Marks & Spencer (M&S) faced a major technical issue recently, causing its website and app to be offline for several hours. Shoppers trying to access the site received a message saying, “you can’t shop with us right now.” M&S assured customers they were “working hard to be back online as soon as possible.”
During the outage, all menus and images disappeared except for one showing a model in a green jacket. Those using the app got a message saying, “Sorry you can’t shop through the app right now. We’re busy making some planned changes, but will be back soon.” The site and app were down for several hours, starting from the early afternoon.
M&S attributed the issue to a problem with a third-party service provider, which temporarily affected access to their online platforms. The company addressed the issue on social media, telling one customer on X (formerly Twitter), “We’re experiencing some technical issues but we are working on it.”
This incident follows similar technical problems experienced by other major retailers. Just last month, Sainsbury’s shoppers encountered difficulties with their online orders.
The timing of the outage is notable as it comes just days before M&S is expected to report a significant increase in annual profits. The brand has seen strong sales across its business, thanks to a turnaround plan involving store closures and cost-cutting measures.
Despite the temporary setback, M&S has enjoyed a successful year. The company’s efforts to streamline operations and improve efficiency appear to be paying off, leading to a positive outlook for the future.
In summary, M&S experienced a significant technical issue that took their website and app offline for several hours. The problem was due to a third-party service provider and was addressed promptly. This outage follows similar issues faced by other major retailers, highlighting the challenges companies face in maintaining seamless online operations. Nevertheless, M&S remains on track for a strong financial performance this year.