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Is Primark the best/cheapest shop to ever hit the high street?

Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
edited May 2008 in All Encompassing Trip
My vote would be a resounding YES! Where else can ya stroll into and almost guarantee being able to pick up a couple of t-shirts, some shorts and some jeans and only spend about £20???? It's the future of shopping for me, disposable "fashion" at a price ya can afford! :D;)

Only bad thing about it is now when i see a nice T in another shop for about £20 i resent it being so dear and think "i could get five in Primark for the same price"!!!!!! haha :)
Black, the greatest without a doubt........
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Comments

  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    It certainly must be the cheapest. Don't know about best though. When you're picking up a pair of jeans for £4 it's hard not to think SWEATSHOP SWEATSHOP SWEATSHOP.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • vedder_soupvedder_soup Posts: 5,861
    i don't think i ever bought more than a pair of socks there!

    damn good socks though!
    2003 - Sydney x3,
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    2007 - Katowice, London, Nijmegen, Rock Werchter,
    2008 - MSG x2, Hartford, Mansfield x2, Beacon Theater,
    2009 - Melbourne, Sydney,
    2010 - I watched it go to fire!
    2011 - EV Brisbane x3, Newcastle, Sydney x3,
    2012 - Manchester x 2, Amsterdam x2, Prague, Berlin x2, Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen,
    2014 - Sydney, EV Sydney x3

    I wave to all my Friends... Yeah!
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    vedder_soup wrote:
    i don't think i ever bought more than a pair of socks there!

    damn good socks though!

    ya dunno what ya missing out on! £4 T-shirts that are actually good quality!! well good enough for a few months at least!
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    It certainly must be the cheapest. Don't know about best though. When you're picking up a pair of jeans for £4 it's hard not to think SWEATSHOP SWEATSHOP SWEATSHOP.

    £4???? i got ripped off, mine were £9!!!!

    the thing is though, sweat shops are never gonna go away, just like poverty and starvation and natural disasters. They will always be knockin about somewhere.
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    Super Vedder wrote:
    £4???? i got ripped off, mine were £9!!!!

    the thing is though, sweat shops are never gonna go away, just like poverty and starvation and natural disasters. They will always be knockin about somewhere.
    Of course but I don't particularly want to be a part of it if I can help it.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    Of course but I don't particularly want to be a part of it if I can help it.

    I was gonna say exactly that.. Primark, T.K Maxx etc., I avoid like the plague. Even the the January sales (or any other sales) in other shops aren't fair game where fair and ethical trading is concerned.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    Of course but I don't particularly want to be a part of it if I can help it.

    good on you then, as i have little knowledge of sweatshops i guess my ignorance will let me keep shopping there. (for now)
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • Jeremy1012Jeremy1012 Posts: 7,170
    Super Vedder wrote:
    good on you then, as i have little knowledge of sweatshops i guess my ignorance will let me keep shopping there. (for now)
    Yeah, don't get me wrong, I'm not judging you. I'm just personally not comfortable with it.
    "I remember one night at Muzdalifa with nothing but the sky overhead, I lay awake amid sleeping Muslim brothers and I learned that pilgrims from every land — every colour, and class, and rank; high officials and the beggar alike — all snored in the same language"
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    Jeremy1012 wrote:
    Yeah, don't get me wrong, I'm not judging you. I'm just personally not comfortable with it.

    i totally understand ;) the beauty of freedom of choice (in our country at least!)
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    I was gonna say exactly that.. Primark, T.K Maxx etc., I avoid like the plague. Even the the January sales (or any other sales) in other shops aren't fair game where fair and ethical trading is concerned.

    Surely TK Maxx aint in the same boat as Primark though? They just sell reduced priced branded goods don't they?

    Im not saying you're wrong but i would like to be enlightened please as to what is wrong with TK Maxx and the shops who have sales on?
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    Super Vedder wrote:
    Surely TK Maxx aint in the same boat as Primark though? They just sell reduced priced branded goods don't they?

    Im not saying you're wrong but i would like to be enlightened please as to what is wrong with TK Maxx and the shops who have sales on?

    Someone else will be able to recommend books etc. about it, but the principal is, where sweatshops happen, people are working all hours day and night for less-than-peanuts, to manufacture designer clothes at high-end high street prices. They are getting far below a fair wage, even relative to their own countries, for very skilled and specialised work. Case in point: an Indian woman getting the equivalent of 12 pounds for a months' work. The t shirts she was making were then sold for 12 pounds each. How many T shirts did she make in a month? 20? 50? 100? Anyone's guess.

    Whether or not you choose to buy fair trade, it's taking the piss out of these workers when clothes they worked very hard on are then sold at prices far below the clothes' worth just to feed the West's excessive consumption habits.

    But like Jeremy, I wouldn't for a second judge you either. This is just something I've become passionate about very recently.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    Someone else will be able to recommend books etc. about it, but the principal is, where sweatshops happen, people are working all hours day and night for less-than-peanuts, to manufacture designer clothes at high-end high street prices. They are getting far below a fair wage, even relative to their own countries, for very skilled and specialised work.

