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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To insist my 5 yr old ds uses toilets in Halfords, when they say 'NO' due to insurance reasons?

193 replies

DrNortherner · 24/04/2007 14:41

In Halfords last night at 5.30pm. Dh was spending £400 on a new bike. Ds needs loo.

Spotty teenage staff say no, not insured blah blah blah.

I say OK, lets go outside. Ds says no I need a poo.

Staff say use pub next door. Ds getting more and more desperate. Poo is coming.

I say 'Let him use your toilet now or dh will not buy bike' (dh looks aghast)

I demand manager.

We get escorted to toilet, but only a one off.

What do you think?

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 24/04/2007 20:50

So, WWW, you will make a 40 min round trip to go home and have a poo, but you expect to be able to have a piss wherever the fancy takes you? Hmm? Hmm?

WideWebWitch · 24/04/2007 20:42

lol at peeing being dicing with death

I'm with DrNortherner, fgs, 'elf and safety/insurance is used to justify everything.

giraffeski · 24/04/2007 20:32

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sarz · 24/04/2007 20:20

I have worked in alot of retail shops: Walis, Debenhams, Next, ELC, DP and everyone had the rule that, no they are not public toilets, HOWEVER if it is a small child, pg lady you can make an exception, so long as you accompany the customer. I also worked in a bank and a couple were arranging a mortgage and were taking ages and their LO need the toilet and we let them use the staff ones, even though it meant walking into the secure area!

Original poster
DrNortherner · 24/04/2007 20:17

dh not ds.

Are we not all allowed to go shopping together?

OP posts:
ceolas · 24/04/2007 20:17

well that's a whole other thread...

Original poster
DrNortherner · 24/04/2007 20:16

Wotzsaname - the bike was for my ds not ds.

OP posts:
Mercy · 24/04/2007 20:15

sorry for a badly worded post - am in midst of big arguement with dh.

wotzaname, I think the bike was for dh not ds.

FrannyandZooey · 24/04/2007 20:15

Northerner I am sorry to disagree but I think you were rude

I think saying "Let me do what I want NOW or I will " is a very rude way to behave.

gess · 24/04/2007 20:15

I worked for Sainsbury's years ago. A mother used to bring her 5 year old in- load up a trolley and get him to push it through- he was too young to be done for shoplifting (but boy you should have heard him swear when he was caught).

Wotzsaname · 24/04/2007 20:15

opps, so why all go?

ceolas · 24/04/2007 20:14

Wotszaname, I think the bike was for her DH...

Mercy · 24/04/2007 20:13

sorry haven't read since I last posted but Lazyline, JL are reknowned for their customer service!

just to offer a contrast I once saw a JL employee (well, 2 actually) hold open a plastic bag whilst a man was vomiting into it. They were very kind, poor bloke kept apologising in between retches.

I think until you have worked with 'the public' you have no real idea how horrible 'we' can be!

Wotzsaname · 24/04/2007 20:13

Is this still going on.

Sorry DrNortherner I haven't read the whole thread but have just seene FF view and read some of yours.

FioFio's quote "As a Mother myself of course I sympathise, but I do afterall use public WCs when I am out and about with my own family, without relying on staff store toilets."

Which I do agree with FWIW and I am forever saying "have you been to the loo?' before we go anywhere.

AIBU threads are open to views, even if the are different? yes?

My main issue would be considering spending £400 on a 5 year olds bike TBH. I think Halfords should be shot for having bikes at that cost for children who will outgrown them in 6 months!

ceolas · 24/04/2007 20:06

Aside from the insurance side, I don't think you can expect every shop to have a public toilet.

Agree with Franny.

LazyLineJobsworth · 24/04/2007 20:04

sweeties! What did you do?

FioFio · 24/04/2007 19:57

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sweeties · 24/04/2007 19:55

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irishbird · 24/04/2007 19:55

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Original poster
DrNortherner · 24/04/2007 19:50

Can I just say, I was not rude and I did not raise my voice. I have worked in retail when I was younger and on reception in hotels so i do know what the public can be like.

OP posts:
FioFio · 24/04/2007 19:49

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LazyLineThreadKiller · 24/04/2007 19:25

That's all well and good Margo, but when you work for a company and there actually ARE incidences of stabbings, attacks and behind the counter thefts in multiple stores, things seem a little different.

margoandjerry · 24/04/2007 19:21

Naaa, sorry. That's all just the definition of jobsworth-ness.

I'm sure you've all had bad experiences and I'm sure it's company policy and all but Halfords employees should use their eyes, assess the situation using their very own brains, calculate that the risk is minimal both to themselves and to small boy and parent and just exercise some common sense and courtesy.

Of course not everyone can use the loos in Halfords or any other shop but do we really need "company policy", "security policy", "health and safety policy" etc etc to regulate every aspect of our lives? It ends up making normal everyday events into some huge ordeal...

"Small boy needs loo in shop" suddenly becomes "staff at risk of shooting, stabbing, legal action, losing their jobs and contracting cholera".

When I was in John Lewis with my mum last year she suddenly felt she was going to be sick (was recovering from a stomach op). We weren't on a floor with a loo so I rushed up to a till to ask for a bag for her to be sick in. They refused. It wasn't "company policy" .

LazyLineThreadKiller · 24/04/2007 18:58

Fio, I wonder if we are talking about the same company?

Or maybe they are just all the same at heart? Probably....

FioFio · 24/04/2007 18:47

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