Maximum of 2 people per household - no exceptions for small children at Dunelm - any other shops have this policy?

[JMAngel1]

So I tried to get into Dunelm today with DD10 and DD8 - I was told only max of 2 people per household. No exceptions made for small children - do they think we should leave them outside like dogs? I'm playing tag team with work with DH - we work on opposite shifts for NHS across the full 7 days so there isn't any day that I could leave them with him and vice versa. This seems like a crazy rule.
Are there any other shops with this rule just to avoid me making a wasted journey and also having to crawl away with my tail between my legs?

bump

I’m against those sort of rules for essential shops, but as it was dunelm I’m not surprised. Sorry you had a wasted journey

Any other non essential shops have this rule? Although after all this time, it feels like they are essential!

They let me, DH and DS in together. There were no signs saying only 2 people could go in either.

B&Q no under 16s!

I desperately need some things to make a repair but tough shit eh!

B&Q embarrassingly kicked us out of the que, myself, DP and my 6 year old son, we were mortified and DP wasnt happy when the man on the door said "gov guidelines" which isn't true that can only be 2 people from a household.
The items we needed to get would have taken two of us to carry safely.
What are we supposed to do? Leave DS tied up outside?
Horrible isn't it, op?! Feel your pain x

There's a whole thread about nomchiodren in a garden centre.

And there was a strong body of opinion there that a '2 people per household' rule was preferable.

Because there was understanding that shops want (and right now really need) to have rather limited space occupied by people likely to buy stuff, rather than blanket age bans.

If you can only fit 30 shoppers in your store, it's self-evidently better to have 15 potential customers (households of 2) than 10 (households of 3)

Dunelm lets you order online and then drop it off to your car when you go to collect it. You don’t even need to go in, if that helps you. I know some things you like to see before you buy but if it’s something you can order online, do that.

Sports direct are also letting in only 2 people at a time. No unsupervised under 16s.

A 10 and an 8 year old isn't a small child. Leave them in the car.

Yes I had ordered a couple of things via click and collect but my DD is getting her room done up for her bday and wanted to choose herself in the flesh as it were.
What about clothes stores like H&M, Primark, Marks and Spencer?

No way would I leave them in the car.

Why wouldn't you leave them in the car?

Surely the 10 year old is old enough to wait outside, then you and the 8 year old could have gone in?

I'm sorry but this thread isn't about my parenting preferences, it's about admittance policies of high street stores.

You seem to be thinking that you have small children. You don't. If you had a 3 and 5 year old you'd have a point.

You wouldn’t leave a ten year old in the car? Unless there is a huge dripfeed the issue is you not Dunelm.

Why wouldn't you leave them in the car?

Not sure about your area, but where I live in the south, it's been hot and about 35 in the car. I wouldn't leave my kids in there either.

Surely your DD should be made to understand that it’s not currently possible to choose things “in the flesh as it were” It’s not ideal but a lot of life isn’t ideal right now - have her look online and order. Return it unsuitable and re order if she’s not keen when she sees it in the flesh. It’s not really the time yet for family shopping trips for non essentials.

I agree with the policy, I don't want to have to wait longer in a queue because unnecessary children are taking up the quota of customers allowed in the shop.

Mine is not like this either. I find it annoying when as a company that have a policy but all the stores are different

I'm with you op, it's very annoying. Especially when there are adults plotting to enter separately but shop together and those with children are made to feel unwelcome and unappreciated as customers.
Also, I ordered online from dunelm the other day and rang for 20 minutes for them to bring it to my car as advertised. They didn't answer so I had to go in anyway so they're shit.

We went to the range and the woman (I know her) sent us all away after queuing for the best part of 20 mins to tell us I cant let you in with all THEM children. Excuse me. Them children really?!

I went back later in the early evening with just one child. Once my Dh was back from work which was handy. Whilst I appreciate the covid19 situation and perhaps they dont want a lot of children coming into the store, mine are usuallyquite well behaved and wont run round touching everything. It was 3 kids and one in a buggy. Any who, I Came back later with my eldest as my husband came.home early from work and so was able to go back and they let me and my eldest in which I wasn't sure If they would.
At the tills, I asked the young lad serving us, if any families have been in and he said yeah, with multiple children and he apologised. Mind you the girl who turned us away was a lady I used to work with who would call me death Vader because of my breathing difficulties (I am asthmatic) and would also leave innapropriate notes in peoples work lockers and just thought perhaps she just has an issue with me and let's everyone else in. I have no idea.

But we cant leave our kids at home if they're too young and also we cant leave them with grandparents, friends or other relatives. And on top of that , if you're juggling shifts and hubby cant have the kids what are you meant to do, Never shop?
I would have stood my ground and asked to be let in .

This is a non issue, as 8 and 10 is perfectly old enough to be left in the car with the window open. TBH 10 year old is old enough to stay home alone unless you live a long way from the shops or were likely to be gone for an extended period.

I would think it reasonable for a shop to let in a parent with twin babies in a double buggy.

I would think it sensible for them to not let a parent bring 2 preschoolers as it would be hard for one parent to shop and keep both preschoolers held by the hand, and preschoolers can't be trusted to socially distance, so risks everyone's safety.

I would think it reasonable to refuse entry to a parent with two children who are old enough to be left elsewhere (such as an 8 and a 10 year old!) because there are other options that the parent could take that would be safer for both the children and the other people in the shop.

Its about keeping everyone safe.

Why didn't you choose and order online? You can always return stuff.

There's a reason why stores are limiting the number of people. There's a pandemic on, didn't you know?!

You aren't special. The rules are there for a reason.

You seem to be thinking that you have small children. You don't. If you had a 3 and 5 year old you'd have a point.

100% agree with this ^^