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

See, this is what I mean. Why would you ask me such a daft question? Of course I don’t hassle teenagers. Strange.

When I was a teen I was followed around shops. Staff think teens are more likely to steal. We’ve all seen the ‘no more than 2 school kids at one time’ signs in newsagents’ windows.

I really don’t think this is any big deal, whatever the reason for it. But as I say, it’s made for great entertainment.

massive indignation at a teenager being asked to leave a shop

Could that be because there is no reason at all for a teenager, if they are behaving reaosonably and not trying to buy age restricted products, to be asked to leave a shop at all? The fact that you think this is fine tells us a lot. Do you hassle teenagers often yourself?

This may have been said already but neither the search engine on Homebase's website nor Google itself brings up anything for me on policies about under 18s or children even though it gives me various other policies. Which is odd considering they must actually have some policies about sales of certain items to under 18s because that's the law. If it's a bona fide store policy, not based on law, it's one they are keeping secret! And there was no need to be rude to your daughter initially, so that needs dealing with anyhow, whatever the policy is.

Sounds as though some staff are going a bit freestyle in that store, and that OP needs to write a sternly worded letter to Homebase head office.

What’s weird about this thread is some posters’ massive indignation at a teenager being asked to leave a shop, and their presumption that they’re experts in Homebase’s internal corporate affairs.

It’s been very entertaining though.

They're completely wrong. I've never seen anyone praise being wrong as common sense and decency but this thread has thrown up a lot of weirdness so I'm not shocked by it.

and decided she knew better.

Except she did know better, because this is not a clear established Homebase rule with all the signage, webpage, and general enforcement that would entail. Plus the other member of staff was happy to serve them, and at least half the people on this thread have not heard of this about this brand, let alone been banned themselves under 18 or had their child banned. I personally have never seen a sign on a DIY or hardware store that says this and I'm quite observant - Homebase or any other. So if they exist they must be written in tiny writing or hidden.

OP's daughter and her friend are as entitled as anyone else to state their point politely but firmly, and it doesn't have to be couched in twee fawning language to be valid either. Some PPs on this thread really do sound as though they are complete doormats when it comes to issues like this, and one can only assume those PPs are bringing any daughters they might have to be doormats too. There are already far too many unreasonable behavioural expectations on girls and women (as against their male counterparts) so it's not helpful to add to it.

Despite what pp's say, managers are not allowed to do what they want and have very little autonomy from HQs. They get told what to do and they do it.

How do you know? Do you set the rules for Homebase?

In every shop I worked in (supermarkets) the manager was almighty. Hiring, firing, opening, closing, dealing with shoplifters, checks on staff, dealing with the council, store layout, warehouse issues etc etc. I really can’t see why a Homebase manager couldn’t impose a ‘no teens without an adult’ rule in his or her branch.

If they actually had such a rule it would be in all stores and there would be signs up to say so.

Despite what pp's say, managers are not allowed to do what they want and have very little autonomy from HQs. They get told what to do and they do it.

Also - adults can also misuse items and shoplift.

And for the last time - businesses can NOT do what they want, they have to comply with the law. They can, however, exclude under 18s. But it would be wise to (a) have a sign up to say so (b) ensure all staff know the policy and abide by it and (c) follow through (ie not just follow someone round, but tell them to leave).

Yes but presumably you have a sign up saying so. There are a couple of corner-type shops in my town which don't ban under 18s per se but do have limits, though I am not sure how they enforce them - eg no more than 3 kids at a time.

Same to you @GreenAppleCrumble , didn’t realise you were the MN police

Oh jeez, take a day off @MaloneMeadow

A poster with common sense and decency 👏👏

They have this rule do to the tools and potentially dangerous items that are easily at hand in the store. Chemicals, tools, knives etc. They also have issues with shop lifting. It's very likely your daughter twill find herself banned from homebase in future. They are taught not to cause a confrontation hence why she wasn't stopped, but followed. Your daughter sounds quite self entitled. There is no reason any shop has to allow any customer in. They can refuse just because they don't like you so long as they aren't been Discriminate. Age discrimination isn't really an issue here because health and safety would overrule this as there is no parent to supervise the child.

Yes this is getting quite common now. The shop I used to work in had to make the choice to ban under 18s. Unfortunately, we had loads of school children coming after school and massing around and stealing. They would normally leave if asked too though otherwise we'd have had to ring the police or get security to escort them out.

But it’s not weird and creepy? If the girls had just left as they’d been asked to there would’ve been no need to follow them, it’s not hard to work out.

I think it's weird and creepy. Both of them. Following young women around a shop and being disparaging isn't normal in my book. And, yes, I have worked in retail. But that's not it for you, is it? You're just one of those insufferable types that has a huge problem with losing. Let's experiment. You won. You are great. Everything you say it true. How do you feel?

I (maybe) can accept you have to be 18+ to shop there, but the lady at the till had no objection to the girls, so I take it they didn't try and buy anything age-restricted, nor did they misbehave. To the shop supervisor/manager I would say : pick your fights. I bet you have much worse customers coming in than these two girls.

In what world is being asked to leave a shop creepy?? There was another worker there, was she creepy too or is she ok as she’s a female?

This 👏
Well done to your daughter for not being a pushover, and well done to you for raising such a strong young woman!
The employee sounds like a twat. I personally would take my daughter back into the store, ask her to identify said employee and offer this person the opportunity to be rude to me! But that’s just meeee and I do have some aggression issues 🤣

I think he was a bit creepy, TBH. Where have I 'made things up'? I tend to deal in fact. So, please, do tell where I'm the crazy fantasist, unlike you?

Yes, Homebase are really going to worry about a few busy bodies not getting their custom in plant and electric blanket sales. Wise up, nobody is going to care.

The woman following them about could have been the manager... which would explain why they defended themselves.

I would understand if such a policy did exist. Stop teens pinching dangerous items such as knives etc. Maybe they've had recent trouble and that's why they have said this. Maybe an over zealous employee has taken 'anyone unsupervised under 18 shouldn't be here and needs watching' conversation.

Remember, can't buy have scissors until 16.
Still if the policy does exist there should be clear signage.

Teens advocating for themselves is fine, though maybe rather than saying no there isn't, they could have asked them to show them where the policy was.
Potentially this response is what triggered the flowing, a perceived 'attitude' towards authority. Staff are allowed to watch customers they suspect may be behaving suspiciously.

I don't think either party is completely innocent here, but far less so the homebase employee. I hope the cashier hasn't got in trouble for serving them!

The shop worker wasn’t being ‘creepy’, he simply asked her to leave. There’s a big difference. Stop making things up

I’ve taught more than one 16 year old who lives independently.

No we haven’t. What’s been established is that head office says there’s no general u- 18s policy but the manager confirmed to the OP that in that store there is. The manager can presumably do what they like that’s in the interests of the store.

It’s not too hard to imagine a likely conversation:

”We’ve had a complaint that you ban unaccompanied children from the store. Why?”

”Because there’s been a lot of trouble locally with teens sniffing glue and spraying graffiti. The local copper asked us to be extra vigilant. So I ask the staff to chuck out teens who come in on their own.”

”OK, fair enough. I’ll let the boss know.”