Great 'disguised Own Brand' Hunt.

ALLYBOBS

I worked for Thorntons for 16 years and you would be amazed at the "bought in" stuff. Yes they do make M&S stuff. Bassetts made their liquorice allsorts when they used to do them. Most of the bakery stuff ie, caramel squares are made by a different company.I would just love to tell you everything I know about what goes on behind the scenes. If you go to the web address on the back of Butterkist popcorn it takes you straight to the Thorntons web site. Check it out and you will see for yourself the stuff Thorntons do and it would suprise you.

chelle333

I found identical trousers in New look and Peacocks just the label was different

Steve_Mac

bernie_inn wrote: »

The fiat 500 and the ford KA are made on lines next to each other at a Fiat plant in Italy

The Fiat Panda, Fiat 500 and the Ford Ka are actually made in the same factory in Poland by Fiat. Unfortunately the motoring press have caned Ford for this, because the Ka no longer drives like a Ford. Proof that these tie-ins don't always work out.

Also, Ford's Diesel factory in Dagenham makes engines for Ford, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Citroen and Peugeot.

EDIT: The Mazda 5 is based on the same platform as the Ford Focus (and Ford C-Max, Landrover Freelander and Volvo S50/V50), although not built in the same factory.

Oh and Aston Martin V12 engines are built in Cologne in Germany!!!

Sheepster

kazza2 wrote: »

It is worth pointing out that 5 year guarantees (or any guarantee for that matter) are irrelevant because consumer law states that for all items purchased "It must be as described. It must be of satisfactory quality, sufficiently durable, free from any defects"

Also, your contract is with the person you purchased the item from, not the manufacturer.

This law stands for up to 6 years after purchase in England and Wales and 5 years in Scotland.

That is true, but try using that one in one of the stores renowned for bugging you to take out an extended guarantee, when you turn up a day over the guarantee.

I was once told to my face, by the greasy obnoxious manager with zero people skills, in a certain large very well known store in my town, which I'd better not name I guess, that he didn't care about the law, he would ignore it.

noonootiger

I work for M&S, there is no such thing as M&S branded product, everything we sell comes from someone else. For example, all electricals that we sell come direct from the supplier to the customer, if you phone our large appliances hotline you actually speak to a completely different company who tell you theyre M&S, the party food to order we sell is made by a third party, the made to measure shirts are made by a company in sweden or somewhere and we dont even take the money, it goes straight to shirts.net. all our furniture is made in china and turkey and all our 'basic' kitchenware is the same as tesco value, just twice the price. the point is, if your thinking of buying something from M&S, dont.

Chris25

noonootiger wrote: »

all our 'basic' kitchenware is the same as tesco value, just twice the price. the point is, if your thinking of buying something from M&S, dont.

but surely after-sales-service counts for something. If I had to choose between buying something similar from M&S and Tesco (even paying more), I'd plump for M&S any day.

I've returned kitchen items before now and they've been more than happy to replace even without the receipt.

rallp54

I used to work for Gallahers, who make Benson and Hedges. Or at least they make the B&H that are sold in the UK. At the time I worked there (and probably still), the B&H cigarettes that were sold internationally or at 'duty free' shops were not made by Gallaher, but by a 'rival' under license, so will definitely not be the same as you are used to at home. Opinion was that the 'foreign' ones were not as good.

noonootiger

our returns policy is no different to anywhere else, i took a pair of trousers back to tesco today and they gave me 2 to replace them! M&S really just take the biscuit, they take advantage of the fact that people associate their name with quality. unfortunately, they are no different to any other supermarket now.

steerpike

Chia wrote: »

Yeah, the Body Shop thing is also very disappointing because of Nestle's significant holdings in L'Oreal. Nestle's aggressive infant formula marketing and disinformation techniques in Africa directly contribute to suffering and death from malnutrition amongst African babies.

Sometimes it seems difficult to make ANY satisfactory environmental/ethical/non-exploitative choices in today's world (any consumption has repercussions somewhere), especially when on a budget, but I would encourage you all to get on the Nestle Boycott bandwagon, even if just a little or now and then. Switch to Kenco instead of Nescafe?

On the same theme - caring, sharing L'Oreal closed their UK manufacturing unit in South Wales in June this year with the loss of 200+ jobs to relocate back in France as its more cost effective (real speak = profitable). :mad:
Suggest a boycott of L'Oreal products and commit buy UK manufactured products instead - such as Alberto Culver who continue manufacture in South Wales and many small independant manufacturers

Libby73

noonootiger wrote: »

I work for M&S, there is no such thing as M&S branded product, everything we sell comes from someone else. For example, all electricals that we sell come direct from the supplier to the customer, if you phone our large appliances hotline you actually speak to a completely different company who tell you theyre M&S, the party food to order we sell is made by a third party, the made to measure shirts are made by a company in sweden or somewhere and we dont even take the money, it goes straight to shirts.net. all our furniture is made in china and turkey and all our 'basic' kitchenware is the same as tesco value, just twice the price. the point is, if your thinking of buying something from M&S, dont.

I really can't understand your comments above. You're urging people not to buy from the company you work for. Appreciate it's a money saving website but just see if you're of the same opinion when more redundancies are announced as sales have slumped and you're out of a job!