M&S Travel Money Closing down ?

rodathomeuk

Been unable to order travel money for delivery later than Monday next week. Also, my two closest M&S bureaus are already closed, so it's a 130 mile round trip to collect. Been on the phone to them, and they admitted they have a problem. I asked a direct question "Is M&S Travel Money effectively open for business ?" She said, "No, you should go somewhere else"

Brie

Well at least she was being honest with you.

DullGreyGuy

https://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/

One of the better tools on MSE

rodathomeuk

@DullGreyGuy - well yes, that's the link I followed (as I always do), but this time it was both wrong and out of date and sent me to M&S who have no service (at least in SW Scotland and Cumbria), even though it provides an M&S shop address, they have no bureau there any more. Same for Dumfries (which wasn't even listed), but that's where I picked up my travel money in December, so it's recent

katejo

rodathomeuk said:

Been unable to order travel money for delivery later than Monday next week. Also, my two closest M&S bureaus are already closed, so it's a 130 mile round trip to collect. Been on the phone to them, and they admitted they have a problem. I asked a direct question "Is M&S Travel Money effectively open for business ?" She said, "No, you should go somewhere else"

I recently bought some Euros at one of the London stores. Either Oxford St or Stratford. I was the only customer there at the time. 

DullGreyGuy

katejo said:

rodathomeuk said:

Been unable to order travel money for delivery later than Monday next week. Also, my two closest M&S bureaus are already closed, so it's a 130 mile round trip to collect. Been on the phone to them, and they admitted they have a problem. I asked a direct question "Is M&S Travel Money effectively open for business ?" She said, "No, you should go somewhere else"

I recently bought some Euros at one of the London stores. Either Oxford St or Stratford. I was the only customer there at the time. 

No wonder, their rates are terrible in London compared to the specialists. In other places without the choices then maybe their rates are ok.

bagand96

Thin margins, and less and less people actually bothering to take cash abroad. I can see why companies may wish to review their forex operations. 

Doshwaster

bagand96 said:

Thin margins, and less and less people actually bothering to take cash abroad. I can see why companies may wish to review their forex operations. 

It must be a decreasing market. I haven't changed money before travelling in at least 10 years. Depending on the destination I just take Sterling and change it there, withdraw cash from an ATM or rely on mostly contactless payments - which is most of Europe these days.

flaneurs_lobster

rodathomeuk said:

@DullGreyGuy - well yes, that's the link I followed (as I always do), but this time it was both wrong and out of date and sent me to M&S who have no service (at least in SW Scotland and Cumbria), even though it provides an M&S shop address, they have no bureau there any more. Same for Dumfries (which wasn't even listed), but that's where I picked up my travel money in December, so it's recent

M&S will "Click'n'Collect" currency to any of their stores, (including Dumfries & Carlisle). Doesn't need to have a BdeC.

Their rates are not that different from the walk-up money-changers at larger supermarket branches.

martindow

flaneurs_lobster said:

Their rates are not that different from the walk-up money-changers at larger supermarket branches.

I think they offer better rates if you have an M&S loyalty card.  Maybe that affected the OP's  wish to use them.

NoodleDoodleMan

I was in a M&S store this morning which has a Travel Money counter - business as usual.

There are now a couple of other "High Street" brand name travel agents recently(ish) opened nearby, in addition to the long established Post Office - I reckon they probably offer better rates than M&S .......not sure if you can get a better deal using an M&S credit card to pay for the currency though.......that was one of their carrots to go there.