In being pissed off that toys r us threw my sons lost hat out when they found it.

[Anonymouses]

Went into Toys R Us here in Orlando on our way back to the hotel on Thursday night. DS left his much loved goofy hat that he got from Disney on our first day. I didn't realise he had gone in with it and only missed it Friday morning when we were on our way out on a pre booked shuttle bus and he wanted to wear it. He was knackered on Thursday night and was very adamant on Friday that it was definitely in the car. It was not. We went out as planned Friday and then I scoured the room and car on our return.

We realised he must have left it in the mall or in toys r us. The mall keeps everything with big record books but didn't have it so we went to toys r us and saw a lovely lady at the counter. She said she remembered seeing it and started looking for it in drawers and called through to the back. The manager then turns round and says "don't bother we trashed it. If anything left is not sold by us it's no use to us so we just throw it out at the end of the day"

AIBU in thinking this is a really harsh and horrible policy? I can thankfully replace the hat (just, we leave in 2 days) but he was devastated to be told his beloved hat was trash. The young girl who served me was horrified and really apologetic but the manager didn't give 2 shites.

I know I should keep track of his stuff and usually I'm shit hot at it but he's 6 ffs and errors happen. What if it had been a comforter? Or stuffed toy? Something irreplaceable?

I was back within 48 hours. They had deemed it trash in less than 4. I complained to toys r us and got a new asshole ripped for me by people who think it's all my fault for being a shit parent who doesn't keep track and it's tough.

I worked for toys r us in the uk and we kept stuff in the back for a few days as a courtesy. I assumed this was the store policy? I would have thought that a store that is designed for kids they would have had some actual heart for kids and normal kid behaviour.

So is it me? Am I a shit parent to think that a store designed for kids should keep hold of lost kids things for 2 or 3 days? Am I wrong to think that I at least deserve a sorry?

[Birdsgottafly]

A Manager will never apologise for carrying out Store policy. They leave it to Head Office to give out vouchers (pointless in a different country, through).

I was shocked to learn that my local Lidl have a similar policy and don't keep lost property, even if it's expensive glasses.

A 48 hour policy, could easily be implemented.

[NightWanderer]

I can see if it's in a tourist town then they must get so much unclaimed lost property, it would be a pain to store it.

[Anonymouses]

Apparently it's not a national policy from what they said so we shall see what happens. The mall next door keeps stuff for 4 weeks. Guest relations have a massive folder of what's in their and pull stuff out as its claimed. The lost property room must be like Alladins cave

[peggyundercrackers]

I don't think it's harsh, they probably get 1000s of visitors a year who leave stuff behind, it would be a bit of a nightmare to manage for them.

[OlennasWimple]

I agree they must have more than the average lost property (big store, high footfall, people on holiday mode) but a couple of days wouldn't really hurt, surely?

[Ditsy4]

I think it is unreasonable. Surely they could wait a week. Probably just the Managers attitude. Guys don't bother as much and don't think about kids feelings as much. Just unwanted stuff in the store. I wonder if he would feel the same if he lost his wallet somewhere!

[sykadelic]

While I agree it's pretty callous to not wait at least 24 hours, I can totally understand why a store catered to children, especially one located near Disney, would need to have a "we don't keep lost property" policy. I can only imagine how filthy that store gets and how they simply don't have time to dedicate to maintaining a "lost and found" department/area.

Perhaps though they could simply give it to the mall lost and found instead and then they're not looking after it.

[sykadelic]

While I agree it's pretty callous to not wait at least 24 hours, I can totally understand why a store catered to children, especially one located near Disney, would need to have a "we don't keep lost property" policy. I can only imagine how filthy that store gets and how they simply don't have time to dedicate to maintaining a "lost and found" department/area.

Perhaps though they could simply give it to the mall lost and found instead and then they're not looking after it.

[SpecialAgentFreyPie]

Guys don't bother as much and don't think about kids feelings as much

Bit harsh?

OP YANBU to be upset but I think a place like that would have to, or they'd just accumulate junk.

YANBU about the manager either.. There was absolutely no reason for him to be so hostile.

[VashtaNerada]

I think the policy's horrible and the manager's attitude even worse. Totally lacking in empathy (not sure that's a male thing though Ditsy! I know some women who are unkind, and some men who are very empathetic)

[Amelie10]

But how do you know for a fact it was left in toys r us because you said it was that or the mall. The manager didn't confirm he had it, just that everything gets thrown out. It sounds like a high traffic tourist area and tbh they probably receive a ton load of lost items, so I can understand getting rid each day.

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

"guys don't bother as much"

what a strange and wrong statement! A few days a go a total stranger scrabbled around the floor on his hands and knees to help me find my dd's tooth that had fallen our and pinged across the floor. He was a man!

Op I agree, it seems harsh. I work in a shop and it's really not hard to manage lost property. Throw it in a big box and keep it for a few weeks, it's easy.

[StealthPolarBear]

I don't think op mentioned that the manager was a man anyway

[MrsJoeyMaynard]

Binning lost property at the end of each day seems unnecessarily harsh. You'd think they could keep stuff for a few days to give people a chance to come back and get it.

[PandasRock]

I agree with you, OP, it's overly harsh.

Be thankful you can replace the hat - my Ds got an equally beloved Mickey hat on our last trip. He wore it everywhere.

He left it in Pizza Hut (back in England), and we realised when we got home. Phoned up, all good, hat was found. I arranged to collect it the next day. Ds pleased he would be able to get it back (Ds was 3 at the time).

Got to the store the next day ,about lunchtime, to claim it, and was told it wasn't there. I was as had been told it was, had claimed it over the phone etc. Staff member checked again, then came back and said 'oh, somebody else claimed it. We had a child's rucksack left yesterday too, and when they came to pick it up, we asked if the hat was theirs too and they took that as well'



Cue one very upset Ds, and can't even replace the hat as it was a Parks exclusive, so he'll have to wait until next time we go over. I couldn't believe it.

[AppleSetsSail]

These modern super-stores e.g. ToysRUs are no longer run by humans but automatons. I expect nothing of them.

[JudyCoolibar]

But how do you know for a fact it was left in toys r us because you said it was that or the mall. The manager didn't confirm he had it, just that everything gets thrown out.

The manager said "Don't bother, we trashed it" and the lady at the counter remembered seeing it. It very much sounds as if they did have it.

I think a shop that specialises in stuff for children should have a policy for keeping lost things for at least a few days, precisely because of the fact that what is lost may be very precious to the child in question. It may be inconvenient, but if they start getting a reputation for having no interest in or knowledge of children, their business could suffer badly.

[Costacoffeeplease]

Yabu - they'll have tons of stuff every day and a high tourist area where most people are only there for a short time

[TanteJeanne]

Not unreasonable of the store- but they could have explained politely eg I'm sorry but we don't have the time or resources to deal with lost property- that's company policy

[Smurfnoff]

Can't people read? The OP said the assistant in Toys R Us remembered seeing it!

Personally I thought most places kept lost property for up to 7 days. If that's not the policy there, the manager should have politely explained that and apologised for the inconvenience. 'Don't bother - we trashed it' is just tacky.