    Whether or not you choose to buy fair trade, it's taking the piss out of these workers when clothes they worked very hard on are then sold at prices far below the clothes' worth just to feed the West's excessive consumption habits.

    But like Jeremy, I wouldn't for a second judge you either. This is just something I've become passionate about very recently.

    Whether the shop sells the clothes at full price or reduced, the man/woman/child in the sweatshop sees the same cut.
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    reeferchief wrote:
    Whether the shop sells the clothes at full price or reduced, the man/woman/child in the sweatshop sees the same cut.

    That's what i was thinking too, whether its £50 or £20 in the sale the shirt has already been made so the sale is not making things any worse surely?
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    Super Vedder wrote:
    That's what i was thinking too, whether its £50 or £20 in the sale the shirt has already been made so the sale is not making things any worse surely?

    Indeed... but the point is, it's the principal of the thing. People deserve to get paid for what they produce.. which they don't, but the sales are just a second blow, a laugh in their faces. In my own personal opinion. It's an issue of principal, and this is only mine.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    Indeed... but the point is, it's the principal of the thing. People deserve to get paid for what they produce.. which they don't, but the sales are just a second blow, a laugh in their faces. In my own personal opinion. It's an issue of principal, and this is only mine.

    But surely ALL clothes apart from fair trade ones aren't made in these sweat shops? Or do you only buy fair trade "branded" items in everything you purchase now? Im just curious, and by no means having a go or owt :)
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • JennytreeJennytree Posts: 5,340
    I love it, its great for getting awesome cheap clothes - and even better for accessories.

    Penneys (the irish equivilant of Primark) has made me hate customers (mostly D4 women) forever though. I've never had such hatred as I did when I worked in that place. I've never been treated so badly. People think that because you work in a shop that sells cheap clothing that you have no brain, yer thick, and deserve to be shouted at whenever there was something wrong. I would spend 4 or 5 hours folding tshirts, and some bint would come along at 5mins to closing and wreck the whole thing - take out the tshirt at the bottom of the pile, take a look at it and fuck it back at ye. total cunts. There was the odd really nice lady who would make an effort to talk to ye, would make a nice comment about my pink hair and piercings etc...

    And it was always women. I got moved to the mens department, and it was awesome. The lads made an effort to hang things back on the right hanger, apologise when they couldn't work the clips on the hanger, and even said thank you!

    /rant :D (you should have heard me rant at customers when I worked on the Service Desk doing returns :D)
    This is me:
    http://www.facebook.com/jennytree

    SMELL YER MA!
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    Super Vedder wrote:
    But surely ALL clothes apart from fair trade ones aren't made in these sweat shops? Or do you only buy fair trade "branded" items in everything you purchase now? Im just curious, and by no means having a go or owt :)

    Nope, not all clothes are made in sweatshops.. but you're not informed as to which ones are, that's the problem. I can't buy all fairtrade, not many people can, but in a world where I could afford it I definitely would. Fair trade items are branded so that you can trust that their manufacturers have been paid a justifiable wage for their work. :)
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    Jennytree wrote:

    (mostly D4 women)

    what's a D4 woman? :confused:
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    Indeed... but the point is, it's the principal of the thing. People deserve to get paid for what they produce.. which they don't, but the sales are just a second blow, a laugh in their faces. In my own personal opinion. It's an issue of principal, and this is only mine.

    I'd think it was more an insult that they had been payed peanuts and the item sold for larger amounts, to me that means the said peoples lives are even less valued.
    Where as and I'm pretty sure Primark's clothes are not manufactured in sweatshops(I worked for them for 3 years) if the items are being manufactured by people earning peanuts for making them and then sold for peanuts at least that would make their wages more inline.
    And no I am not trying to condone such things happening in the world, I just find your reasoning somewhat strange Mark.
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    Nope, not all clothes are made in sweatshops.. but you're not informed as to which ones are, that's the problem. I can't buy all fairtrade, not many people can, but in a world where I could afford it I definitely would. Fair trade items are branded so that you can trust that their manufacturers have been paid a justifiable wage for their work. :)

    i understand your point completely, don't get me wrong i like to buy fair trade food stuffs as it feels good thinking your helping out a bit. BUT they are so much more expensive than unfair trade i can't see it ever taking a great share in the market, sadly.
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    reeferchief wrote:
    if the items are being manufactured by people earning peanuts for making them and then sold for peanuts at least that would make their wages more inline.

    good point, that certainly would seem fairer.
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • surfanddestroysurfanddestroy Posts: 2,786
    I buy most of my clothes online as I cant stand going out shopping and having to deal with the general public. people piss me off far to much.
    Astoria 20/04/06, Leeds 25/08/06, Prague 22/09/06, Wembley 18/06/07,
    Dusseldorf 21/06/07, Manchester 17/08/09, London 18/08/09, LA 06/10/09, LA 07/10/09.

    Ain't gonna be any middle anymore.
  • reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    Jennytree wrote:
    I love it, its great for getting awesome cheap clothes - and even better for accessories.

