.There was a time you could rely on certain things from M&S to be of good quality and their staff to be a cut above most other chain stores but I now fear those days are long gone. A quick squint at my washing today told me that 2 blouses where made in India and 1 in Sri Lanka, 1 cardigan Turkey, pyjamas China no doubt all for pennies but, where can you find anything made in the UK or Europe in any event.
Bernadette Paul ● 5160d