Good quality at reasonable prices (Primark)

Member Name: mumto3

Product:	Primark
Date:	28/10/08 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fashionable clothes at low affordable prices

Disadvantages: Not a great shopping experience

I first heard about Primark many years ago when I was about 15. Although most of the stores at that time were in Ireland and Wales they had an office in the town where I lived. My brother worked for them for a while as a junior buyer and used to bring home samples.

Some of the stuff was great and I remember in particular a pair of denim shorts that had funky ethnic material covering one leg that I had for years.

I used to live in Berkshire but relocated to Lincolnshire in 2000. Shortly after I moved I went 'home' to visit some friends and spent a day shopping in Reading. Primark had recently opened quite a large store there so we went in. The store was big and brightly lit and the rails were set out quite nicely. The store was tidy and divided in to easily definable sections. I was a poor mature student at the time and so the prices really appealed to me. I bought a pair of flat black leather shoes for £10 which I still wear now and a mans T-shirt for £4. The shoes are very comfortable and were quite fashionable at the time so to get them for £10 was excellent. The T-shirt was a round neck mens T-shirt with an RAF target on the front. I only threw it out recently because I was sick of wearing it. It has been washed and tumble dried a million times but still looked like new and hadn't lost it shape or the transfer off the front.

When I heard that Primark was coming to Lincoln I was quite pleased because I now have children and they go through clothes so quickly I don't want to pay a fortune.

I have been a little disappointed with the Lincoln store. It is over two floors but is very dark and feels cramped. Sometimes it looks like the clothes have simply been thrown in the general direction of the rails and it is very messy and untidy. A lot of the clothes look like they could do with a good iron.

Last year I got a lovely thick hooded fleece for my son and a beautiful knitted sparkly cardigan for my daughter both at only £2. Earlier this year I tried to buy coats for all my children at Primark but was disappointed by the styles on offer. The prices started at about £6 but there only appeared to be two styles of boys coat both of which my son refused to try on because they were "Yuk". The girls coats had more styles available but they were all short jackets. My daughter chose a style she liked but they didn't have it in a size big enough for her. In the end I only bought a pink long sleeve t-shirt with a black sparkly cat applique for £2. I looked for a coat for myself but was disappointed to find that the ladies coats didn't seem to go above a size 14.

The shop was very busy and the queues were long. I was trying to shop with three children and a double buggy. The childrens clothing was upstairs so we had to go in a lift which my son hates. I know shops do this to entice you to buy other things but personally it just makes me want to shop elsewhere!

Although the Primark shopping experience wasn't great for me I have never been disappointed with the quality of anything I have bought there.

Summary: Don't be put off you can find some great stuff