Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you give me the replacement chips?

543 replies

Houseofdrums · 15/05/2026 18:22

Im with a group of mum friends at a food court. We all go off to different kiosks. Order our food. We find an available table.

I order from a Thai cuisine, a noodle dish and some chips for the little one.

I pick up the food, put toddler in highchair, put the chips infront of her. I’m about to take my first serving of noodles and baby kicks the chips all over the floor.

The chips cost £5. One of the mums says that it’s been less than 5 mins and they didn’t touch the chips, I should be able to ask for a replacement.

So I go to the kiosk, politely explain that I was just here and the baby annoyingly dropped all the chips. I show them the picture (we are sitting on the other end of the food court).

They say no. But I plead a little bit - I do have a soft voice so I’m being nice. Then they go on and on about how every mum will be asking for freebies. I should pay for another one. And I should go to another one of their stores who would provide me free chips.

Turns out she was also the manager.

I worked in waitressing many years ago, and honestly, we would have just given a portion of chips. Id be hesitant if it was the whole meal - but a couple of chips for a baby?

Was I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
iamnotalemon · 16/05/2026 05:16

Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:24

For context my meal was about £18 for a small bowl.

Chips were about £5 - and there were about 10-15 chips there. They didn’t have a kids menu. Chips was the only thing that seemed suitable.

So it wasn’t a large portion wrapped up in paper.

Plus, you don’t know my baby - she has an appetite on her!

Show quote history

Not the point of the post, but that’s so expensive for both, especially for a food court.

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 16/05/2026 05:09

Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 03:42

Thanks for your replies. I wouldn’t have normally asked.

If you don’t ask you don’t get. I usually bring home made lunch, but I’d been out with baby since 10am. This happened at around 8pm, by then had ran out of packed food and when we are out I tend to stick with chips.

Super interesting reading the very judgy comments. But I guess this is MN.

Funnily enough when I worked in retail (a decade ago) we had “well-off” clients. There was a shoe priced at £900 and the customer asked, if her and her friend bought a pair each, could they have it for half price. I asked my manager, she said yes - to my surprise.

On that day I learned - if you don’t ask the answer is always no.

Anyways - an update - I complained via email to HQ, as the woman was actually incredibly rude too and I got a full refund.

Fark in hell so that poor woman is now getting her told off because an entitled madam wanted someone else to pay because she put food in front of a toddler then didn’t watch the toddler….

No wonder teachers are leaving in big numbers…. parents like you blaming others instead of owning their parenting mistakes…. you shouldn’t have put the food in front of your child until you were ready to watch her!!

PunnyPlumPanda · 16/05/2026 04:56

Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:24

For context my meal was about £18 for a small bowl.

Chips were about £5 - and there were about 10-15 chips there. They didn’t have a kids menu. Chips was the only thing that seemed suitable.

So it wasn’t a large portion wrapped up in paper.

Plus, you don’t know my baby - she has an appetite on her!

Show quote history

£18! Daylight robbery!

Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:53

ItsNotMeEither · 16/05/2026 04:35

Anyways - an update - I complained via email to HQ, as the woman was actually incredibly rude too and I got a full refund.

Oh dear, this definitely makes you look even more entitled. They've refunded because it is worth it to them to shut you up, but my god, the entitlement.

Fair enough.

I would have never spoken to a customer the way she did.

We can’t all be silent.

OP posts:
Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:48

PunnyPlumPanda · 16/05/2026 04:33

Would you ask for a new sofa if someone had just spilt drink within 5 mins of you buying it

Show quote history

No because it’s worth so much more.

I would t have asked if my £18 noodles dropped. As I’m an adult.

I guess I was driven by the thought of a hungry baby. So I accept fault. And I know it’s my responsibility to feed my child.

I guess the consensus is that I shouldn’t have asked - I get it, some people can’t stand boldness. The LO always gets freebies when we go to certain restaurants - but the difference is I never ask. So I get why everyone is on the “you are unreasonable” side.

OP posts:
Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:43

youalright · 16/05/2026 04:34

You put in a complaint because you was told no and didn't like it 🙄

I didn’t write it all in my OP, but she was rude.

I think she thought I was a young mum looking to take the piss. And I get it. I’m mid 30s, but still get ID’d so I don’t blame her.

I won’t go into exactly what she said, but she clearly made some assumptions from the monologue she decided to give me.

OP posts:
ItsNotMeEither · 16/05/2026 04:35

Anyways - an update - I complained via email to HQ, as the woman was actually incredibly rude too and I got a full refund.

Oh dear, this definitely makes you look even more entitled. They've refunded because it is worth it to them to shut you up, but my god, the entitlement.

youalright · 16/05/2026 04:34

You put in a complaint because you was told no and didn't like it 🙄

PunnyPlumPanda · 16/05/2026 04:33

Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:06

This is the point.

Chips don’t cost much.

If the baby spilt my £18 meal, I actually wouldn’t have asked for another. I would have gone hungry until I went home.

It was an open kitchen, you can see the mass chips being fried.

Yes, it’s not their fault the chips fell, I just thought I’d ask.

Show quote history

Would you ask for a new sofa if someone had just spilt drink within 5 mins of you buying it

Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:24

tealandteal · 15/05/2026 21:44

Why would you give a baby a full portion of anything? I am assuming chips as in fish and chips and not crisps, but you give the baby a few as everyone knows the drop them/throw them. If they are an actual baby (under 12 months) then I always brought weaning food with me as they eat such small portions. They could have had some of your noodles if not too salty?

For context my meal was about £18 for a small bowl.

