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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
vitomum · 05/04/2007 21:57

how bizarre. i really don't think i would be able to rest until i had my shoes back AND an apology.

bozza · 05/04/2007 21:57

It was also very rude to imply that you had done it deliberately, when it was so obviously a mistake.

Original poster
Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 21:52

Frannyandzooey, I didn't keep the other shoes as I was indignant that I couldn't get my dd's shoes back and said I didn't want to have these shoes as they weren't my dd's and were the wrong size etc. I was unhappy as it was being implied that i had deliberately done something wrong when I had just made a mistake.
The woman recognised me because I had been going there more or less once a week for about 2 years.
Bozza I have learnt my lesson and always check dc's shoes now.
It was just such a bizarre situation.

OP posts:
bozza · 05/04/2007 21:39

I don't think the soft play centre should have kept the shoes, what would it achieve? But I can see why they are a bit miffed at being £25 out of pocket.

Bambi DD goes to day nursery where they have to change into indoor shoes on arrival so her pair of Clarks spend a lot of time in a shoe pocket are initialled. There are a limited number of Clarks designs so duplications are quite common IME.

I have had shoe issues in the past. The Friday DS came home from reception wearing two left shoes in size 9 and size 10 (but same design) springs to mind. And then he got annoyed with me when I insisted he went home and put his trainers on before going on the park.

FrannyandZooey · 05/04/2007 21:38

Having thought about this some more, I am wondering why you weren't happy to keep the other pair of shoes - your dd had been wearing them for a few weeks, after all

and how did the member of staff know it was you who had taken the wrong shoes - weeks before?

am I missing something here?

maisym · 05/04/2007 21:36

meant she not he!!!

maisym · 05/04/2007 21:35

yes but the op, in good faith, took the wrong shoes - just half a size in difference. The shoes looked the same. he didn't realise it until she went back to the play centre & was told of the situation by staff there. Plus she was forced to give up the shoes when they should have been swapped for the op's actual shoes.

Original poster
Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 21:33

bozza, you are right that i shouldn't have lost the ticket, but they should have a back up procedure. They should record where each pair of shoes is stored so they know, whether or not you lose your ticket.
My dc's are 3 and 19 mths so I have not yet encountered these problems at nursery (and you are right I am a SAHM - although not for much longer as have just got a pt job which i start in a couple of weeks ).

OP posts:
bozza · 05/04/2007 21:26

But it was partly her error because she lost the ticket and she said the shoes were her DDs when they were not.

The other mum will be unlikely to have gone several weeks without replacing the shoes and so will not be willing to return the money, I imagine.

maisym · 05/04/2007 21:21

go back & demand the shoes back - if they say no (it wasn't your error) then call the police as it's theft from you.

RustyBear · 05/04/2007 21:21

But actually, they haven't paid for your DD's shoes, they paid for the other ones - so they would be within their rights to hold on to those, but not yours. They should give you yours back, then contact the other mum & offer her her shoes back in return for the money she paid. (Though I don't know that she'dbe obliged to take them, but that's not your problem)

Gobbledigook · 05/04/2007 21:21

Name and shame the establishment please. We are enjoying it todya

Gobbledigook · 05/04/2007 21:20

Id' call the police too! Numbskulls!

bozza · 05/04/2007 21:20

Hmm it does seem odd, although I can see why they were peeved at being £25 out of pocket. And also their shoe policy was only flawed by you not following the system properly (ie not looking after your ticket). But unreasonable not to let you have the shoes. So I am on the fence.

What shoe policy do you think they should have? BTW all the soft play places I go to, shoes are just left with the parent. And my DD's shoes all have her initials in. So I deduce that you are a SAHM or use a childminder because us nursery wallers are wise to this issue.

Original poster
Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 21:19

I thought it was bad management and totally their responsibility to have a shoe policy that works. I really wish I had made a big fuss now. I shouldn't have doubted myself.

OP posts:
Chandra · 05/04/2007 21:18

What sort of idiot is managing this place???

Besides, if they want to exercise justice by doing that they are not right people to do so...

Having said that, recovering the shoes or the 25 pounds is not worth the effort of dealing with such people again.

PinkTulips · 05/04/2007 21:13

omg i would have called the police tbh, it was their mistake as they should have a system in place that works.

i mean, what an odd shoe policy! the soft play we go to writes the childs name and entry time and shoe ticket number in a logbook so even if we lose the ticket (which we always do) they just need to check her name on the list to see which slot her shoes are in

maisym · 05/04/2007 21:07

ask for the shoes back or you take them to court.

MrsDanvers · 05/04/2007 21:04

Definately name and shame- that's outrageous! very bad management by the company.

Original poster
Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 20:39

Snowleopard I had accidently taken the shoes when the original owners wanted them back. It was only when I went back a few weeks later that I gave the shoes back. They still had my dds shoes from the earlier time.
It is a crazy confusing story.
DD was only 18 months so it didn't matter about her having no shoes on as I carried her.
I am not going to do anything about it now but am glad I was right to be furious.

OP posts:
snowleopard · 05/04/2007 20:33

Um if they have both pairs, why did they not returm each pair to its rightful owner instead of paying? I'm totally confused and they sound bonkers.

I would go back in and say right you have taken my daughter's shoes so now I would like to be reimbursed, £25 please, or the shoes back. If not, tell them you know you are within your rights to go to the police. Shoes or cash now please or I am going to the police right now, followed by the local paper. Or would their prefer to stop being so ridiculous and hang on to their customers.

Weirdos!

macwoozy · 05/04/2007 20:33

I'd be so shocked with that. Does that mean your dd had to go home with no shoes or have I not read this right?

Original poster
Bambiraptor · 05/04/2007 20:26

They were clarks. It is very spiteful behaviour. I very nearly took it further but then I didn't want the hassel over a pair of shoes. I think they were annoyed that they had to fork out for the other shoes. It is not my fault that their shoe procedure is flawed.

OP posts:
lulumama · 05/04/2007 20:23

but you are out of pocket now, and that is soooo unfair !

Plibble · 05/04/2007 20:22

Agree with Lulu - this is one for the local paper.