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Original poster

daughter was asked to leave homebase because she's under 18?

656 replies

whatisgoingonitw · 15/02/2024 17:37

My daughter and her friend (both 15) went shopping yesterday and nipped into Homebase as my daughter wanted a plant and her friend wanted a heated blanket. They were approached by a member of staff who said “what age are you both you don’t look old enough to be in here” they replied 15. The member of staff asked them to leave as you need to be 18 to shop. My daughter is very straight forward and says how it is, she told the member of staff no as that is not true. The girls continued to walk around the store and they were followed by this lady who works there. They got to the till and paid with no issues the employee at the till didn’t mention age. My daughter told me this when she got home and explained the employee was rude and followed them around the store as well as giving them “dirty looks” I rung the store today to speak to a manager as that customer service is not okay. He told me you do infact need to be with an adult 18+ to shop. Is this serious? I can’t find anything on the website.

OP posts:
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13
10ThousandSpoons · 15/02/2024 18:01

whatisgoingonitw · 15/02/2024 17:58

I absolutely understand that there are age restricted products, but from what they had purchased they were not age restricted. If they were age restricted that would be a different story and I would of understood. I definitely believe what my daughter is telling me is true, she is very honest and if she was messing about in store etc she would just say. She came home mind blown at the employee approaching her and her friend and asking them to leave because they were under the age of 18. I definitely do not believe my daughter was trying to shop lift as I give her money and she came home with the plant she's been talking about for a while now that she wanted for her room. She is sensible. To the person who said "your daughter sounds rude" I wouldn't say rude. She says it how it is, isn't afraid to voice anything which I like about her because I'm a people pleaser she certainly isn't. I'm glad they continued to go to the till. As the employee at the till had no issue in serving them and didn't ask for ID. If the policy is in fact you need to be 18+ to enter the shop it should be online and maybe the outside shop window. I've just never heard of it before.

They've clearly had issues with kids. Perhaps too many have got injured/broken things/stolen things/they are in a high crime area?

ZebraPensAreLife · 15/02/2024 18:00

Alargeoneplease89 · 15/02/2024 17:58

The part were she didn't leave the store when asked by a staff member and told her how it is.

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Would you have had an issue with an adult who is doing nothing wrong also querying a member of staff about why they were being asked to leave?

It’s clearly not an actual policy as the store sold the girls the items!

WaitingfortheTardis · 15/02/2024 18:00

She was told the rules by the lady, she was rude to her and decided she knew better. She should have left. Why do people always use the phrase 'say it like it is' as a cover for bad manners?

Chersfrozenface · 15/02/2024 17:59

Shops have the right to refuse entry to under 18s.

"Different conditions and restrictions can apply to children or different ages. This means that businesses can refuse to serve or admit children. An example of this is hotels that don’t allow children or shops that limit the number of children entering a shop or ban them altogether."

Orangestheonlyfruit · 15/02/2024 17:59

JMSA · 15/02/2024 17:50

My daughter is very straight forward and says how it is, she told the member of staff no as that is not true.

God, she sounds annoying.

No she's trying to stand up for herself.
It's new to me that under 18s can't shop there. Maybe they should make that clear at the door with a big sign.

strawberryandtomato · 15/02/2024 17:59

JMSA · 15/02/2024 17:50

My daughter is very straight forward and says how it is, she told the member of staff no as that is not true.

God, she sounds annoying.

She sounds great OP. We can't all be quiet wallflowers. Clearly the poster who wrote this also says it how she is (or what she thinks)

NormalForNuneaton · 15/02/2024 17:58

Snowdropsarecoming · 15/02/2024 17:46

They would struggle to have their own flat at 16 as they can’t enter into a contract at that age.

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Some young people can be in rental accommodation eg. if housed by the council or social services or if their tenancy has been signed by a adult who is acting a s a guarantor/trustee.

Aside from that there are loads of reasons why an under 18yo might need to shop in a DIY shop ... buy plants, buy gifts, choose a wallpaper, shop for bedding/lighting etc for their room at home, need for something to fix their bike ...

Alargeoneplease89 · 15/02/2024 17:58

MadameCamembert · 15/02/2024 17:54

Which part of what the OP said implied that her daughter was rude?
Disagreeing with an adult isn’t by default rude. That’s a lazy and prejudice stance.

