mothercare - "we can't sell you a car seat. It's raining"

[knickerelasticjones]

Don't know if I should post this in this topic as its not really a question of being unreasonable. But I though I would share with you all today's experience of genuine retain insanity.

Went into Mothercare today to get a stage three car seat for DD1. Had DDs 1 and 2 with me. Approached cash desk and said

Me - "Hello, I"d like to get a car seat for my daughter"
Assistant - "does it fit in your car?"
Me - "I don't know, I as I haven't bought the car seat yet" (I'm already thinking her first question is a bit inane, but hey! we all have our off days...)
Assistant - "Oh well we can't sell you a car seat now. It's raining"
Me - "Sorry?"
Assistant - "We would have to go and fit the car seat in your car and we can't do that now as it's raining"

(At this point I thought maybe there was a concern about the car seat getting wet, and perhaps they would show me round the seats available on the display in store, but more was to come...)

Me - "I'm a little confused"
Assistant - "It's health and safety. We might fall over in the rain."
Me - (really confused by now) "Sorry??"
Assistant - "It's for our own protection. We aren't allowed to sell car seats when its raining, as we might fall over when we walk to the car to check it fits".

This was followed by a grumpy silence from all three assistants who were looking at me as if to say "How DARE you put our very lives at risk by suggesting that we might sell you a car seat. Can't you see the RAIN".

No more help offered from them. Just lots of questions from DD1 as to why she couldn't have her new car seat. With me saying loudly " they can't sell us a car seat during the rain. We are NEVER coming here again." We went to Halfords.

Now I'm all for protecting the worker (a union person me) but seriously? You can't go out in the rain as you might fall over? Seriously?

I live in Scotland - if that's a valid excuse for staying in, I may never leave the house again....

[zippitippitoes]

do they have lockins at home time?

[nancy75]

how do they get home in the winter? there is a massive mothercare near me and i have never noticed loads of women all falling over in puddles outside it! does this inability to walk in wet weather only affect mothercare staff or all people that sell childrens goods?

[Jackstini]

Thanks for making me pmsl! Most ridiculous thing I have heard in ages

[sunnytimes]

Message withdrawn

[onceinalifetime]

Email the Head Office and the Daily Mail asap.

[bluenosesaint]

I think you're all underestimating the danger these women are in! ...shame on you

[JackieNo]

Maybe their grumpiness was in fact due to the fact that they know it's a stupid rule, but they have to abide by it?
Nah.

[RubySlippers]

we had our carseat fitted in the rain by Mothercare

think they were being a tad very lazy

[sunnytimes]

Message withdrawn

[domesticslattern]

Surely they are making that one up? Still, fits with everything I have ever experienced about Mothercare.

Last time I was there four assistants standing around admiring a small dog in a pushchair. (Don't ask). When I quaveringly asked if they might break off to sell me sixty quids worth of assorted stuff, I was told in no uncertain terms that the tills were all down. Then they went back to the dog.

Argh!

[BouncingTurtle]

If this were true then I wouldn;t imagine they sell many car seats in the winter.
They just couldn't be arsed I bet!
Ah well Mothercare's loss and Halford's gain!

[Sallypoo]

This rule was probably brought into place by the same set of nutters (my opinion only) that told me I couldn't use the phrase "brain storming" in a meeting but must say thought shower. When I queried this bizarre statement I was told brain storming might offend certain people!

Out of curiosity, were all the staff (not wishing to presume all three were ladies) wearing conformatable shoes, or where they wearing high risk heels? he he he

[georgiemama]

I once spent a good forty minutes standing in front of the most inept sales assistant ever in Mothercare whilst she attempted to find "the code" for the cot I wanted to buy and then attempted to find my postcode on their hopeless database. All the while, DS aged four months screaming in his pram. Did she call for assistance? Hell no. I walked. Never been back to mothercare since.

Whatever you need, either Argos or Wilkinsons will sell it, a lot cheaper.

[knickerelasticjones]

Ha ha!

Actually I did leave a bit out of the story.

As I had turned to leave the shop one of the assistants seemed to realise they had been a bit useless and said "Is it still actually raining now, cos if its stopped then it might be ok...."

Which I guess means that its not the rain on the ground which they might slip on - it's the rain which is actually falling from the sky.



Actually I've had a really miserable week and in many ways this whole episode has just filled me with joy at the whole inanity of it all!!

[spamm]

Lololololol

I am having a flashback to how I endangered the life of the charming young man at Mothercare 3 years ago when he helped fit my new car seat in the rain - I feel a need to apologise immediately.

It was pissing it down so much, I still remember it! I need HSE evaluation soon, as I will be going to buy the next level seat in the next couple of months.

[nailpolish]

you really should complain and get compensation

honestly! threaten to phone the sunday post (my dad works for the sunday post and he would wet himself over this story)

[elmoandella]

i'm in scotland. had car seats tested in 2 mothercare's.

ek and hermiston?

wasn't any of these. that would be real cheek!

[elmoandella]

should have put got them teasted while raining. but it is scotland.
assume its always raining

[elmoandella]

aaaaaaaaah

tested, not teasted

[dilemma456]

Message withdrawn

[OurHamsterisevil]

THat is so funny. I'm growing to hate mothercare more by the day.

Why did they need to fit it anyway. Are they not allowed to sell you a seat without checking it fits in your car now..