Three things to always buy at M&S and two items to avoid
M&S shoppers will want to keep an eye out for a certain few products next time they're in-store or online.
The retailer is known for its high quality products but you might be wondering which ones to go for and which ones to avoid.
Here's our verdict.
Remember to always bear in mind additional costs such as delivery when buying anything, not just from M&S but from other retailers.
Delivery from Marks and Sparks is only free if you spend £60, but you can collect from your local branch for no added cost.
To find your closest M&S, just use the locator tool on its website.
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Also remember, don't buy anything just because it's cheap or been slashed in price.
If it's not something you were planning on buying anyway it's not really a saving.
You can compare the price of products by using price comparison sites such as trolley.co.uk.
Or, for a quicker scan you can use the Google Shopping tab.
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Either way, lets look at the items you should buy and avoid.
What to buy
Perfume dupes
If you look closely, you'll find a collection of designer perfume dupes at M&S for a fraction of the cost.
They've been spotted for as much as £90 less than the original branded version.
For example, shoppers discovered this Soft Iris Eau de Toilette which costs just £10 per 100ml.
It's a dupe of Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel which, in comparison, would set you back £136 on the Chanel website for the same size.
Other £10 M&S examples include the 100ml Midnight Blossom, which is a dupe for the £125 YSL Black Opium, and Velvet Rose which is similar to Chanel No. 5.
Sweet treats
M&S is well-known for its range of unique and delicious treats such as Percy Pigs, Colin the Caterpillar cakes and
So if you're looking to cater for a special occasion, the retailer is definitely the place to go.
Do keep in mind you can find dupes of some products elsewhere. For example, Aldi sells its own version of Percy Pig - Leo The Lion.
You'll pay £2 for a 170g bag that's the real deal at M&S, compared to £1.39 for a 170g for the Aldi dupe.
Marks never misses out on as well, so definitely keep an eye out when it comes to a special time of the year.
Flowers
You can always find the nicest selection of flowers at M&S, and many bouquets come in a lovely little box.
They usually come with free delivery too.
It's worth noting M&S is the only retailer consistently offering its flowers in takeaway boxes, complete with handles to carry straight to a friend or loved one.
What to avoid
Furniture
M&S does a selection of furniture which certainly looks lovely, but its range comes with a price tag.
For example, a capri garden sofa we found on the website costs £374, and that's even with 25% off.
In comparison, at Dunelm, you can get a similar Charles Bentley Zanzibar bench for just £159.
The Range is also good for furniture deals too and currently has a 30% sale on.
Cosmetic and skincare products
Again, it's all about the price. We found that M&S cosmetic and skincare products were a lot more expensive than high street drug stores.
For example, the cheapest cosmetics bag we could find was the M&S Alphabet Make-Up bag selling for £4.20 instead of £6.
When we checked Superdrug's website, we found a makeup pouch for just £3.
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You'll also find a much wider collection of products from the likes of Superdrug and Boots than you might at M&S, so you'd be better checking there to begin with.
Remember you can look up your nearest store on any retailer's website, and always check their delivery costs before you commit to a purchase online.
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