So did anyone get any joy re: NEXT model appearing anorexic or on verge of?

[Curiousmama]

I didn't hear back, wondered if anyone else had?

Do you think we should approach the media if we don't hear anything? After all there's little chance they'll stop using such ultra thin models is there?

[notnowbernard]

I missed this

[notasize10yetbutoneday]

No, I havent heard anything back although I only emailled yesterday afternoon.

I do think it is a serious issue and on a personal level Im shocked and disappointed that such an 'average' and 'ordinary' high street shop such as Next would do this.

How does one approach the media, as it were?

[notasize10yetbutoneday]

Theres a thread if you scroll down to mid page, notnowbernard,

[notnowbernard]

Can't find it...

[monkeysmama]

I had an email this morning saying

Thank you for your e-mail.

I am sorry to hear that you are not happy with the images advertised in the Directory.

I can confirm, that your query has been passed to the Relevant Department to look into.  You will be contacted in due course.

All comments and feedback are appreciated from Customers.

Once again, I am sorry for any inconvenience caused to you.  

[Curiousmama]

Original thread

That's good you heard something monkeysmama.

[notnowbernard]

Bloody Hell

Shocking images. Clearly underweight models, I would say the blonde woman looks like she has an ED

[notasize10yetbutoneday]

"I am sorry for any inconvenience caused to you"

talk about missing the point entirely. And the Relevant Department? is that an actual department then? Ooh Im getting madder....

[Curiousmama]

I know I got some half arsed reply too.

So which tabloid do you think may be interested? I'm quite incensed.

[monkeysmama]

I've now had this....

Thank you for your recent e-mail which has now been received by the Customer Relations Management Team.
 
Unfortunately we are unable to answer this immediately, but we will respond to you as soon as possible.
 
Should you wish to contact us in the meantime, you can do so via the e-mail address [email protected]. Alternatively, you can call us on telephone number 0844 844 8315, where any of our team will be happy to discuss this further with you. It would be very helpful if when contacting us, you could quote the reference number shown above.
 
I am sorry for any inconvenience caused by the delay and we will be in touch again shortly.
 
Yours sincerely

[Curiousmama]

Yes same as mine monkeysmama.

[Curiousmama]

any better responses?

[monkeysmama]

Nope. Nothing yet.

[franch]

OK, here's my response:

"Thank you for your recent email enquiry regarding models used in the new Spring/Summer brochure. I have tried to contact you by telephone to discuss this matter further but unfortunately have been unable to speak with you.

Firstly, may I say how sorry I am to learn of your recent disappointment at the size of the models used in this season's Directory, I can fully appreciate your concerns.

I would like to assure you that we have specific criteria for our models, which include them being of a certain size and maintaining a healthy body image. They also model one of our standard sizes, rather than specially fitted garments. We tend to use the same models from season to season, and we would certainly feed back to their agencies if we had any concerns or noticed sudden and/or significant weight loss.

Having said that, we take all complaints seriously and feedback from our customers can influence decisions we make in the future, so I have passed a copy of your email to our Bookings Editor, for her reference and consideration.

I do hope you find the above explanation helpful, however, if you have any further concerns relating to this matter, please contact me on my direct number of 0116 2388604 or alternatively at the address below. My hours of work are Monday, Thursday and Friday 8am - 4pm.

Finally, I would like to thank you for taking the time to contact us, as all feedback whether negative or positive is very important to us.

With kind regards,

Sharon Lowndes
Customer Relations Management Team"

[piratecat]

what a load of bollocks this sentence is

'I would like to assure you that we have specific criteria for our models, which include them being of a certain size and maintaining a healthy body image.'

yes, but your criteria seems to 'show' being stick thin and NOT maintaining a healthy body image.

tossers

[franch]

I feel pretty insulted by this letter, they're fobbing me off with vague platitudes. What she's really saying is, 'You may be concerned, but we're not. So that makes it ok.'

If she's passed my message on to the Bookings Editor, why am I not getting a response from her?

Are they really trying to tell me that these models have a BMI of 18.5-25? If they were 5'8", that'd mean they were about 8st 13 - 11st 6. Really?

[franch]

Exactly, piratecat.

Where do we go from here?

[monkeysmama]

I emailed again on Monday to ask when I could
expect a proper reply and have still not heard anything.

That reply is not only fobbing you off but is very badly written. It reads like several soundbite sentences stuck together rather than a proper thought out reply. If I get something similar I'll be replying again. I'm really angry about it now .

[franch]

I will write again, when I've calmed down enough to write something coherent. I think this calls for something bigger, though.

[monkeysmama]

I agree Franch.

[franch]

Could it be a MN campaign? Should we post on there?

[RocheMoutonee]

but what are oyu expecting as an outcome?
they wont reprint the directory for it will thet?

[franch]

They could, erm, apologise and pledge not to do it again?

[franch]

Just noticed they advertise on MN

[EleanoraBuntingCupcake]

i was more concerned by the bra model's norks. they looked like you could unscrew them