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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think debenhams wall of sweets at the till in the childrenswear dept is disgraceful.

121 replies

mairmaid · 12/02/2011 17:32

Don't often go shopping but found myself next to a wall of sweets in Debenhams childrenswear dept. Is this a new thing? I asked them if there was not some legislation with respect to sweets at tills. Their response "We're not a supermarket". Was there not a reason why legislation was recently stopped to reduce pester power at supermarket tills? Does it make it ok in debenhams just because you don't need to buy clothes as regularly as food?

OP posts:
christmaswishes · 12/02/2011 17:35

What's wrong with that?

maddy68 · 12/02/2011 17:35

why? they want to sell their stuff, its good marketing, you can say no to children

oldraver · 12/02/2011 17:36

I dont see the problem. Our Co-Op still has chocolate and other stuff at the tills.. Why would we need 'legislation' when all you have to say is NO

christmaswishes · 12/02/2011 17:36

Good point just say no. Its a business isn't it.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 12/02/2011 17:37

Erm...its a shop...its trying to sell you stuff...its kind of good for business Confused

SoupDragon · 12/02/2011 17:37

Just say no. It's really not difficult.

christmaswishes · 12/02/2011 17:39

Just shop somewhere else if it bothers you than much.

ThePosieParker · 12/02/2011 17:39

Is this a wind up?

Tee2072 · 12/02/2011 17:40

I have to add my 'just say no' vote.

Or are you one of those that can't do that because you are afraid of a few tears?

yousankmybattleship · 12/02/2011 17:40

It's a shop. Of course they'll put things where they are most likely to sell. If you don't want to buy them - don't!

expatinscotland · 12/02/2011 17:42

Methinks thou dost protest too much.

They're a business. Their job is to sell as much stuff as possible.

You're a parent. Your job is to police your own kids. Just say no.

Original poster
mairmaid · 12/02/2011 17:43

obesity and diabetes are seriously on the rise in this country. Legislation was brought in to reduce this type of juxtaposed selling. I can say no and my son can't speak yet so it isn't a problem for me personally. I do think that legislation should intervene here. The incidence of alcoholic liver disease particularly among women is also increasing ( i think more so than other european countries). I think legislation should intervene here too and if that means setting minimum limits for alcohol sales then good.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 12/02/2011 17:45

'obesity and diabetes are seriously on the rise in this country.'

Yes, because parents aren't teaching the value of self-control and how to use it.

'Legislation was brought in to reduce this type of juxtaposed selling.'

No, it wasn't. Guidelines were proposed.

Personally, I don't want the government treating me like a 6-year-old because other people are weak, immature and have no self-control.

allsquareknickersnofurcoat · 12/02/2011 17:46

At least its not vibrating cock rings Grin

Ooopsadaisy · 12/02/2011 17:47

There'e a small word in the English language that children learn quite early on if you use it occasionally.

It's "no".

I'm afraid YABU.

VivaLeBeaver · 12/02/2011 17:47

Plenty of other shops do it. WH Smiths are a prime example, they're forever trying to sell half price chocolate at the till. Its not even like its just ther ebut they actually ask you with every purchase "would you like some half price chocolate?" Eh, no - if I did I'd have got some. I object to that kind of pushy selling which seems to be on the up.

lowprofile · 12/02/2011 17:47

i don't believe there is a link to me buying sweets as a rare treat for my daughter and her ending up with alcoholic liver disease.

jamfran · 12/02/2011 17:48

It makes me angry too. It's done absolutely on purpose, and the store should be more responsible.

Stores know that parents won't risk a showdown with their child in a busy queue and will just say yes. It's very unfair to the parent when they're distracted with paying for items and trying to stop straying hands at the same time.

My small ds once dropped sweets all over the floor from a till display. I refused to pay for them or clean them up.

Cynical bloody marketing in my opinion.

midnightservant · 12/02/2011 17:48

YANBU

Sweets should not be in a children's clothing section.

Parents should not be put in the position of saying no to sweets when they are buying clothes.

GetOrfMoiLand · 12/02/2011 17:49

lol at 'juxtaposed selling'

Who seriously gives a fuck?

Vallhala · 12/02/2011 17:49

What Expat said.

It's all very simple. You just open your mouth and utter the word no.

YABU.

expatinscotland · 12/02/2011 17:50

'Stores know that parents won't risk a showdown with their child in a busy queue and will just say yes. It's very unfair to the parent when they're distracted with paying for items and trying to stop straying hands at the same time.'

Are you honestly so weak and spineless you allow your child to dictate your own behaviour in a shop?

Get a grip!

Don't like it, shop elsewhere.

expatinscotland · 12/02/2011 17:51

It's always someone else's fault - the shop, the government, society, etc.

Ooopsadaisy · 12/02/2011 17:51

Well said, expatinscotland.

Who's the parent and who's the child?

DooinMeCleanin · 12/02/2011 17:52

Give them x amount a week to spend on crap and then it's simple...

dd1: Can I have this?
me: I don't know, do you have £1.99?
dd1: No.
me: Then you can't have it, can you?

They have learnt there is no point arguing with this. Dd1 is smart though. She will later ask "If I do x for you, can I have a pound, please?" or she will ask grandparents. If they are daft enough to buy her it, more fool them, imo.