Chips were about £5 - and there were about 10-15 chips there. They didn’t have a kids menu. Chips was the only thing that seemed suitable.

So it wasn’t a large portion wrapped up in paper.

Plus, you don’t know my baby - she has an appetite on her!

OP posts:
Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:09

MorrisZapp · 15/05/2026 21:14

Here in Scotland we take our plates o chips very seriously. I was in a cafe in Arran once and the portion of chips my kid received with his scampi was undersized. I knew this had to be an error because what kind of animals would serve a shite plate o chips? I asked the waitress if she could get him more and she did not hesitate, rushing back with a massive plate and sincere apologies.

Little Rock cafe, you are Scotland's finest!

At least someone (kinda) gets it …

OP posts:
Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 04:06

Nothinglikeagoodbook · 15/05/2026 19:51

You paid for chips. They gave you the chips. That was the end of your dealings with the seller. What you or your baby do with the chips after that is nothing to do with the seller. In order for you to get more chips, which cost money to produce, someone has to stand the loss. Why should it be the seller rather than you?

Imagine you bought a new light-coloured sofa from DFS and five minutes after it was delivered your baby spilt blackcurrant juice all over it and ruined it. Would you expect DFS to send you another one? I know the sofa would be much more expensive, but it’s the principle that’s the point.

Edited

This is the point.

Chips don’t cost much.

If the baby spilt my £18 meal, I actually wouldn’t have asked for another. I would have gone hungry until I went home.

It was an open kitchen, you can see the mass chips being fried.

Yes, it’s not their fault the chips fell, I just thought I’d ask.

OP posts:
ConstantlyFuriosa · 16/05/2026 04:01

Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 03:42

Thanks for your replies. I wouldn’t have normally asked.

If you don’t ask you don’t get. I usually bring home made lunch, but I’d been out with baby since 10am. This happened at around 8pm, by then had ran out of packed food and when we are out I tend to stick with chips.

Super interesting reading the very judgy comments. But I guess this is MN.

Funnily enough when I worked in retail (a decade ago) we had “well-off” clients. There was a shoe priced at £900 and the customer asked, if her and her friend bought a pair each, could they have it for half price. I asked my manager, she said yes - to my surprise.

On that day I learned - if you don’t ask the answer is always no.

Anyways - an update - I complained via email to HQ, as the woman was actually incredibly rude too and I got a full refund.

Wow. Well done you for getting your fiver back for something your child destroyed.

Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 03:57

DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 15/05/2026 19:04

Oh look, another rage bait thread by a non returning op.

...time for Gin!

The evening was a little busy.

Going through comments now and replying to the ones that summarise a collective thought 😊

OP posts:
Ohdearnotthisagain · 16/05/2026 03:54

Wow, it’s totally on you that you put the entire serve in front of your kid. So you are both a CF and a bit dim.

Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 03:52

FedBeGone · 15/05/2026 18:28

Why wouldn't you just pick up the chips and put them back on the plate? (only half joking)

Not the point of your thread, but who the fuck pays £5 for chips?

For a child? Edited as I originally said "baby" but you refer to a toddler (then called them a baby).

Edited

A 2 year old for anyone wondering the age.

And I wouldn’t pick up anything and feed my baby, toddler, child or teen that had touched the floor of a foodhall with very high footfall at 8pm.

If you would - good on you. It probably does build a stronger immune system to be fair.

OP posts:
Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 03:49

AnneLovesGilbert · 15/05/2026 19:01

What happened next though? Did you buy more chips? Share the noodles? Go to the local paper? I need to know please.

One of the mums offered whatever they had. But ended up sharing the noodles with LO.

Luckily there is always food at home, so when we got in she had a big bowl of brown rice and spinach stew - she’s an eater.

The chips was just to survive the car journey after a long day out.

OP posts:
Original poster
Houseofdrums · 16/05/2026 03:42

Thanks for your replies. I wouldn’t have normally asked.

If you don’t ask you don’t get. I usually bring home made lunch, but I’d been out with baby since 10am. This happened at around 8pm, by then had ran out of packed food and when we are out I tend to stick with chips.

Super interesting reading the very judgy comments. But I guess this is MN.

Funnily enough when I worked in retail (a decade ago) we had “well-off” clients. There was a shoe priced at £900 and the customer asked, if her and her friend bought a pair each, could they have it for half price. I asked my manager, she said yes - to my surprise.

On that day I learned - if you don’t ask the answer is always no.

Anyways - an update - I complained via email to HQ, as the woman was actually incredibly rude too and I got a full refund.

OP posts:
Chlo25x · 16/05/2026 03:36

Ive took a few tests, some look positive or a shadow? And ive took a couple that look like theres nothing to me?
I'm constipated, bloated, and i have a uti? Im so confused with the tests but doctors prescribed me folic acid and told me to wait till next to see if I come on my period or not? Im so confused this is also a pic of my bloated tummy

Would you give me the replacement chips?
Would you give me the replacement chips?
Would you give me the replacement chips?
Would you give me the replacement chips?
PollyBell · 16/05/2026 03:26

Berlinlover · 16/05/2026 02:30

OP hasn’t come back.

I'm shocked

Thefastandthecurious5 · 16/05/2026 02:39

No

Berlinlover · 16/05/2026 02:30

OP hasn’t come back.

Growuppeople · 16/05/2026 02:26

Didnt happen

PollyBell · 16/05/2026 02:17

No of course i wouldn't

DoYouLikeYourNaneFred · 16/05/2026 02:09

SnappyUmberLion · 15/05/2026 19:14

A less clumsy baby would soon pay for itself!

Show quote history

True, true..