Primark

I have a real love hate relationship with Primark....it just kind of leaves me thinking life would be easier if I wore girls clothes....more....

Annoyingly the menswear is just not the the one here and seems a bit stuck in the 90's (not in a good way) and the homeware is just not the best quality either ....I mean on the brightside if i ever want a t shirt with a random 33 on it or a faux fur throw that will mault more than a rhodesian ridgeback I know where to come....haha.

I have however got some good stuff from here. I have two pairs of girls sunnies that were £3 each that look a lot more expensive and also some gym stuff that has served me well. I am definitely more of a 'ill just wear a promo t shirt and some basic shorts to the gym' kind of guy not a 'ill spend £100 on an outfit to go and get sweaty in' person but I digress......

Ladies (and some lads) there is hope! My friends seem to be able to find some good stuff in the women's section here. Some of the womens stuff is a good quality replica of stuff actually going on in fashion atm........but beware......the main ladies floor looks like a plague of locusts has been at it half the time.....you may need to pick your size 12 pencil skirt up from a pile on the floor....dust it down and elbow your way to the crowded tills.....but to look good on a budget its worth it......I think!

A two-star review for a store that is just too big and spread out on too many floors.

They would be better making different stores for each of the departments. The prices are cheaper than nearly anywhere on the high street and most things I've purchased can only be worn less than 10 times before showing signs of wear and tear.

Great if you want something for a weekend that you don't expect to be seen in again,

This store probably won't be here much longer as a much larger one is coming over the next few years on the next street.

Ever seen that episode of friends, the one where Rachel's looking for monica's bargain wedding dress? She becomes so distressed she has to hide amongst the clothes while screaming.. 'These baragin shoppers are crazy'


Well that is a good description of shopping in Primark. The clothes are screwn everywhere, you have to queue to get to touch any of the clothes and don't even think about heading over to the accessories section.


That said, the store is reknown for it's cheap clothes, underwear and shoes. Some of the pieces are excellent copies of what would sell in another high street store for three times the price. The collections change frequently and Primark's director definitely has his finger firmly on fashions pulse.


With prices at rock bottom across the board, one has to wonder where these clothes are being made and who by.. and at what price?

I have a confession to make... I hate shopping. I hate looking around shops, I hate trying things on, I hate the desperation of not finding anything I like (I'm not fussy, as long as it's nice and it fits) and I hate it when you find that great dress and it has a ridiculous price tag. That's where Primark shines...

I have relied on Primark for bits and pieces ever since I got to Birmingham. We didn't have an incarnation of the bargain chain store in Milton Keynes, so as soon as I came to Bham in 2003 - my eyes were opened to a world of cheap clothes, shoes and accessories.

There are a few staples I always pick up from here. Their black socks, underwear (not the bra's though - they don't last very long at all), leggings and cardigans are a must and I pop in here once every couple of months to stock up on these essentials. That being said, I have had some other lovely things from here including dresses, skirts and licensed character t-shirts which have always been at a good price and have lasted long enough to justify the price tag.

Now, the negatives. This store is like a jumble sale 99% of the time. If you're looking for an item in a particular size, you could spend hours going through all the items on the incorrect hangers or rummaging through piles of miscellaneous garments to find the thing you want.

The staff are pretty hit and miss too. I have actually come across bright eyed and helpful members of their team before but have also experienced grumpy folk who refuse to help or just want you to buy your items and leave.

As a top tip, head to Primark first thing of a morning (even Saturday is more tolerable) or last thing at night. First thing in the morning the stuff is fairly well organised and last thing at night it's like a ghost town (so you won't get rammed by other shoppers/buggies whilst you are browsing). At the end of the day, you get what you pay for in Primark and when I have snagged skirts for as little as £1, it's worth a bit of hassle for that wonderful moment when you actually find something you like.

This branch of Primark can get really busy at the weekends (people seem to flock here!) so if you want a leisurely walk around without having to negotiate around someone to get to an item I would suggest going during the week.

There are three levels to this store. The main entrance is where all the ladies clothes and accessories are, bottom level shoes, household items and baby clothes and upper level men's.

There are plenty of cashier desks, with waiting time being 10 minutes or more at the weekend.

Fitting room staff are helpful and friendly.

A good place to pick up some accessories at a great price.

Its huge!
Chaotic!
But it does what it says on the tin!

Primark is the Ross of the UK. Good discounts, and decent clothes, but you have to hunt for it. One thing I did learn about my trip to Birmingham:

NEVER GO SHOPPING ON A SATURDAY WHEN THE WEATHER IS NICE.

I actually started to have a mild anxiety attack in the store. So many people leaving/coming and pushing into each other. Screaming babies, prams. OMG. So yeah, leave the shopping for rainy days or during the week.

Aside from the crowded space, this Primark was actually really good sized. I was able to find exactly what I wanted (some dresses, clothes for work) in a relatively short amount of time. The cheaper/sale clothes are typically on the ground floor, and the more expensive clothes are on the 1st.

Definitely a cool Primark to shop at for selection and prices.

This Primark is the worst I have EVER been too!
Its really messy and unorganised. The clothes can generally be found in a big messy pile or on the floor. The layout of the shop is terrible. Womans clothes are spread between the 2 floors and the guys section is tinyand the ques are always huge!
I really dont like this shop. If you want to go to Primark then I highly suggest going to the one in Hanley,Stoke on Tent.

This is one of the biggest Primark stores I have been in. They have a huge selection of stuff at great prices and there is an upstairs to the store as well.
The downside is that it is always packed and clothes get strewn everywhere. Staff seems very slow to tidy the mess up. There is also a long queue to pay but I guess you get that in all Primark stores.
You can pick up some great bargains in there.

I like a bargain as much as the next person, but I can't bring myself to set foot in this particular branch of Primark - queues seem to snake all over the store, staff are supremely unhelpful and its overall similarity to a jumble sale would surely destroy any glee you might experience should you manage to find what you were looking for in the first place!
I've been to other, better laid out and better staffed branches, so perhaps it's just a case of wrong place wrong time.