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The part were she didn't leave the store when asked by a staff member and told her how it is.

MadameCamembert · 15/02/2024 17:58

TheSnowyOwl · 15/02/2024 17:52

It’s clearly designed to keep out unsupervised children. Probably because they have had issues with them. Your daughter was entitled and rude.

And if the lady had decided that men were more likely to cause trouble? Or Asian people? Or women in the 50-60 year old category with a limp?

Come off it.

Original poster
whatisgoingonitw · 15/02/2024 17:58

I absolutely understand that there are age restricted products, but from what they had purchased they were not age restricted. If they were age restricted that would be a different story and I would of understood. I definitely believe what my daughter is telling me is true, she is very honest and if she was messing about in store etc she would just say. She came home mind blown at the employee approaching her and her friend and asking them to leave because they were under the age of 18. I definitely do not believe my daughter was trying to shop lift as I give her money and she came home with the plant she's been talking about for a while now that she wanted for her room. She is sensible. To the person who said "your daughter sounds rude" I wouldn't say rude. She says it how it is, isn't afraid to voice anything which I like about her because I'm a people pleaser she certainly isn't. I'm glad they continued to go to the till. As the employee at the till had no issue in serving them and didn't ask for ID. If the policy is in fact you need to be 18+ to enter the shop it should be online and maybe the outside shop window. I've just never heard of it before.

OP posts:
JMSA · 15/02/2024 17:56

Tilleuil · 15/02/2024 17:54

Well op you’ve brought the jobsworths out on this thread.
It's sad that we have such low expectations of teens.

Don't be daft. Rules are rules, and they're generally in place to keep people safe.

ZebraPensAreLife · 15/02/2024 17:55

TheSnowyOwl · 15/02/2024 17:52

It’s clearly designed to keep out unsupervised children. Probably because they have had issues with them. Your daughter was entitled and rude.

How is entitled to want to buy a plant and a heated blanket? I wouldn’t have even considered that would be an issue!

LutonBeds · 15/02/2024 17:55

Snowdropsarecoming · 15/02/2024 17:46

They would struggle to have their own flat at 16 as they can’t enter into a contract at that age.

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I always wonder about this when you read on here of people being on their own from 16. Off topic but annoying nonetheless.

Tilleuil · 15/02/2024 17:54

Well op you’ve brought the jobsworths out on this thread.
It's sad that we have such low expectations of teens.

MadameCamembert · 15/02/2024 17:54

Alargeoneplease89 · 15/02/2024 17:49

The range used to have a notice of no under 16s on the door. Your daughter seems very rude.

Which part of what the OP said implied that her daughter was rude?
Disagreeing with an adult isn’t by default rude. That’s a lazy and prejudice stance.

JMSA · 15/02/2024 17:54

Because she was in the wrong, and the lady who works there might just know better Confused

TheSnowyOwl · 15/02/2024 17:52

It’s clearly designed to keep out unsupervised children. Probably because they have had issues with them. Your daughter was entitled and rude.

MakingUpTheNumbers · 15/02/2024 17:51

JMSA · 15/02/2024 17:50

My daughter is very straight forward and says how it is, she told the member of staff no as that is not true.

God, she sounds annoying.

Why? Because she stood up for herself?

Good on her OP.

10ThousandSpoons · 15/02/2024 17:51

You also can't risk kids running around in the shop and messing about

10ThousandSpoons · 15/02/2024 17:50

I imagine is because they sell LOTS of age restricted items

JMSA · 15/02/2024 17:50

My daughter is very straight forward and says how it is, she told the member of staff no as that is not true.

God, she sounds annoying.

britnay · 15/02/2024 17:49

Absolute bollocks. I worked in retail and hospitality for years and I've never heard of this. They may have some age-restricted products, such as knives, but:
a) they should have had training on that
b) the tills should have an age check prompt with such products

Alargeoneplease89 · 15/02/2024 17:49

The range used to have a notice of no under 16s on the door. Your daughter seems very rude.

spiderlight · 15/02/2024 17:49

B&Q has the same rule. My son and his friend (both 16 and the most harmless pair of nerdy kids imaginable) popped in to pick up a bolt for his racing wheel stand and security turned them straight round and made them leave.

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