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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think soft play centre is wrong to hold 18 month old dd's shoes to ransom

83 replies

Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 20:04

This happened a few weeks a go but I have been wondering whether I was in the right since it happened.
A while ago I took my 2 dc's to a local soft play area which we have been going to for years. When it was time to collect my dc's shoes I couldn't find the shoe ticket so the lady behind the counter showed me the shoes on each shelf and asked me to tell her when she had my dd's. I did this, put the shoes on my dc's and went home.
A few weeks later we went back to the same place. Whilst paying, the same lady immediatley informed me that last time I had been there I had taken the wrong shoes. It turned out that the someone else had exactly the same shoes as dd, except hers were a size 3 and my dd's were a size 3.5. I had not noticed at all as they fitted my dd and looked exactly the same.
Anyway the owner of the other shoes had insisted that the manager reimburse them for their dd's shoes.
The manager then informed me because I had taken the wrong shoes (implying it was my fault) that I could not have my dd's shoes back as she considered them her property.
I was shocked and said I didn't want the wrong shoes I had mistakenly identified as they are the wrong size and I would like to have my dd's shoes back. She said no. So I gave her back the other pair and said I would not be returning to the establishment.

So they now have both pairs of identical shoes and have lost a customer.
I can't decide who is right.

OP posts:

FlossALump · 06/04/2007 18:59

Yes, do. Threaten them with the local paper and the police if they don't co-operate. Good luck - do update us.

Original poster

Bambiraptor · 06/04/2007 18:45

I thought I it was theft. I am glad I am right! I think I will demand them back (if they still have them)

OP posts:

Josie3 · 06/04/2007 11:03

Just read this thread- what an extraordinary way of running a business! You have my sympathy! I will be marking the kids shoes form now on though, to prevent a similar thing happening here.

KatyTheProcrastinator · 06/04/2007 10:44

Have a look on ebay - she's probably already listed them!

FlossALump · 06/04/2007 10:43

DP says that it is theft and you are within your rights to demand the shoes back. Whst a bizarre way for them to go about their business!

JodieG1 · 05/04/2007 23:30

I would complain to the manager and demand the shoes back. I wouldn't leave without them tbh.

Socci · 05/04/2007 23:28

Message withdrawn

edam · 05/04/2007 23:25

Bizarre. Sounds like she's one of those people who have issues about dealing with customers. You know, the 'this hospital/school/restaurant would be so lovely if it weren't for all those dratted patients/children/diners cluttering the place up' kind of attitude.

Aloha · 05/04/2007 23:04

What is this very odd woman planning to do with all these identical shoes? Set up a shoe museum?

Original poster

Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 23:03

Like yoou say Elf the shoes are a rip off. I have several pair of shoes that are almost brand new but are now obsolete.

OP posts:

ELF1981 · 05/04/2007 22:57

Thats a shame re the G as my dd has just grown out of her 4Fs and I have two pairs of hardly used shoes.

Original poster

Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 22:50

They are G in width. I too find the price of childrens shoes disgusting. I think I may start buying non-clarks shoes as they are extortianate.

OP posts:

ELF1981 · 05/04/2007 22:46

On a side note - how wide are you dd's feet?

ELF1981 · 05/04/2007 22:45

I would argue the point that the shoes cost £25 (if from Clarks) and you could not get full use out of them as they were holding the shoes to ransom.

Sorry, but it is my pet peeve re the price of childrens shoes so I'd be livid!

Original poster

Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 22:43

ELF1981. my dd's feet have actually grown to a size 4 now (another reason I am not desperately trying to get the shoes back!)
Skribble, although you are probably right I will never go to the papers as i do not want at all to be in a newspaper.

OP posts:

Skribble · 05/04/2007 22:36

thouraly

Skribble · 05/04/2007 22:35

I would name and shame and go back and demand the shoes as well telling them you have asked the police (MN Police) for advice and your were advised to ask for them to be returned.

They paid for the other shoes good on them but shame their customer care didn't stretch to the mother who took the wrong shoes in error. If they were that worried about handing out the wrong shoes they shouldn't have handed over the shoes with out a ticket with out checking thouraly that there were no similar shoes.

Big sad face pic in the local paper I think .

ELF1981 · 05/04/2007 22:29

Go down the route of The Sun - pics of you holding your shoeless child outside the soft play centre.
She sounds like a real jobsworth.

How long have they had the shoes? Has your dd's feet grown since then? If so claim for the fact they have held onto the shoes so long you have not had full use of them.

Original poster

Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 22:21

The play centre is not a chain as far as I know. I think the woman is the owner or manager. Thinking about it she must be, in order to be so adamant about such a petty argument.
It is infuriating but ultimately I don't want to waste my time and energy calling the police about a pair of childrens shoes. I will write a stongly worded letter of complaint.

OP posts:

sunnydelight · 05/04/2007 22:15

Because they now know who the shoes belong to and refuse to give them back, legally it is theft. (Def. of theft is intentionally depriving someone of something). You made an honest mistake, facilitated by the fact that a member of their staff didn't abide by the rules. Go on, make a show of them in the local paper!

ELF1981 · 05/04/2007 22:07

PMSL 'cause I read my post back and thought "go to bed Elf, you're missing words out the sentences!"

FrannyandZooey · 05/04/2007 22:02

oh god I meant MY sentence not ELF's

FrannyandZooey · 05/04/2007 22:02

sorry that was a really atrocious sentence

ELF1981 · 05/04/2007 22:01

If they were my dd's shoes I'd be protested outside the place and handing out leaflets because I loath that I pay a small fortune for an 18mth old to wear a pair of shoes for a matter of a few weeks.

Deffo call the police or something - they owe you a pair of shoes. Tight fisted cheeky gits.

FrannyandZooey · 05/04/2007 22:01

"I was unhappy as it was being implied that i had deliberately done something wrong when I had just made a mistake."

Yes I would be more irate about this even than the loss of the shoes tbh!

Is it a chain? Is this woman the owner? Is there someone you can complain about it to other than her?

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