    Penneys (the irish equivilant of Primark) has made me hate customers (mostly D4 women) forever though. I've never had such hatred as I did when I worked in that place. I've never been treated so badly. People think that because you work in a shop that sells cheap clothing that you have no brain, yer thick, and deserve to be shouted at whenever there was something wrong. I would spend 4 or 5 hours folding tshirts, and some bint would come along at 5mins to closing and wreck the whole thing - take out the tshirt at the bottom of the pile, take a look at it and fuck it back at ye. total cunts. There was the odd really nice lady who would make an effort to talk to ye, would make a nice comment about my pink hair and piercings etc...

    And it was always women. I got moved to the mens department, and it was awesome. The lads made an effort to hang things back on the right hanger, apologise when they couldn't work the clips on the hanger, and even said thank you!

    /rant :D (you should have heard me rant at customers when I worked on the Service Desk doing returns :D)


    Service desk, ooh what a fun job that used to be, that would definately be a box of chocolates by Forrests definitions.:)
    I was also a supervisor as well as ran the mens department, and yes you get the same arseholes in the English stores, with the well everythings so cheap we can treat the store, the stock and the staff like shit attitude.
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    Super Vedder wrote:
    i understand your point completely, don't get me wrong i like to buy fair trade food stuffs as it feels good thinking your helping out a bit. BUT they are so much more expensive than unfair trade i can't see it ever taking a great share in the market, sadly.

    Absolutely true. I wish fairtrade was more affordable myself.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • JennytreeJennytree Posts: 5,340
    Super Vedder wrote:
    what's a D4 woman? :confused:

    Ah, sorry - I got lost in my Irishness there!! Ah D4 woman would be typically described by a few key words - fake tan, daughters with Ugg boots, husbands credit card, posh accent, landrover in the city, stick up their holes and think we owe them something, therefore should pick up all the shit they throw on the ground and apologise for not picking it up sooner... :D
    This is me:
    http://www.facebook.com/jennytree

    SMELL YER MA!
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    reeferchief wrote:
    if the items are being manufactured by people earning peanuts for making them and then sold for peanuts at least that would make their wages more inline.

    Yes but I'd prefer their wages to reflect the quality of their workmanship and skill. High wages for high levels of skill and crafsmanship. What you're talking about is the lesser of two evils. It's a better wage relative to the price you're selling it at, yes, but still not a fair one, even in the context of the poor economy in which it's made.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    harmless_little_f*** wrote:
    Absolutely true. I wish fairtrade was more affordable myself.

    it ends up being a bit of a catch 22 situation doesn't it? Help others out and end up down in your own pocket OR try and ignore your conscience and buy whatever is cheapest regardless of how people are being treated! And i suppose there is the middle ground like you/i are trying to adopt. Here's to a fairer trading world!! We can only live in hope ;):D
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • Super VedderSuper Vedder Posts: 1,531
    Jennytree wrote:
    Ah, sorry - I got lost in my Irishness there!! Ah D4 woman would be typically described by a few key words - fake tan, daughters with Ugg boots, husbands credit card, posh accent, landrover in the city, stick up their holes and think we owe them something, therefore should pick up all the shit they throw on the ground and apologise for not picking it up sooner... :D

    hee hee i get ya now, mmmm sweet sweet fake tan and ugg boot combo's :)eurgh they make me sick those bitches! but how did that get turned into D4??? Suppose i will never truly know ;)
    Black, the greatest without a doubt........
  • JennytreeJennytree Posts: 5,340
    reeferchief wrote:
    Service desk, ooh what a fun job that used to be, that would definately be a box of chocolates by Forrests definitions.:)
    I was also a supervisor as well as ran the mens department, and yes you get the same arseholes in the English stores, with the well everythings so cheap we can treat the store, the stock and the staff like shit attitude.

    Ah thank god someone got my rant! And believe it or not, I didn't mind working there. Most people were fine, and they treated the staff alright. The managers got totally overworked though. I spent over two and a half years there, it got me through college. But the mentality of some people just amazed me. The worst was when I had to escalate an issue to one of my managers. He got such abuse because he was Polish and "stealing all our jobs"... ORLY stay-at-home mother?! And they would argue and argue because I would refuse to refund a €3 tshirt that they had put a fake tan stain on. :confused:
    This is me:
    http://www.facebook.com/jennytree

    SMELL YER MA!
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    Super Vedder wrote:
    it ends up being a bit of a catch 22 situation doesn't it? Help others out and end up down in your own pocket OR try and ignore your conscience and buy whatever is cheapest regardless of how people are being treated! And i suppose there is the middle ground like you/i are trying to adopt. Here's to a fairer trading world!! We can only live in hope ;):D

    People turn their faces up at me but the way I see it, it's better to do something than nothing. Imagine how it would affect economies if absolutely everyone bought even two kinds of product fairtrade regularly. It's not an unrealistic aim. At least it would be a statement against exploitative corporations, maybe even enough to make them rethink how they're doing business. It's starting to happen.
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
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