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AIBU?

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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:
Original poster
DrNortherner · 24/04/2007 15:28

Lo, at dicing with death.

Fio, in retail you could get a gun/knife at your haed at the till.

OP posts:
FioFio · 24/04/2007 15:28

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oliveoil · 24/04/2007 15:27

a 5 year old with a gun?

Original poster
DrNortherner · 24/04/2007 15:27

Just for my convenience?!!

Blimey, I wasn't asking for himm to perform cunnilingus in the staff room. I wanted my ds to be able to take a poo in a toilet.

OP posts:
FioFio · 24/04/2007 15:27

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nailpolish · 24/04/2007 15:26

but what about the poor child who cant hold it in?

as an aside, i was in sainsburys the other day, dd2 was exhaused from running round the beach all day, sobbing and rubbing eyes, a nice shop girl came up to me with a small twig of grapes for her to eat on the way round the shop

how nice was THAT?! i wrote a letter thanks to the lovely girl

FioFio · 24/04/2007 15:26

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oliveoil · 24/04/2007 15:25

yes but if a member of staff goes with you

personal safety indeed

I dice with death then everyday going for a pee

FioFio · 24/04/2007 15:25

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Pixiefish · 24/04/2007 15:24

Took dd to Netto once (which to my knowledge didn't have a loo) and we were att he checkout when dd said she needed a wee. I asked her if she could hang on till Tesco. As I was saying this the lady behind the counter said we could use their staff one and she beeped for someone to escort us to the back of the shop and wait outside while dd was in the loo (again they had stock near the loos0

I was soooo impressed with them- she didn't have to say this as I hadn't asked

FioFio · 24/04/2007 15:24

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nailpolish · 24/04/2007 15:24

oh fio that is mean of you

FioFio · 24/04/2007 15:24

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MissGolightly · 24/04/2007 15:23

Yes but the point is the fault is with Halfords not the poor guy on the shop floor! And yet he's the one who gets the flak. Can't you see it's a bit unfair to ask some poor bloke on the minimum wage to take the risk of being sacked just for your convenience?

Totally agree with you Northerner in emailing Halfords to complain - it's the head office's fault that they don't have loos and they should deal with the cross customers.

KathyMCMLXXII · 24/04/2007 15:23

Thing is, anyway, surely if all the shops got together and said to their insurers 'I demand that you sell us policies which cover the occasional punter using the staff loos, providing we take reasonable precautions' I am sure they could get it insured.

" 'Let him use your toilet now or dh will not buy bike' " was an excellent line. Well done DrNortherner.

Original poster
DrNortherner · 24/04/2007 15:22

If you shop lift and they catch you they take you 'back of house' whilst police are called don't they?

Not that i steal you understand, but remember this from my retail days.

OP posts:
nailpolish · 24/04/2007 15:21

that should be MY arse

not mr arse

whoever he may be

nailpolish · 24/04/2007 15:20

ive used toilets in loads of shops

insurance mr arse

oliveoil · 24/04/2007 15:20

I would have got a helmet from the shelf and used that

(well I wouldn't really I would have stormed out muttering under my breath)

margoandjerry · 24/04/2007 15:19

I really think the insurance thing is nonsense. Sometimes we - people, organisations, everyone - just take risks without being insured. The risk of letting a little boy use the toilet is, quite frankly, minimal. And what's the betting they would have said the same thing if the Queen had just popped into Halfords and needed a wee! Or prob, Michael Schumacher would be a better example.

Hate this back-covering nonsense.

RedFraggle · 24/04/2007 15:17

I used to work in retail (a looong time ago) and we were told not to encourage shoppers to use the loo but if it was urgent then they could. Possibly changed now as this was years ago but for our store it was more about the risk of theft than anything else. We had to accompany people there and loiter outside the loos and then accompany them back down again! Granted our loos were up about 5 flights of steps so it was a good test of just how desperate people were to go!

suzywong · 24/04/2007 15:17

I would have let my ds crap in a corner and say "I told you so"

blimming cheek

FWIW, my best mate's sister and BIL have a high fashion label and they wanted to put out a collection using just their surname which has one letter different to Halfords. Halfords went to court to stop this. Hmmm.... customers going out to shop for for a classically tailored suit and get sidetracked in to buying a set of fluffly dice by pesky name similarities? I think not.

Spidermama · 24/04/2007 15:16

Well done DrNortherner. Jobsworth fuckwits. How absured NOT tro let a 5 year old use the loo and double maddening when his Dad is taking his time over a decision as he's about to spend a lot of money in that shop.

Well done you.

Original poster
DrNortherner · 24/04/2007 15:14

I don't buy this 'we are not insured bollocks' They have to have public liability insurance and I have no experience of this only been applicable in certain areas of the building.

Lots of other people other than staff have to use staff only areas such as Firemen, H&S inspectors, delivery men.

I am off to investiagte this claim further....

OP posts:
bozza · 24/04/2007 15:13

Just to add a positive story. Once when DD was just potty trained and aged 2.1 I was in Adams at Meadowhall on a quiet week day. DD piped up "need wee", I looked round in a panicked way, and a nearby assistant came over and offered the use of their loo. She had to accompany us (lots of stock on the way) but stood at a distance until DD had finished. I was very grateful.